Gear Shifter System for Electric Bikes

Introduction

If you can know well the gear shifter system for electric bikes, it will add more fun for you to ride the electric bike. To explain the gear shifter system with the presentation of YouTube videos is easy for you to understand better.

Allow us to begin to explain the gear shifter system to you with some simple technical details on how it will work. To ensure you can appreciate the gear shifting system quickly,

At the same time, I have gathered two YouTube Videos for your viewing. There is an explanation of how the electronic working and how you should do to ensure smooth gear shifting. I hope this article will be helpful to you when you are riding your electric bike.


What is a Gear Shifter System for Electric bikes?

The gear shifter system for electric bikes allows the rider to switch between different gear ratios to optimize power and speed depending on road and field conditions. It is the cycling equivalent of an automatic or manual transmission in a car.

Most use gear shifter system for electric bikes in the market - SHIMANO Tourney 7 speed rear derailleur.
SHIMANO Tourney 7 speed external rear derailleur.

The gear shifter system can have multiple speeds, generally ranging from 6 to 12 speeds, giving riders a wide range of options for tackling different types of terrain.

SHIMANO Tourney 7 speed cassette is the most common use in the market because it works well with an electric motor of the e-bike.
SHIMANO-Tourney-7-speed-cassette.

E-bike gear shifter systems generally take two forms: external derailleur systems and internal hub gears. More recently, technological advancements have led to the creation of wireless shifting
Systems that use electronic signals to change gears.

Read more details: Shifters – Bicycle parts

Benefits of Using a Gear Shifter System:

  • The gear shifting system has a significant impact on the bike’s performance and the rider’s comfort.
  • On flat roads, a high gear ratio is ideal, allowing you to cover more ground with each spin, thereby increasing your speed.
  • Lower gears are preferred because they facilitate pedalling, enabling the driver to conquer steeper slopes with less effort.
  • A lower gear ratio essentially reduces pedal resistance, making it easier to maintain a steady pedaling pace despite the uphill challenge.
  • When descending, higher gears are beneficial because they keep you in control and stable at high speeds.
  • For off-road conditions such as sand beaches or dirt roads, you must change gears frequently to optimize your power and speed.

View Video #1  How & when doing gear shifting on a road bike.

Is Gear Shifter System Helpful in Climbing Hills?

Absolutely, the gear shifting system is crucial when it comes to climbing hills.

In terms of gear ratio, a 1:1 ratio (where the chain ring and rear cog have an equal number of teeth) or even lower is generally good for a 15-degree incline.

At an inclination of 25 degrees, a gear ratio of approximately 0.7 would be more appropriate.

Any slope greater than 35 degrees may require a ratio below 0.5, which may require a special gear configuration or a powerful electrical assist system.

How Does Gear Shifting Influence Acceleration?

A lower gear ratio can help you accelerate faster from a standstill. Because lower gears give you more torque and require less effort to increase your speed. However, once you reach some speed, you will need to switch to higher speeds to maintain that speed without turning the pedals too fast.

For a 20 mph peak speed, a mid-range gear should be enough. In order to reach 28 mph or 35 mph, you will probably have to go to maximum speed.

Types of Gear Shifter System:

The two main types of gear shifting systems are external (derailleur) systems and internal hub gears

External systems are most often found on conventional bikes and many electric bikes. They are relatively light, provide a wide range of gears, and are easier to maintain and repair. However, they are more exposed to damage and require more frequent maintenance.

The internal hub gears are locked in the rear wheel hub, protecting them against damage. They require less frequent maintenance and make it possible to change speed even when the bike is still. However, they tend to be heavier and feature a narrower range of speeds.

Wireless gear shifting systems are a newer development. They provide the benefits of faster and more accurate gear changes, and lack of physical cables reduces maintenance. However, they are more costly and require a source of energy, usually a battery.

Non-wireless systems, on the other hand, are more affordable, reliable, and don’t require a power source, but they lack the precision and speed of their wireless counterparts.

View Video #2 Shimano trigger shifters versus Sram trigger shifters.

Wireless Gear Shifter System:

A wireless system was announced in 2016 to use for gear shifting control.

The front and rear Derailleurs remain in place, while the wireless gear, shelter system is added to the handlebar to perform the gear shifting.

