It’s a bike that was specced well for relaxed daytime riding for pleasure, but doesn’t come with fenders, a rear rack, or integrated lights… Though, it is wired for lights if you want to add them later. Finally, the mid-drive motor used here doesn’t offer fancy shift detection or offer torque sensing, just a fairly-good cadence sensor. There’s no suspension fork or seat post suspension here, but you could add a cheap aftermarket post and shim for under $50.
Instead of trigger shifters, they chose a large thumb shifter that can be trickier to reach, and the 160 mm disc brakes are mechanical which requires more hand strength and isn’t as adjustable (in terms of lever reach). They opted for a Shimano Altus derailleur, which is one step-up from the lowest component group in the Shimano line. The seven-speed drivetrain is good enough for around urban rides on concrete but might struggle a bit on the steepest hills. In order to get the price point lower, a few hardware compromises have been made. The geometry is relaxed and upright, wider tires provide stability and comfort, and two frame styles and colorways offer a “his and hers” possibility where you could share batteries and deal with one company (and possibly get a deal purchasing multiple bikes at the same time). What the IZIP E3 Zuma offers is a comfortable, relatively affordable, neighborhood cycling experience. I’ve visited the headquarters and personally know a few of the team members who answer calls and they helped me get feedback and details to create this review.
You can call in to get help with issues and find replacement parts going back several generations. IZIP has a good reputation in the space because they are backed by an electric bike competency support center.
IZIP ZUMA 2.0 UPDATE
It’s a wonderful update and one of my favorite current-generation cruiser ebikes. This improves frame stability and handling, reduces frame flex, and offers greater range because the mid-motor can leverage the gears to climb or maintain speed more efficiently.
I’ve reviewed four earlier versions of the IZIP E3 Zuma electric bicycle, dating back to 2014, but this latest 2018 iteration is the first one I’ve seen that uses a mid-drive motor and downtube mounted battery pack. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you with our opinions and data but respect your right to know that we receive compensation :) It’s the same flat fee for each bike, and it helps us to keep the site going while limiting ad clutter. EBR charges a service fee to manufacturers to produce ebike reviews and videos, this began in 2018.
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