Question about Walk Assist on Shimano Steps

[Dewey]

Gazelle are kindly loaning me one of their ebikes to test ride for a month, here in the US it is branded EasyFlow but in the UK/EU it is the Gazelle Ami C8 HMS. It has a Shimano Steps E6000 motor but no throttle. I am a utility cyclist and intend to tow a trailer and go shopping. On my own ebike I like to use the throttle just to get going when stopped facing up hill. The Gazelle is a pedelec but has walk assist, I've used walk assist on my Bafang BBS01 to push my bike up ramps but I was wondering can the walk assist feature on Shimano Steps be used when riding to get going from a stop? I just need a little boost to help start pedalling when carrying or towing a load, or is the torque sensor sensitive enough to read the pedal pressure and kick in right away? Cheers for the advice, I'll post my experience using the bike after I pick it up next weekend and had a chance to ride it for a bit.

 

[anotherkiwi]

It should start easily enough, that is why throttles aren't mounted on EU bikes, you don't really need one. I have a 12 magnet PAS and that starts after 2 magnets pass the sensor.

 

[Dewey]

I'm hoping it will provide enough assistance to shift heavy weight from a stop, but I don't want to damage the bike as it's a loaner.

Someone on another forum suggested Shimano sell a larger rear sprocket that would change the gear ratios to make pedalling easier.

 

[BillyBoy88]

I have an E6000, when it is in walk assist, there is no pedal assist it is not very good, as you have to hold your finger on the button.

 

[Dewey]

Yes someone on the other forum posted a link to this video which at the 12:10 mark demonstrates how walk assist works on the E6000. It does look too cumbersome to use when riding.

 

[LeighPing]

Walk mode is around 3.7 mph. The bike won't go anywhere if you're sat on it.

 

[Trevormonty]

You shouldn't any problems getting started, just make sure you are low gear. If bike has IGH then even better as you can shift when stopped.

 

[Dewey]

Walk mode is around 3.7 mph. The bike won't go anywhere if you're sat on it.

Good dog!

 

[STEVEMANFA]

Walk assistance on my bike is a waste of a button if you ask me
Hold the button in and balance the bike at the same time it's just a nightmare.

 

[Montybaber]

Walk assistance on my bike is a waste of a button if you ask me
Hold the button in and balance the bike at the same time it's just a nightmare.

I found mine more effort holding the button than pushing the bike (Yamaha system)

 

[STEVEMANFA]

Yep same here

 

[Gubbins]

i only use mine for setting up/adjusting the gears..

 

[STEVEMANFA]

Think that's all it's any good for

 

[Trevormonty]

It can get fully laden bike up stairs.

 

[STEVEMANFA]

Not on my bike

 

[flecc]

Most are as bad, not enough power to get up a steeper slope and awkward to use.
.

 

[Dewey]

I rode my BBS01 without the throttle for about 18 months and found walk assist was helpful when I was pushing the bike. I recently had the bike converted from derailleur to an IGH and took the opportunity to fit the throttle to see what the fuss was about and find the throttle useful to get going when I’m towing the trailer. On balance I’d rather have walk assist on a pedelec, here in the US Trek disable the function on their Bosch pedelecs which is clearly a lawyer determined piece of stupid corporate liability BS, there’s no logic to it when they also sell Shimano Steps pedelecs with walk assist and speed pedelecs in those states where they’re illegal to ride on roads.

 

[Gaz]

E6010 here and as others have already said, the walk assist is rubbish. Stick it in High, be in the right gear, and you'll pull away fine though.

Gaz

 

[LeighPing]

Button presser for pussies.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I've seen the Bosch walk assist reprogrammed for max speed,so it works like a push-button throttle. I bet the Shimano can do the same, but you need access to the programming software.