Just got the ultra eagle - getting used to the midrive?

[ElevenAD]

Went out riding today so far NOT so good. Was going up a steep hill and I geared down ahead of time, got on the throttle just as I got to the very top of the hill it fucking wheelied and I fell on my ass. Almost did it a second time on another very steep hill that normally with my rear hub I hit it with some speed and momentum carries me. This kind of struggled at the top thought I was going to fall on my ass again.

First time to come to a stop light on this, geared down and normally on my rear hub just as I take off I start gearing up and get out of traffic. I can take off quicker than a car on my rear hub. With this I started to gear up and yep paused in the middle of a major intersection with a car coming at me wanting to make a left.

So I'm thinking why should I even change gears at all? Why not just keep it in the highest gear and just stay on the throttle? That way when I'm taking off from a stop I don't have to change gears and just let it pick up speed? Or really why even pedal on this thing? There's no middle ground with this thing, it's either balls to the wall wheelie or not enough assist and you have to continously stay on the throttle. Otherwise whenever I let go of the throttle there's a significant drop in speed. There's no coasting or cruising on this thing unless you stay on the throttle.

Then when I got down to 20% battery a couple minutes later I dropped to 0% all of a sudden so the display reading isn't even accurate. On my rear hub it has bars and if I'm down to 2 or 3 bars it doesn't just all of a sudden go to 0. It's really accurate and I've never ran out of power on the road in 1.5 yrs as my only form of transportation.

With my rear hub I can go UPHILL at 28-30 mph if I give it my full power pedaling and coming at it with momentum, I am in decent shape. this damn thing I can't I keep pausing going up hill the only thing I can do is just stay on the throttle. There are hills every where in Colorado I always thought thy said mid drive was better for hills. It's definately not for me. On my rear hub I only use the throttle when I take off from a dead stop otherwise I just rely on assist even going up hill. On this thing I have to stay on the throttle continously it sucks.

I'd rather be able to always consistently stay in the upper 20s lower 30 mph range like with my rear hub. I can't keep a consistent speed with this thing it's like there's no assist. It's either having to put in too much effort or its balls to the wall 35-38 mph. Id rather have a consistent speed my entire ride instead of being too slow or too fast.

turn down the PAS if your popping wheelies lol, the throttle is usually set to match whatever PAS level your in?

 

[TomD]

Throttle on Ultra is not PAS dependent, at least with stock programming.

 

[TForan]

To each their own, but I would never disconnect the shift sensor. It works remarkably well, IMO.

 

[AHicks]

nope not even once.

No concern over wear? You're waiting for it to break before it gets your attention?

 

[ElevenAD]

I have had to do all that anyway with my 750w rear hub juiced bike over the year. That's the reason I got a second bike was if one is in the shop. I don't care about the maintenance as long as I'm having fun with it.

that is the best advise any new E-bike buyer could get,always have a spare if possible.

No concern over wear? You're waiting for it to break before it gets your attention?

i would like to know how long it will last before giving me issues or snapping,no worries i always carry spare links and a chain breaker!

 

[ElevenAD]

To each their own, but I would never disconnect the shift sensor. It works remarkably well, IMO.

i agree!
disconnecting the shift sensor on an Ultra will not end well.

 

[TForan]

i agree!
disconnecting the shift sensor on an Ultra will not end well.

I would imagine that it would cut drivetrain life in half.

 

[lordnox09]

I would imagine that it would cut drivetrain life in half.

Unless you manually do it yourself with brake levers when I am approaching a stop I just lightly hold my brake well I shift to the gear I want to be in and same with shifting up I back off myself and then use the shift sensor then make sure it's fully shifted before revving it back up but yeah treating it like it's still there and just shifting I give it 4 rides and snap a chain at the least

 

[330rcs]

I disconnected my shift sensor as suggested by Biktrix. Went out for a short ride OMG yes this is exactly what I was talking about. So much better!! I didn't even go higher than level 1. That s*it was driving me nuts!! I mean I've been riding an ebike for the last 1.5 years through the hills of Colorado how the hell would I not know how to shift lol holy crap what a nightmare. I shift way too quick for that damn pause im always on the shifter with the hills here I'm always gearing up or down as I feel the tension and then having the motor stop on you on a hill no way screw that noise!!!!

