 |
| Izip Via Rapido E-Bike - Low Step / Women's Version (photo via Izip website) |
If so, let us introduce the more wallet-friendly selection of Izip bikes from
Currie Technologies. Currie sells a
range of e-bikes that could match almost anyone's budget, from the
$649 Via Mezza to the top-of-the-line $2,999 (pre-orders only)
Express bike with a 750w motor, speeds of 20+ mph and a lithium-ion battery pack.
Seeking to test a mid-range bike with mass-market appeal, I asked to test the
Via Rapido. Equipped with a lithium-ion battery and a 250w motor, the Via Rapido reaches a top-speed of around 15 mph and sports a $1,399 price tag - approximately half the price of the A2B or OHM XU500.
Update - The Via Rapido has recently gone on sale for $1,199, making it an even better deal...
So how does the Via Rapido perform versus its pricier rivals?
Well, don't expect the rockin' style, cushy ride and head-turning twist-and-go acceleration of the
A2B.
And forget the regenerative braking and speedy battery charging times of the
OHM XU500.
 |
| Izip Via Rapido Electric Bike - Diamond Frame/Men's Version (photo via Izip website) |
The Izip Via Rapido looks like a nice regular bike. Some casual observers probably won't even notice the slim lithium-ion power pack tucked under the rear cargo rack or the motor sticking out on the side of the rear wheel.
With 4-6 hour recharging times, you'll need to plan in advance when taking the Via Rapido on a trip past the bike's 15-22 mile range.
All that being said, Via Rapido still offers good bang for your buck and gives you all the essential benefits of an electric bike at a reasonable price. In some ways, I'd say it even outperforms its pricier A2B and XU500 competitors.
For example, the
Via Rapido weighs about 20 pounds less than the A2B, making it much easier to turn off the battery from time to time and propel the bike with pure leg power.
 |
| The Via Rapido's battery sits unobtrusively beneath the rear rack (photo by Aaron Dalton) |
The somewhat stealthy aspect of this e-bike may appeal to those who are more concerned with getting from one place to another than with making a style statement in the process.
In terms of peppiness, I still think the twist-and-go A2B takes the cake, but the Via Rapido can certainly hold its own against the XU500.
This is actually a little strange, since the XU500 has the more powerful motor (450w), but the 250w Via Rapido somehow seems to give a more powerful and reliable boost in real-world pedaling conditions.
I will say that the OHM XU500 gives a smoother assist with its fancy
Bionx system. In contrast, the Via Rapido starts out with pure pedal power then gives you a sudden electrical push. It sounds a little haphazard, but in real world riding, I found it to be lots of fun. After a while, I found that I could usually pump the pedals a few times, let the motor kick in and let the bike basically propel itself half a block while I stopped pedaling. When the bike motor cut off and the bike slowed down, I could start pedaling again to restart the motor, get another push and begin the cycle again.
On uphill segments of the ride, I would just keep pedaling the whole time, but moving the bike at a good pace never felt difficult even when climbing a long incline thanks to the electric-assist.
 |
| The warning label on the Izip Via Rapido throttle (photo by Aaron Dalton) |
I was not impressed, however, with the Via Rapido's throttle that was supposed to deliver an extra power boost. In practice, the throttle didn't seem to do much and sported a big warning sticker warning said: "Riding at full throttle dramatically decreases your range!" So I basically just ignored the throttle.
The Via Rapido's battery slides easily into and out a slot under the rear carry rack. I left the battery locked into place most of the time, but you could definitely carry it into your office or home for charging and leave the bike parked outside or in a garage.
 |
Close-up of clever lock and integrated rear reflector on Via Rapido battery
(photo by Aaron Dalton) |
Unfortunately, I did have some issues with the battery's gauge and the charger. One ride began with the battery gauge reading "Full" only to have the battery die on me after around 5 miles. Since the battery handled much longer rides at other times without dying, I can only assume that the gauge gave an incorrect reading on that particular ride. It wasn't a huge deal, but it did make me a little bit anxious on other rides -- like having a car and not knowing whether the gas gauge was accurate.
