Just one week into riding a step-through Lectric, so perhaps take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
BUT--
I think I can see how some (perhaps many) think e-bikes are dangerous. I hadn't ridden any bike for years and it has taken me this past week to once again feel the balance sensations and keep on top of the steering, which now is again almost second-nature. But I have concluded that PAS 1 can be very difficult; if I am going very slow and then begin to pedal, the motor comes on strong enough to create a balance issue if I'm in a sharp turn. From what I've read, the mid-motor designs with torque-sensing are far more transparent.
So my solution is to turn off PAS completely, which actually is not much of a sacrifice. I now have a perfectly-fine 7-speed bike AND a throttle-controlled bike. And the throttle can be very accurately modulated, making sharp turns very predictable. I also am finding that for much of my ride I am providing all the energy needed anyway. It's just the hills and the startup that make the throttle essential.
Finally, although I've lost the built-in speed limits of PAS 1-5, I can get exactly the same thing by simply engaging Cruise Control (pick a throttle setting, then hold down the (-) button for a second).
Too bad we couldn't add a torque sensor to these great bikes. Then perhaps PAS 1 would be much more controllable.
BUT--
I think I can see how some (perhaps many) think e-bikes are dangerous. I hadn't ridden any bike for years and it has taken me this past week to once again feel the balance sensations and keep on top of the steering, which now is again almost second-nature. But I have concluded that PAS 1 can be very difficult; if I am going very slow and then begin to pedal, the motor comes on strong enough to create a balance issue if I'm in a sharp turn. From what I've read, the mid-motor designs with torque-sensing are far more transparent.
So my solution is to turn off PAS completely, which actually is not much of a sacrifice. I now have a perfectly-fine 7-speed bike AND a throttle-controlled bike. And the throttle can be very accurately modulated, making sharp turns very predictable. I also am finding that for much of my ride I am providing all the energy needed anyway. It's just the hills and the startup that make the throttle essential.
Finally, although I've lost the built-in speed limits of PAS 1-5, I can get exactly the same thing by simply engaging Cruise Control (pick a throttle setting, then hold down the (-) button for a second).
Too bad we couldn't add a torque sensor to these great bikes. Then perhaps PAS 1 would be much more controllable.