Motor & Gears: How to Get the Most from Your eBike Assistance and Gearing
Your eBike is designed to work with you, not just for you. The motor and the gears are a team — and when you use them together properly, you get better efficiency, a smoother ride, and less wear on the bike.
Here’s a straightforward guide to using assistance levels and gears the right way.
How Assistance Levels Work
Most VelectriX models offer five assistance levels. Higher levels give you more support; lower levels give you less. Importantly, hub-drive and mid-drive models manage those levels differently.
Hub-drive models
Each assistance level has its own speed cut-out:
- Level 1 → assists up to 12 km/h
- Level 2 → assists up to 15 km/h
- Level 3 → assists up to 18 km/h
- Level 4 → assists up to 21 km/h
- Level 5 → assists up to 25 km/h
Once you reach that speed, the motor stops assisting until you drop back below the limit.
Mid-drive models
Every level will assist you all the way to 25 km/h, but the amount of power changes:
- Level 1 → about 20% of maximum power
- Level 2 → about 40%
- Level 3 → about 60%
- Level 4 → about 80%
- Level 5 → 100%
On mid-drives, the motor also responds to how hard you pedal. Light pedalling produces less assistance; harder pedalling produces more — but it will still be limited by the percentage of the level you’ve selected. Even hard pedalling in Level 2, for example, will only deliver around 40% of the motor’s maximum power.
When to Use Each Assistance Level
A simple practical guide:
- Levels 1–2 — Best for flat paths, warm-ups, recovery rides, or when you want more exercise.
- Level 3 — Everyday balanced support for mixed riding.
- Levels 4–5 — Hills, headwinds, heavier loads, or when you need stronger help.
You don’t need to stay on maximum. Starting lower and only increasing when you actually need it is usually more efficient and gives better overall range.
Hub-Drive vs Mid-Drive – How They Feel
Hub-drive motors deliver a more constant, predictable level of assistance up to their speed limit. They’re simple and steady.
Mid-drive motors feel more natural and responsive because they react to your pedalling effort and work through the bike’s gears. They’re often more efficient on hills when you combine the right assistance level with the right gear.
When and How to Use Your Gears
Gears are still important on an eBike — the motor doesn’t replace them.
Shift early, especially before hills:
Don’t wait until you’re already struggling. Change to an easier gear before the climb starts so both you and the motor can stay in an efficient range.
Shift down as you slow down:
Just as you shift to an easier gear before a hill, it’s good practice to shift down as you slow down or come to a stop. This means when you set off again, you’re already in a sensible gear instead of trying to pull away in a high gear.
Starting in the correct gear will improve balance, stability and efficiency while reducing wear and tear on your chain and gears.
If you forget and find yourself starting in the wrong gear:
- Put a bit more weight on the pedals and ease the bike forward gently
- Shift down as soon as the bike is rolling (even if only a few metres)
- Avoid forcing a big gear change while the bike is under heavy load or almost stationary
On mid-drive models this is especially noticeable, because the motor works through the gears. Getting into the right gear early keeps everything running more smoothly and efficiently.
On flats and descents:
Use higher gears so you can maintain speed without spinning at a very high cadence.
General rule:
Try to keep your pedalling cadence in a comfortable range (not grinding slowly, and not spinning frantically). The motor works best when you’re already turning the cranks at a steady, natural rhythm.
Why Combining Assistance + Gears Matters:
When you use the right assistance level and the right gear together, you get several benefits:
- Better efficiency — the motor doesn’t have to work as hard, which can improve range
- Less wear and tear — reduced strain on the chain, gears, and motor
- Smoother riding — fewer sudden power surges or bogged-down feelings
- More control — you stay in charge of the ride instead of relying only on maximum assistance
Think of it this way: the gears help keep the motor in its happy place, and the assistance levels help keep you in your happy place.
Quick Practical Tips:
- Start in a lower assistance level and only increase it when you actually need it
- Shift to an easier gear before hills, not halfway up
- Shift to an easier gear as you slow down, so you’re prepared for take off.
- On mid-drive bikes, remember that even hard pedalling is still limited by the percentage of the level you’ve chosen
- Listen to the bike — if it feels like it’s labouring, you probably need an easier gear or a higher assistance level
- On long rides, varying your assistance level (instead of staying on maximum) usually gives better overall range
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to overthink it. Use lower assistance when you can, higher assistance when you need it, and shift gears early so the motor never has to drag you along in the wrong gear.
Get the partnership between your legs, the gears, and the motor working well, and your VelectriX will feel smoother, last longer, and take you further.