Evening everyone total ebike virgin so go easy. I bought a basis beacon and I love the bike. However if I have used the pedal assist at all no matter of speed/incline or flat once I stop pedalling and want to free wheel the bike slows down like I have literally thrown an anchor off the back. This to me seems wrong but I'm hoping someone on here can help.
Bike braking on freewheel
- Thread starter Jtm01
- Start date
Check that your brakes are not binding by spinning wheels whilst off the ground. If that is all OK, then it may just be a matter of perception.
Does this happen at all speeds, or is it more noticeable at higher speeds?
It sounds similar to the effect I have on my torque sensor bike when I try to ride through the 25km/h assistance speed limit. If I am using a high level of assistance then it feels like hitting a wall, but that is simply because below 25 km/h I am doing 33% of the work or less, but over 25 I am doing all the work.
Much less noticeable on lowest level of assist.
Does this happen at all speeds, or is it more noticeable at higher speeds?
It sounds similar to the effect I have on my torque sensor bike when I try to ride through the 25km/h assistance speed limit. If I am using a high level of assistance then it feels like hitting a wall, but that is simply because below 25 km/h I am doing 33% of the work or less, but over 25 I am doing all the work.
Much less noticeable on lowest level of assist.
We all experience that. Your bike weighs 23kg. That's a lot of weight to haul once the motor assistance stops (by law) at 15.5 mph. It's just how electric bikes are... very heavy once the peddle assistance stops.
The motor wheel should freewheel if lifted off the ground and should do a good number of rotations , if not then check brakes rubbing and even freehweel/cassette operation. All my hubs bikes happily freewheel without power.
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I can confirm all the above.
When new, some hub motors can be a bit tight but this will loosen up with miles on the clock.
If you lift the back wheel of the ground( get someone to help you or put it on a maintenance stand), then apply power, by spinning the pedals, when you stop spinning the pedals the back wheel shpuld continue to rotate for a few seconds.
If it doesn't check that the brake is not binding.
Check that the cassete/freewheel is spinning freely.
Even after 10 years of e-biking, when the power turns off, I still feel as though the 20 year old whose legs I'd borrowed has just taken them back !
When new, some hub motors can be a bit tight but this will loosen up with miles on the clock.
If you lift the back wheel of the ground( get someone to help you or put it on a maintenance stand), then apply power, by spinning the pedals, when you stop spinning the pedals the back wheel shpuld continue to rotate for a few seconds.
If it doesn't check that the brake is not binding.
Check that the cassete/freewheel is spinning freely.
Even after 10 years of e-biking, when the power turns off, I still feel as though the 20 year old whose legs I'd borrowed has just taken them back !
Apparently that bike has speed control, so even on the lowest level of assist it is giving you its maximum power up the the speed for that level. The sudden loss of that power can often feel like the brakes being put on.
It was explained in more detail at https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/basis-beacon-2019-review.37993/post-564093
That said, if you are on the level you should still be able to freewheel a considerable distance, so do check the points in the post above.
Geared hubs all will ride without power , the higher the internal geairng the easier to run free without the dead weight ofeeling like a brake is stuck on. Typically most hubs are 3 - 4.5kg so without power they add extra weight centrally located in the wheel.
All my hubs with a 4:1 internal gearing ride without power and my 14:6 internally geared hub runs even better then the others , at times withut power one forgets it is off.
Like wise with mid drives , the tsdz2 is by far much better to ride with no power then the BBS.
All my hubs with a 4:1 internal gearing ride without power and my 14:6 internally geared hub runs even better then the others , at times withut power one forgets it is off.
Like wise with mid drives , the tsdz2 is by far much better to ride with no power then the BBS.
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