Now only thing I need to do is update my throttle setting and increase the PAS once my programming cable arrives today. Because it does feel like it's lacking in PAS so I'm going to adjust it so it's just enough power to pedal comfortably when I'm tired and so I don't have to stay on the throttle and I don't think I'll need to go higher than level 1

I'm going to go ride for 10 miles and see how it does. I'd rather snap my chain than go back to that bullshit shift sensor. That's what AAA is for! Otherwise if it gives me that many issues I'm going to sell it and get another rear hub ebike because there's no way I'm EVER getting an ebike with a shift sensor EVER!!!! I HATE IT!!! It's not a bike anymore if you can shift when you please it's nonsense.

 

[McCorby]

Are you at least easing up on the pedals when you’re shifting? This is a good practice for any bike....eBike or not. If not.....good luck with that.

Also, can you please ease up on the language. There’s no need for it. Thank you.

 

[lordnox09]

I disconnected my shift sensor as suggested by Biktrix. Went out for a short ride OMG yes this is exactly what I was talking about. So much fucking better!! I didn't even go higher than level 1. That s*it was driving me nuts!! I mean I've been riding an ebike for the last 1.5 years through the hills of Colorado how the hell would I not know how to shift lol holy crap what a nightmare. I shift way too quick for that damn pause im always on the shifter with the hills here I'm always gearing up or down as I feel the tension and then having the motor stop on you on a hill no way screw that noise!!!!

Now only thing I need to do is update my throttle setting and increase the PAS once my programming cable arrives today. Because it does feel like it's lacking in PAS so I'm going to adjust it so it's just enough power to pedal comfortably when I'm tired and so I don't have to stay on the throttle and I don't think I'll need to go higher than level 1

I'm going to go ride for 10 miles and see how it does. I'd rather snap my chain than go back to that bullshit shift sensor. That's what AAA is for! Otherwise if it gives me that many issues I'm going to sell it and get another rear hub ebike because there's now I'm EVER getting an ebike with a shift sensor EVER!!!! I HATE IT!!!! BULLSHIT!!! It's not a bike anymore if you can shift when you please it's nonsense.

I completely catch your drift though riding a bike is riding a bike if you know how to effectively pedal a pedal bike then knowing how to ride a middrive smoothly will come natural I still let off like a normal bike even with my shift sensor I kinda make it non existant with the way I ride anyway it kinda just delays what I have already done I back off the motor enough that it just shuts off anyway then just spin the pedals with no tourqe applied and feel the shift then apply the strength I will not shift mid hill again as the 1 and only time I did it I snapped my chain as it skipped well shifting and literally couldn't even react the first pedal it snapped and it's a kmc e11 like 100$ chain supposed to be one of the best if not the best but even not covered under warranty biktrix still replaced it it for me just did it myself as I'm not a fan of lbs wait times but it's smoother than ever now and still wouldn't trust a shift on a hill

 

[330rcs]

So I just got back from 7 miles and yes I can pick up speed way faster that I can actually shift. Im faster than cars again from a stop lol but I am backing off throttle and shifter MANUALLY and I prefer it so much more. I don't have to worry about the motor pausing and slowing me down. Every time it would do that I would drop significant speed and its like Im starting over from 0 mph every time I shift. Now the motor is not interrupting me I can keep going with momentum and just back off the shifting, pedaling and throttle just as I make a shift I back off everything for a split second and as soon as I start pedaling I feel a boost!!!!! Its pretty awesome so far and this is all in level 1.

