Izip electric tricruiser tricycle

[jimpl82]

Hi All. I have just joined because of all the subjects which are very interesting, but I cannot find what I am looking for and was wondering if anyone here can help me please, I have a electric izip tricruiser tricycle which I bought used for my wife as her legs are getting bad and thought this may be good for to get around, the problem I have though is that the rear brake which has a belt or strap in a metal case in the middle of the tricycle it does stop it but not very good, I have asked a few bike dealers but cannot find where to buy one and was wondering if anyone on pedelecs can help me please, I would be very grateful as I won't let my wife ride it until I know it's safe, Regards James

 

[peter.c]

Can you post a picture of the brake and its mountings might be able to do something

 

[flecc]

From your description James, this sounds like it's a band brake, a type that wraps a steel band around the perimeter of a drum and self wraps to give braking force. If so, they are never very effective and replacing it won't give an improvement.

The current version now uses a Winzip disc brake on the rear, but it seems that isn't brilliant either with complaints online about it.

This link is to some information in a thread on the Winzip disc brake.

And this link is to a supplier of parts for your trike, though they don't seem to show a rear brake in the list. They are US based like the IZIP company and you won't find any parts in the UK if this is where you are. I'm afraid IZIP support in the UK has always been absent or very poor.

Meanwhile your best brake by far is the front wheel V brake.
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[jimpl82]

Hi all Thank you for your fast replies I've put photos on hope this helps, I will look at the other ones mentioned may I ask are these tricycle's able to be changed to a different type of braking please. Regards James

 

[Raboa]

Hi, I have a spare Shimano XT front v brake (lever and brake, never used) if you want it. Yours if you pay the postage.

Thanks

 

[jimpl82]

Hi rania, thank you for your offer but I need to have ones for the back brakes, not sure what to do I don't know much about bikes apart from enjoying riding them. Regards James

 

[flecc]

Yes, that is a band brake as I suspected James. I'm afraid there's no easy way to change to any other type of rear brake. The alternatives of wheel rim brakes or disc brakes on the rear wheels both need suitable forks to work with, but of course the trike's rear wheels haven't got forks to attach to.

IZIP now using the Winzip disc brake might make that a possibility, but judging from the comments about that it probably wouldn't be much better.

So I'm sorry I can't suggest any solution.
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[jimpl82]

Hi all, I have been told that I could have 2 sets of brakes on the front wheel? Not sure how that would work as I don't want to see my wife go over the handle bars she would not be too happy lol

 

[jimpl82]

Hi fleck. Would the winzip type fit where the other is at the moment please. James

 

[flecc]

Hi all, I have been told that I could have 2 sets of brakes on the front wheel? Not sure how that would work as I don't want to see my wife go over the handle bars she would not be too happy lol

I almost included that in my above response James, but didn't for two reasons.

The second brake on the front wheel would need to be hub mounted, either a disc or roller brake, but both need fork mountings for them. The mountings can be brazed on but that's not advisable on slim tapered forks like those on your trike, since the braking forces could fracture the forks and cause an accident.

But as importantly, while two front brakes only is legal on an unpowered trike, it's not legal on a powered one in the UK.

If, and it's a big if on that trike, new 24" wheel forks with disc mounts could be fitted, you could have twin front brakes but still leave the existing rear brake lever in place mounted further in along the handlebar to comply with the law.

The problem would be whether any suitable forks of that size and slim headstock fitting exist. Sadly I think it's fairly unlikely.
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[Andy-Mat]

Hi All. I have just joined because of all the subjects which are very interesting, but I cannot find what I am looking for and was wondering if anyone here can help me please, I have a electric izip tricruiser tricycle which I bought used for my wife as her legs are getting bad and thought this may be good for to get around, the problem I have though is that the rear brake which has a belt or strap in a metal case in the middle of the tricycle it does stop it but not very good, I have asked a few bike dealers but cannot find where to buy one and was wondering if anyone on pedelecs can help me please, I would be very grateful as I won't let my wife ride it until I know it's safe, Regards James

Do you mean on its own its not working well?
In principle, the front brake is the most important, and the most powerful brake on a bike. The rear brake is there to add some steadying braking, but to never cause the rear to lock up or skid.....
If your wife is ONLY using the rear, that would be your problem.
The bike should stop very quickly when BOTH are used together correctly...
Using the front brake on its own can be dangerous, especially when going downhill!
On bikes with disk brakes, the rear brake is often of a smaller size for the above reasons.
I have owned many bikes over the last 60 years and two e-bikes, but I do not remember a single one where the rear brake stopped the bike fast.....I use it on long hills to control my speed, but only gently.
I hope this helps.
regards
Andy
PS.The other comments about band brakes are true to the best of my knowledge. Trikes are a problem it seems. I must check my neigbours trike the next time I see her on it. Maybe improvements can be made to the front brake.....Hydraulics maybe?

 

[jimpl82]

Hi flecc thank you for your help I will do as suggested to try to get hold of the company and see if they have any old stock, but thank you and all for your help. Regards James

 

[flecc]

Hi fleck. Would the winzip type fit where the other is at the moment please. James

That I don't know James. I did look for more information on that but couldn't find any. I rather doubt it though, since there would have to be the usual disc mounts on the shaft in place of the existing drum. So conversion could need to be extensive, replacing that shaft as well as the brake. I think only IZIP could give more information on that.

If your IZIP has one of the following serial numbers:

-Model 2007 IZIP Tricruiser # IZ-TRICR7-BL – Serial # ACB06L000001 to ACB07M999999
-Model 2008 IZIP Tricruiser # IZ-TRY8-BL – Serial # ACB08A000001 to ACB08J999999
-Model 2009/10 IZIP Tricruiser # IZ-TRY-RD – Serial # ACB09B000001 to ACB10G999999

It was made by Acetrikes Industrial Co. of China, so it may be possible to contact them for information, though that is a longshot of course.
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[jimpl82]

Hi andy-mat. Thank you for your help I had no idea that could be done, we live in north Shropshire wem we don't know what hills are here lol, anyway with your experience I think using your braking advice my wife will be safe riding it. Many thanks to you and all for your help. Regards James

 

[jimpl82]

Hi flecc. Thank you for your help, I'll look at the serial number and see which it is and try to get hold of whichever sells them. Thank you again you and all have been great. Regards James

 

[peter.c]

I changed the front forks on a trike so I could fit a disc on the front
if the chain is driven on a free wheel I have an adaptor that allows a rear disc to be fitted and the free wheel refitted
but a band brake if adjusted correctly should work my guess is oil or other contamination a good clean and adjust use car disc brake cleaner

 

[jimpl82]

Hi Peter. Thank you for your help I will check the brake to see if any nasty thing is there, we've had it in the shed since last August, but will buy some brake cleaner and hopefully it will solve the problem, thank you again everyone has been great on here. Regards James