Pedego City Commuter or Alternative

Since I'm 5'7", I'm the perfect guy to ask! (Court, the site owner/moderator, is 5'9".) On Court's recommendation, I got the step-through model (a.k.a. "girl's bike"). :rolleyes:

I'll let you know how it works. Maybe even post a couple of photos or a short video showing how the proportions work out.
 
My 5'5" wife could manage the step through model. She couldn't plant both feet (couldn't even come close), but that's not a problem for experienced riders. We've requested a smaller City Commuter from Pedego, but they told us they only plan on releasing a 28 inch wheel version. Hopefully, they'll do something smaller in the future.
 
How about getting her one of these things, problem solved! At least... until she's ready to stop :p

bicycle-step-stool-for-short-riders.jpg

Here's another idea for you guys... You can pedal the bike (like a true gentleman) and she can be your trusty navigator with the perfect vantage point right up front!

electric-bike-yepp-child-seat.jpg
 
Fitz, Congratulations. I really like the City Commuter. I rode it at Evolve in Orlando. Great people and the bike is beautiful. As I mentioned before, getting on and off the bike was an issue for me due to the battery in the back or I would have bought it on the spot.

I pulled the trigger on a bike this morning. I wanted to deal local. My local dealer here on Amelia Island, Florida is a Currie dealer. He stocks Izip bikes but the 2013 bikes didn't appeal to me. I contacted Larry Pizzi, president of Currie and between him and the dealer was able to meet with the Currie territory salesman at the store this morning. He had a van full of bikes. I had to wait a few weeks until he was in the area, but it was well worth the wait.

By the time I arrived, Monte, the rep, had a Path+, Eflow Nitro, E3 Dash and E3 Peak for me to ride. I am 5'7'. I could get on and ride the Path but the rack is the issue making it a challenge just like the City Commuter, but it is a really nice bike.

I ordered the new 2014 iZip Dash. Surprisingly, I could ride the L and was comfortable, but I ordered the M as it will no doubt be safer and easier to handle. This bike is so so smooth and absolutely silent. You cannot hear the motor. It is a 500W direct drive gearless hub with 48v battery on the stem. I have ridden a lot of Pedego and Currie bikes. The iZip Dash and Peak are a different breed of bike. They are high tech, strong, and fast. The Dash will go 28+ in Pedal mode with no trouble and is very stable. The Izip Peak is like the Bosch system and more of a mountain bike. I liked the Dash better as a city bike. I think the combination of the direct drive gearless hub AND the torque sensing pedal system must be the bomb. It is so seamless and quiet. At speed you feel like you really are pedaling that fast on your own. Funny.

These bikes are a quantum leap from everything else I have ridden. I surprised myself with what I decided to buy but in the end it was a no brainer. You can get a city kit for it, but I forgot to ask about it. Might do though. The bike seems well priced at $2600. They will start shipping in less than a month. I just looked at Court's video review of the bike. He nailed it when he kept saying how smooth and quiet it is.
 
Last edited:
Ralph, congrats on the Dash! It is high on my list and from what you said, Court, was right on with his review. I would be interested to know what you thought of the Peak, especially compared to the Dash. Did you notice a difference in how well the drive kicked in and out, when comparing the two bikes? I guess I am talking about how smoothly the torque sensing worked.
 
Dave, As you know the Peak has the 6mph throttle and the bottom of the tube center drive system like the Bosh. I rode the Dash around four city blocks and switched to the Peak. The Peak felt a little heavier, kind of like you could feel the weight at your feet. It is a 350W motor while the Dash is 500w and I could tell the difference. The odd thing about the Dash is that the throttle seems almost not necessary. I guess it is the way the torque sensor takes over so quickly and gets you on your way. To answer your question: on the Dash, the drive kicks in and stays in....or at least it feels that way. I am no expert, but my conclusion was that the Dash is more of an urban street bike that is built to go fast, while the Peak is a mountain bike that will work on the street but not designed for the street.

I was excited to buy the Peak with the cool center drive, but the Dash is better. Several guys rode it this morning and they all concluded the same. As a side note, you couldn't go wrong with the Nitro, Peak or Dash. They are head and shoulders above the prior gen pedaled systems I rode on the 2013 Pedegos and Curries. BY THE WAY, the hydraulic brakes on the Peak squeaked badly and from a rider view, was no big deal.

Hope this helps a bit.
 
Thanks for the detailed follow-up. I hope you'll consider posting once you've been riding the bike for a few weeks. (We should make sure we cross-post/cross-link to the brand-specific categories to make it easy for other people researching bikes to find the post.)

I plan to post after I've ridden my bike for a month. I also plan to submit another post after I've been riding in the most-humid months in the South Carolina Lowcountry. That's where the electric drive's benefits should really show!
 
I already started a Izip Dash thread. I agree with you. Sometimes these things are hard to find on a blog. Good luck with your new ride. I know you will love it. Have you ridden one or are you buying it sight unseen?
 
Ralph,
Thanks for getting back. It really helps to know how the Dash & Peak compare from someone who rode both back to back, so to speak. I had a feeling the Dash might win out as an urban type bike, and it's nice to know you agree with Court on how well the drive system performs.
 
Wohoo! I know you're going to love it Fitz. The City Commuter has long been one of my favorites and with all of the research you've done regarding sizing, power, modes, warranty etc. I think it will be perfect... Good luck sleeping tonight :D
 
Great news, Fitz.
Request from EBR community: Make a picture series of the unboxing to assembly and first ride.
Make it the best description available on the internet :)

Cheers
 
Great idea Ravi! Those "unboxing" threads would be perfect for each bike category I've got here... Something like "Bla Bla Bike Unboxing" in the "Bla Bla" category where people can chime in and then ask about what it was like to build, how it rides etc. over time!
 
I took photos when I unboxed and assembled the bike. I'll be posting my experience this weekend when I have a bit more time.
 
I got my two twelve-year-old sons to help me set it up. They were the ones who finally figured out how to get the latch open on the handlebars to make the adjustments. I will be swinging by the local bike shop on Saturday morning, though, to see if they can get the handlebars on a smidgen more straight. It's not as easy as you might think it'd be. I'll also be scheduling my 100 mile tune-up, which will be late next week (I plan to start my 20-mile-each-way work commute on Monday!).
 
Back