Looking for a new bike. Need better support and ability to work on the bike.

[chumpy36]

I have a 2016 Izip E3 Dash and it's been pretty solid. Unfortunately, right after doing a $600 battery rebuild the motor has now apparently gone south. Dealer here says replacement is about $800. It's a currie Electric system. Not sure what I'm going to do. I could fix it and hope things are good and ride on or I could cut my losses and get something else. If I get something else I'd like something that has better support here in Atlanta. Izip has been worthless and the local dealer sucks a bucket of dicks.

So I'm looking for some advice...

1. What would you do? Fix or ditch? Has battery tech and bike in general gotten to the point where it would be worth getting new?
2. If ditch and buy new what's a brand I could either get better support for or have parts available that I can do the work (I'm handy).

Thanks for any advice!

J

 

[byunbee]

Please provide some additional info.

• What's your budget?
• What type of riding do you do? (trails, paved roads, etc.)
• What range do you need?
• Do you need a throttle?
• Do you need standard or folding?
• When you say better support, are you referring to just replacement part availability or the full service that only an LBS can provide?

 

[chumpy36]

Please provide some additional info.

• What's your budget?
• What type of riding do you do? (trails, paved roads, etc.)
• What range do you need?
• Do you need a throttle?
• Do you need standard or folding?
• When you say better support, are you referring to just replacement part availability or the full service that only an LBS can provide?

1. 2000 if it's something I think worth investing in.
2. Mostly urban commuting but I was able to take my dash on some light trails so that would be nice
3. No less than the Izip I have which theoretically is 30 miles. I imagine in reality it's closer to 20
4. Don't care about throttle. I never used the one on this bike. I prefer torque sensing rather than cadence as well
5. Standard is fine.
6. Both. I want to be able to work on it myself if I have the time or drop it at an LBS.

Thank you!

 

[Dewey]

Edison Bicycles is a new ebike brand in Atlanta, I can't vouch for the bike or company but might be worth a test ride if you're looking to support a local new business. Otherwise I've been able to maintain my Bafang BBS01 mid-drive kit reasonably well with support from the shop I bought it from California Ebike, since I bought it 4 years ago I've replaced the controller twice and transferred the entire kit onto another bicycle. BBS motors are battery brand agnostic, as long as there are positive and negative power wires supplying the relevant current, eg I bought a generic Sondors 36v bottle battery to power my BBS01 and I'm still using it 4 years later, it might be a way to keep using the new battery pack you rebuilt on another bike. There are several direct to consumer shops and brands that assemble BBS02 or BBSHD bikes for you or use BBS motors including but not limited to: BMEBikes, Philly Electric Wheels, Biktrix, Luna, Day6, Dost, etc. Retailers for the BBS kits include California Ebike, Luna, and EM3EV.

PS Sorry I should have mentioned, BBS motors are Class 2 or 3 systems with throttle and cadence pedal assist sensor so may not be what you're looking for.

 

[byunbee]

You may want to check out this deal. Haibike is a premium brand and this bike is a solid ebike with reliable and smooth Yamaha PW-SE motor. It comes with all accessories you would put on a bike as well. All for $1000 off retail.

Haibike Trekking 2.0 (DEMO) - Crazy Lenny's Electric Bikes

Highlights 6061 aluminum frame places the battery and motor low on the frame for increased stability, while the upright geometry and sloping top tube makes long adventures comfortable. Yamaha PW-SE 250W motor and 500Wh battery make long journeys easier, and short journeys quicker. Suntour...

www.crazylennysebikes.com

 

[Jared M]

You may want to check out this deal. Haibike is a premium brand and this bike is a solid ebike with reliable and smooth Yamaha PW-SE motor. It comes with all accessories you would put on a bike as well. All for $1000 off retail.

Haibike Trekking 2.0 (DEMO) - Crazy Lenny's Electric Bikes

Highlights 6061 aluminum frame places the battery and motor low on the frame for increased stability, while the upright geometry and sloping top tube makes long adventures comfortable. Yamaha PW-SE 250W motor and 500Wh battery make long journeys easier, and short journeys quicker. Suntour...

www.crazylennysebikes.com

What's the range on a setup like that with the included battery? I am a 220 lb rider, and like to pedal hard. I have been looking for a bike with good range at around 1000-1500... you make this deal sound like it may be worth forking over the extra money.

