Cadence Sensor, Torque Sensor or Throttle?

Cadence Sensor, Torque Sensor or Throttle what is your preference?

  • Cadence Sensor only

    Votes: 1 2.4%
  • Torque Sensor only

    Votes: 13 31.0%
  • Throttle only

    Votes: 3 7.1%
  • Cadence Sensor + Throttle

    Votes: 14 33.3%
  • Torque Sensor + Throttle

    Votes: 4 9.5%
  • Torque Sensor + Cadence Sensor

    Votes: 7 16.7%

  • Total voters
    42
  • Poll closed .

Jimod

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 9, 2010
1,065
634
Polmont
In my experience, only those bikes with assistance provided via a torque sensor manage to replicate the act of cycling but with a little assistance on each pedal stroke, making things just a little easier.

All other forms tend to offer something akin to the moped method of travel to one degree or another.

Tom
YAWN!!!
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,342
30,694
Flecc,
I see your point, but I recently replaced my 2 stroke outboard motor with a new 4 stroke, which also has electronics.
Probably runs better, but at sea, reliability is a matter of life and death. The simplicity of a 2 stroke wins hands down over a complex 4 stroke.
As I say, I prefer simplicity, even if it is a bit rougher.
I agree, my seagoing motor boat with two outboard motors was in the almost two stroke only days (only Honda doing different), and they suited me well, even though they were a make no-one had heard of.

Best bet in e-bikes for sheer simplicity and reliability though is a direct-drive hub motor with simple throttle control. Almost nothing to go wrong, so long as a DD motor can handle the territory.
.
 

Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
2,598
1,755
70
West Wales
My kit is cadence sensor and throttle and gets my vote. However I may build another with a torque sensor to get more exercise on good days. I think there's a place for all. It would be great if commercial suppliers could supply the basic bike and power unit, then be able to tailor the control to a customers particular needs.
I find that the cadence sensor on mine is much more of an on/off switch than the throttle, and can catch you out in some tight manoeuvre's. Hence the argument for the throttle being a limiter.
 
C

Cyclezee

Guest
Best bet in e-bikes for sheer simplicity and reliability though is a direct-drive hub motor with simple throttle control. Almost nothing to go wrong, so long as a DD motor can handle the territory.
.
Heinzmann have this very option......but only until New Years day.
 
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Cyclezee

Guest
I voted for torque sensor only. If it is anything other than this, then its not a man's bicycle, it's a moped or a bike for girls. :)
I wouldn't have expected anything else Tillson.....however, should you have an epiphany and decide to become a girl you can change your vote;)
 
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anotherkiwi

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 26, 2015
7,845
5,786
The European Union
PAS because it is all I have and it is legal. I would like to try a torque sensor bike one day because I have an open mind but I think the torque simulation controller from BMSBattery might do the trick as well.
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,312
I can't vote because the system I like best - Bosch - has cadence and torque sensors.

A start assist throttle on a Bosch bike would be of use to me occasionally.

The Bosch Classic S-Pedelecs had one, don't know about the latest motors.
 
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Cyclezee

Guest
I can't vote because the system I like best - Bosch - has cadence and torque sensors.
You can now Rob, I just added that option;)

If any one who has already voted would have have liked that option you can change your vote.
 

Lancslass

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 3, 2015
438
266
69
Egerton, BL7 North Bolton, Lancashire
I voted for torque sensor only. If it is anything other than this, then its not a man's bicycle, it's a moped or a bike for girls. :)
My husband may disagree!
And the inference for us girlies has not gone unnoticed:p
If you want to do the 'man thing' on a cadence sensor & throttle bike couldn't you just turn down the assist, go up the gears and ignore the throttle - or have I missed something?
 

mike killay

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 17, 2011
3,012
1,629
I suppose that this argument will go on for ages, all caused by German domination of the EU and the need to protect Bosch.
 

D8ve

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 30, 2013
2,142
1,294
Bristol
For me torque sensor means riding a bike with bionic legs.
But I can see a place for throttle for the even sicker than I.
And I'm quite sick .
 
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Cyclezee

Guest
So far no clear majority, but with only 27 votes it is too early to predict the outcome.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,342
30,694
So far no clear majority, but with only 27 votes it is too early to predict the outcome.
This has always been the predicament of the e-bike makers and suppliers of course, no consensus on what an e-bike should be. Very unlike the car market where patterns of popularity have emerged, for example, the FWD hatchback for all the smaller car ranges. The poor e-bike suppliers still have no idea where to put the motor for best sales, or the battery for that matter, so split is the market.
.
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
5,048
www.kudoscycles.com
This has always been the predicament of the e-bike makers and suppliers of course, no consensus on what an e-bike should be. Very unlike the car market where patterns of popularity have emerged, for example, the FWD hatchback for all the smaller car ranges. The poor e-bike suppliers still have no idea where to put the motor for best sales, or the battery for that matter, so split is the market.
.
Flecc....you have absolutely nailed it....I have given up trying to predict what the market wants 9 months ahead...it is very fickle.
In some respects the German market is simpler,its Bosch plus something...we in the UK seem to change our minds a lot.
KudosDave
 

Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
I remember visiting an Ebike shop in Taunton and trying out some Ebikes, this was almost 3 years ago. The owner/salesman was adamant that mid drive would take over and kill off hub motors in a couple of years.
Maybe he genuinely believed this, or maybe there was just more profit for him in a mid drive bike.... who knows, but he was wrong on the former anyway.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,342
30,694
In some respects the German market is simpler,its Bosch plus something...we in the UK seem to change our minds a lot.
KudosDave
It's easier for the Dutch makers too. Gazelle flirted with the Panasonic crank unit back in 2007 but quickly dropped it when it dawned that their terrain made crank drive pointless. Koga-Sparta still have their 2007 rear hub DD motor, but otherwise the market is for moderate power front hub motors which suit their flat country.

That does give some clue on the UK market indecision, conditions in the Eastern Counties and the Peak District for example have such different needs. But you're right, fashion has played a very big part in buyers tastes, particularly with regard to choice of crank or hub motor.
.
 

tommie

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 13, 2013
1,760
600
Co. Down, N. Ireland, U.K.
That does give some clue on the UK market indecision, conditions in the Eastern Counties and the Peak District for example have such different needs.
Very true flecc, my first ebike was a 250w rear hub motor. All went well at first, i took it to the local parks, canal towpaths etc, it seemed to handle those places with their moderate gradients with ease. So then we moved on to our local country roads - that`s where the hub motor failed miserably, first decent hill the thing bogged down and ground to a halt.

As you can see by my avatar i was then forced to build up a mid-drive, BBS02 750W,

problem solved!!
 
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trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
7,703
2,671
I don't understand how you can wire your bike for torque sensor + throttle.