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⚡ How the Motor Power Works: Throttle and Pedal Assist Levels

Your Bafang mid-drive gives you two ways to get power: pedal assist and throttle. Here's how PAS levels work and how to use each one, alone or together.

Article2 min readUpdated Jul 20, 2026
Pedal assist levels compared: 3 vs 5 vs 9 Rider's view of a Bafang color display and handlebar controls on a trail

Your Bafang mid-drive gives you two ways to get power: pedal assist (PAS) and throttle. You can use either one, or both together.

Pedal Assist (PAS)

Pedal Assist (PAS) uses a cadence sensor inside the motor. When you set your display to PAS Level 1 or higher and start pedaling, the motor kicks in and helps you along. Because it is cadence-based (it senses that you are pedaling, not how hard), there is a natural delay of about 1–2 seconds after you start pedaling before assist engages, and a short delay after you stop before it winds down. That is normal and expected.

Choosing PAS levels

Choosing 3, 5, or 9 PAS levels is a personal-preference setting on your display. Think of your motor's total power as a cake: cut it into 3 slices and each level is a big jump in power; cut it into 9 slices and you get finer, smoother steps between levels. More levels = more precise control; fewer levels = bigger punches of power per step. Increasing the PAS level with the plus/minus buttons increases how much help the motor gives.

Throttle

Throttle works independently — you can get power from a twist or thumb of the throttle without pedaling at all. In most setups the throttle can drive the bike on its own. Note that your top assisted speed in PAS is influenced by the PAS level you are in. A note on PAS 1 feeling strong or jerky: the factory programming makes the lowest assist level surprisingly punchy. That is the kit's default tuning, not a fault. If you want a gentler launch, the motor can be reprogrammed with a Bafang USB cable — but be aware that reprogramming voids the warranty, so weigh that before diving in.

Stopping the motor

Stopping the motor is instant with the ebrake cutoffs (see below), or you can simply stop pedaling / release the throttle and the motor winds down within a couple of seconds.
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