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7.5. Electrical.indd
Last Modifi ed June 23, 2014 5:18 PM
Electric Bikes
Electric bike care
of its maximum speed, and the bike travels,
say, 20 miles per hour.
In contrast, on a bike with a center drive
motor, when the rider twists the throttle to
100% the motor also spins to maximum
speed. However, since the motor is driv-
ing the rear wheel through the pedal chain,
the bike’s current gear affects how fast the
wheel actually spins. If the bike is in sec-
ond gear, the bike may only go, say, 10
miles per hour, even though the motor is
spinning at maximum speed.
Just like on a car with a manual transmis-
sion, the rider needs to cycle through fi rst
gear, second gear, third gear, and so on,
until the desired speed is reached. Each
gear shift up increases speed but reduces
torque and acceleration.
Unlike a car, though, the gear selection
is not critical. You can just as easily start
pedaling with the bike in 6th gear, but for
the best acceleration and performance it’s
a good idea to start in a low gear and shift
up as you gain speed.
Hills
If your objective is not to reach maximum
speed but to effi ciently ride up a hill, you
should consider that the system will give
you more torque when in a lower gear. Shift
down when you encounter a steep hill; the
motor will be put under less strain, and your
battery’s range will increase.
Extending the life of your drivetrain
A center drive motor can put extra stress
on drivetrain components such as the chain,
cassette, derailleur, and derailleur hanger if
not ridden with care. The best way to avoid
excess wear on the drivetrain is to avoid
shifting under load.
Shifting under load means to shift the
derailleur while the motor or rider is pulling
hard on the chain. The extra chain tension
keeps the derailleur from shifting effectively
and can cause damage to the drivetrain.
To shift properly, make sure you ease up
(on both the throttle and pedals) just before
and just after you shift. Let the chain drop
into place fully before you start pedaling or
throttling hard again.
Shifting under load can cause the
chain or other drivetrain components
to break suddenly, leading to a crash.
Electric bike care
This section contains instructions that
must be followed to avoid damage to
the bike or electrical components.
Like any bicycle, you should take care
of your electric bike to extend its life and
keep it operating smoothly.
In addition to following the instructions in
“Service” on page 54, mind the following
instructions for keeping your electric bike
like new.
Maintain your batteries as described in
“Battery care & safety” on page 44.
This is especially important when storing
batteries unused for long periods of time.
Periodically inspect your bike’s wiring
and electrical connectors for damage.
Frayed or heat-damaged wires, loose
plugs, or bad connections could even-
tually cause damage to the system.
