I'm disabled and can't walk much , heck I can't even pedal my 26" ebike more than15' But I'm not gonna stay home in the recliner watching TV all day, I live 7⁄10 of a mile from the trail head of our greenway . So in the past 12 months I have managed to ride2,100 miles and only fell 3 times , I do respect others and offer any help and assistance i can to all riders when I see anyone in trouble. My ebike is my mobility device and love it .
Thats one of the advantages of ebikes as theyre accessible. But people want to regulate them and to turn them into just another motorcycle. Which is hella dumb
Heh, did i write this? Also disabled, 2k+ odometer, have ALSO fallen 3 times since i got my bike, which i also refer to as my 'mobility device' .. I cant walk 100 meters.... but sitting and with throttle, i can ride quite far. Without my bike, im effectively a shut-in, because even if i drove somewhere, i cant walk much once i get there.... My Bike is what keeps me going..
@TAScottElstone That's great. Personally. Throttles shouldn't be exclusive to cars and motorcycles. The ones who need it most are the ones too slow. Even drivers can't stand slow cyclists. But with my homemade ebike the throttle alleviates tension and I can quickly take the lane and then just as quickly. Take my next exit
@@Mash3OH3 100% , Disabled people should unite and see if there are ways to use disability rights and protesting etc. to have things done about opening some e-bike laws and adding exceptions for disabled people such as being able to use them cautiously in a restricted low speed mode on sidewalks or when crossing lights. Many disabled people have a hard time or are unable to easily hop off their bike to walk it across the streetlights.
Real, I use mine to get to school in Texas, since i cant make it to the bus due to my disability, I think they should change the law about speed sense Texas isn't a very nice friendly place so if the road does not have a bike lane then you should be allowed to go car speed, so you cn keep up with traffic, of course if you have a decent heavy duty e bike, maybe I'm wrong but that's just my two cents
@nickanderson5531 I've been on the side of the road on NH for about a half hour with two police officers on my modded out Phatmoto 😂. They let me go eventually, they didn't know what to do.
@@nickanderson5531 the Phatmoto is not so inconspicuous, I'm on the boarder, Maine is the complete opposite, could ride a four-wheeler right down the middle of the highway, no one would give a second look.
@@SnoopyReads a foldable back is good, in NYC the dmv will just say you need insurance (bicycle insurance, it’s cheap). No ID and ghost pedaling the cops will never know
Thank you, I have my first escooter being delivered tomorrow. At 55 yrs. old, simply said, "I love riding, bicycles, mini-bikes, mopeds, dirt-bike motorcycles, street-bike motorcycles, four wheelers,...there's just something about the whole experience,...aaah!!!". Now I enter this next generation of cycles. Boise, Idaho is my home 24 years and going. Always obey the laws, yes, this is each individuals responsibility,...most of all be kind and considerate, remember your always sharing wherever your riding, thinking like this should get you home that day, safe and sound. Stay "frosty" out there, be aware.
It's been said that a lot of the NYC battery fires are not only from "shady" or "unreliable" companies, but are also from stolen bikes and are being charged by means other than the proper charger that was supplied with the battery.
@@Biktrix Unless you know how to match it. Chargers can and do fail, so they have to be replaceable and not all ebike mfgrs supply replacements. You just have to know how to match one to the battery and get one of high quality. One thing that gets me though is that quality lithium cells can handle being charged in much less than an hour but one can only get a charger deemed safe that can take six to eight hours from flat to full. A battery pack should be able to handle at least 15 amps input with a charger that can output that. Most eBike battery chargers are 2A.
So police aren’t stopping robberies, muggings or anything considered nuisance violations, but they have the energy to target e-bikes? Interesting how society has evolved.
I have what looks like a regular class 1 all-mt bike, but it is 4,000w and can go over 35mph. I've ridden it everywhere: on class one trails, no ebike trails, sidewalks, roads, pedestrian only areas, you name it. I do pay attention to not show off what it's capable of when people can see me, dont ride in a way to scare anyone, and am very conscientious of trail preservation, but I've never had anyone say anything other than a couple people curious about what it was. If you don't ride like a crazy ahole around people or tear up trails, you will likely not have any issues as long as it looks like a regular peddle bike. I think it's more about how you ride, not what it's actually capable of. It also helps if you have one or two grey hairs. A 17year old is probably not going to get away with the same thing as someone who is 45+, or certainly 60+. Us older people need the extra help from the motor, or many of us just will not ride at all. The day I can't use this e-bike, is the last day I ever get on a bicycle.
Mahalo for the info I’m gonna buy my first e-bike, I haven’t ridden any bike in like 20 years so I’m excited and nervous too. I’m looking at Aventon abound as it will replace my car as I go RVing all over the place.
I live in NC ,USA. I have never seen anyone out on Bike Patrol checking to see what type of bike Riders are using. As long as you are not riding recklessly , no one cares. My favorite trails have a speed limit of 15 mph. But I've seen regular bikes go way faster than any E-bike. Now I was informed that one trail does have plain-Clothes Police riding daily, But are there strictly for criminal activity. not Bike checking. Great Video.
A hot car, Speedometer that goes to 160 MPH. You addressed the fact that it doesn't mean you go 160 MPH. (Great example) I have been reading the (Class rules) and I will have to continue to read them TILL, I can actually understand them. I just ordered a (Questionable) motor size (Class bike) NOT for the speed but the offroad abilities to (Power thru) hard areas. Recently I have been seeing a lot of ebikes (new) seeing them around here. Reading the (State rules) it seems like NO class is outlawed, only where Federal/State trails are limited to class. Good information, Thanks
My biggest peeve about E-bikes and bikes in general is in areas with painted bike lanes where the road hazards accumulate and you are a sitting duck if you are more than 20 mph slower than traffic. Inattentive drivers simply won't see you until just before the big thump. Even near misses can rattle both the rider and driver. Many drivers will mumble 'Where did that come from,' or something more earthy during the avoidance maneuver. However, a near miss may put you beyond the shoulder of the road, into rough terrain, fence lines or urban improvements. The point is that bikes are regulated to be assisted suicide machines. There seems to be an attitude that as a bike rider, you are unimportant or just expendable and thus the politicians want to use you as a statistic to justify some more public spending on safety projects that accomplish little or nothing but enrich favored vendors.
I do Uber Eats deliveries on my E-Bike and most people tend to be attentive, but I do force them to with extra lighting. Though people do seem to be unaware that bikes and E-Bikes are 100% road legal. I’ve found that the only people that really have issue with bikes on the road are guys in big dumb trucks. They get irrationally irate, like our bikes somehow threaten them🤷🏻♂️
Well done. Thank you. I think there will be a new class for what are essentially the mopeds of the 21 century. I’m talking about your scrambler/mini bike style. I don’t really look at them as an e-bike but more of a e-moped. I don’t own one, probably never will. I love the look and how they can/could be used as daily commuter bike. Already most of them are powerful enough to be used on the roads in a way that will not impede traffic. Of course you’re not going to be on any freeways but you couldn’t with the old gas mopeds either. To me the idea of street legal E-moped that doesn’t require a licence or insurance or registration is far more practical than the electric car will ever be. We may end up with defined categories like; E-Motorcycle, E-Bicycle, E-Moped, E-Dirt Bikes etc. The e-bike world right now is kind of like the muscle car craze of the 60s and it’s kind of fun. I mean no one needed a 64 2 door post Plymouth Savoy with a 426 hemi and why did Detroit sell them? Because they could and people wanted them.