Also, the charger itself is a little finnicky. The very complicated manual gives a specific order for plugging in the charger to the wall, switching it on, plugging it into the battery. It says that an orange light on the charger should blink, but it never did. Actually, I found that if I followed the manual's instructions, the charger's light would turn green (which is supposed to signify a full battery) before I even plugged the charger into the battery! I ended up plugging in the charger, leaving it off, plugging the charger into the battery and then switching it on. That seemed to have the desired effect.
Remember, the Via Rapido's battery needs 4-6 hours for a full charge (according to the iZip manual). That's not a deal-breaker, but it does mean you can't charge up at a coffee shop. If you're commuting, you'll most likely need to leave the battery plugged in for a good chunk of the day at your office before heading home.
Front tire proximity to pedal - I originally had some concerns here, but now it appears that the issue may have been due to an assembly error on my part...
Accessories (or lack thereof) - This is a bare bones design. You get a rear carry rack with reflector and a couple of reflectors in the wheels, but no fenders and no headlight. Both the A2B and XU500 are better equipped -- but of course the $1,300 comparative discount on the
Via Rapido could buy you some sweet accessories with a lot of change left over.
 |
The motor positioned on the left side of the Via Rapido's rear wheel
(photo by Aaron Dalton) |
Mr. Obvious - I'll look more closely on future reviews, but I don't remember the motor on the A2B or XU500 sticking out quite so obviously as on the Via Rapido. It not very pretty - but it gets the job done and might give you some street cred in an I'm-all-about-functionality sort of way.
Manual - The Izip manual is filled with so many warnings that it may scare some riders away from even climbing onto their bike. I understand manufacturers need to protect themselves against litigation, but it's still a frightening manual.
(Maybe the user's manual needs its own warning label? "Reading this manual can cause mental anguish and ennui...")
 |
Generally, the Chinese-manufactured Via Rapido seemed solidly built,
but I did wonder whether these wires had enough protection
(photo by Aaron Dalton) |
Durability - Nothing broke on the Via Rapido while I was testing it, so that's a step up from my experience with the XU500. The Via Rapido felt solid, which gave me confidence biking through Brooklyn's nabes.
Bottom Line - On features, style, power and comfort, the A2B is still my favorite of the bikes I've tested.
But the Via Rapido delivers better bang for the buck and its lighter weight makes it more practical than the A2B from a pedaling standpoint.
If you're looking for a relatively affordable, fun, practical commuting option, the
Izip Via Rapido seems like a very good choice.
By the way, I do think it would be fantastic if an e-bike maker could split the difference between the simplicity of the Via Rapido and the informative, but complex/distracting Bionx console on the OHM XU500.
For example, would it be great to have detailed percentage info on remaining battery charge (like on a laptop), plus some information about speed and distance traveled. Would it be that hard to equip all e-bikes with pre-installed trip computers like the one that
Amazon sells for $9.99?
Where to buy:
You can buy the
men's or
women's versions of the Izip Via Rapido directly through the Izip website for $1,199 with free shipping.
FYI, Currie Technologies also sells a
conversion kit with (SLA) battery for $299 if you want to upcycle your existing bike by adding some e-bike juice.
For the balance-challenged or those who just want to relax and take in the scenery without worrying about toppling over while they ride, Currie Technologies does make an electric-assist tricycle called the
Izip Tricruiser sold through the Izip website for $999.
For those who commute a lot or don't have much storage space, Izip offers a folding e-bike called the
Mezza for just $699.
(12-pack for for $33.60).
if you're willing to buy in bulk ($38.88 for 24 boxes of 60 cups. That's just $1.62 per box and should keep you covered for several years of muffin baking unless you're running a bakery.)
