Lectric Trike2 750 throttle problem

[Tom521]

We just received two Lectric Trike2 750s. They seemed fine until we tried to ride them using the throttle to move from a dead stop.

The throttles on each bike turn about 10 degrees (or about 1/4") before anything at all happens. Then the trike suddenly lurches and lunges forward.

Is this normal? Lectric says "operating as designed."

We've had two other ebikes (both kinds from Rad); their throttles were smooth and predictable from zero speed on up. Moving away from a dead stop was always gentle and predictable.

Since Lectric says they designed the trikes to do this lunging behavior (not sure why?), I tried to return them for a refund because we're in our mid eighties and this could lead to tipping over if a turn was involved - or getting them out of the garage which could lead to a small crash - very undesirable events!

Having said this, is there another throttle or controller that could be swapped in to prevent this sudden onset behavior?

Tom

 

[CanNik]

You can't get a refund on something that is not faulty it isn't their fault you can't use them

 

[Tom521]

Faulty design is certainly something they can control. Other bikes/trikes do not exhibit this dangerous behavior.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Welcome aboard! Sounds like a bad throttle implementation — no shortage of those out there.

But there could also be a narrow band of lever positions with a more progressive response that you might have overlooked.

Happened to me on our first ebikes. I thought their thumb throttles were all or nothing, but wife said, nope, you just have to find the right spot with the lever. And she was right — just this once, mind you.
;^}

With practice, I could thereafter feather in as much or as little throttle as I wanted. The trick for fine control: Plant my thumb on the housing and just roll it into the lever. Easy to hold a steady boost that way. Soon became 2nd nature.

Good luck.

 

[Tom521]

Jeremy,

Sure sounds like something to try - thank you.

 

[stompandgo]

Your dealer may be able to get to a settings screen on the display. Things that can be adjusted are:

Throttle active only after pedaling
PAS sensitivity
Throttle active when already moving

Some combination of these kinds of settings should get rid of the lurching. Also start in PAS level 1 and switch up once underway. Level 1 usually isn't hard off the line.

 

[Tom521]

stompandgo,

Good list of things to look into. Alas, I'm in NE FL and there's no Lectric dealer nearby so I'll try as best I can to see if those settings will help.

Tom

 

[PCeBiker]

The throttles on each bike turn about 10 degrees (or about 1/4") before anything at all happens. Then the trike suddenly lurches and lunges forward.

Is this normal? Lectric says "operating as designed."

My first ebike did the same thing. I replaced the "Quick" thumb throttle with a twist throttle and it didn't help.
Then I replaced the display with an off-road display that allowed for more adjustments, and that didn't help either so I replaced the controller with a KT controller and display and that made a world of difference.

My new ebike is also a cadence sensing rear hub drive ebike with a half-twist throttle, but the throttle feels way better.

The throttle still has the ¼" dead spot at the beginning of the rotation, and another ¼" at the end, but I get no lurching.
The programming of the power delivery is Way Better than my first ebike.

You should be able to install a KT controller and display on your trikes, but it may get a bit involved.
There might be some proprietary stuff going on with your trike?

Lectric says "operating as designed." so there probably isn't going to be any programming you can do to "fix" something that Lectric doesn't consider broken.

Faulty design is certainly something they can control. Other bikes/trikes do not exhibit this dangerous behavior.

Shitty programming of the power delivery is a design fault as far as I see it, but they don't see it that way.

 

[Tom521]

PCeBiker,​

Thank you for another possibility for fixing this design flaw!

I did a preliminary internet search; it seems "interesting" to try to find a KT model number that will work specifically with the Lectric 750 trike2. Perhaps I'll be able to find a source for that if I keep looking...

Tom

 

[Tom521]

Just to update this problem, the trike could not be made to hold a steady speed in SPORT mode (PAS 3?) even by holding the throttle absolutely still the speed surged from wide open to idle about once or twice per second.

I don't know if it was this behavior or the bad differential but Lectric is sending a box for me to return it.

It has 3 miles on the odometer.

Tom

 

[Old-tool-guy]

You can't get a refund on something that is not faulty it isn't their fault you can't use them

That was a shitty comment. If you can’t say something nice, ir at least neutral, then don’t say anything at all.

 

[Tom521]

Update January 5, 2026:

Lectric sent me to a dealer who diagnosed a bad differential so they agreed to send me a box for the return. Three weeks later it still hasn't been picked up; Lectric cautions me that even after it reaches their facility it may be at least two more weeks before they can replace it.

Ultimately that means four to five months after I bought two of them that the first replacement will be here. So I'm out about $3K for three miles. Who knows what other fun I might receive at their hands? It's turned out to be a giant frustration...

Tom

 

[Chazmo]

Sounds like a crappy situation, Tom. Direct to customer sales don’t always work out, as in your case. I hope things come to a satisfactory conclusion for you soon.

As Jeremy mentioned earlier, unfortunately a lot of e-bikes have lousy throttle implementations. I didn’t even know there were bikes (trikes) that had differentials and/or what that has to do with a lunging throttle. Anyway, good luck!

 

[Tom521]

Chazmo,

Any trike driving two rear wheels requires a differential, otherwise one wheel would have to skid when turning a corner.

The differential defect was found by the local bike shop. I think looking back that the noises from the rear during my brief riding experience could have been a symptom of the problem - loud clicks.

Once again Fedex has performed as expected - they failed to pick it up yesterday despite having me stay home all day.

As a result Lectric has offered either replacement or refund - per my request - a fair offer. I have to figure out whether my wife's trike - same make/model (Lectric Trike2 750,) bought at the same time needs the same treatment. Not fun, but I guess not life-threatening so now I need to decide.

Tom

 

[Chazmo]

You’ve been very dissatisfied. Take the full refund on both bikes and go elsewhere.

 

[Tom521]

Update today: Lectric has been very responsive - after more than 3 months...

The red one is scheduled to be picked up by Fedex (that's a "believe it when I see it" - not Lectric - Fedex!) tomorrow. Last time we scheduled a Fedex pickup they didn't show.

A box is ordered for returning the blue one.

The plan is to receive a refund for both, then to decide where to go from here? Maybe a Lectric ONE? We'll see.

I'll post again when/if this all happens. Just glad for Lectric's support - no way to get the months back but so far another learning experience. Still optimistic!

Tom

 

[PCeBiker]

Any trike driving two rear wheels requires a differential, otherwise one wheel would have to skid when turning a corner.

I've seen trike "differentials" that had only one side driven.
Only one of the rear wheels was connected to the crank.
The other side idled.

Keep in mind that with a "normal" differential, if one wheel starts to spin out, all the power goes to That wheel and the other side idles.
Unless you've got an LSD.

(I mean Limited Slip Differential, not the hallucinaic. I don't recommend riding while intoxicated. )

 

[Chazmo]

I was going to suggest Aventon but I don’t think they have a trike. Rad’s out of the game. I’m not sure what to suggest except another Lectric.

Find a bike shop that has trikes and can support you. You might have to pay more, but it sounds like it might be worth it.

 

[stompandgo]

Velotric makes a folding trike, the Triker.

 

[Tom521]

Thanks for the suggestions!

We both had problems trying to adjust to "how to ride a trike" so we've agreed to try another 20" ebike. Lectric's ONE is at least 20 lbs lighter than any of the prior ebikes we've had and has the equivalent of an automatic transmission. I'm planning to try one after all the return/refund dust settles.