Throttle use Poll

[jhruk]

A throttle gives the user more choice,for example you can use full throttle up a steep hill,and just a little throttle to help against a headwind or gentle slope,or no throttle at all for pure unassisted riding along the flat.

Exactly. Throttle only here so I've voted ‘always use throttle’. Not because I don’t like pedalling but I I’ve yet to try a hub powered bike where the ‘pedelec’ function worked to my liking - much better control with a throttle. If I wanted a pedelec I’d go for one of the more sophisticated crank drives - which I do like.

 

[bazwaldo]

As I posted before, last winter my gears froze in 1st gear and I had to travel home purely on throttle only.
My bike surprised me by getting me home without cutting out and only 5 minutes slower than if I pedaled the whole way normally.
Overall though I did not enjoy throttle only as without leg movement I became cold very quickly and holding the throttle open for 12+ miles really hurt my hand.
I use throttle for a quick pull away at junctions and traffic lights and maybe starting up a slope and that's it.
If I could only have pedelec or throttle give me pedelec every time.

 

[mike killay]

Now I am the opposite to Baswaldo. I would always want a throttle, and I suspect that the members of the public yet to take up e-cycling would be far more at home with a throttle than pedelec. Most of them are drivers and would find the throttle concept quite natural.
As for crank drivers, the Tonaro offers pure throttle which is to my liking. Panasonic and Bosch have this proportionate power level depending upon pedal input. I can see that real cyclists like this idea because they want to pedal and keep fit. Those who are not interested in such things just want an extremely lightweight moped that can be used as a cycle........that is why many of us deprecate attempts to produce bikes with illegal power levels.

 

[Dicky Blighter]

Another one for always use throttle but probably for a different reason than most.
I got my bike because I had my driving licence revoked for medical reasons - I have Parkinsons and only practical way to get to work was walk or bike - as my legs don't always work too well the electric bike was perfect solution.
Although I now have a restricted licence back still use the bike on days when I can't drive and pedal when I can but throttle means I can still get about even if my legs dont want to walk properly or pedal.

 

[DJH]

I've got a throttle on my Claud Butler Glide 1 but never use it. The biggest benefit to me of a throttle would be in the case where you have to push your bike, for whatever reason, if you then had a walking pace setting it would be great. There is one hill where I live that I can't manage and pushing a 27kg bike up is no joke!
No, as long as I am fit enough I want to pedal I don't want a moped.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

throttles do not comply with EN15194 and cannot therefore be sold in most mainland Euro countries...when we exhibited at the Utrecht over 50 show in Holland we had one bike with a throttle,the Dutch commented 'why do you need that?'
I will offer throttles if that is what customers want ,with an easy disconnect if not required-we seem as a country to be moving more away from Europe on a political level so we may never sign up to EN15194,
Dave
KudosCycles

Hi Dave thanks for your input, a couple of pointers;

1. A throttle is perfectly OK on a bike with EN15194 certification, all but one of our bikes have throttles and all are SGS certified to EN15194. EN15194 allows the use of an independent throttle up to 6kph and between 6 and 25kph as long as the pedals are turning forward.

The choice can be made by Wisper owners in the UK to have the bikes converted by the dealer to full independent throttle use. Or of course it can be removed completely although so far no one has asked for this option!

All Wisper bikes sold in Holland, France, Germany, Spain etc are equipped with throttles, our Dutch dealer in particular thinks this is one of his main USPs. There is no doubt that the use of a throttle to regulate the amount of assistance required by the rider along with the obvious safety implications is a huge asset.

2. If anyone intends selling pedelecs in Europe they must have bikes certified to EN15194. A few European countries already do not allow the import of pedelecs without certification and the majority will follow suit this year.

The objective of this post and survey was to find out what the Pedelec community felt about the use of throttles rather than giving bike dealers an opportunity to justify their position in the Market (I am also not blameless on this one!!). We at BEBA believe we have a small (very small) opportunity to persuade the government allow us to retain the option to install and use a full function throttle in the UK. As the only independent voice in the industry we at BEBA wanted to make certain this was what the community wanted. If the survey continues to indicate that the majority find the throttle useful and makes the use of pedelecs safer and more inclusive we will use our findings when we make our presentation.

All the best

David

 

[bode]

Those pedelec modes that require throttle operation as well to get any power are pointless in my view, combining the disadvantages of both.

My eZee is like that, which is another reason why I use throttle only.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Thanks for everyone's input so far, if anyone has not yet voted it would be great to get your views as soon as posible, thanks!

There is a BEBA meeting on the 24th of this month at which throttles will be discussed. The posts so far have been most useful and informative, giving a solid indication as to the communities state of mind re throttle use. Many thanks to all who have responded.

