Bringing home an electric bike is not an easy task now, specifically for consumers who have not ridden or purchased any electrically assisted cycle before. The bombardment of complex technical terms or jargon may make you feel agitated because, instead of clarity, it sometimes brings more fog to your brain.
That's why we have brought a detailed guide about torque sensor vs cadence sensor to help you pick the more natural feeling or effortless riding, giving e-bike according to your varying needs.
Get to know about the on-paper and practical differences in the working and efficiency of both sensors in order to purchase a suitable ride, enhancing your commuting experience, and not making it terrible for you.
Table of Contents
What Role Do Sensors Play in Electric Bikes?
Electric bike sensors, like a cadence sensor or torque sensor, decide the type of assistance a rider is going to get from the electric motor attached to it. The working mechanism and performance figures of different sensors vary from one to another, as e-bike motors do.
Bike sensors are the key components that communicate with the electric motor and the whole system of the vehicle. You can't expect a ride to allow a pedal assist system (PAS) to help you move further without the approval or sensing of a torque sensor or any other similar component fitted in the vehicle.
What is a Torque Sensor?
A torque sensor is an electric motor output adjusting tool that measures the force you are exerting on pedals and gives you the required assistance to move further while feeling natural. It works only when the rider requires help and doesn't drain the battery constantly.
Its working mechanism is simple, if a rider is pushing the pedals hard, then it will give more electrical assistance to ride without getting their legs heavy. Not only that, some products also come with a dedicated button, such as the "Boost" button on the ENGWE L20 Boost, to help with climbing steep hills. It instantly provides you with power, allowing you to climb hills easily and avoid fatigue.
It is best for people who want to use e-bikes for exercise or off-roading because assistance for both needs is available.
Pros of Torque Sensor
- Feels More Natural to Ride: It only gives you a helping hand while commuting by providing the required help, not more than that. That way you won't get lazy by spinning the wheels politely.
- Improved Battery Performance: The best thing about the torque sensor is its efficient battery performance because it only draws calculated power when required, not the same amount at all times, whether required or not.
- Speed Assistance Control: Torque sensor automatically adjusts the speed of the ride based on the force being exerted on the pedals by the rider, which means less jerking and surging, giving more stability.
- Smooth Gear Shifting: The smooth transition between speed levels using the gears is only possible due to torque sensors giving a jerk-free, instant start and stop response.
- Exercise Friendly: Riders will not get lazy because they need to pedal harder to get a better workout or high speed.
Cons of Torque Sensor
- Expensive to Buy: The only bad thing about torque sensor integrated ride is usually their higher prices, which means you need to spend more to enjoy a natural riding experience.
- Complex to Install and Maintain: It is difficult to install and maintain a torque sensor in the vehicle by yourself because it requires you to be an expert.
- Needs More Human Effort: If you are not looking for an exercise-friendly ride, then it is not for you because to unlock more speed levels, you need to put in more body force.
What is a Cadence Sensor?
Electric bike cadence sensors estimate the assistance level needed to be given to the rider by measuring the pedal rotations per minute instead of the hard or soft push on the pedals. This means no matter how hard you push the pedals, the electric motor output will be determined by the rotation speed.
These cycling cadence sensors remain ready all the time, constantly draining power from the battery to give you an instant response when you pick a high-speed pedal assist level without giving you a jerk.
Budget-friendly electric bikes usually come with these sensors and provide an artificial riding experience because human effort is being reduced, and more work will be done by the electric motor, which means it is not ideal for fitness freaks.
Pros of Cadence Sensor
- Provides Instant Assistance: Cadence sensors are always active and provide on-the-go assistance whenever you need more acceleration to pass through traffic jams.
- Affordable to Buy: Bicycle cadence sensors are cheaper if we compare the torque sensor vs cadence sensor price. Which means the overall cost of the ride will be budget-friendly for a large group of buyers.
- Consistent Power Delivery: The force you are putting on the pedals doesn't matter because the pedal rotation rate will get you consistent power delivery on any kind of terrain.
- Light on Feet: There's no need to get your legs heavy because soft pedalling can also get you the same level of assistance as hard pedalling will get you.
- Easy to Install and Maintain: It is easy to install and maintain because there's no complex structure to be fitted and maintained regularly.
Cons of Cadence Sensor
- Drains Battery Faster: As it remains active all the time, whether you need high assistance or not, the battery gets drained out earlier than torque sensor bikes.
- Delayed Response: In the first go, it usually takes some seconds to give electrical assistance even though you have selected the assistance level. Just move the pedals a quarter turn or further before moving to get an instant response.
- Not Best for Exercise: It is not best to use as a fitness goal-achieving tool because the pedalling will feel unnatural or require little body force from the rider.
Torque Sensor Vs. Cadence Sensor: A Brief Comparison
To find out which of the torque sensor vs cadence sensor electric bike is best for you, we have outlined a detailed comparison table for you to skim the deciding points and make the final decision.
| Features | Torque Sensor | Cadence Sensor |
| Natural Riding Feel | Yes | No |
| Battery Efficiency | Good | Poor |
| Climbing Support | Provides increased assistance | Provides uniform assistance |
| Durability | Less durable | More durable |
| Maintenance Requirements | Strict & difficult to do it yourself | Flexible & easy to do it yourself |
| Best For | Exercise & adventures | City commuting |
| Price | Expensive | Cheap |
ENGWE's Top-Performing Electric Bikes to Buy
We have shortlisted the five best electric bikes to help you compare torque sensor vs cadence sensor rides and pick the right bike for commuting.
| Model | MapFour N1 Pro | L20 3.0 Boost | E26 | EP-2 Boost |
| Sensor | Torque Sensor | Torque Sensor | Cadence Sensor | Torque Sensor |
| Torque | 80 N.m | 75 N.m | 70 N.m | 55 N.m |
| Range | Up to 100 km | Up to 135 km | Up to 140 km | Up to 120 km |
| Charging Time | About 1.5-2H | About 2H | About 5.5-6H | About 6.5H |
Conclusion
Both types of electric bikes that come with cadence or torque sensors are made for different kinds of riders. That's why the comparison of torque sensor vs cadence sensor bikes clearly indicates that if you want to get fit, then go for the first one, and if you want to enjoy effortless commuting, then go for the cadence ones.
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