Pedal Assist vs. Throttle: Which Electric Trike Is Right for You?

What's the difference between a pedal-assist electric trike and a throttle electric 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, what's the difference between a pedal-assist trike and a throttle trike? All right, I've got two of our electric trikes here, our Rickshaw and our Simple Glide.They're both linked in the description if you wanna check them out. And actually, these are both throttle- and pedal-assist trikes, e-trikes. So what I mean by that is you can pedal and have the motor assist you. There are five levels. So when you pedal, you can either get assistance in level one, two, three, four, or five. Five will give you the most assistance, or you don't have to pedal at all, and you can twist the throttle here.

This one is a thumb-push throttle, and you can go without pedaling at all. So I would say in the US, most electric trikes are dual. So most electric trikes that I know about in the US come with the pedal assist option and the throttle option. This is great because then you have the choice, right? If you want to pedal and get assistance, you can do that. Or if you want to twist or press the throttle, you can do that without pedaling at all. You're also welcome to push or twist the throttle while you pedal. That is an option you can do as well. So if you want to get that extra throttle power while you're pedaling, feel free to do that. Now, it is possible some e-trikes out there come with just a throttle option or just a pedal assist option.

Pedal Assist vs. Throttle Features

Now, as for the advantage of having one over the other, I don't really see an advantage to why you wouldn't want one or the other. I believe having both is great because then you give the choice to the rider. Now I would say that the pedal assist and the throttle, they have their benefits for each of them, okay? So let's say you had a pedal assist only trike. In that situation, it's going to be, you're gonna most likely be using the assistance only when you're up and moving on straightaways. The pedal assist isn't great to control in tight spaces. This goes true for any pedal assist on any e-trike. Of course, you have the different levels of assistance.

But if you're trying to just move your trike a little bit and you pedal and the assist kicks on, you're gonna get a surge of movement forward. So that makes it hard to navigate tight turns, tight spaces, tight quarters with just pedal assist. So if you were looking to use your trike as a mobility device in tight quarters, whether it be indoors or outdoor malls or even in offices or shopping, just having pedal assist is not gonna be good for that. So that's just something to think about about how you're gonna use it. Now on the flip side, if you just have throttle only, then you're really not gonna be able to take advantage of getting your legs moving, right? Or you can pedal but not get any assistance at all. The benefit of the assistance while you pedal is to be able to keep your legs moving and go on longer rides while you can still exercise your legs. If you just have the throttle, well, at that point, your trike is more or less a mobility device, and that's up to you.

If that's what you like, then you could opt for a three-wheel trike where you don't pedal at all, and you have a throttle, which makes it easy to navigate. Again, I don't see the upshot in just having a throttle on a trike. Because having the option to pedal is what a lot of people like. But also, if you want something more rugged than a mobility device, like a scooter that can only go at five miles an hour, and you don't want to pedal at all, then you could find a trike that just has the throttle. You can still do the things you would do on a trike without having the pedal assist option.

Why Having Both Options Is Best

In terms of classifications of whether or not it's a trike, I'm sure you'd be fine using the trike without pedal assist because you can still pedal it manually so long as the motor and the output fall within the legal limits of going 20 miles per hour or less. So, just something to think about again when you're looking for it, looking for your e-trike. So, I really see the benefit in having both. What I find often with the throttle is that many riders, again, will use it in tight spaces, right? So you use the throttle to navigate, get around when you're just getting up and moving, or if you're at stoplights or from a stop position, it's nice to twist the throttle, get the trike moving. Then you can start pedaling and back off your throttle. So they work really well in combination with each other. Then when you get up to speed, and you're at cruising altitude.That's when you can just start pedaling and let the assistance kick in. And if your legs get tired at any point, stop pedaling, use the throttle a little bit. So again, I see advantages to both of them. I don't really see a disadvantage to having either of them. The other reality is, if you want to, you can turn off the power and not use the assistance at all. So that's an option. Also, on some of our models, we even have kill switches. On this one, we do. So if you pop that kill switch out, your throttle won't work. So that's a good safety feature if you have fear of accidentally hitting the throttle or twisting it and the bike jumps off at you. Make sure that kill switch is popped out. And again, you won't have to worry about that. So totally up to you. You can also get used to these things, get comfortable with the throttle or the assistance.

Next Steps & Community

And once you're ready to introduce either the throttle or the pedal assist, you can do it when you feel ready. So again, move at your own pace and find the right product for you. So any other questions at all about pedal assist or throttles on an electric trike, please comment below or reach out to us, theteam@sixthreezero.mom or call us 310-982-2877. Don't forget, both of these e-trikes are linked in the description if you want to check them out. Also, we offer a 30-day test ride for your e-trike policy. If you don't love it in the first 30 days, send it back. No questions asked. The money out of your pocket. We're also going to warranty everything for a year. Anything goes wrong in the first year, we'll take care of it, parts and labor. In addition to that, if you want to come out for a test ride, we are here in San Clemente, California, at 1046 Kairokoto Unit K. Come out for a test ride. Try any of our e-trikes before you purchase to ensure you're making the right choice.

• Key Benefits & Next Steps:
• Dual Options: Most sixthreezero e-trikes offer both pedal-assist and throttle modes for maximum versatility.
• Tight Spaces: Throttle allows for safer and easier maneuvering in tight quarters compared to pedal-assist bursts.
• Exercise vs. Ease: Use pedal assist to stay active or use throttle when you need rest or quick acceleration from stops.
• Peace of Mind: Enjoy a 30-day trial and a 1-year warranty on all e-trikes.

Also, join our community before you purchase. We have a Facebook group called 630 Pedalers. Join the group before you purchase to talk to existing riders to ensure you're making the right choice. Then, when you have yours, post in 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.