Many potential e-bike owners wonder how easily an electric bike pedals when used without motor assistance, essentially as an acoustic bike. This is a valid concern, particularly for those considering an e-bike for commuting or recreational riding where they might want to conserve battery or get a workout.
One common assumption is that mid-drive motors are the only option to consider for minimal resistance when pedaling without power. While mid-drive motors are generally designed with less internal resistance, the actual experience can vary across different manufacturers and even motor models.
To get a practical sense of motor resistance, a simple test is to manually turn the cranks. Ideally, this should be done with the chain removed to isolate the motor’s feel. If that’s not possible, lifting the rear wheel will suffice. Subjectively comparing different motors, some riders find that older Bosch motors and certain Shimano models exhibit a resistance akin to a slightly rusty chain. Yamaha motors might feel like pedaling with budget-friendly pedals, while Brose (as found in Specialized e-bikes) can feel similar to high-quality pedals that could use a bit of lubrication. However, unless you are exceptionally sensitive to minor inefficiencies, or accustomed to meticulously maintaining a traditional bike, the motor drag in most modern e-bikes, excluding older Bosch systems, is unlikely to be a significant deterrent to unassisted pedaling.
Manually turning the cranks of an e-bike to assess pedal resistance
The real factors that impact how an e-bike feels to pedal without motor assistance often lie elsewhere, stemming from design choices made possible by the presence of the motor itself. Components that would be unacceptable on a non-electric bike become commonplace on e-bikes because the motor compensates for their inefficiencies.
For instance, many e-bikes, especially commuter mountain bike styles as mentioned, are equipped with wide, grippy tires. These tires, while excellent for traction and comfort, inherently create more rolling resistance than narrower, smoother tires. E-bike riders may also run lower tire pressures for enhanced comfort and grip, further increasing rolling resistance – a trade-off easily justified when you have electric assist to overcome it.
Close-up of wide, knobby e-bike tire, highlighting rolling resistance factor
Furthermore, the overall setup of an e-bike often differs from a traditional bike in ways that affect pedaling efficiency. Over time, riders might adopt a more upright riding posture on their e-mtb for comfort. Suspension systems may be set softer, prioritizing comfort over pure pedaling efficiency. The heavier weight of e-bikes, often significantly more than a comparable acoustic bike (a 45% weight increase isn’t unusual), also plays a role in how much effort is needed to pedal, especially uphill or when accelerating.
To mitigate these factors, many e-bike systems allow for customization of assistance levels. Setting the lowest assistance mode (like “Eco” mode) to a minimal assist level can provide a feel closer to riding a traditional bike. For example, setting Eco mode to 50% assist can make the e-bike feel comparable to pedaling a very efficient non-electric bike.
Considering these elements, while motor resistance exists, it’s often the secondary factors like tire choice, riding position, and overall weight distribution that more noticeably influence the experience of pedaling an e-bike without motor assistance. For riders concerned about pedaling efficiency, paying attention to these aspects and potentially adjusting tire pressure, riding posture, and utilizing low assist modes will likely yield more significant improvements than solely focusing on motor drag.
