Electric bikes 101 | Trek Bikes

How pedal assist motors work

Electric bikes work by using an electric motor and battery to help you power your bike. On pedal assist e-bikes, you control the amount of power the drive system provides and the assist only kicks in when you pedal. The motor amplifies the power behind each of your pedal strokes, providing a natural riding feeling that makes it seem like your legs are supercharged!

Some manufacturers make e-bikes that use a twist throttle to engage the drive system. With these bikes, you don’t have to be pedaling for the motor to be engaged. This can be dangerous, since it’s easy to get out of control if you’re not paying attention. We only make pedal assist e-bikes, because they feel the most like a regular bike and help riders feel more in command of their ride.

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