All the best

David

 

[Jimod]

OK, I'll jump in with my 2p worth. If you're looking to persuade the Government to allow throttles then go for it. I wanted a throttle but my bike didn't come with one and if I'm honest I now don't mind if I have one or not now, my bike's motor gives me full power as long as the pedals are turning, no matter how hard or soft. Just because some people don't want a throttle is irrelevant to those who want/need a throttle. If you're selling something, I think you'll find you won't put buyers off if a bike has a throttle but the buyer doesn't want/need one but you might put a buyer off if the bike doesn't have a throttle and the buyer wants/needs one. As an example, someone might not be able to ride my e-bike but might be able to, if it had a throttle
If your hope is to get more people onto bikes, more sales for your company, then you should be persuading the Government to allow throttles.

 

[funkylyn]

OK, I'll jump in with my 2p worth. If you're looking to persuade the Government to allow throttles then go for it. I wanted a throttle but my bike didn't come with one and if I'm honest I now don't mind if I have one or not now, my bike's motor gives me full power as long as the pedals are turning, no matter how hard or soft. Just because some people don't want a throttle is irrelevant to those who want/need a throttle. If you're selling something, I think you'll find you won't put buyers off if a bike has a throttle but the buyer doesn't want/need one but you might put a buyer off if the bike doesn't have a throttle and the buyer wants/needs one. As an example, someone might not be able to ride my e-bike but might be able to, if it had a throttle
If your hope is to get more people onto bikes, more sales for your company, then you should be persuading the Government to allow throttles.

Totally agree......

Lynda

 

[karl101]

On my bike I have changed the pedals so I can use toeclips, the type for normal shoes. On an uphill start I set off using the pedals and often use the throttle to keep going while I locate my foot into the toeclip.

Another time where the throttle is useful is going slowly round tight bends. I think because of the extra weight of the battery and motor, a pedelec is a little less agile than a ordinary bicycle and the throttle can help getting out of sticky situations.

I am all for throttles on pedelecs, but I wouldn't want one that would run the bike like a moped though, the pedalling requirement I think is important.

Karl.

 

[mike killay]

I tested this idea out on non cyclists.
Nearly all failed to quite understand what a pedelec does and would want a throttle. My daughter on the other hand, tried my bike first with pedelec, and although a car driver found the system intuitive. She preferred pedelec to throttle.
From a commercial point of view, to maximise sales, especially among newcomers, a throttle is a must.
Add in the Disability discrimination angle of not having throttles, then the obvious road saftey angle, and point out that bikes equipped with both systems satify everyone.

 

[steve.c]

Rarely

Hi. 3 for me I rarely use it but may sometimes but the main prob for me was when I change gear the switch for the throttle was to close so I ended up riding on half power till I realised what I had done and switched it off again??? I've now turned the throttle/switch down lower so it shouldn't happen?.

 

[Haku]

I have 3 ebikes which all have throttles & pedal sensors but only one of them has a working pedal sensor, the bike I ride the most, plus my 'best' battery needs replacing (I'm still working on that) so I have to use the throttle to limit motor assistance or else the battery would run flat by using the pedal sensor only.

Oh yeah and the throttle is an absolute lifesaver on the hills that are too steep to pedal up, the heavy bike can push itself up whilst I walk

 

[Mussels]

What happened to the press release the other day about the law changes, I thought it said throttles would be allowed. It seemed slightly vague but said it would allow the Yikebike which doesn't have pedals.

 

[flecc]

What happened to the press release the other day about the law changes, I thought it said throttles would be allowed. It seemed slightly vague but said it would allow the Yikebike which doesn't have pedals.

If it's approved of course, it was an EU parliament breakthrough which has yet to go before the commission when member governments can object. The signs are good quite though, but our own UK government could still be stumbling block for they can impose greater restriction. Hopefully they'll be too preoccupied with their economic mess to bother with doing anything more than nodding through any EU measure.

This was the original link to that announcement, but the Bike Europe servers seem down at this moment:

Bike Europe on more e-bike power

 

[shemozzle999]

Thanks for everyone's input so far, if anyone has not yet voted it would be great to get your views as soon as posible, thanks!

There is a BEBA meeting on the 24th of this month at which throttles will be discussed. The posts so far have been most useful and informative, giving a solid indication as to the communities state of mind re throttle use. Many thanks to all who have responded.

All the best

David

I hope you get late flood of votes David to help strengthen your case.
Its just a simple mouse click required, there is no need to make a post.

 

[flecc]

I hope you get late flood of votes David to help strengthen your case.
Its just a simple mouse click required, there is no need to make a post.

Only a tiny proportion of members visit over a limited period. To get a much higher proportion the poll would have to be open and on the front page for many months to catch all those who just pop in once in a while. Therefore there won't be any late flood of votes unless Vladimir Putin is put in charge of the poll.
.

 

[shemozzle999]

That's because only a tiny proportion of members visit over a limited period. To get a much higher proportion the poll would have to be open and on the front page for many months to catch all those who just pop in once in a while. Therefore there won't be any late flood of votes unless Vladimir Putin is put in charge of the poll.

Point noted. I have edited the post and tried to be more encouraging without appearing critical.

 

[flecc]

It's pity more don't come in, it would be good to get a very large sample which would be more convincing. I'm sure that across the entire UK e-bike ownership, more than twenty times the forum membership, with throttles would be the overwhelming choice.