Electric Bike Myth Busting
In Defense of the ebike throttle
“With first-hand real -life experience, I know in my mind and in my soul why a throttle is such a no brainer.”
– Rémi Gagnon, Pedego Ottawa and Montebello owner and daily commuter
We love the power of a throttle on an ebike. Not only does the throttle give you power to your ebike, it gives you the power to decide what you want.
How the ebike Throttle Works?
Most of you are familiar with the concept of a throttle via scooters or motorbikes. On Pedego bikes, the throttle style is a grip twist, so when the throttle is twisted towards you the bike is ready to get up and go!
When a throttle is engaged, the motor provides power and propels the bike forward. You choose how much power you get by how far you twist. A throttle gives you power on-demand with no automatic pedal assistance involved.
The throttle is what allows you to sit back and enjoy a relaxing ride if you are looking to just cruise, as the bike can operate without having to pedal. You can use it for a burst of speed or for a longer time – it’s a great way to precisely control power for different riding conditions.
Most of our riders use a combination of pedal assist and throttle – we love having the choice!
Advantages/Uses for a Throttle
Reasons to use a throttle:
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- it gives you precise and variable control over speed and power
- to safely and efficiently pass others when on a bike path
- for a temporary extra boost up a large hill
- to help you get the bike going if you face an incline or don’t have the leg power
- to stabilize the ride while finding the correct gear or peddle assist level
- to negotiate busy traffic pulling through intersections efficiently
- for use when you are exhausted from pedaling
- to ride a bike when you can’t easily pedal due to a medical condition
Disadvantages
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- When you use your throttle a lot, you will also generally use up more of your battery
- With constant use, it can be a bit tiring on your hand.
**Note: Not all ebike brands have a throttle. All Pedego ebikes come with throttles (with the exception of our mid-drive full-suspension mountain bike – the Pedego Elevate).
Read more in our blog, In Defense of the Throttle.
