Torque or Speed Sensor

Tubamanandy

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Feb 12, 2014
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Could someone explain, in practice, the main different between a speed sensor and torque sensor e-bike ?

How do the differences feel when riding ?
 

trex

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torque sensor replaces the throttle, the ride is more responsive, more natural.

The downside of torque sensor is that you can hit maximum torque/throttle easily and of course when you stop pedalling, the motor cuts out about 1 second after that.
 

D8ve

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Jan 30, 2013
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As I understand it speed sensor says pedals moving so provide power to specified level.
Good for knackered who want the bike to go even if they are not really propelling the bike themselves.
A variant on a throttle!

Torque sensors pick up on the pressure you put on the pedal and add to it in a seamless way providing a bike like ride and control. Costs more and is more technically complex. You also have to work more.

I prefer to pay more and sweat, so it's the torque sensor for me.
 
D

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The sensor itself isn't the thing that makes the difference. It's the controller software.

If you're trying to decide which system to get, it's simple. If you wear lycra when cycling, a torque multiplication system will be better. If you wear normal clothes, then a speed control system will be better.

The torque control system has the effect that if your legs get tired, so that you can't pedal hard, you'll get less help from the motor. With a speed based system, the help from the motor increases when you get tired.
 

Tubamanandy

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Feb 12, 2014
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The bikes I am looking at are torque sensor and clearly speed sensor would be better for me - luckily, the have a throttle as an option.
 

trex

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one problem with speed sensor (or PAS) - you'll get lazy. You only have to rotate the cranks to start the motor, there is no simple way of keeping fit.
The way to have both is a solution seen some time ago on the BH Neo, torque sensor and throttle. You can't use both but you can switch between.
 
D

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one problem with speed sensor (or PAS) - you'll get lazy. You only have to rotate the cranks to start the motor, there is no simple way of keeping fit.
Do you think it might be possible to select level 1, or if that's not enough, how about the "off" switch?
 
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trex

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ideally, you want to be able to keep to a cadence and set your input to for example 75W keep fit but there is no means to control the assist ratio with normal controllers. I know Woosh work on a project to solve this.
 

Jimod

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Both my bikes have pedal sensors, I've never had a torque sensor and I don't fancy one. With the pedal sensor you can put in as much or as little effort as you like/want and the bike will go along quite happily.
With a torque sensor, if you're tired the bike won't help you much.
 
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mike killay

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Both my bikes have pedal sensors, I've never had a torque sensor and I don't fancy one. With the pedal sensor you can put in as much or as little effort as you like/want and the bike will go along quite happily.
With a torque sensor, if you're tired the bike won't help you much.
Basically, a torque sensor is a fat lot of help!
 
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trex

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Both my bikes have pedal sensors, I've never had a torque sensor and I don't fancy one. With the pedal sensor you can put in as much or as little effort as you like/want and the bike will go along quite happily.
With a torque sensor, if you're tired the bike won't help you much.
you are going to upset people who sell Bosch bikes.
 

oldtom

Esteemed Pedelecer
As I understand it speed sensor says pedals moving so provide power to specified level.
Good for knackered who want the bike to go even if they are not really propelling the bike themselves.
A variant on a throttle!

Torque sensors pick up on the pressure you put on the pedal and add to it in a seamless way providing a bike like ride and control. Costs more and is more technically complex. You also have to work more.

I prefer to pay more and sweat, so it's the torque sensor for me.

Summed up nicely I'd say D8ve and that's pretty much the way I see it too. My torque-sensor bikes epitomise what EAPCs should be about, (in my opinion), whereas my speed sensor bike is more like a moped and makes me feel like I'm cheating.

If there's one thing that really p's me off it's seeing some fat git riding along the flat at fairly high speed without any pedalling whatsoever.....while smoking.

Tom
 

pdarnett

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If there's one thing that really p's me off it's seeing some fat git riding along the flat at fairly high speed without any pedalling whatsoever.....while smoking.

Tom
Sorry about that, it was only the once and it was just to annoy the morning Lycra guy that insists on racing me every day.
I did ride past him with a mug of coffee one morning as well.
 

Jonah

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Aug 23, 2010
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Some of these replies suggest that torque sensored bikes are always hard work. That is not true. If you ride in maximum assist level, a little effort goes a long way. The advantage is that it still feels natural and you are controlling it with your input. With PAS (to me at least) it always feels like the motor is in control and the power is disconnected from your input. But don't rely on other peoples' opinions, you must try both for yourself - only then will you know what is right for you.
 

trex

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very true. I have never felt torque sensor hard work, perhaps it's because I don't have a throttle on my BBS01.
If anything, on the Woosh Sport TS that I ride a few times, it's not hard work at all because the torque sensor spring is fully compressed at fairly low level of effort. On my BBS01 which has PAS, I have to fiddle with the PAS levels when the gradient changes.
 

D8ve

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I tended to ride with minimal assist unless the hill was big and then I went up long steep hill at a good pace without a coronary.
The torque can be easy as well as intuitive.
 

Jimod

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If there's one thing that really p's me off it's seeing some fat git riding along the flat at fairly high speed without any pedalling whatsoever.....while smoking.

Tom
You're a real piece of work.