@@OU812NVME- Well, I can't speak for the original poster, but I own three e-bikes currently, and I think he's pretty much on target. There are just too many bad actors out there. Just last week I saw a woman with two kids on training wheels on a public bike trail nearly blown off the trail by two knuckleheads riding what looked like a matching pair of Delfast bikes. They had to be doing at least 40mph. I see similar abuses where bikes are allowed on sidewalks (not universal in my state, which categorizes bicycles as road vehicles and where bicycling on a sidewalk can get you a citation in some cities) with idiots with overclass e-bikes blowing past pedestrians and shop doors at full speed. Many of the e-bikes currently being sold completely outperform the Motobecane Mobylette I used to own, which required no special license or insurance, but did require registration and all safety equipment, like functioning brake lights, headlights, taillights and horn. You're free to purchase and ride anything you like skippy, but one thing some people just can't get a grasp on is that freedom always comes with responsibility.
We really need to iron out ebike laws and enable the 30 mph bikes to encourage more ridership. Regulations, registration and licensing is going to push more people back into cars.
Well the sad fact is, while registering may push people back into cars, guess what's pushing the need for that registration? Idiots who buy out of class e-bikes and ride them like no one else on the trail or sidewalks or roads deserves any consideration. Many of the e-bikes being sold completely outperform my old Motobecane Mobylette moped, which didn't require a special licensing or insurance, but did require registration, a tag, and functioning safety equipment, like headlight, tail light, brake light and horn. Some people cannot grasp the idea that freedom comes with responsibility, and it only takes a few of these geniuses to ruin it for the rest of us.
@47f0 Such registration is not going to stop "idiots" from doing what they do best. It never does. But what it does do is kill perfectly useful alternatives to clogging our streets with yet more cars year after year. You bring up a moped, which is a great analogy to my point. What happened after a bunch of reactionary laws were passed requiring all that paperwork? Mopeds died. They're little more than a novelty. Riders stopped taking advantage of the moped and they clambered back into their cars. Because why go through all that hassle for a less capable vehicle if you're just going to be harrased by Karens and cops alike? And what did it accomplish? Are our roads any safer? Do we not have over forty thousand human beings meeting their end on our roads purely by accident, or more likely, negligence? By all means, we should require a valid driver's license for "more powerful" electric bicycles to ensure folks aren't evading DUI laws and post Class 2 limits and especially speed limits to shared use paths, as it's not just electric bikes that are used irresponsibly. To think otherwise is just unrealistic and an emotional reaction.
@@Kattbirb - I'm not really that emotional. I've just observed humans and legislators (which I don't necessarily include in the former category) for about seven decades, much of it spent on two wheels. About 85% of all legislation is crap. It's either do-nothing feel-good nonsense to get votes, or perhaps well-intended legislation with unintended consequences - which doesn't stop it from being enacted into law. Mopeds died for a number of reasons, and I think you're oversimplifying there. Once a year registration for a token amount of money really was not that big an obstacle to owning one. But here's the deal. Without legislation, you can go out right now and buy a Delfast, which has a 3kilowatt motor, a top speed of 50 mph, motorcycle rims and tires, a pair of pedals that are about as useful as wings on a kiwi, and it's okay, because they sell it with a controller that can restrict it to 750 watts with a wink and a nod that you promise not to use the off-road setting on the street. Cops are pretty much restricted to enforcing the law, and without legislation there is not much in the way of legal teeth they can sink into somebody abusing such a vehicle. None of which is conducive to promoting actual e-bikes. Instead, public sentiment becomes polarized against any concessions for e-bikes, because we all get painted with the same brush. We saw the same thing with motorcycles when I was younger. The public perception of motorcycles and the people who rode them was not good, something Honda successfully combated with their "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" advertising campaign. But it took years to change that perception of all motorcyclists as outlaw bikers. When it comes to e-bikes, it is literally the wild west, and if e-bike retailers don't stop irresponsible sales, and push manufacturers to start behaving and marketing responsibly, we will all suffer.
Pretty much this. I bought a Juggernaut XD Duo. I use it to run errands around town. Is this monster of an ebike street legal? Technically no. Does it look like a normal bike rather than a motorcycle? Definitely. And I only run the thing over 25 mph if I am on a busy street and keeping with traffic. On residential streets I am 20-25mph per posted speed limits. And if I am on a trail as opposed to the road, I pedal it on PAS 2 and stay under 15mph. And so far, no one has said anything to me about it. Basically don’t be an ass and the cops will have better things to do than bother you.
Common sense is a virtue. If you have that then you're doing better than most. Basically, dont be a dick and you should be ok. It sounds like you understand that
Yep here in Cali, I just bought a mountain bike cause I liked it. It turns out the whole systems a class 3, and does 36 mph out the box without hacking it. I don't use it, but it's nice to know I have it. You're right, don't stand out and you won't get tagged : )
My town has a great mixed use paved bike/walking path that goes almost around the entire city. It's pretty wide. I have a converted mountain bike with a Bafang mid drive. I only haul ass when I can't see others. I let myself get passed by human powered bikes, and if someone is going real slow on a bike, I make sure I pedal past them. Always give pedestrians a wide berth. Here in the States, it's ours to lose by being disrespectful. I would be down with tighter battery control, though. Great video. Subscribed.
Interesting. One I was looking at says they can't ship to NYC. I don't know the reason but the battery is Samsung / LG so you'd think it would be good.
How are advocates for disabled people and the elderly not protesting the movements to regulate e-bikes as harshly as they are being done in certain areas? The vast majority of e-bike purchases are made by people over the age of 40. Lots of them are retirees and people with mobility issues that prevent them from riding traditional bikes. They'd never say "no electric wheelchairs allowed in the national parks" but rules/laws banning e-bikes get passed all the time. Post speed limits if you need to regulate "dangerous" riding habits...just like they always have done for automobiles. I can drive a Ferrari that is capable of going over 200mph in a national park as long as I abide the posted 15 mph speed limits. Why are e-bikes treated any differently?
Thank you for your good info. My understanding is if the ebike is more than 750 Watts in US, it is considered an electric motorcycle, and therefore motorcycle license and insurance required. So it may be incorrect to say 'just drive slower.
