It works well, isn’t too hard to figure out but still offers variety in ride experience. There are three LED lights (green, yellow and red) to display how much power is left. It’s pretty simple, just press the red power button then select pedal assist (PAS) or twist and go (TAG) with the little black switch and start pedaling to activate the motor or twist the throttle to go. This bike uses the same PAS/TAG electronics and twist throttle that many other Currie bikes do. The downside here is that the oversized bars don’t work well with stock pannier clips but you can always use a saddle bag on top or get a double pannier that slings over the rear rack and doesn’t use clips. The frame, dropouts and battery cage are burly! The battery rack itself is welded directly onto the frame and includes a myriad of support bars that double as wheel protectors when using panniers. While it’s not officially recommended, I can see why people would choose this platform to experiment with. This bike offers a great stock combination of power and range but I’ve seen several YouTube videos and articles about people who connect even more powerful batteries to overclock their rides to go faster and further. The battery driving this system is 11.4 amp hours offering good range and is made with Lithium-ion technology that can endure hundreds of charge cycles before capacity degradation begins. This is the kind of bike that could easily pull a small trailer or support cargo add-ons. The 36 volt battery delivers enough juice to move large riders easily and even climb medium sized hills. The 500 watt rear hub motor is geared, providing extra torque, and running smooth and quiet.

Pedaling this bike is enjoyable but the electric assist and drive modes are where it really shines. six or just one on the other cruisers respectively. It’s more fun and comfortable to pedal the Zuma! It also comes with seven gears vs. The pedals however, aren’t positioned as far forward as other comparable ebikes such as the Pedego Cruiser or Electra Townie Go and presents one distinct advantage. The seat is oversized and has built in springs to absorb bumps and the handlebars are swept back so you don’t have to lean forward to reach them. In terms of body position this bike feels more like a motorcycle than a mountain or road bike. But for these reasons, I love it! The Zuma is sturdy, easy to use and rides more like a Cadillac than a sports car. It’s not very light, it’s not very nimble and the pedal assist mode isn’t very responsive because it uses pedelec vs. Those that try to play to the strengths of traditional bikes (lightweight, nimble, responsive) and those that accept the extra weight and size brought on by motors and battery packs and use that to their advantage. In my experience there are really two types of electric bikes. The price is decent, there are lots of colors to choose from and while it does lack a couple extras I’d like such as fenders and lights, it keeps riding simple and offers pedal assist and throttle modes for different ride styles.

It’s built on a sturdy cruiser platform that comes in both high step cantilever and low step designs. That’s because it’s solid, smooth, fast and fun to ride. The E3 Zuma is my favorite electric bike in the IZIP line and ranks high in my list of ebikes from any brand. You can follow this link to see a video and written review of the new 2014 IZIP Zuma. On the new Zuma, the battery is mounted just behind the seat post tube which keeps weight lower, helping to stabilize the ride. The best way to tell it apart from the newer model is that the battery pack is mounted in a rear rack.

You may discover this bike at a garage sale or possibly being sold new at a discount. This review is for the older 2013 IZIP E3 Zuma.

Izip e3 zuma 2013