My first ebike was a low end Chinese model. The build quality wasn't great but it had controls that I really liked. Instead of the normal Pedal Assist with various levels it had a thumb lever (like a throttle) for pedal assist. It also had a hand grip throttle. This lever meant that I could make small adjustments when I wanted, for example, to keep an even distance when I was following my husband. It also meant that I could, without paying any attention, move the lever right down, instantly turning off pedal assist, or slide it right up with my thumb to give me full power or just move my thumb up or down just a little. I didn't need to know what level of pedal assist I was in and how many taps it would take to go back to zero or to full power. It actually worked much better than my more expensive bike that has the standard preset levels of pedal assist. Does anyone know of a brand of ebike that has the lever type of pedal assist? You can't search for it, because as soon as you do you get information on the throttle and not a pedal assist lever. If anyone has seen this type of control on a bike please let me know. When I first got it I was concerned that it wasn't the norm, now I don't know why it isn't having had both types of pedal assist controls.
Pedal Assist controls
- Thread starter RoadsAway
- Start date
HonoraryOrange
Member
This sounds pretty nice! With my current bike, each level of pedal assist is really just a 'Speed that the bike will quickly get up to'. It'd be nice to be able to fine tune it more for times I'm behind someone on a trail that I can't really pass but they're going like 2mph below the next assist level...
Having a throttle type control is so much better than up and down buttons. My new bike has levels 0 - 6. Yesterday I was in 5 and wanted to turn off the pedal assist quickly, I hit the up button twice but one of the two clicks didn't take, probably my fault, and I ended up in full power (6) when I thought I PAS was off. Not good.
I would think any assist-lock as described could put you in a dangerous situation. Why not just find a throttle only ebike? I honestly really don't know why programmers think they can determine assist desired / wanted better than a rider just directly controlling it but there are egos involved I'm sure.
I enjoy "riding" or pedaling my bicycle. The electric bike is to assist me and not to turn it into a moped which has all sorts of ramifications. I love the pedal assist and the throttle capabilities. It is just that so far I have owned two sets of ebikes, each with features that I liked and disliked. I would like my next ebikes, which I will be purchasing very soon, to have the best of all worlds. What this really means is that I want the controls from my original, lower end bike, specifically a lever control for pedal assist on better quality bikes. So far it isn't looking good.
I've just found some issues with the PAS (Yamaha and Bosch) ebikes I own. I absolutely want to pedal and contribute to a significant degree as a rider but I have not found that when I ride my throttle only ebike that I pedal any less. I don't have to pedal but a throttle does not prevent pedaling as so many seem to imply on these forums. A throttle just gives the rider total control of the assist level .... I think of it as a continuously variable assist level setting.
Ken, I assume that you have to continuously hold your throttle for it to work. I agree that when I use the throttle I also usually keep pedaling. On the ebike controls that I so liked (and just sold because I couldn't ship them home), the pedal assist lever could be left in any position, whereas with the throttle I have to keep my hand on it. Using it as an occasional throttle this isn't a problem but I do like to just set my pedal assist lever and leave it. On my new ebike the throttle is a little thumb lever instead of a hand grip which I can't reach really easily. It is also very jerky at really slow speeds. If the inexpensive bikes that I had originally had these great controls I don't see why I can't find a better bike that does. Having tried both, I don't know why the pedal assist buttons became the norm, the lever is so much more practical......Jackie
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
No, my real throttle on the new bikes, Magnum Premium 48, looks less durable and pushes up and down which is harder to maintain a steady pressure, at least for my short thumbs. I can live with the throttle I have if I could only get a lever for my pedal assist. I am probably going to fold shortly and buy a second set of ebikes just like the ones that I have now to keep in Canada. They are way better bikes than my old ones, I just wish I liked the controls better or that I could find a better folding alternative. I don't want the RadMini for us.
Bruce Arnold
Well-Known Member
That sounds like a pretty useful way to implement the throttle. I wonder why it's not more common.
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