 

[TForan]

So I just got back from 7 miles and yes I can pick up speed way faster that I can actually shift. Im faster than cars again from a stop lol but I am backing off throttle and shifter MANUALLY and I prefer it so much more. I don't have to worry about the motor pausing and slowing me down. Every time it would do that I would drop significant speed and its like Im starting over from 0 mph every time I shift. Now the motor is not interrupting me I can keep going with momentum and just back off the shifting, pedaling and throttle just as I make a shift I back off everything for a split second and as soon as I start pedaling I feel a boost!!!!! Its pretty awesome so far and this is all in level 1.

Do you use only level 1 ? I did when I first got mine. Now, , I'll spend all day in 3-5 and 5 , if I'm in traffic . I also do very little shifting. I could get by with the top three gears.

 

[AHicks]

This is what I was talking about/thinking back in post #22. Take your time and get to know the bike. Have some fun with it! Coming from a 750w hub drive, there's a lot to learn here....

If you continue to look for short cuts, don't be surprised if you end up on your butt again...

 

[330rcs]

Do you use only level 1 ? I did when I first got mine. Now, , I'll spend all day in 3-5 and 5 , if I'm in traffic . I also do very little shifting. I could get by with the top three gears.

Yes so far I am staying with level 1 until I get more used to backing off the throttle and pedaling during a shift. Now that Im more in tuned with my shifting according to feel without being interrupted with the sensor, I noticed the same thing that I didn't have to gear down that low Im pretty sure it should be the same for me where I'll just be staying in the top 5 gears. Im just getting the feel for it. On my rear hub I would always gear down to 1 but it doesn't seem necessary here. Since the gears aren't numbered on the shifter I am having to count the shifts so just getting used to it.

 

[TForan]

Yes so far I am staying with level 1 until I get more used to backing off the throttle and pedaling during a shift. Now that Im more in tuned with my shifting according to feel without being interrupted with the sensor, I noticed the same thing that I didn't have to gear down that low Im pretty sure it should be the same for me where I'll just be staying in the top 5 gears. Im just getting the feel for it. On my rear hub I would always gear down to 1 but it doesn't seem necessary here. Since the gears aren't numbered on the shifter I am having to count the shifts so just getting used to it.

I couldn't stand the throttle with my bike. Too jumpy. Took it off the first week I had it.

 

[330rcs]

I couldn't stand the throttle with my bike. Too jumpy. Took it off the first week I had it.

Its because of how Biktrix has the throttle programmed as mentioned by another poster so Im going to update it accordingly so its not jumpy. Right now Im being very touchy with it because its so sensitive. But yes I much rather prefer assist than throttle I don't like just pushing down a button and going unless its a quick boost to get up to speed. I like to be able to pedal for my speed its so much funner. You feel like superman like its because of the power you're putting into the pedaling that you're going so fast instead of just pushing dowm a button. Because that's how I am on my rear hub 98% of the time its assist and shifting only.

 

[lordnox09]

My bike when I hit the trottle gives me full power I can be in pas 1 and when I hit the throttle it gives me 9 kinda would be nice to have it limited with each pas mode

 

[330rcs]

My bike when I hit the trottle gives me full power I can be in pas 1 and when I hit the throttle it gives me 9 kinda would be nice to have it limited with each pas mode

There was a poster that explained the steps earlier on how to program the throttle so that if you push the throttle too far instead of giving full power it will gradually increase so that's what I'm going to try.

 

[TForan]

Its because of how Biktrix has the throttle programmed as mentioned by another poster so Im going to update it accordingly so its not jumpy. Right now Im being very touchy with it because its so sensitive. But yes I much rather prefer assist than throttle I don't like just pushing down a button and going unless its a quick boost to get up to speed. I like to be able to pedal for my speed its so much funner. You feel like superman like its because of the power you're putting into the pedaling that you're going so fast instead of just pushing dowm a button. Because that's how I am on my rear hub 98% of the time its assist and shifting only.

I'm just not fan of throttles on e-bikes. I see too many people cruising on MUTs using only the throttle. I think it makes us look bad, like it's really an electric scooter.