How to Use Pedal Assist and Throttle on an Electric Trike: A First-Ride Guide

Start Here: Turn Pedal Assist On Before You Push Off

When people bring home their first electric trike, the first ride usually goes one of two ways. Either the motor hums to life the moment they press down on a pedal and they grin all the way down the street, or they push off, feel the trike sit there like a parked car, and wonder whether they bought a broken bike. The difference between those two experiences almost always comes down to one setting on the display. So for this ride, I wanted to start right at the beginning, before the wheels even turn, and walk you through exactly what pedal assist does, what the throttle does, and how I'd use each one if I were a brand-new rider.

We were out on two e-trikes for this one. Both have pedal assist and a throttle, which is the setup I recommend most often to people who are new to three wheels. It was also a seriously windy day, so keep that in mind when I share what I saw on the speed readout. Wind changes everything on a trike, and I'd rather you see a real ride in real conditions than a perfect one on a calm afternoon.

Rule number one: pedal assist has to be on when you start

Here's the thing I want every new rider to remember. If you want pedal assist to help you get going, it has to be on at the moment you start your ride, set to at least level one. If the display is sitting at zero, the motor won't kick in when you pedal. It simply isn't going to help.

Riding with pedal assist off is like riding a traditional, non-electric trike. That's not a disaster, and some people enjoy it for exercise, but it does mean the start is noticeably tougher. You're getting the whole weight of the trike rolling with nothing but your legs, from a dead stop. On a three-wheeler, that first push is the hardest part of the whole ride. It's exactly the moment you want help, and exactly the moment people forget to ask for it.

So before you put your foot on a pedal, look down at the display. Make sure the system is powered on and that you're in level one or higher. It takes two seconds and saves you a frustrating first impression.

What it feels like when the motor engages

With pedal assist on, the moment you start pedaling, you'll feel the motor engage. At the lower levels it's a gentle push, not a shove. The best way I can describe it is a hand on your back, nudging you along while you turn the cranks.

On this ride I started in pedal assist two. As soon as I started pedaling, you could hear the motor come on and you could feel the power of the trike pushing in behind me. That sound is a good thing to get familiar with. It's your confirmation that the system is doing its job. If you're pedaling and you don't hear or feel anything, glance down at the display before you do anything else.

The relationship is simple. The higher the level of pedal assist, the more power the trike provides, and the easier your ride feels. Level one gives you the least help. Level five gives you the most. You pick how much of the work you want to do, and the motor fills in the rest.

Five levels, and why that range matters

Both trikes we rode have five levels of pedal assist. That range is what makes pedal assist so useful for such a wide variety of riders. Somebody who wants a real workout can sit in level one and still get a little help on the start. Somebody coming back from a knee problem, or simply getting back on a bike after twenty years away, can sit in a higher level and let the motor carry most of the load.

It's also why I tell people not to judge the trike on one setting. If level five feels like too much on your first ride, that doesn't mean the trike is too powerful for you. It means level five isn't your level yet. If level one feels like you're barely getting any help, bump it up. You can change levels while you're stopped or while you're rolling, so there's no penalty for experimenting.

One more point worth repeating, because it trips people up. Pedal assist responds to pedaling. If you stop turning the cranks, the assist stops too. That's a good safety feature, and it's what makes pedal assist feel so natural once you're used to it. You're always in charge of whether the motor is helping, simply by whether your feet are moving.

Why I'd start in a low level

You can start from a stop in any level you like. My advice for new riders, though, is to start in a lower level, one or two. The higher levels give a stronger push the moment you start pedaling, and if you're not expecting it, that surge can feel abrupt. Starting low lets you feel how the trike responds, get all three wheels rolling smoothly, and then step up once you're moving and comfortable.

That's exactly why I started this ride in level two. It's enough to make the start easy, but it's calm enough that you're never surprised. Once you've done it a few times, you'll know your trike's personality and you can start wherever you like.

If you're still shopping and wondering which models make that first push easiest, our full lineup of electric tricycles for adults all come with pedal assist, and the easy-to-mount e-trikes with a low step-through frame are a good place to look if getting on and off is part of what makes the start feel tricky for you. Getting seated comfortably and confidently is half of a good launch.

Gearing: the half of the equation people forget

Pedal assist gets most of the attention, but it isn't the only thing that decides how your ride feels. You also want to make sure you're in the right gear. The motor and the gears work together. Get them matched up and the trike feels smooth and effortless. Get them mismatched and you'll either be spinning your legs like crazy or grinding against a pedal that feels like it's stuck in mud.

On this ride, once I was rolling, I shifted up to a higher gear. I ended up in sixth gear, because I was on flat ground and in pedal assist two. That combination felt right. Flat ground with a bit of motor help means you don't need an easy, low gear. A low gear on the flats has you spinning fast without going anywhere, which is tiring and a little silly-looking.