7:54 Yes Cars and trucks., aren't being told what motor they can have in your car and what how fast their car can go, and it's a class 1,2 or 3. They're not being told any of that for cars. So why are we being regulated, why don't they just give us a speed limit on the trail and a way you're supposed to act on the trail? And if you hurt somebody you get in trouble, Good video. Thank you for the information, too.
I found this very interesting, because I'm thinking of purchasing an e-bike, he'll I'm 68 might as well cruise. I get enough exercise I jog 7 days a week. After I ride my mountain bike, time to cruise on an e-bike. Much as your info on e-bike laws. 👍
My bike is 750w, 20throttlr/28pas only in order to get 28mph in pas u have tk unlock it there by unlocking the throttle too. Its l8ke you said, RESPONSIBLE/RESPONSIBILITY
Sounds like it would be an ebike with the pedals, but depending on the appearance it might be a good idea to get turn signals etc. If you haven't already and you could register it
I love the idea of UL certification for mass produced batteries. However, some people are learning to build their own often better than most mass produced, maybe sometimes worse if they didn't learn from experienced first. Where is it (il)legal to use your home made battery pack? As I understand it, UL certification is outrageously expensive if you're not mass producing anything. But you can do so much better for the cost if you build your own; and do it right.
hello btrix, the ebike speed max - did not know it would reach after 30mph. thank you for your safe rules from canada - am a manual rider from citibike town and in htx rockets town (also 4 years now from the release) - they are riding a high speed then - it looks funny with the cars and the bikes are passing them. will get there to feel that they are not fast. elle for tour de france and armstrong bike is(?)
So I'm in newfoundland. If I buy a 750w bike that's obviously an ebike but stay below 37 km/hr, I shouldn't have a problem. The bike style I want has a motorcycle style seat but otherwise looks like a normal pedal bike. I haven't been able to find one under 750w.
I live in Vancouver bc.I talked to park rangers. They said riding in ANY PARK, the engine(if you will) is not allowed. bike must be ridden with no power. Also your right when you said 500W max. I have checked(not writen in the book) nothing on a speed limit, but still be safe
The first minute of the the video. Behind you there are handlebars with a green and red pedals under it. How much and do you ship?? I had a friend that lived in Saskatoon. That was 50 years ago. In the u.k. the speed is 15 mph So Canada is about 20 mph. In the u.s.a. its 20 and 28 mph . I want those bars so leave a reply to let Me know price and shipping. Mack
We have a wealth of information at our fingertips like no other time in human history. It's surprising to me how little it's used. Before I built my first e-bike 5 years ago, I Googled "ebike laws in North Carolina" (the state where I lived at the time) which lead pretty quickly to the N.C. state regulations concerning e-bikes and Mopeds. I recently moved to southern Louisiana, and before I did I Googled "e-bike laws in Louisiana" Common between many states is motor wattage limits and maximum speed limits. N.C. does not use the e-bike class system, but lumps all peddled bikes into the "motor assisted bicycle" category including bicycles with gas powered motors like Mopeds. The main dividing line in N.C. is speed - any vehicle exceeding 20MPH or with a motor greater than 750watts or 2Hp (combustion engine) becomes a "Motor Vehicle" and is then subject to all the laws pertaining to a Motor Vehicle like licensing and insurance. Louisiana is a bit different, adapting the class system to their own definitions and adding age restrictions to the more powerful or faster classes of bike. Because of the age restrictions, La increases their speed maximum to 30MPH for class 3 bikes. You MUST be 16 to ride a class 3 bike in Louisiana. One thing many neglect IF they bother to research their state's laws is to ALSO look into the state's laws and regulations concerning "regular" bicycles. This is where you will find helmet, lighting, and sometimes age related requirements. This is also where you normally find regulations on what traffic laws you must follow (which is usually all of them) while using a bicycle, motorized or not. It isn't often enforced but in most states you can be ticketed and fined for powering through a stop sign or ignoring a red light , even on a non-motorized bicycle and you can find this fact in your state's DMV regulations web site. PS: In the US the main federal laws concerning e-bikes deals with transporting them across state lines, and that's mostly concerning the battery. There is a distinction between "riding" an e-bike and "transporting" an e-bike battery across state lines. When transporting the battery, certain DOT "hazardous material" precautions must be followed.
Good job on the video. This entire area of law is very gray right now because of how fast these bikes are advancing. Let’s just hope it does not get so out of hand that they end up banning all E bikes. I know everyone is saying that would not happen. But it has happened in the past with a three wheel motorcycles. At least in the USA, in January 1988, sale of any ATV/ATC, was banned. This was because people were getting hurt. They did not ban just the fast ones. Many of the three wheelers were used on farms and ranches. They ended up banning everything. BTW, a study over a five year timeframe showed that there were just over 300,000 injuries in the early 1980s. A five-year study from the same place, showed that there were more injuries than this on ebikes over a five-year period from 2017 to 2022. Again good job on the video.
They didn't ban them. They just ceased the production them. Banning them means they wouldn't allow them to be ridden, even after having been purchased in the past.
@@NotSoFast71 they banned the sale of them in the United States. They cannot ban a production of bikes made in Europe and Japan only the sale in the United States.
I've got a mid drive Bafang 750, a 500w Bafang hub, and 2 Jauopay's 1000/1500 hub motors running 52 volts.... the best preforming one I got is a Carbon Speed Cycle 250-350-500watt (the only difference is the controller...motor same) I'm running one on 36volts and it's almost as fast/torque as the 500Bafang on 52 volts, and I just bought a front and rear to make AWD bike!!! These CSC hub motors don't weigh much more then a regular wheel, and do not create a lot of resistance peddling w motor off, it's like riding a regular bike. Some of them are impossible ride if the battery die They cost around 250$, 60$ to ship from China, battery around 100$ and are easy to instalL
We get asked how we can sell 1500 watt E bikes and is it legal, my answer " it's not illegal or legal, it just is, it's up to you to know where you can use it, or what you feel comfortable ". Our target is outdoors, not recreational .
I ride an Ebike, actually a two wheeled recumbent that I converted into an Ebike. My top speed is right at 20mph. Might be higher if my bike was not so heavy. Any thing over 28mph, is getting dangerous. You should always wear a helmet, and if your bike goes over 28mph, helmets are available now. Its not the battery per say, its the charger. People are using the wrong chargers. My two batteries use a 2amp hour charger. If I tried to use say a 4 amp hour charger, I would blow up the battery, and start a fire. So use the right charger for your battery. Class one, pedal assist only. Class 2 pedal assist and a throttle. Class 3 Throttle only. And if you ride a class 3 ebike that can go 28+ miles per hour, you will need a license, at least in some states, if they every enforce said laws. Ebikes are allowed in Yellowstone, where ever bikes are allowed.
