Received my Ezee Liv this morning! I'm now an e-biker
Setting things up. There's not much to do apart from straighten the handle bars, attach the peddles and then adjust the seat height. I guess this all took 2 minutes. Attaching the computer (an optional purchase) took a bit longer as I couldn't get the counter thingy close enough to the spokes. Eventually the bike was charged up and ready to go so I set off to a friend who lives 2 miles away.
First impressions were very good - the bikes well made and feels very solid. It accelerated quite quickly to it's max speed but seeing as the computer wasn't working I can't give a figure. My friend insisted on a run and came back with a smile on his face. After coffee I headed into central London 8 miles away.
Gears. The gears worked well and I really didn't have to think about them much. My original intention was to not peddle all the way and see when the battery conked out but I quite enjoyed gently pedalling with the throttle at 3/4s and the gearing was just right for this.
The brakes are good - v-brakes in front for quick stops and a roller brake behind for long descents. I just used them both all the time and thought no more about them.
The suspension works fine and the ride feels comfortable. I may change the suspension saddle though to a normal saddle though just to get a lower seat height for my wife (5' 3").
The battery charge meter shows green, amber and red ... frequently ... it seems to depend on whether you're going uphill at full throttle (red) or downhill just pedalling (green). If you're not using the throttle then it seems to be more honest. I think this is true of all e-bikes today.
The lighting is powered by a dynamo on the front wheel with a light at the front and another at the back. Both lights have bulbs. It seems to work OK but I only tried it in daylight.
Other extras were a stand which seems well made and a bicycle rack on the back with an in built reflector. Tyres look good.
What would I change?
Overall I really enjoyed my ride. The bike seems very well made, it has a fair turn of speed, copes well with all the hills we met especially if you gently peddle to help out. When I got back from my ride I managed to get the computer to work by using a spacer made out of a piece of rubber. I immediately set of for a speed test on the road outside my house which has a very gentle incline. It averaged 15.5 mph (no surprise there) with 17.5 downhill and 13.5 uphill but remember this is after an 18 mile ride. I'm very pleased with my purchase!
Now all I have to do is convince my wife to use it for her 3 mile commute to work.
Mike Robinson
Setting things up. There's not much to do apart from straighten the handle bars, attach the peddles and then adjust the seat height. I guess this all took 2 minutes. Attaching the computer (an optional purchase) took a bit longer as I couldn't get the counter thingy close enough to the spokes. Eventually the bike was charged up and ready to go so I set off to a friend who lives 2 miles away.
First impressions were very good - the bikes well made and feels very solid. It accelerated quite quickly to it's max speed but seeing as the computer wasn't working I can't give a figure. My friend insisted on a run and came back with a smile on his face. After coffee I headed into central London 8 miles away.
Gears. The gears worked well and I really didn't have to think about them much. My original intention was to not peddle all the way and see when the battery conked out but I quite enjoyed gently pedalling with the throttle at 3/4s and the gearing was just right for this.
The brakes are good - v-brakes in front for quick stops and a roller brake behind for long descents. I just used them both all the time and thought no more about them.
The suspension works fine and the ride feels comfortable. I may change the suspension saddle though to a normal saddle though just to get a lower seat height for my wife (5' 3").
The battery charge meter shows green, amber and red ... frequently ... it seems to depend on whether you're going uphill at full throttle (red) or downhill just pedalling (green). If you're not using the throttle then it seems to be more honest. I think this is true of all e-bikes today.
The lighting is powered by a dynamo on the front wheel with a light at the front and another at the back. Both lights have bulbs. It seems to work OK but I only tried it in daylight.
Other extras were a stand which seems well made and a bicycle rack on the back with an in built reflector. Tyres look good.
What would I change?
- I'd prefer LED lights running directly of the battery with a switch on the handlebars. It just seems odd to me to have a huge battery under the saddle and yet use a dynamo to power the lights.
- I intend to stick a frame lock (O-lock) on board with a cable.
- The tyres are good but, given the choice, I'd prefer those marathon plus (puncture proof) tyres if the price difference wasn't too great.
- I'd probably prefer no suspension at all if it gave a reasonable weight saving. This would also mean I could have a saddle that would then adjust further down for my wife (5' 3") but then I'll probably do this any way.
- Fuel cell and 30mph max speed. Am I being unreasonable now?
Overall I really enjoyed my ride. The bike seems very well made, it has a fair turn of speed, copes well with all the hills we met especially if you gently peddle to help out. When I got back from my ride I managed to get the computer to work by using a spacer made out of a piece of rubber. I immediately set of for a speed test on the road outside my house which has a very gentle incline. It averaged 15.5 mph (no surprise there) with 17.5 downhill and 13.5 uphill but remember this is after an 18 mile ride. I'm very pleased with my purchase!
Now all I have to do is convince my wife to use it for her 3 mile commute to work.
Mike Robinson
Last edited:
