What makes an electric bike different from a regular bike?
An electric bike has a few extra components over a non-electric bike. These are the display, control panel, throttle, brake cut-off sensors, motor, pedal-assist-sensor, and gear shift sensor. These extra components assist in climbing hills, riding faster, riding further, and getting more exercise.
The basics
One of the first things you'll notice on an electric bike is the display in the middle of the handlebars. Turn on the display by using the power button on the bike's controls; these are usually located near the left-hand grip. Once the display is on, all relevant information for using your electric bike can be accessed. You will be able to view your speed, battery-life estimate, odometer, pedal-assist level, as well as settings to help you configure your bike in a way that works best for you. For more information on settings, explore our online help-desk: https://support.biktrix.com/hc/en-us.
The brake levers have cut-off sensors that pause the motor under braking. These are essential to make sure that the motor and brakes do not work against each other and cause excess stress on your electric bike's components. If you ever have trouble with your bike's motor not engaging, try disconnecting these sensors first as it is one of the most common causes.
The electric bike's throttle will also be located near the left-hand grip, this can be used at any time to receive full-power from the motor. Using the throttle is ideal for getting a boost off of the line or climbing a steep hill.
Riding an electric bike
If you have ridden a traditional bike, riding an electric bike will be a natural transition.
Using the up and down buttons on the controls, you can increase or decrease the amount of assist that the motor provides. An electric bike usually comes with 1-5 levels of assist, with level 1 delivering minimal help and level 5 having the bike do most of the work. Higher assist levels and throttle use will lower the range from your battery.
The bike's gear shifter is near the right-hand grip. This controls the bike's gears as it would on a non-electric bike. These gears can be used in tandem with the different pedal-assist levels to have the most control over how you ride. The largest gear will provide the most amount of torque and acceleration while the smallest gear provides the highest top speed. Biktrix bikes also come standard with a gear-shift sensor which cuts the power from the motor while shifting in order to preserve the bike's drivetrain. This is especially important for mid-drive bikes where high-torque is applied to the chain.
Now that you know how an electric bike works, you can ride with confidence! Use your knowledge to check out our custom electric bikes and pick one to best suit your needs.