The lower you can charge the longer your batteries will last over time in theory. I also think its a little of both. People are trying to charge them faster and they might not know how powerful these batteries are. There are also alot of clone batteries out there and who knows if these fly by night companies are using legit cells. I would bet they are not. Buy from reputable companies and use the correct charge rate
While looking into bike law/rules in my area, I found out I'm not allowed to ride my bike on the sidewalk. You're also not allowed to roller skate, sled or wheelbarrow on the sidewalk. 😂
In Ireland, probably in most of Europe, anything above 25kmh pedal assist, or above 250Watts or has throttle is considered a moped and requires licence, motorcycle helmet, insurance, motor tax and is NOT allowed to use in bicycle/bus lanes.... You better off buying normal (non electric) motorbike...
In Lynchburg, Virginia police suggest that you ride on the sidewalk if possible. The state law states that you are supposed to ride in the streets. The speed limit on electric scooters is 20mph. Mine will do 22mph. I've never been busted on speeding. Downtown the laws change. 16mph max, and sidewalks only.
In France, if you owned a drivers license for over 2 years without major offense, you are allowed up to 11kw of power. Above 11kw, you need a motorbike license. Also, throttle makes it a different class where you must have registration, insurance, number plate road traffic endorsement at the very least, whatever the power is...That's why I custom make bluetooth throttles for my customers.
Well, PARENTS SHOULD KNOW about it. If not, they DO NOT even HAVE self-discipline! That’s all! You DON’T agree. Well, that’s too bad, GROW UP and you’ll know what I mean. Good luck!
On the wattage limit question: The argument presented is a logical one. I may have a car with a 400HP motor but if the carburetor is restricted to deliver only enough fuel to develop 200 HP then the power output of that engine NEVER exceeds 200HP. Many e-bike controllers come with a factory set, 750 watt output limit. Even a controller rated for (say) 1200 watts is likely to be limited to 750 watts by default. The problem is, the many states that regulate the wattage of the motor rather than the controller can legally fine you for a motor greater than 750 watts regardless of the controller's limits. In my opinion, this is a regulation that needs to be changed, but the stat's argument is that the factory setting of a 750 watt limited output controller CAN be overridden either by firmware, or PC board modification so this argument, no matter how logical, in most state courts would fail.
This is why I like seeing bikes with a 750-watt sticker even when it's more than 750. Maybe they ship limited to 750 and the buyer can unlock it? I could be wrong, I don't even own one yet, but I've been watching videos like crazy trying to find something that at least looks legal for my state, Massachusetts
@@rickymahoney6664 Many controllers have a way to unlock the output limiting. Some with LCD display have a wattage output unlock sequence of buttons, usually NOT found in the manual. Some have DIP switches on the PC board and others have a jumper wire on the board that you can cut. Most of these don't openly publish the procedure for doing this, but with a bit of sleuthing you can usually find it somewhere on the internet. Just be aware, unleashing a 1500 watt controller on a 1000 watt motor can stress the motor over time because it can run at maximum wattage and a "fixed" controller doesn't care. A motor that runs at 85% of it's maximum power will last a lot longer. If you are handy, try converting a regular bicycle. The fact that it has a motor goes unnoticed by most people (and cops) if it looks like an ordinary bike. Like the video says, stay away from the bikes that are trying to look like motor cycles.
8:05 not very safe riding... was that clip a demo of what not to do? or an example of how to ride around bending narrow foot paths 8:56 would have been perfect time to insert clip
I feel that in Canada, the establishment has found themselves a cash-cow because of the massive boom in E-bike use/sales in the last 4 or 5 years ( and by golly they gonna git their cut.) Obviously they can't target manufactures with levies or tariffs as that's not how the economy works and the manufacturers would just tell them to pound sand and pull their products out of Canada and Canada would loose out on sales income. "Of course" the check is going to have to come from the consumers/us the people. This may come in the form of making more classes/categories of e-bikes so people who really want to have a useful e-bikes can pay for licensing, registration and God only knows what's next. The law in BC says your motor isn't allowed to output more than 500W continuous. The Eggrider controller is the only one I've found on the market so far that allows you to set your motors power output in percent.( you can actually set everything in your motor with this!) A 1000 watt BBSHD for example with the power set to 50% is 500 watts nominal output. It also allows for 2 separate profiles so you can keep in line with the road laws and have power for off-road areas as well. We see this all the time when something cool comes out and takes off.. the Government steps in and regulates it to death or just until it ceases to be fun or useful anymore. Maybe all cars should be speed regulated with horsepower limiters? A tesla S electric car can go from 0 to 60 MPH in under 2 seconds! Perhaps they need classes of vehicles, low speed and high speed... WAIT!! Isn't traffic laws already in place to limit speed.??? With this in mind, It truly becomes clear that all these regulations and classes has nothing to do with safety. A 10 speed pedal bicycle can go up to 70kph on a straight stretch with no motor, and upwards of 100+ kph downhill!!? Perhaps these need auto-actuating breaking systems installed by Trudeau himself to keep them under 30kph? ..... Now doesn't that sound ridiculous.. like to the max? I'm pretty disgusted by all this actually..
Question? If i am riding on Federal Lands such as a WMA, am i required to have drivers license? Can i ride with a gun on these lands? Can it be conceled in compartment or on me? Someone should do a video on e bike laws on WMA and federal forestry lands.
I got my ridingtimes to 34 mph yesterday. I’ve only had it for three days. I had to use a secondary speedometer because this one stops at 40km and only reads in kilometers.
a really stupid rule in the UK is the road speed limit doesn't apply to bicycles. so you can ride 40mph in a 20mph zone, the only risk is if you are judged to be riding with wanton abandon when you run into a pedestrian.
The class system is weird. My ebike has a 750w motor. Can pedal assist up to 28mph so it's a class 3, but it also has a throttle that can get up to 28mph. So it's a class 2 but also maybe kind of illegal or something?? lol. Weird. I'm just going to be like idk officer. It's an ebike I bought on Amazon lol.
i am in europe and when i am in the city i pretend i have 250w motor with 25km/h maximum speed, and my tumbthrotle is just ringbell, basically always pedalling with lower power mode, sometimes i decrease the maximum speed in the computer to pretend even more convincingly, i have 1000w motor with max speed of 50km/h and i am uneable to register the bike as speed pedelec since the the bike is sold as the lowest class ebike where you dont need any plates or registration, so i cant get the certifications from the manufacturer
I think if you follow traffic laws and ride responsibly you’ll be fine. Over here in Florida cops don’t really give a shit if your bike is a little faster than a class three.
Living in Utah, we have ZERO infrastructure for bike riding or e-bikes. We have to ride along the highway because we have no actual paths or trails to get around town. Hard to follow bike laws when there is no infrastructure for them to begin with!
my bike is both peddle assist and throttle but it goes 25MPH. I have no idea what class it falls into then. I have 750 wat motor. I've never been stopped by the police or anything but I feel like they give me the stink eye when going 25 MPH in the bike lane.
