Which Type of Electric Bike Throttle Is Best
Which Type of Electric Bike Throttle Is Best?
Electric Bike Throttle is the physical connection between you and the electric bike. With a surface area of only a few square centimeters, a magical bond is formed between humans and machines, enabling the two to perceive each other and respond to each other’s thoughts and desires. Well, maybe I just romanticized it a bit, but the type of electric bike throttle on the electric bike does affect the entire riding experience.
There are three main types of throttle: thumb throttle, half twist throttle and full twist throttle. Of course, each type of electric bicycle throttle has its advantages and disadvantages, and each type has different effects on your riding experience. Everyone has steadfast supporters ready to fight to defend their throttle options.
I rarely see support for a particular ebike option so evenly distributed among riders, but this is the case when it comes to ebike throttle selection. Many people quickly asked for one of these three electric bicycle throttles as the superior choice, just because many people quickly discounted the electric bicycle throttle, and the type hoped that it was only their most despised enemy. So let’s take a detailed look at the main three different types of electric bicycle throttles and figure out all the fuss.
Thumb throttle
The thumb throttle, not surprising here, is designed to be operated by the thumb. It consists only of a small lever extending from the handlebar to the rider.
The thumb throttle is the least conspicuous of the three types of electric bicycle throttles. One thing I like about the thumb accelerator is that it almost never interferes with the brake lever or torque transmission. It only occasionally interferes with the gear lever, but this can usually be solved by slightly rotating the thumb throttle’s own lever up or down to avoid the path of the gear lever.
The thumb throttle provides maximum freedom for handlebar accessories (such as lights and mirrors) because they take up very little space. They also allow you to use any aftermarket handlebar handles you like, because they won’t reach the end of the handlebars.
Another unexpected advantage of the thumb throttle is the slightly improved safety. As we will see soon, the possibility of accidental engagement of other throttles is higher, whether it is hitting a wall, doorway or other object, or just by a careless rider.
The main complaint about the thumb throttle is thumb fatigue. This doesn’t sound like a serious problem, but after a long period of full-throttle riding, many people complain that their thumbs will feel sore and tired because they keep pressing the throttle stick. Unlike other throttle types that spread the load across the entire hand, the thumb throttle concentrates the full force of the return spring on the thumb.
Another disadvantage of thumb throttles is that they require you to keep a finger on the handlebar. The better your grip on the handlebars, the better you can handle the electric bike, especially in an emergency, you may only have a few milliseconds to think and take evasive actions. Although this is rare, it is not the best time to let your strongest number hang out alone.
When commuting to work in a very cold winter in Pittsburgh, I personally discovered another unexpected shortcoming of the thumb throttle. When your four fingers are wrapped around the handlebars and help each other keep warm, your lonely thumb sticks out far below the handlebars, wandering in no-man’s land, bearing the brunt of the cold air. Combining extremely cold temperatures and fast electric bike, you have mastered the secret of freezing your thumb. This sounds silly, but even with thick leather gloves, during the 15-minute commute in the middle of winter, my right thumb always felt like it was about to fall. Of course, this is a problem that is only related to certain groups of people, but now you can’t say that I didn’t warn you.
Full twist throttle
Full-twist throttles are a bit like thumb throttles, because they are the largest type of electric bicycle throttles and require the entire hand to operate. The full-twist throttle occupies the entire end of the handlebar, completely replacing any original grip at the end of the handlebar. To operate it, the rider simply grabs a handful of throttle and twists it back to himself.
Anyone who has ridden a motorcycle or moped will find the full twist throttle familiar. It works like the throttle on most motorcycles. Many people prefer full-twist throttles because they are operated with full hands—all five fingers hold the suction cup. This allows you to hold tightly, handle it properly, and use your wrists instead of your thumbs to apply twisting movements.
For the same reason, many people complain that completely reversing the throttle can cause wrist soreness. Just as riding at full speed with the thumb’s throttle will exhaust the thumb, turning the throttle for a long time will fatigue the rider’s wrist.
