I remember buying my first bike, my brain was fused and fried because of all the research I had to do on deciding pedal assist or throttle e-bike.
And, it was so confusing because I didn’t know anything about pedal assist, the sensors used in pedal assist, and e-bike classifications- you could call me a noob’s noob.
Obviously the same with throttle- if you know a throttle e-bike comes with 2 different motor types so you need to have a good amount of understanding to make the right decision.
BUT what am I here for? Let me help you-
In Pedal Assist E-bikes, you get 2 sensors:
- Cadence sensor
- Torque sensor
To understand the Cadence sensor and torque sensor in-depth check this article.
In Throttle E-bikes, you get 2 types of motors:
- Hub motor
- Mid-Drive Motor
To know about hub motors and mid-drive motors in detail check this blog post link.
After reading both the articles you can easily choose the sensor and motor for your e-bike. If you still left with any queries you can ask me at [email protected]
In this article, I will clear all your doubts regarding pedal assist and throttle, which one is best for you, pros and cons. All the necessary stuff that you need to know between pedal assist and throttle before buying an e-bike.
What is Pedal Assist?
Pedal assist is a function in electric bikes where you pedal and the electric motor is engaged by the movement of the pedalling and make your riding experience more fluid and easy.
Now, let’s see the pros and cons of having a pedal assist bike.
What is Throttle?
In throttle you don’t need to pedal, you just have to twist the throttle which is located in the handlebar (usually a twist or thumb throttle) and it will power the bike motor.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of having a throttle bike.
Pedal Assist vs Throttle: Comparison
| Consideration | Pedal Assist | Throttle |
|---|---|---|
| Riding Purpose | If you want to exercise and enjoy cycling then you could prefer PAS. | If you have to travel from one place to another destination more often then throttle might be beneficial. |
| Fitness Level | PAS is best for people who are into fitness and ride cycles for KMs. With the help of pedal assist you can ride the bike for extra KMs easily compared to the non-PAS bike. | Very little physical activity is involved in the throttle bike. The reason you know why less physical activity is almost zero. |
| Battery Life and Range | It is obvious pedal assist offers better battery efficiency, which could be crucial for longer rides. | In throttle ebikes, the motor has to be active all the time which consumes the battery more. |
| Rules & Regulations | More favourable in the majority of cities. | It has complications riding a throttle bike on the road. Before buying check your local laws. |
| Cost | A decent pedal assist bike typically cost $1000-$1500. | A decent pedal assist bike typically costs $1000-$1500. |
E-Bike Class System
What is E-Bike Classification?
Basically, the US government divided e-bikes into 3 classes. To regulate the e-bike industry laws.
Class 1:
- Pedal Assist Only: The motor assists only when the rider is pedalling.
- Speed Limit: Assistance up to 20 mph (32 km/h).
- Motor Power: Typically limited to 750 watts.
Class 2:
- Throttle On Demand: The motor can propel the bike without pedalling.
- Speed Limit: Assistance up to 20 mph (32 km/h).
- Motor Power: Typically limited to 750 watts.
Class 3:
- Pedal Assist Only: The motor assists only when the rider is pedalling.
- Speed Limit: Assistance up to 28 mph (45 km/h).
- Motor Power: Typically limited to 750 watts.
Similarly, the European Union has the same kind of classification but they call it Pedelec and S-Pedelec.
Pedelec:
- Pedal Assist Only: The motor assists only when the rider is pedalling.
- Speed Limit: Assistance up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph).
- Motor Power: Limited to 250 watts.
S-Pedelec:
- Pedal Assist Only: The motor assists only when the rider is pedalling.
- Speed Limit: Assistance up to 45 km/h (28 mph).
- Motor Power: Can exceed 250 watts.
Class 1 VS Class 2: Which bike is right for you?
According to my preferences, I would prefer the class 2 E-bike because I like to have all the features in my e-bike. A throttle bike is more convenient for fulfilling jobs without getting tired and if you really want to do exercise then you can simply stop using throttle assist, just use it as a normal bike. But in case you have to cover a long distance then you can use PAS as well, the only issue with class 2 e-bikes are laws, local laws in the state.
“Imagine you come home tired and hungry from work, want to eat something, go to the kitchen and see that there is nothing to eat, at least you go on your throttle bike to buy some food for yourself. There may be many more such situations that you may have to face in real life.”
This is my opinion on pedal assist vs throttle. Now, let’s come to the point: which one is right for you?
Well, I can’t tell you this but I can give you some pointers that you should give a look before buying what you should consider.
- Age – what’s your age?
- Ability – How much exercise you want to get.
- Budget – What’s your budget is?
- Goals – What you really wanna achieve?
When you have the answers to all these questions then it would be easy for you to select an e-bike.
I hope this article helped you! The comment section is open, drop your questions/feedback below. I would be happy to answer your queries.
FAQs
Q1. Do all electric bikes have a throttle?
Ans. No, it is not compulsory that every electric bike have a throttle.
Q2. Can I get both pedal assist and throttle on the same e-bike?
Ans. Before it was like you can’t have pedal assist and throttle in the same bike. But now you can easily find e-bikes that have both PAS & throttle in the same bike.
