![]() You get a rear carry rack with reflector and a couple of reflectors in the wheels, but no fenders and no headlight. 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.įront 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…Īccessories (or lack thereof) – This is a bare bones design. That’s not a deal-breaker, but it does mean you can’t charge up at a coffee shop. Remember, the Via Rapido’s battery needs 4-6 hours for a full charge (according to the iZip manual). 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. It says that an orange light on the charger should blink, but it never did. 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 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.Īlso, the charger itself is a little finnicky. 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. One ride began with the battery gauge reading “Full” only to have the battery die on me after around 5 miles. Unfortunately, I did have some issues with the battery’s gauge and the charger. 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.Ĭlose-up of clever lock and integrated rear reflector on Via Rapido battery (photo by Aaron Dalton) 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. 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. 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. I will say that the OHM XU500 gives a smoother assist with its fancy Bionx system. 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. 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. 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. The Via Rapido's battery sits unobtrusively beneath the rear rack (photo by Aaron Dalton) Well, don’t expect the rockin’ style, cushy ride and head-turning twist-and-go acceleration of the A2B.Īnd forget the regenerative braking and speedy battery charging times of the OHM XU500. ![]() So how does the Via Rapido perform versus its pricier rivals? Update – The Via Rapido has recently gone on sale for $1,199, making it an even better deal… 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. Seeking to test a mid-range bike with mass-market appeal, I asked to test the Via Rapido. 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. If so, let us introduce the more wallet-friendly selection of Izip bikes from Currie Technologies. Izip Via Rapido E-Bike - Low Step / Women's Version (photo via Izip website)ĭo you like the idea of riding an electric bike, but balk at the price tag of around $2,699 each for bikes like the A2B by Ultra Motor or the Urban XU500 from OHM?
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