Another disadvantage of the full-twist throttle is that they are most likely to be accidentally engaged. Since the throttle continues to the end of the handlebar, hitting a wall, doorway, or even the handlebars of other bicycles nearby may cause the bicycle to accelerate to a distance unexpectedly, and the unprepared rider tries to hold on. I personally have seen this happen several times. Well, I have done it a few times.
For the same reason, the full-twist throttle extends to the end of the handlebar, and they make it impossible to use the handlebar side mirrors. This may not be a problem for you, but then again, you may not know the awesome Mirrycle handlebar end mirror.
Half twist throttle
The half-twisted throttle is like the little brother of the full-twisted throttle. They operate in exactly the same way as the full-twist throttle, but they will not reach the end of the handlebar all the way. They reach about halfway through.
The missing half of the half-twisted throttle is replaced with a matching rubber handle that will not twist, and it is still firmly attached to the handlebar. Half-twisted throttle and full-twisted throttle have most of the same advantages. They allow you to use multiple fingers, usually the first two fingers and thumb, and allow you to apply twisting to the throttle with your wrist.
When it comes to accidental engagement, the half-twisted throttle is also slightly safer than the full-twisted throttle. When it slides over obstacles, it can still be hit, but because it does not reach the end of the crossbar, accidental contact is less likely.
In addition, since the half twist will not reach the end of the handlebar, you can use the accessories at the end of the handlebar as you like, including the magical Mirrycle handlebar end mirror. The half twist throttle also has a unique solution to avoid wrist fatigue. When operating at full throttle, the rider can hold the throttle with three fingers and place two fingers on the rubber handle firmly connected to the handlebar. This gripping device prevents the half-twisted throttle from springing back to the zero throttle position and allows you to hold the handlebar instead of the wrist muscles to maintain the tension of the throttle spring. In long-distance riding, this position proves more comfortable and reduces or eliminates the fatigue associated with the thumb or the full-twisted throttle.
Electric bicycle throttle accessories
In addition to three main different styles of throttle, thumb, full twist and half twist, there are many types of throttles with built-in accessories. The most common throttle accessory is the battery life indicator. This is usually a set of three or more colored LEDs, indicating that the battery is full, partially discharged, or depleted.
Although good in theory, it is well known that these LED battery meters are not accurate. Their way of working is not to measure the actual capacity of the battery, but to measure the voltage level. Lithium batteries maintain a fairly constant voltage throughout the middle of their discharge curve, which means that these battery meters are actually only accurate near the top and bottom ends. Basically, if all your lights are on, you know that your battery is mostly charged, and if the lights are almost used up (red LED), then you know that your battery is almost dead. In the middle, your guess is as good as your throttle.
Many electric bicycle throttles also have buttons that can be used to control different functions. The most common is the on/off button used to start the electric bicycle. Assuming your electric bicycle supports these functions, these buttons can also be used for functions such as lighting and cruise control. Some throttles have instantaneous touch buttons and only work when the button is held down. These types of buttons are more suitable for functions such as horn or regenerative braking, which are what you want temporarily, and just press the button.
Some throttles have a key switch that can be used to start the electric bicycle. This is a convenient way to add some extra safety to your electric bike. The extra safety is largely superficial, because anyone with a pair of wire cutters can easily “hot-wire” your electric bike by shortening the throttle cable and bypassing the switch. In this case, safety can better prevent some idiots from trying to turn on your electric bike while you are parking. Either way, it is still another line of defense and makes your electric bike look less popular to potential thieves. In addition, it is also fun to have the key to start the electric bike.
What kind of electric car throttle are you?
In the final analysis, the choice of throttle really boils down to personal opinions. Each electric bicycle throttle has different advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to you to decide which sacrifices to make and which advantages are more important to you on your own electric bicycle. I tried to present the arguments for each of the three throttles as fairly as possible so that you can make your own decision and choose the throttle that suits you.
It should also be noted that there is another, more rare type of throttle called the “push button” throttle. It is much worse than the other three throttle types in almost all aspects. It works by applying full acceleration when the button is pressed, and then not providing the throttle when the button is released. Imagine if the accelerator pedal of your car is replaced by a simple on/off (full/no gas) button.
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