Read details – Electronic Gear Shifting Systems.

Advantages of electronic gear shifter system:

  • Eliminate the need for you to switch hand positions to shift.
  • Allow for an accurate and effortless shift, even under challenging circumstances, such as if you have cold hands or are completely exhausted.
  • Shifting performance is a guarantee to you since it is not affected by contaminated, stretched, or worn Bowden cables.
  • The automatic trim function helps you to eliminate chain rub.
  • shifts can be timed by you to occur at a particular point in the cassette or chain ring rotation, making the best and smoothest use of ramps and cutouts in the sprocket teeth
  • the front and rear shift pattern on a bike with multiple chain ring can be programmed to make the best use of the gear progression, help you to avoid duplicate ratios, and relieve you of the need to decide what combination of front and rear sprockets to employ
  • the smoothness of electronics helps you to reduce the shock on drivetrain components.

Disadvantages of electronic gear shifter system:

  • There is currently no option for you to manually override when the battery is exhausted. You will be panic when the battery is flat. However, SRAM’s RED eTap Groupset’s interchangeable derailleur batteries make it possible to manually switch batteries between the two Derailleurs to place the battery with the remaining charge onto the derailleur, you intend to shift.
  • Reliability issues may cause you not to trust the electronic systems due to the effect of moisture or water ingress into the system. As of recently, all electronic Groupsets are fully waterproof. The external connectors are entirely waterproof, but internal connectors (internal routing wired systems) need to be shrink-wrapped with shrink tubing to be waterproof.
  • Cost: The system is expensive to you compared to lower-end mechanical derailleur systems. (The Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 system cost over $2500 in May 2010).
  • Weight: You may not like the electronic Groupsets which are typically heavier than their mechanical counterparts.

Popular Brands of Gear Shifter System:

Popular brands of external gear shifter systems include Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo. These brands offer a variety of options with various gear counts and varying levels of quality and performance. Shimano and SRAM also offer internal hub gear shifter system.

Shimano and SRAM have also ventured into the world of wireless gear shifting with their respective Di2 and e-Tap systems. Both systems have been leased for their speed and accuracy, though they come with a higher price.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, selecting the right gear shifting system depends on a variety of factors, including your cycling habits, the terrain you plan to ride on, and your budget. As with any biking component, it’s crucial to find the balance that works best for your specific needs.

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7 thoughts on “Gear Shifter System for Electric Bikes”

  1. Hello, I really want to first appreciate your effort in putting this great website together and writing this article. i hd watch the video on shifting gear system twice. it is just so awesome and mind blowing.the clear explanation is really nice. this is a well researched article. thank you very much

    Reply
  2. Many thanks to you for giving us such a beautiful article and I have the opportunity to discuss a wonderful special with you.I use an electric bike so I can enjoy many benefits.I use my bike at least once a day to go to my office and do all the things that are in my house, such as bringing food from outside my home, etc.And the biggest thing is that there are separate borders for electric bikes that make it very easy for bikes to move.And what I like about this bike’s gear system is that I found it very comfortable.After you article, you will learn about the method of reading and will share new experiences with you after using it.

    Reply
  3. Many thanks to you for sharing such an excellent article with us .An electronic gear-shifting system is used to change the gear of a bicycle, enabling the transfer of electronic switches. An electronic gear-shifting system can switch gears quickly .An electronic system has several advantages over a mechanical system .Since I have an electric bike, I use the SCRAM invention gear shifting system .And I love it as well as I hope through your article everyone will know important information about electric bike gear shifter and will definitely share their new experiences with you.

    Reply
    • I hope this article will help you enjoy your electric bike better. You are welcome to share your experience with us. Thank you for supporting me with your comment.

      Reply
  4. Hello! Thanks for writing this article. The article about the gear shifter system was amazing! In my opinion, the wireless gear shifter system is a big improvement and I think could be a fantastic gift for professional bikers. As you mentioned this wireless system despite External systems that are found on conventional bikes is faster and consider to need to switch to higher speeds to maintain that speed without turning the pedals too fast! In the end, If I want to use a gear shifter system I will choose an electronic gear shifter system because it helps you to eliminate chain rub.

    Reply

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