The rule of thumb I give people goes like this. Start in a lower, easier gear so the first few pedal strokes are light. Once you're moving and the motor has helped you up to speed, shift up to a higher gear so each pedal stroke actually moves you forward. If the road starts climbing, shift back down. Your legs should feel like they're turning at a comfortable, steady rhythm, not racing and not straining.

The same-cadence test: watching the levels do the work

This is the part of the ride I really wanted you to see, because it shows what pedal assist does better than any explanation. I kept my pedaling cadence the same, meaning the same rhythm and the same effort from my legs, and I simply clicked up through the pedal assist levels to watch what happened to my speed.

In pedal assist two, I was cruising easily. When I clicked up to pedal assist three, with the same cadence, my speed went from about five miles an hour to seven. A few seconds later, still the same cadence, I was up to nine miles an hour. I wasn't exerting any more energy. My legs were doing exactly what they'd been doing a moment earlier. The extra speed was all the pedal assist function.

Then I clicked up to pedal assist four, and the trike took off. I hit eleven miles an hour, again with the same cadence and the same effort. That's the whole idea in one simple demonstration. You decide how hard you want to work, and the level you choose decides how much the motor adds on top.

I want to be upfront about those numbers. They're what I saw on the readout in that moment, on that stretch of road, on a very windy day. They're not a spec sheet, and your own speeds at each level will depend on your trike, your gearing, how hard you're pedaling, the wind, the road surface and how much weight you're carrying. What matters is the pattern: same effort, each level up, noticeably more speed.

Wind, traffic and staying aware

I mentioned the wind, and it's worth spending a moment on, because it was blowing hard during the whole ride. Wind is one of the best arguments for pedal assist. Pedaling a trike into a stiff headwind without help is genuinely hard work. With assist, you just click up a level and carry on at the same effort. The motor eats the wind for you.

It's also a reminder to keep a firm grip and stay relaxed through your arms. A trike sits wide and upright, so a gust can catch you more than you expect. Nothing dangerous, but worth being ready for.

Before I jumped up to level four, I also made a point of watching for traffic. When you click up a level, the trike accelerates, sometimes faster than a new rider expects. Do your level changes when the road ahead is clear, not while you're approaching an intersection or passing a parked car. Get comfortable with how quickly your trike responds in a quiet spot first, and you'll make those decisions instinctively later.

Matching the level to the ride

Once you've felt that same-cadence difference for yourself, choosing a level stops being guesswork. On flat ground with no wind, a lower level like one or two is usually plenty, and you'll stretch your battery further. When the road tilts uphill or the wind picks up, step up toward the higher levels and let the motor carry more of the load. If you want a real workout on a nice day, you can turn the assist off entirely and pedal on your own.

Most riders I know end up using a mix of all of these on a single ride. That's the beauty of having five levels. You aren't stuck with one experience.

If you know your local rides involve a lot of hills or loose surfaces, it's worth looking at fat tire electric trikes, which are built to stay planted on rougher ground. And whatever you're riding, good stopping power matters more as your speeds climb. Our electric trikes with disc brakes give you confident braking to match the extra speed pedal assist gives you.

Two ways to get power: pedaling or the throttle

Both of the trikes on this ride are what I'd call throttle and pedal assist e-trikes. That means you have two ways of getting power from the motor. You can pedal and have the motor assist you, in any of the five levels. Or you don't have to pedal at all. You can use the throttle and let the motor move you on its own.

That second option is the one that surprises people most. If your knees are sore, if you're tired at the end of a long ride, or if you just want to cruise for a minute without pedaling, the throttle is there. It's one of the main reasons people with limited mobility find e-trikes so freeing. You're never stuck. If you'd like to see the models that offer it, we've grouped them together under electric tricycles with throttle control.

Twist throttle versus thumb throttle

The two trikes on this ride had two different throttle styles, which made it a nice chance to show you both.

The first one has a twist throttle. You rotate part of the handlebar grip toward you, a bit like a motorcycle, and the more you twist, the more power you get. The second one has a thumb push throttle. It's a small lever near the grip that you press with your thumb, and the further you push it, the more the motor gives you. With either one, you can go without pedaling at all.

Neither style is better across the board. It's personal. Some riders love the twist because it feels natural to roll the grip while holding on. Others prefer the thumb lever because their hands stay in one fixed position and they can feather the power with small movements. If you have arthritis in your hands or wrists, that's worth trying out in person, because one may simply feel kinder to your joints than the other. Coming by to visit our store and test ride is the easiest way to find out which one your hands prefer.

