One of the coolest parts of choosing an electric bike over a traditional bike is the ability to hit the throttle and let your ride do all of the hard work for you. But are there any advantages to pedaling? And there are locations where you may want to avoid throttle altogether? Today, we’re doing a quick dive into the benefits and drawbacks of eBike throttle to help you find an electric bike riding style that’s right for you.
The Pros
Cruising around town is a great way to commute or have fun, but if you’re not in the mood to pedal, riding a bike can be tiring. This is where eBike throttle really shines. A throttle eBike can run purely off of the electric power provided by the battery and motor, meaning you can ride without much effort at all.
Throttle isn’t just good for those looking to give their legs a break. It also makes biking more accessible for those who have a harder time keeping up speed or distance on a regular bike. This makes it easy for riders of all kinds to explore, both on and off the road.
Throttle is fantastic because it allows for a versatile riding experience. Riders can pedal when the motor power alone isn’t quite enough to push the bike through an obstacle, and they can hit the throttle when they’re ready to sit back and relax a bit. Throttle helps turn daunting journeys into pleasant trips, so it’s an extremely helpful tool on any eBike that comes equipped with it.
The Cons
While throttle is a fun, easy, and accessible way to get around on two wheels, it’s not without its downsides. Throttle modes let you achieve high speeds with just the press of a button or the twist of a grip. This makes it easy to jump to a velocity that may be a bit too quick for the situation.
It also drains the bike’s battery more quickly than pedal assist or manual riding. Because the motor is putting in all of the work to move the bike, it’s going to draw on more power, meaning you’ll need to recharge the bike more often.
The last reason you may want to avoid throttle on your eBike is for trail or path riding. Certain bike trails and paths have rules about what bikes can be used on them, and some of these areas don't allow eBikes with throttle. If you're interested in exploring trails and paths, be sure to do research about their rules for eBikes beforehand.
Should You Get an eBike With Throttle?
Whether you should get an electric bike with throttle really depends on what you’re riding for and where you’re riding. Check the laws, rules, and regulations for your planned ride locations; if they only allow eBikes without throttle, then you’ll want to make sure to adhere to those guidelines and ride in those locations only if your eBike follows the rules. If your planned riding spots do allow throttle, though, then getting an eBike with throttle is a fantastic choice: if you like the throttle, then you have an awesome tool that will better help you navigate the path ahead. If don’t want to use the throttle, then you can simply leave the bike in PAS mode.
No matter what kind of bike you choose to ride or what riding setting you stick with, just remember to stay safe, follow the rules of the road, and always wear a helmet!
