Using an E-Bike: Pedal Assist vs Throttle
When purchasing an electric bike, it is important to consider what form of propulsion you wish to use. E-Bikes come equipped with the ability to assist you in pedaling the bike by making this much easier, or by moving you forward using a throttle alone. Some fat tire electric bikes will come with the ability to do both!
Depending on your interest, ability and comfortability, it is important to consider what type of motor assist is best for you!
What is Throttle assist and Pedal Assist?
Before comparing the two, let’s explore how the throttle of an electric bike and the pedal assist functionality work.
Pedal assist is the most commonly used operation on e-bikes as all e-bikes must have functioning pedals to be considered an electric bike by definition. In this method, the rider must use the pedals to engage the motor. Once the rider begins pedaling, the motor of the electric bike will begin to work to move the bike along. This makes pedaling much easier and takes a good portion of the effort off of the rider. To control speed and move the bike faster, or up more steep climbs, many e-bikes will have gear systems that allow the rider to control their pedaling and speed as they would without a motor.
Throttles are mounted to the handlebar. These may be seen in a thumb press model or a twist model throttle. Engaging the throttle starts the motor without the need to pedal, allowing the rider to move freely without using the pedals. In most cases, the speed can be conThrottles are mounted to the handlebar. These may be seen in a thumb press model or a twist model throttle. Engaging the throttle starts the motor without the need to pedal, allowing the rider to move freely without using the pedals. In most cases, the speed can be controlled with the throttle as well, allowing control over the bike even further.
E-Bike Classes
Electric bikes are placed into a class system based on their form of motor assistance, and their top speed when using the motor. The class system is used in states across the country to allow e-bikes legally in certain areas or bike paths. The class system ensures that electric bikes are used in a safe manner on various different paths including bike paths, off-road trails, sidewalks and more!
There are three classes in this system. Let’s look into them!
Class 1
An electric bike in class 1 has a motor that only engages when the rider is pedaling and does not have a throttle. The motor is also limited to 20 miles per hour meaning that once the bike reaches 20 miles per hour, the motor will stop assisting the rider.
Class 2
An electric bike in class 2 has a motor that can be engaged with a pedal assist or a throttle. These e-bikes are equipped with pedals and a throttle. These electric bikes also have a limit of 20 miles per hour, but the rider can use either the throttle, or the pedal assist to reach this speed with the assistance of the motor!
Class 3
An electric bike in class 3 has the ability to reach a speed of 28 miles per hour with pedal assist. These e-bikes must have a speedometer to monitor the speed of travel and many of these bikes will have throttles as well.
All of these bikes can reach speeds over 20 miles an hour or even 28 miles an hour if the rider pedals them faster, but the motor will only assist according to its class.
Throttle Use, Advantages and Disadvantages
A throttle is a device mounted to the handlebars of an electric bike that is used to engage the motor. Throttles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are equally diverse in their abilities.
In general, an e-bike will come equipped with a thumb lever or a twist throttle. A thumb lever is typically found near the gears and is pressed using the thumb to engage the motor. In some cases, these levers boost the bike forward. In other uses, the lever is pressed and the motor engages depending on how far the lever is pressed forward, which allows the rider to control the speed at which the bike moves forward. In comparison, a twist throttle is typically mounted onto one of the handlebars. When these types of throttles are twisted, the motor is activated. Depending on how far the throttle is twisted, the bike will move more slowly or more quickly.
Now that we have a basic understanding of how the throttle system works, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of using this system and some of the disadvantages.
Advantages of Throttle Use
- Ease of Use: When using the throttle in situations where you are going against the wind, or up a steep hill, this allows for a much easier ride as minimal effort is required to maintain speed.
- Less Strain: Using the throttle in place of pedaling allows for strain to be taken off of the rider’s legs. For those with arthritis, or knee injuries, this is a great way to enjoy riding a bike without causing further strain on the joints!
- Commuting: Riders who are using their e-bikes to travel will find the throttle useful to cross intersections quickly or to keep up with the flow of other traffic. The throttle allows for a quick start without relying on pedaling.
Disadvantages of Throttle Use
- Battery Life: When using the throttle alone without pedal assist, the battery will drain much more quickly as the motor is working alone without the assistance of the rider. This is something to consider on rides that may be a bit longer!
- Fitness: Using the throttle consistently can lead to some riders depending on the throttle instead of the pedals. This could lead to less pedaling overall, and a loss in exercise and muscle use while riding.
Pedal Assist Use, Advantages and Disadvantages
The pedal assist system works with the rider. The motor shares the responsibility with the rider as you pedal. When pedaling, the motor will engage and assist in keeping the bike at a steady speed. Using the gear system of the bike as you pedal will control the speed of the bike as it would on a bicycle without a motor.
Many pedal assist systems have levels of motor engagement. For example, in pedal assist level 1, the rider is responsible for pedaling with more effort and the battery and motor are not used as much. At pedal assist level 3, the motor will engage more quickly with the rider pedaling, putting more strain on the motor and battery, and less on the rider. The level of pedal assist allows the rider more capability depending on the level they choose to use during the ride, and this level can typically be adjusted easily while in use.
With this information about the pedal assist system, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Advantages Of Pedal Assistance
- Fitness: Pedaling with the assistance of a motor is still great for cardiovascular health and muscle growth!
- Battery: Because the motor and battery are working with the rider, the battery life is extended as it is not solely responsible for moving the bike.
- Ease of Use: Most e-bike riders are very familiar with pedaling a standard bicycle and using the gear system, and the pedal assist system will feel very intuitive to them, making the adjustment to a new e-bike easy!
Disadvantages of Pedal Assistance
- Commuting: The pedal assist system will not engage the motor as quickly, leading to a slower build up in speed. This can place riders at a slight disadvantage with crossing intersections or keeping up with traffic.
- For those newer riders, adjusting to learning the gear system and the pedal assistance levels can have a learning curve.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to use the pedal assist system or the throttle system, both will serve you well in your e-bike journey! Both offer a great way to get out and ride around town or commute to your next location and because most electric bikes are equipped with both, you can experiment to find the perfect combination for you!
