What's the difference between gears and electric assist?

Gears for the terrain, assist for the effort: understand the difference between the derailleur and electric assist.

This is an essential point to understand:

Gears (the derailleur, gears 1 to 8) adjust the pedalling resistance to match the terrain. These are what you should change when the road goes up or down.
Electric assist (levels 0 to 5) controls how much the motor helps you. It does not replace shifting gears.

Gears (Shimano 8-speed derailleur)

Your bike is equipped with a Shimano 8-speed derailleur, controlled by the shifter on the right side of the handlebars:

Thumb (upper lever) → shift to an easier gear (for climbs)
Index finger (lower lever) → shift to a harder gear (for flat roads or descents)

Going uphill, shift to an easier gear first (thumb), then increase the assist if needed. On flat roads, use a harder gear (index finger) with low or moderate assist. Going downhill, shift to a hard gear.

Shift gears while pedalling, smoothly and without forcing, before the hill, not during it. If you're already straining on a climb, stop pedalling for a moment, shift while the bike is still rolling, then resume pedalling. Forcing a gear change under pressure damages the derailleur and chain.

Electric assist

The electric assist is controlled from the left-hand grip. The level you choose depends more on your fitness or the weight loaded on the bike than on the terrain.

Use the + and − buttons on the dashboard to adjust the assist level:

Level 0 — no assist, you pedal as on a regular bike.
Levels 1 to 4 — progressive assist.
Level 5 — maximum assist, ideal for climbs or arriving without breaking a sweat.

Start with a low level to get used to the feel of the assist, then adjust based on the terrain and how you feel.

The bike also works without electric assist — you can always pedal normally if the battery is empty or if you prefer to ride without assistance.