 

[opimax]

I bought a Trek Allant 7s from Atlanta Cycling just to get local service. I am new to the area. Bike is is so so with the Bosch motor but the service is excellent. they will work on my Bikes I didn’t purchase from them but can’t get proprietary parts.

if you are buying a new bike I can recommend them, fixing your old one if you bring part maybe...

 

[byunbee]

What's the range on a setup like that with the included battery? I am a 220 lb rider, and like to pedal hard. I have been looking for a bike with good range at around 1000-1500... you make this deal sound like it may be worth forking over the extra money.

I have a similar Haibike, an older model, and I usually get around 60 miles from a charge on Eco and I'm about 195lbs. I ride for exercise, so I don't rely on the motor too much. Half the time I don't use the motor at all. The bike is pretty light too...something like 41lbs. If you plan on being in Turbo mode all the time and relying on the motor 100%, you probably won't get more than 20 miles. But that's true for any ebike.

This bike is head and shoulders above bikes like Aventon, R1Up, RadPower, and your IZIP. Like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a Lexus.

 

[pxpaulx]

What's the range on a setup like that with the included battery? I am a 220 lb rider, and like to pedal hard. I have been looking for a bike with good range at around 1000-1500... you make this deal sound like it may be worth forking over the extra money.

I have a 2016 Izip E3 Dash and it's been pretty solid. Unfortunately, right after doing a $600 battery rebuild the motor has now apparently gone south. Dealer here says replacement is about $800. It's a currie Electric system. Not sure what I'm going to do. I could fix it and hope things are good and ride on or I could cut my losses and get something else. If I get something else I'd like something that has better support here in Atlanta. Izip has been worthless and the local dealer sucks a bucket of dicks.

So I'm looking for some advice...

1. What would you do? Fix or ditch? Has battery tech and bike in general gotten to the point where it would be worth getting new?
2. If ditch and buy new what's a brand I could either get better support for or have parts available that I can do the work (I'm handy).

Thanks for any advice!

J

That Haibike would be a solid option - you're getting a great motor and bumping up to a 500wh battery. Was the Dash a 28mph bike? I ask because getting any bike above the 20mph mark will start to exponentially eat battery life (which would lead to a shorter overall available travel distance). For any of the 20mph top speed mid-drives you should expect anywhere from 10 to 15 miles per 100wh - in real world use (depending on terrain, wind, rider weight etc). I am over your weight by a fair amount and still would get about 40 miles range (up to 50) with my previous 400wh haibike yamaha bike. Hope that helps!

 

[chumpy36]

I bought a Trek Allant 7s from Atlanta Cycling just to get local service. I am new to the area. Bike is is so so with the Bosch motor but the service is excellent. they will work on my Bikes I didn’t purchase from them but can’t get proprietary parts.

if you are buying a new bike I can recommend them, fixing your old one if you bring part maybe...

Atlanta cycling is right around the corner. I'll see if they can help.

 

[chumpy36]

So here's an update. I went and picked the dash up and test drove some other bikes (Magnum Metro +, Bluejay, and Magnum Navigator). I wanted to see the difference between mid and rear motor. I liked both and they all seemed like solid bikes.

So now my quandary is whether to attempt to fix the Dash or just ditch. I did some digging and the procedure to replace the TranzX M07 is pretty straightforward (attached). The factory has the motors for about $700 and I could do the work if I can find the Tranxz Spider puller tool they reference.

But I still feel like it's a gamble. I wonder if it's better to just try to sell the brand new battery and get a new bike.

Any more thoughts?

BTW, thanks for the Haibike find Byunbee... I called crazy lennys and unfortunately they had already sold it.

 

[byunbee]

$700 is a big gamble and you may get more bang for the buck by selling the battery and just buying a new bike. But it's your money, so good luck with whatever you decide.