Class 3 e-bikes doesn't sound right that law makes it dangerous for the rider especially if it has multiple assist settings , there must be some special reason for that because I have a class 2 and due to the pedal assist going up to that speed it makes it hard to control the speed variations needed to control the bike Safely
Here in the States, our laws are defined by the Consumer Product Safety commission. Bikes faster and power, are out of class. Not legal on the road. Light electric motorcycles need DOT VIN numbers, and DOT regulated brakes. CPSC.
Generally, since e-bikes have a motor, governments can and probably will require licensing. An e-bike with a bicycle drivetrain simply isn't enough to avoid any licensing requirements. Although I think class 1 and maybe class 2 aren't enough justify licencing. Class 3, especially the high performance should and most likely will require licencing in the future. BTW, E-bike represents a few classifications of two- wheeled devices. E-bicycles, e-mopeds, and e-dirtbikes. Many HP e-bikes that are dirtbikes (Suron, Juiced, ect.) are not really bicycles. The pedals and drivetrain are added to help classify it as a bicycle to make them street legal. These bikes seem to attract the motorsports and high adrenaline types whom many of them never cared for cycling to begin with.
Fact is license isn't supposed to be required unless conducting commerce. Motor vehicles are commercial vehicles and private automobiles are in the private and require no license. Cops have been engaged in criminal activities you savvy ? And dist of Columbia and friends are foreign corp not a government. They are defacto
That what you said about getting a 1000w motor and just limiting it to the legal limit of whare you are is a massive NoNo here in the UK! I have a 7 grand emtb pedal assist only just got it bosch smart system the motor class here is 250w but its continuous output is 600w but as long as the nominal Watts is 250w is how manufacturers are getting around this just now, its all legal shimano, bosch, bafang pinion etc are 600w continuous but regulated at 250w for legal jargin! It's quite interesting when you read into it all fall down that rabbit hole but because you can't run these motors Or infact any motor for a long period at its continuous output before it burns out then it's legal and classed as the 250w max on mid drives, we have just had a massive update on the system adding an auto and sport mode givi us 7 assist modes now and most all torque tunable apart from embt and tour+ there set for climbing trails at Max output
The state of Wisconsin requires registration of electric bikes and you must obtain a certificate of title. Riders must possess a valid driver’s license, operators license or instructional permit.
Ride it like a bike. Take the road when you HAVE TO. Stick to bike path and trails and lanes. Thats it. Emphasis to ride it like a bike and not like a motorcycle. My ebike is fairly fast going nearly 40mph. But you dont NEED to go that fast. Especially on public trails. As long as you have torque on demand then theres no need to go fast on public trails. And when youre on the road in the bike lanes. Youre not obligated to keep up with traffic. You can go as slow as you want. And if you want to go fast. Go on the road.
Make sure the person asking you questions know the difference between a motorized bike and a ebike. They have very different laws. And yes I've had to explain the difference to a officer
I think as long as you're wearing a helmet and not doing wheelies on an electric dirt bike you should be good. 4 years of riding and no tickets or even pulled over.
Some of this is government overreach, but a healthy dose of enforceable rules and regulations is warranted. In particular are speed limits and other rules intended to protect the bystander. Tort laws are already sufficient to deal with the aftermath of actual injury. And certainly 'disturbing the peace' applies if in the good judgement of authorities or bystanders the ebike activity is creating an environment of chaos, fear or terror by proximity. Regulating consumer safety aspects of the ebike itself among manufactures has merit with respect to battery fire containment, etc. But all of that to say that regulating the potential speed, power or even rider safety is overreach. It suggests that government knows more about our intentions and cares more about our own personal safety than we do. The hypocrisy of such laws is immediately evident in the car analogies to include legal lane cutting by motorcyclists. For that matter, allowing cyclists on many roads with speed limits in excess of say 35 mph is generally perilous and just another form of hypocrisy if personal safety is the prime objective. Those delusions of supremacy by our governing officials are nothing less than an abuse of authority that must be abolished.
You should understand that we Americans consume more calories than New Zealanders, so we're a little more hefty, so it takes a little more power to move us around. If the U.S. limited e-motors to 300 watts, we would just have a bunch of burned out motors.
I live in CA & what you say isn't the law. A Class 2 Ebike is defined by Fed Law into the 3 classes. CA defines Class 2 as pedal OR electric ONLY operated. I have operable legal pedals but took the chain off. Much better.
Thanks Biktrix for the video. Love my Juggernaut 52v Ultra FS. If you don't ride like an idiot, (ebike moto-x down the sidewalk) slow it when you come across others, you'll probably be good. This is also for non-E road racers on the bike trail doing 40mph and mountain bikers flying on the downhill. Act like a narcissistic child, be treated like one.
In England our laws are even harder, peddle assist only up to 15.5 mph, throttle assist up to 3mph, and maximum of 250w motor. The reality is we use what we want, police only pull people who are acting like idiots, I've a 2000w motor and don't have any issue with the law.
What really makes no sense are the speed regulations. An ebike can only *”ASSIST”* you up to a certain speed? So what if I’m going *DOWN* a steep hill? Even on a non-ebike? Why not limit *THOSE* speeds, too? That said, I live in California and already have a *_Class M-1_* motorcycle license. So, I could *PROBABLY* register an ebike as a _"moped",_ but I wouldn't like to be *FORCED* to do that. Like firearms, idiots are going to own and use ebikes. There's only a limited amount you can do to prevent idiots/jerks/criminals from *MISUSING ANYTHING,* and piling more laws and regulations on the people who use something *legally and responsibly* doesn't stop those who freely break existing laws and will undoubtedly do so with additional layers of burdensome new laws.
you can ride minibikes, quads, dirt bikes and whatever you want in my city. only karens care about my gas bike on rail trails. cops said im legal as long as i keep it at 15 mph on trails. 🍻
Something they evidently never told you, or a lot of the idiots that are ruining e-bikes for everyone by behaving badly, is that freedoms always come with responsibility.
What's completely silly is you can put a motor on a bicycle in people believe it's still a bicycle and not a motorbike😂 Guess what you have an overpriced underperforming moped 💯
Sounds like the over reach of a corporation has the same rights as a individual person. No cause it isn't an individual. But they made the law stupid. And, it's still there . Is anything right with laws like that? No. Too bad, they never seem to remove many really dumb laws.
I am an epileptic I just discovered e bike not allowed to drive . So My ebike is freedom and I am afraid of that guy play the take the little freedom I have
I politely disagree on the point of mandatory bike lane use. During my 90 minute commute, 99% of the time I'm using bike or share-use infrastructure, but please understand that cyclists are not legally obligated to use the bike lane anywhere in Canada. Often the bike lane is sub-optimal, littered with debris; parked cars...and without exception, long distance cycle commutes like mine require multiple modal transitions where dedicated cycle networks are incomplete, disconnected or shared - being able to make the best route choices as a road user should be available to all. Cyclists are legitimate users of the road and we are entitled to the lane just as any other vehicle. Speeds are defined by maximums for a reason.