The side-by-side: throttle alone versus pedal assist one

To show the difference, I rode down to the end of the driveway on the throttle, turned around, and came back in pedal assist one. Even in the lowest level, I was going a lot faster than I had been on the throttle alone. You could see it on the video.

Now, in fairness, I wasn't using the throttle to its full capacity on that first pass. I was easing it, really just to show you how it works, so that's not a perfect apples-to-apples comparison. I'd rather tell you that than pretend otherwise. The throttle can certainly give you more than I was asking of it.

Then I clicked into pedal assist two, and I was going a lot faster than I had been in pedal assist one. That step from one to two is very noticeable, and it's a good illustration of how much each level adds.

Why I think the throttle is easier when you're starting out

This is where I want to give you my honest opinion, because it might not be what you'd expect. For a brand-new rider, I think the throttle is a little bit easier. It just makes you feel more in control.

Here's why. With the throttle, the power comes on only when you ask for it and only as much as you ask for. Your thumb or your wrist is the dial. If something makes you nervous, you let go and the power stops. There's no delay and no guessing.

With pedal assist, the motor responds to your pedaling, which is wonderful once you're used to it, but in the first few rides it can feel like the trike has a mind of its own. You push the pedal and it surges a bit more than you expected. That's not a flaw. It's just a different relationship between you and the motor, and it takes a few rides to learn.

So if you're nervous, start with the throttle. Use it to get all three wheels rolling from a stop, use it to creep through tight spaces like a driveway or a crowded path, and use it to get a feel for how your trike accelerates and steers. Then, when you're ready, start pedaling in level one and work your way up.

Steering is the other thing to practice early. A trike doesn't lean into turns like a two-wheeler. You turn the handlebars to change direction, and you want to keep your weight steady and centered, even shifting a little toward the outside of a turn, so all three wheels stay planted. Doing those first turns at throttle-controlled, walking-pace speed is a calm way to build that habit.

Finding your own mix of throttle and pedal assist

Once you're accustomed to your e-trike and comfortable riding it, something interesting happens. You stop thinking about throttle versus pedal assist as a choice you make once. You'll find which situations feel most comfortable for each one, and you'll switch between them without much thought.

For a lot of riders, that ends up looking something like this. The throttle gets you rolling from a stop sign and gets you through tight, slow spots. Pedal assist in a lower level carries you along flat stretches where you're happy to pedal. A higher level comes out for a hill or a headwind. And on a calm, flat day when you want to feel your legs work, you might turn the motor down or off entirely. There's no right answer. Your mix is yours.

A simple practice plan for your first few rides

If you're brand new, here's how I'd build up. None of this needs to happen in one day.

• Find a quiet, open, flat area, like an empty parking lot or a quiet street, before heading anywhere busy.
• Turn the system on and check the display. Make sure you know where the pedal assist buttons are and how the level shows on screen.
• Start with the throttle. Practice gentle starts, slow stops and wide, easy turns until they feel routine.
• Set pedal assist to level one and pedal. Notice the moment the motor engages and how it feels behind you.
• Try the same-cadence test yourself. Keep your effort steady and click up a level at a time on a clear stretch.
• Practice shifting. Start in an easier gear, shift up once you're rolling and shift down before you slow for a stop.
• Practice braking from each speed you plan to ride, so stopping becomes automatic.

Take each step at your own pace. If one of them feels uncomfortable, stay there for another ride before moving on. Confidence on a trike comes from repetition, and every rider I know got there the same way.

And please wear a helmet, even on short practice rides in the parking lot. If you need one, we carry sixthreezero helmets that pair nicely with our trikes.

Choosing a trike that fits the way you'll ride

Everything in this article assumes the trike fits you. A trike that's the wrong size or the wrong style will feel harder to control no matter how good the motor is. Seat height, reach to the handlebars and how easily you can get on and off all affect how confident you feel when the motor engages.

If comfort and back support are your top priorities, take a look at our recumbent electric trikes and our broader collection of the most comfortable electric trikes. If you're shopping for a parent or for yourself and stability is the main concern, our electric trikes for seniors are a good starting point. And if your rides are mostly about errands, the cargo electric trikes give you room to bring things home.

If you're not sure where to begin, I'm happy to help. You can get fitted so we can match a trike to your height, your riding style and how you plan to use it. And because nothing replaces actually riding one, we back our trikes with a 30-day test ride so you can learn pedal assist and the throttle on your own streets, at your own pace.

The takeaway

If you only remember three things from this ride, make them these. Turn pedal assist on to at least level one before you start, or the motor won't help you get going. Match your gear to the ground you're on, so the motor and your legs work together. And if you're nervous at first, lean on the throttle until you feel in control, then let pedal assist take over as your confidence grows.

The rest comes with miles. Within a few rides, you'll stop thinking about levels and throttles and just ride.