Super73 Z1 Pedal Assist “God Mode”: Installing a PAS Sensor on My 48V Z1
August 3, 2020
A lot of us love the Super73 Z1 because it’s simple: thumb throttle, chill cruising, and that mini-bike vibe. I’m in that camp. I’ve always preferred throttle-only.
But so many people kept asking about adding pedal assist to the upgraded 48V Z1 that I finally gave in, installed a pedal assist sensor (PAS), and put real miles on it to see what it actually feels like.
Spoiler: pedal assist on a 48V Z1 can feel like flipping on “god mode.” It’s fun, a little weird at first, and it changes the whole personality of the bike.
Why I Even Bothered Adding Pedal Assist
On a stock Z1, throttle-only just makes sense. It’s predictable and it matches the bike’s “sit back and cruise” energy.
With the 48V upgrade, though, the bike has enough punch that pedal assist becomes more than a novelty. I wanted to know if PAS would feel natural, if it would help with efficiency, and whether it would be worth the install hassle.
The Install: Simple Wiring, Picky Sensor Placement
The wiring part was straightforward because the connectors were color-matched. It was essentially matching colors (brown to brown, black to black, yellow to yellow) and routing the cable cleanly from the controller enclosure down toward the crank area.
The key detail with this style of PAS sensor is how it physically mates to the crank:
The sensor ring has “teeth” that interface with the crank area.
Placement matters a lot.
My first attempt didn’t work, and it came down to spacing. I had the sensor positioned too tight against the crank, and it wasn’t detecting properly.
How I Tested It Before Buttoning Everything Up
Before reinstalling the crank arm, I tested the sensor while it was plugged into the controller.
Important: I set assist to zero first so the bike wouldn’t lurch forward.
Then I simply rotated the sensor with my finger and watched for the assist indicator to light up. Once I saw the assist light responding, I knew the sensor was alive and it was just a mounting/alignment issue.
That little test saved a ton of frustration.
Reinstalling the Crank (Don’t Crush the Sensor)
Once I had the position right, I reinstalled the crank arm.
The biggest takeaway here: don’t clamp everything down so hard that you pinch the sensor. Tight enough that the crank arm is secure, but not so tight that you squeeze the sensor into failure.
First Ride: What Pedal Assist Actually Feels Like
Pedal assist is basically controlling “throttle” with your feet. Instead of modulating power with your thumb, you get propulsion while you pedal.
I started around PAS level 3, and it felt legitimately fast.
The biggest immediate difference vs throttle-only was how aggressively it kicks in. If you’re new to pedal assist, that first surge can catch you off guard.
With throttle, I’m used to a more intentional transition from zero to power, because my thumb is the gatekeeper. With PAS, the bike responds to a consistent pedaling motion, and the assist can come on strong once it detects rotation.
PAS Level 5: “God Mode” Is the Right Description
When I bumped it up to level 5, it felt wildly fast. Not necessarily higher top speed than full throttle, but the way it gets there feels different—more urgent.
It was a strange sensation at first because my brain associates “pedaling” with human power. Here, pedaling is basically a trigger. The motor is doing the heavy lifting, and it can feel like the bike is eager to leap forward.
I could hit the same speeds as full throttle, but PAS level 5 felt more dramatic getting there.
Is It Safer Than Throttle? Depends on Your Experience
After riding it, I actually think throttle-only is safer if you’re not used to PAS.
With pedal assist, you can pedal from a stop and suddenly get more torque than expected—especially if you forget you left it on a higher level. That “surprise shove” is fun when you’re expecting it, but it’s not ideal when you’re navigating tight areas or starting in traffic.
How It Changes the Z1’s Personality
I went into this already biased toward throttle-only, and I’m still a little on the fence.
PAS is undeniably fun. But part of what I loved about the Z1 originally was how direct and controlled it felt—almost like a simple electric mini bike.
Pedal assist makes it feel more like a traditional e-bike experience, just with way more punch than I expected.
A Quick Real-World Note on Gearing and “Ghost Pedaling”
I’m running a 46-tooth crank upgrade, and it definitely contributes to the feeling of power at lower-to-mid speeds.
But once I’m cruising around the mid-20s mph range, pedaling starts to feel like ghost pedaling anyway—my legs are spinning without adding much meaningful input. At that point, PAS becomes less about “cycling” and more about maintaining the assist trigger.
Battery Use and Heat: What I Noticed
On PAS level 5, I could tell I was chewing through battery.
I also had the impression I might be using fewer motor watts in some situations, but I’m not fully convinced. It’s possible pedaling could help in certain conditions, but in my real-world ride, level 5 felt more like maximum fun mode than efficiency mode.
One More Quirk: Throttle Feel After Adding PAS
After the install, my throttle didn’t feel as strong as it did before.
That could be a programming/setup thing with the controller settings, but it’s worth mentioning: adding PAS isn’t always “set it and forget it.” You may need to dig into configuration to get the blend of throttle power and pedal assist behavior that feels right.
The good news is the controller I’m using lets me enable or disable pedal assist, so I can choose the vibe depending on the ride.
What We Like
Pedal assist level 5 is ridiculously fun and genuinely feels like a power boost
Strong, immediate assist once it’s installed and aligned correctly
Color-matched connectors made wiring straightforward
Quick bench test (spinning the sensor by hand) makes troubleshooting way easier
Being able to enable/disable PAS is perfect for switching between “cruise” and “chaos”
Things To Consider
Sensor spacing is picky; mounting it too tight can make it stop detecting
PAS can kick in harder than expected from a stop, especially on higher levels
At higher speeds, you’ll likely end up ghost pedaling
Level 5 drains battery fast
You may need controller programming tweaks if throttle feel changes after the install
Final Thoughts
Adding pedal assist to an upgraded 48V Super73 Z1 is one of those mods that can make the bike feel completely different overnight.
If you’re throttle-only like me, PAS won’t automatically replace that preference. But it does add a new “gear” to the experience—especially when you want that instant, punchy acceleration that feels almost unfair.
If you do the install, take your time with sensor alignment, test it before fully tightening everything down, and start your first rides on a lower assist level until your muscle memory catches up.
Links
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