Any e-bike law is stupid. They are essentially battery operated bikes. Shouldn’t matter if it has pedal assist or not. If I hook up a battery operated drill to a bike and ride it around, why should there be a law against that. Or a handicapped mobility scooter. There should be no difference. Are they looking at how fast someone goes. That’s a different story. There shouldn’t be a law on what the bike looks like or fall into some designated class. They are just battery operated sewing machines on two wheels, that don’t sew material. Facts.
I think I agree if i understand what youre saying. I should be able to buy any bike if I can follow the same laws other bikes do. Just like a car in any country anywhere. You can buy a 200mph car in any country. It doesnt mean you can use that power or that laws dont apply to you
Standard bicycles drive faster on trails, 20mph or faster. I do think standard bikes should have to have a license. I do agree that ebikes should have to have a license. Standard bikes to not stop lights or stop signs, we see people daily drive through red lights. Helmets should be done by government; I have seen riders no helmets. I had a helmet when I had an accident from a car.
Police here in UK are stopping the ebikes and testing them looking them over one guy just a fortnight ago was in the motorway on one of these cheap DIY kits in a worse cheap Ali ex bike he'd fitted it to and was stopped by police as he was speedi as 22mph on it when picked up on the speed gun they had on him! This just effects all of us with ebikes one of these stupids stunts!
I'm disabled and can't walk much , heck I can't even pedal my 26" ebike more than15' But I'm not gonna stay home in the recliner watching TV all day, I live 7⁄10 of a mile from the trail head of our greenway . So in the past 12 months I have managed to ride2,100 miles and only fell 3 times , I do respect others and offer any help and assistance i can to all riders when I see anyone in trouble. My ebike is my mobility device and love it .
Thats one of the advantages of ebikes as theyre accessible. But people want to regulate them and to turn them into just another motorcycle. Which is hella dumb
Heh, did i write this? Also disabled, 2k+ odometer, have ALSO fallen 3 times since i got my bike, which i also refer to as my 'mobility device' .. I cant walk 100 meters.... but sitting and with throttle, i can ride quite far. Without my bike, im effectively a shut-in, because even if i drove somewhere, i cant walk much once i get there.... My Bike is what keeps me going..
@TAScottElstone
That's great.
Personally. Throttles shouldn't be exclusive to cars and motorcycles.
The ones who need it most are the ones too slow. Even drivers can't stand slow cyclists.
But with my homemade ebike the throttle alleviates tension and I can quickly take the lane and then just as quickly. Take my next exit
@@Mash3OH3 100% , Disabled people should unite and see if there are ways to use disability rights and protesting etc. to have things done about opening some e-bike laws and adding exceptions for disabled people such as being able to use them cautiously in a restricted low speed mode on sidewalks or when crossing lights. Many disabled people have a hard time or are unable to easily hop off their bike to walk it across the streetlights.
Real, I use mine to get to school in Texas, since i cant make it to the bus due to my disability, I think they should change the law about speed sense Texas isn't a very nice friendly place so if the road does not have a bike lane then you should be allowed to go car speed, so you cn keep up with traffic, of course if you have a decent heavy duty e bike, maybe I'm wrong but that's just my two cents
For the most part the police didn't know the laws, best to try to fly under the radar, and start pedaling when you see the 5,0.
Yup and they still will try, I have been through it but I new the law in N.Y. se ya later!
@nickanderson5531 I've been on the side of the road on NH for about a half hour with two police officers on my modded out Phatmoto 😂. They let me go eventually, they didn't know what to do.
@@nickanderson5531 the Phatmoto is not so inconspicuous, I'm on the boarder, Maine is the complete opposite, could ride a four-wheeler right down the middle of the highway, no one would give a second look.
That's why I want an e bike that looks exactly like a regular bike, less attention
@@SnoopyReads a foldable back is good, in NYC the dmv will just say you need insurance (bicycle insurance, it’s cheap). No ID and ghost pedaling the cops will never know
Thank you, I have my first escooter being delivered tomorrow. At 55 yrs. old, simply said, "I love riding, bicycles, mini-bikes, mopeds, dirt-bike motorcycles, street-bike motorcycles, four wheelers,...there's just something about the whole experience,...aaah!!!". Now I enter this next generation of cycles. Boise, Idaho is my home 24 years and going. Always obey the laws, yes, this is each individuals responsibility,...most of all be kind and considerate, remember your always sharing wherever your riding, thinking like this should get you home that day, safe and sound. Stay "frosty" out there, be aware.
It's been said that a lot of the NYC battery fires are not only from "shady" or "unreliable" companies, but are also from stolen bikes and are being charged by means other than the proper charger that was supplied with the battery.
That doesn't come as a surprise to us. It's absolutely essential to use the chargers supplied by the manufacturer for charging batteries.
And to many chargers on one outlet.
@@Biktrix Unless you know how to match it. Chargers can and do fail, so they have to be replaceable and not all ebike mfgrs supply replacements. You just have to know how to match one to the battery and get one of high quality. One thing that gets me though is that quality lithium cells can handle being charged in much less than an hour but one can only get a charger deemed safe that can take six to eight hours from flat to full. A battery pack should be able to handle at least 15 amps input with a charger that can output that. Most eBike battery chargers are 2A.
So police aren’t stopping robberies, muggings or anything considered nuisance violations, but they have the energy to target e-bikes? Interesting how society has evolved.
Because E-bikes are less common than petty crimes so they command more attention.
they wont unless youre being an idiot
I'm 83 and have a 70lb 750 watt 28 mph fat tire bike. I change to 52t -11 single speed gearing and I always pedal the bike.
I have what looks like a regular class 1 all-mt bike, but it is 4,000w and can go over 35mph. I've ridden it everywhere: on class one trails, no ebike trails, sidewalks, roads, pedestrian only areas, you name it. I do pay attention to not show off what it's capable of when people can see me, dont ride in a way to scare anyone, and am very conscientious of trail preservation, but I've never had anyone say anything other than a couple people curious about what it was. If you don't ride like a crazy ahole around people or tear up trails, you will likely not have any issues as long as it looks like a regular peddle bike. I think it's more about how you ride, not what it's actually capable of. It also helps if you have one or two grey hairs. A 17year old is probably not going to get away with the same thing as someone who is 45+, or certainly 60+. Us older people need the extra help from the motor, or many of us just will not ride at all. The day I can't use this e-bike, is the last day I ever get on a bicycle.
We need more videos like this on RUclips here in New York a lot of people get their bikes stolen
Mahalo for the info I’m gonna buy my first e-bike, I haven’t ridden any bike in like 20 years so I’m excited and nervous too. I’m looking at Aventon abound as it will replace my car as I go RVing all over the place.
I live in NC ,USA. I have never seen anyone out on Bike Patrol checking to see what type of bike Riders are using. As long as you are not riding recklessly , no one cares. My favorite trails have a speed limit of 15 mph. But I've seen regular bikes go way faster than any E-bike.
