Do you need a dual motor on your e-trike?

Hey everyone, I'm Dustin. I have 20 years of experience in the bike and e-bike industry. Today we're going to answer the question: Do you need a dual motor on your e-trike? All right, so right here I've got the Simple Glide dual motor. It's linked in the description below. It's a great option if you want that added power. This has 1,500 watts of power, 750 watt rear motor, 750 watt front motor. Now the question is, do you need a dual-motor e-trike? Well, it depends on a couple of different factors. Number one, the terrain you're riding on. Number two, the weight of the rider, coupled with your expectations of the e-trike given your weight.

Key Factors to Consider

Whether you need a dual-motor e-trike depends on a couple of key factors:

1. 1. Local Regulations and Power Limits: In many states, such as California, the maximum allowed power for an electric bike or trike on public roads is 750 watts, with top speeds of 20 mph (throttle only) and 28 mph (pedal assist). Pay attention to local laws and guidelines. Dual-motor trikes often allow switching between single (750W) and dual (1500W) motor modes to remain street legal when needed.
2. 2. Rider Weight and Performance Expectations: For heavier riders 250 lbs and above), riding an e-trike up steep hills using throttle only or low assistance can be challenging or nearly impossible. Engaging a second motor provides necessary torque and power to make hill climbs effortless and enjoyable. For riders under 200 lbs, a standard 750-watt motor is usually sufficient for most applications.
3. 3. Terrain and Off-Road Riding: If you plan to ride on off-road trails, private property, or hilly paths without motor power limits, having 1,500 watts of dual-motor power makes tackling inclines and rough terrain much smoother.

Cost and Battery Considerations

Now, if you're less than that, it still can be a lot of fun because obviously you can get going quite fast. Now, we still limit our trikes to a top speed of 20 miles an hour and 28 in pedal assist, but you do have a lot more acceleration and, of course, torque, right? So if there's a lot of hilly rides where you want to take your trike, having those dual motors is going to make those easier. Now, if you're below 200 pounds, 750 watts, in my opinion, is going to be fine for you in most applications. Obviously, you'll get more torque by having the 1500 watts. Is it necessary? I don't think so. Because when you reduce the weight of the rider, the motor's obviously going to perform better, right? When you have a heavier rider, it's going to give you less power as you're weighing it down, which is why for heavier riders, those dual motors can really make a big difference.

But for riders under 200 pounds, you're not going to feel that much of a difference between 750 watts and 1500 watts, unless you have a trike where they do not limit the top speed at all. Now, I can't tell you with firsthand knowledge if e-trikes exist out there that can go in excess of 25, 30, 35 miles by just twisting the throttle or in pedal assist. But that type of trike would in no way be legal on the street, which is why we limit the speed on all of ours and allow you to switch into a single motor option. But then if you're any weight and you wanna be able to hit top speeds in excess of 20 miles an hour on some off-road trails, then yes, having something bigger than a 750-watt motor would allow you to do that.

Summary and Next Steps

It's important to think about the legalities of all of it, where you're gonna ride, your weight, the kind of trails, off-roading, all of those things for you to ultimately decide if you need a dual motor. Now, keep in mind, they're gonna cost more money. In this case, we have dual batteries on the Simple Glide because dual motors mean you're gonna drain the battery more. So you probably want extra battery capacity as well, which drives the price up also. So it's not just necessarily about buying the most power or the most battery capacity. Think about your use case so you can spend the right money to get the product that is right for your use case.

So, if you have any other questions on the topic at all, please comment below or reach out to us at theteam@sixthreezero.mom, or call us at 310-982-2877. In addition to that, don't forget, the simple glide is linked in the description. Also, we offer a 30-day test ride your e-trike policy. If you don't love it in the first 30 days, send it back. No questions asked, no money out of your pocket. Also, we're going to warranty everything for one year. If anything goes wrong in the first year, we'll take care of it, parts and labor. And if you want to come out for a test ride, we're here in San Clemente, California, at 1046 Cuyahoga, Unit K.

Come test ride any of our e-trikes before you purchase to ensure you're making the right choice. Also, before you purchase, join our community. We have a Facebook group called 630 Pedalers. There are thousands of members in the group. Join before you purchase to talk to existing riders to ensure you're making the right choice. Then, when you have yours, post to the group, make friends, and finally download the app to track your rides and compete on the leaderboard. So thanks for sticking around, and don't forget, it's your journey or experience. Enjoy the ride.