Throttle vs. Pedal Assist of electric mountain bike– which is better?
Throttle for electric mountain bike
In the United States, we have the luxury of using throttles on our electric mountain bikes, which are forbidden in Europe.
Electric mountain bike throttles provide full power on demand and Americans love them because they give us complete control.
They’re especially helpful for getting started from a standstill (sometimes it can be awkward to gain momentum), getting a quick burst of power to climb a hill, or safely getting through an intersection.
If you can’t pedal of electric mountain bike, or you just don’t feel like it, that’s okay too. We’re not judging!
Pedal Assist for electric mountain bike
Pedal assist systems of electric mountain bike will sense your pedaling and provide assistance automatically.
They’re most popular among experienced cyclists that want a more natural, “bike-like” riding experience.
Electric mountain bike pedal assist is also nice for long rides with few stops. You can just relax and enjoy the ride without holding a throttle in place.
Why not have both?
Most electric mountain bikes have both pedal assist and throttle because that’s what most people want.
The only exceptions are entry-level electric mountain bike that don’t include pedal assist, and certain mid drive motors that aren’t available with throttle.
In general, electric mountain bike believes in letting you decide for yourself how you want to ride. Even if you prefer one over the other, why wouldn’t you want the option of using both?