Now I was informed that one trail does have plain-Clothes Police riding daily, But are there strictly for criminal activity. not Bike checking.
Great Video.
A hot car, Speedometer that goes to 160 MPH. You addressed the fact that it doesn't mean you go 160 MPH. (Great example) I have been reading the (Class rules) and I will have to continue to read them TILL, I can actually understand them. I just ordered a (Questionable) motor size (Class bike) NOT for the speed but the offroad abilities to (Power thru) hard areas. Recently I have been seeing a lot of ebikes (new) seeing them around here. Reading the (State rules) it seems like NO class is outlawed, only where Federal/State trails are limited to class. Good information, Thanks
My biggest peeve about E-bikes and bikes in general is in areas with painted bike lanes where the road hazards accumulate and you are a sitting duck if you are more than 20 mph slower than traffic. Inattentive drivers simply won't see you until just before the big thump. Even near misses can rattle both the rider and driver. Many drivers will mumble 'Where did that come from,' or something more earthy during the avoidance maneuver. However, a near miss may put you beyond the shoulder of the road, into rough terrain, fence lines or urban improvements. The point is that bikes are regulated to be assisted suicide machines. There seems to be an attitude that as a bike rider, you are unimportant or just expendable and thus the politicians want to use you as a statistic to justify some more public spending on safety projects that accomplish little or nothing but enrich favored vendors.
I do Uber Eats deliveries on my E-Bike and most people tend to be attentive, but I do force them to with extra lighting. Though people do seem to be unaware that bikes and E-Bikes are 100% road legal. I’ve found that the only people that really have issue with bikes on the road are guys in big dumb trucks. They get irrationally irate, like our bikes somehow threaten them🤷🏻♂️
You can become more noticeable if you wear a Santa Claus outfit or ride nude.
Well done. Thank you. I think there will be a new class for what are essentially the mopeds of the 21 century. I’m talking about your scrambler/mini bike style. I don’t really look at them as an e-bike but more of a e-moped. I don’t own one, probably never will. I love the look and how they can/could be used as daily commuter bike. Already most of them are powerful enough to be used on the roads in a way that will not impede traffic. Of course you’re not going to be on any freeways but you couldn’t with the old gas mopeds either. To me the idea of street legal E-moped that doesn’t require a licence or insurance or registration is far more practical than the electric car will ever be. We may end up with defined categories like; E-Motorcycle, E-Bicycle, E-Moped, E-Dirt Bikes etc. The e-bike world right now is kind of like the muscle car craze of the 60s and it’s kind of fun. I mean no one needed a 64 2 door post Plymouth Savoy with a 426 hemi and why did Detroit sell them? Because they could and people wanted them.
The key word in the entire paragraph are small bulky trying to write was like you don't own one so therefore you shouldn't even talk
@@OU812NVME- Well, I can't speak for the original poster, but I own three e-bikes currently, and I think he's pretty much on target.
There are just too many bad actors out there. Just last week I saw a woman with two kids on training wheels on a public bike trail nearly blown off the trail by two knuckleheads riding what looked like a matching pair of Delfast bikes. They had to be doing at least 40mph.
I see similar abuses where bikes are allowed on sidewalks (not universal in my state, which categorizes bicycles as road vehicles and where bicycling on a sidewalk can get you a citation in some cities) with idiots with overclass e-bikes blowing past pedestrians and shop doors at full speed.
Many of the e-bikes currently being sold completely outperform the Motobecane Mobylette I used to own, which required no special license or insurance, but did require registration and all safety equipment, like functioning brake lights, headlights, taillights and horn.
You're free to purchase and ride anything you like skippy, but one thing some people just can't get a grasp on is that freedom always comes with responsibility.
We really need to iron out ebike laws and enable the 30 mph bikes to encourage more ridership. Regulations, registration and licensing is going to push more people back into cars.
Well the sad fact is, while registering may push people back into cars, guess what's pushing the need for that registration? Idiots who buy out of class e-bikes and ride them like no one else on the trail or sidewalks or roads deserves any consideration.
Many of the e-bikes being sold completely outperform my old Motobecane Mobylette moped, which didn't require a special licensing or insurance, but did require registration, a tag, and functioning safety equipment, like headlight, tail light, brake light and horn.
Some people cannot grasp the idea that freedom comes with responsibility, and it only takes a few of these geniuses to ruin it for the rest of us.
@47f0 Such registration is not going to stop "idiots" from doing what they do best. It never does. But what it does do is kill perfectly useful alternatives to clogging our streets with yet more cars year after year.
You bring up a moped, which is a great analogy to my point. What happened after a bunch of reactionary laws were passed requiring all that paperwork? Mopeds died. They're little more than a novelty. Riders stopped taking advantage of the moped and they clambered back into their cars. Because why go through all that hassle for a less capable vehicle if you're just going to be harrased by Karens and cops alike?
And what did it accomplish? Are our roads any safer? Do we not have over forty thousand human beings meeting their end on our roads purely by accident, or more likely, negligence?
By all means, we should require a valid driver's license for "more powerful" electric bicycles to ensure folks aren't evading DUI laws and post Class 2 limits and especially speed limits to shared use paths, as it's not just electric bikes that are used irresponsibly. To think otherwise is just unrealistic and an emotional reaction.
@@Kattbirb - I'm not really that emotional. I've just observed humans and legislators (which I don't necessarily include in the former category) for about seven decades, much of it spent on two wheels.
About 85% of all legislation is crap. It's either do-nothing feel-good nonsense to get votes, or perhaps well-intended legislation with unintended consequences - which doesn't stop it from being enacted into law.
Mopeds died for a number of reasons, and I think you're oversimplifying there. Once a year registration for a token amount of money really was not that big an obstacle to owning one.
But here's the deal. Without legislation, you can go out right now and buy a Delfast, which has a 3kilowatt motor, a top speed of 50 mph, motorcycle rims and tires, a pair of pedals that are about as useful as wings on a kiwi, and it's okay, because they sell it with a controller that can restrict it to 750 watts with a wink and a nod that you promise not to use the off-road setting on the street. Cops are pretty much restricted to enforcing the law, and without legislation there is not much in the way of legal teeth they can sink into somebody abusing such a vehicle.
None of which is conducive to promoting actual e-bikes. Instead, public sentiment becomes polarized against any concessions for e-bikes, because we all get painted with the same brush.
We saw the same thing with motorcycles when I was younger. The public perception of motorcycles and the people who rode them was not good, something Honda successfully combated with their "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" advertising campaign. But it took years to change that perception of all motorcyclists as outlaw bikers.
When it comes to e-bikes, it is literally the wild west, and if e-bike retailers don't stop irresponsible sales, and push manufacturers to start behaving and marketing responsibly, we will all suffer.
Pretty much this. I bought a Juggernaut XD Duo. I use it to run errands around town. Is this monster of an ebike street legal? Technically no. Does it look like a normal bike rather than a motorcycle? Definitely.
