Pedal assist or twist grip?

[flip-123]

I have a folding electric bike and find that the speed of the pedal assist is a bit too fast for the gearing. I have looked at the controller and there is what appears to be an adjusting screw but when it is turned it makes no difference. In view of this I tend to ride using the twist grip so I can regulate my speed better. Will the battery and motor use less power using the twist grip at a these lower speed or is it best to use the pedal assist ( which I presume is set to the optimum)and just change the gearing?

 

[HarryB]

I am assuming the folder (would be nice to know the make?) has a hub motor. Normally the pedal assist on these hub motored ebikes is pretty crude (unless there is a power control as on the Wispers etc) so for maximum control the throttle is the best way of riding these bikes.

PS it can be difficult to 'gear up' folders due to the small wheel size and limit to the size of the chain wheel so you may just be stuck with it the way it is (and enjoy the power/speed of the motor!).

 

[morphix]

I have a folding electric bike and find that the speed of the pedal assist is a bit too fast for the gearing. I have looked at the controller and there is what appears to be an adjusting screw but when it is turned it makes no difference. In view of this I tend to ride using the twist grip so I can regulate my speed better. Will the battery and motor use less power using the twist grip at a these lower speed or is it best to use the pedal assist ( which I presume is set to the optimum)and just change the gearing?

I find that the throttle uses considerably more power and the battery runs down much quicker, if you don't pedal (which is tempting with the throttle)..

On my bike, pedal assist seems much quicker compared to the throttle, even with the fully open, but probably because I'm pedalling on assist all the time..

I also have a folding bike.. my controller has 7 levels of power assist and can be set it very low to conserve power and for safety. I find sometimes if I'm at the highest level I can get caught off guard, the bike just runs away, sometimes at dangerous times :-/

 

[flip-123]

Thanks for the info my bike is a Poweredbicycles Lynx 3. It has a 250W rear hub motor. When I use the throttle I still pedal it just allows me to control it better. Do you think it is possible to disconect the pedal assist and just have the throttle?

 

[morphix]

Thanks for the info my bike is a Poweredbicycles Lynx 3. It has a 250W rear hub motor. When I use the throttle I still pedal it just allows me to control it better. Do you think it is possible to disconect the pedal assist and just have the throttle?

Yes it certainly should be possible, it is on my bike..you just unplug the pedal crank sensor from the controller to disable pedal assist..

 

[Deleted member 4366]

on some bikes, the throttle takes precedence over the pedal sensor, so you might not need to disconect it. H ave you tried pedalling with the throttle only opened a little?

 

[flip-123]

If I am on pedal assist and I just slightly open the throttle the assist cuts out. You can only get the throttle to work when you are in pedal assist. if that makes sense.

 

[morphix]

If I am on pedal assist and I just slightly open the throttle the assist cuts out. You can only get the throttle to work when you are in pedal assist. if that makes sense.

Oh that's unusual. Is it a new bike? That sounds like it's in full compliance with the upcoming law changes which require the throttle to cut out unless pedalling, if I understand you correctly? On most bikes, the throttle works independently of pedal assist and you don't need to pedal at all unless you want to. Usually if you have pedal assist on, the throttle will not operate.