Before you buy an ebike, you should learn the difference between a cadence and torque sensor.
These sensors are what tell an ebikes motor how much pedal assistance to provide.
For others, torque sensors arent worth the premium.
Whichever camp you end up falling into, itd do you well to know the difference.
Cadence sensors
Cadence sensors offer the most basic pop in of pedal-assist technology.
They measure howquicklyyou are turning the pedals, often by placing a series of magnets around the crank arms.
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When movement is detected, the sensor tells the motor to start working.
As a general rule, cheaper ebikes only come with cadence sensors.
Almost anything under $1,500 will be cadence-only.
On the surface, it might seem like cadence is directly tied to effort, but not always.
Likewise, you probably want your bike to provide less of a boost when youre going downhill.
Say youre riding along a flat path and come across a hill.
Similarly, cadence sensors can feel a little jerky at high pedal assist levels.
A torque-sensing ebike can tell if youre pushing the pedals gently.
But pedalhardand the bike will respond proportionately.
Torque sensors also usually extend battery range, as they only deliver as much power as needed.
In contrast, I find myself having to brake more often on cadence-only systems to regulate my speed.
The caveat is the price.
So are torque sensors always better?
In my experience, yes.
But there are some nuances to be aware of.
If you want a throttle, youre also more likely to find one on a cadence-based ebike.
Thats because many torque sensor ebikes use mid-drive motors, and the majority of these dont support throttles.
Likewise, not all torque-sensing systems are made equal, and some are smoother than others.
Torque sensors are typically (not always!)
But are torque sensors worth the extra money?
There are a lot of variables to consider.
But all else being equal, is a torque sensor is worth the premium?
Thats something only you’re free to decide.
Hopefully, as ebike technology advances and components become cheaper, you wont have to choose.
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