And I only run the thing over 25 mph if I am on a busy street and keeping with traffic. On residential streets I am 20-25mph per posted speed limits. And if I am on a trail as opposed to the road, I pedal it on PAS 2 and stay under 15mph. And so far, no one has said anything to me about it.
Basically don’t be an ass and the cops will have better things to do than bother you.
Common sense is a virtue. If you have that then you're doing better than most. Basically, dont be a dick and you should be ok. It sounds like you understand that
Yep here in Cali, I just bought a mountain bike cause I liked it. It turns out the whole systems a class 3, and does 36 mph out the box without hacking it. I don't use it, but it's nice to know I have it. You're right, don't stand out and you won't get tagged : )
Good point
@awg9dog yeah speed is nice to have because theyll come situations where its better to throttle out of.
Than, slowing down.
why tf is it 5k? I just checked and I don't see anything in the specs that warrant paying 5k for that thing.
As long as we all follow the rules we can keep our fun.
My town has a great mixed use paved bike/walking path that goes almost around the entire city. It's pretty wide. I have a converted mountain bike with a Bafang mid drive. I only haul ass when I can't see others. I let myself get passed by human powered bikes, and if someone is going real slow on a bike, I make sure I pedal past them. Always give pedestrians a wide berth. Here in the States, it's ours to lose by being disrespectful. I would be down with tighter battery control, though. Great video. Subscribed.
Interesting. One I was looking at says they can't ship to NYC. I don't know the reason but the battery is Samsung / LG so you'd think it would be good.
Great job on this matter. As an e-bike rider, always good to learn.
How are advocates for disabled people and the elderly not protesting the movements to regulate e-bikes as harshly as they are being done in certain areas? The vast majority of e-bike purchases are made by people over the age of 40. Lots of them are retirees and people with mobility issues that prevent them from riding traditional bikes. They'd never say "no electric wheelchairs allowed in the national parks" but rules/laws banning e-bikes get passed all the time. Post speed limits if you need to regulate "dangerous" riding habits...just like they always have done for automobiles. I can drive a Ferrari that is capable of going over 200mph in a national park as long as I abide the posted 15 mph speed limits. Why are e-bikes treated any differently?
Thank you for your good info. My understanding is if the ebike is more than 750 Watts in US, it is considered an electric motorcycle, and therefore motorcycle license and insurance required. So it may be incorrect to say 'just drive slower.
Thanks for posting this very informative. There have been a rash of battery fires too, UL certified batteries are the best option!
7:54 Yes Cars and trucks., aren't being told what motor they can have in your car and what how fast their car can go, and it's a class 1,2 or 3. They're not being told any of that for cars. So why are we being regulated, why don't they just give us a speed limit on the trail and a way you're supposed to act on the trail? And if you hurt somebody you get in trouble, Good video. Thank you for the information, too.
This is certainly an argument that we see often
My county in S.E. PA, USA...we have an "audible sound" regulation. Use your bell!
I found this very interesting, because I'm thinking of purchasing an e-bike, he'll I'm 68 might as well cruise. I get enough exercise I jog 7 days a week. After I ride my mountain bike, time to cruise on an e-bike.
Much as your info on e-bike laws. 👍
70 here, been riding a 350 watt i scooter this year...love the Ride
My bike is 750w, 20throttlr/28pas only in order to get 28mph in pas u have tk unlock it there by unlocking the throttle too. Its l8ke you said, RESPONSIBLE/RESPONSIBILITY
I built a 1500w e-chopper with pedals. However I am looking into figuring out the proper regulations that need to be in place.
Sounds like it would be an ebike with the pedals, but depending on the appearance it might be a good idea to get turn signals etc. If you haven't already and you could register it
Excellent video on e bike rules. Kudos.
I love the idea of UL certification for mass produced batteries. However, some people are learning to build their own often better than most mass produced, maybe sometimes worse if they didn't learn from experienced first. Where is it (il)legal to use your home made battery pack? As I understand it, UL certification is outrageously expensive if you're not mass producing anything. But you can do so much better for the cost if you build your own; and do it right.
hello btrix, the ebike speed max - did not know it would reach after 30mph. thank you for your safe rules from canada - am a manual rider from citibike town and in htx rockets town (also 4 years now from the release) - they are riding a high speed then - it looks funny with the cars and the bikes are passing them. will get there to feel that they are not fast. elle for tour de france and armstrong bike is(?)
So I'm in newfoundland. If I buy a 750w bike that's obviously an ebike but stay below 37 km/hr, I shouldn't have a problem.
The bike style I want has a motorcycle style seat but otherwise looks like a normal pedal bike.
I haven't been able to find one under 750w.
I live in Vancouver bc.I talked to park rangers. They said riding in ANY PARK, the engine(if you will) is not allowed. bike must be ridden with no power. Also your right when you said 500W max. I have checked(not writen in the book) nothing on a speed limit, but still be safe
Part of the class sysyem is not true. Class 3 ebikes can have a throttle but it can only assist up to 20mph with 28mph max speed if peddaling.
Most states define them as 28mph top speed and has a throttle.
The legal definition yes, but the vast majority of ebikes marketed as class 3 will have a throttle and technically be class 2/3.
The first minute of the the video. Behind you there are handlebars with a green and red pedals under it.
How much and do you ship??
I had a friend that lived in Saskatoon.
That was 50 years ago.
In the u.k. the speed is 15 mph
So Canada is about 20 mph.
In the u.s.a. its 20 and 28 mph .
I want those bars so leave a reply to let Me know price and shipping.
Mack
This is a great video and awesome host + presentation!
We have a wealth of information at our fingertips like no other time in human history. It's surprising to me how little it's used. Before I built my first e-bike 5 years ago, I Googled "ebike laws in North Carolina" (the state where I lived at the time) which lead pretty quickly to the N.C. state regulations concerning e-bikes and Mopeds. I recently moved to southern Louisiana, and before I did I Googled "e-bike laws in Louisiana" Common between many states is motor wattage limits and maximum speed limits. N.C. does not use the e-bike class system, but lumps all peddled bikes into the "motor assisted bicycle" category including bicycles with gas powered motors like Mopeds. The main dividing line in N.C. is speed - any vehicle exceeding 20MPH or with a motor greater than 750watts or 2Hp (combustion engine) becomes a "Motor Vehicle" and is then subject to all the laws pertaining to a Motor Vehicle like licensing and insurance. Louisiana is a bit different, adapting the class system to their own definitions and adding age restrictions to the more powerful or faster classes of bike. Because of the age restrictions, La increases their speed maximum to 30MPH for class 3 bikes. You MUST be 16 to ride a class 3 bike in Louisiana.
One thing many neglect IF they bother to research their state's laws is to ALSO look into the state's laws and regulations concerning "regular" bicycles. This is where you will find helmet, lighting, and sometimes age related requirements. This is also where you normally find regulations on what traffic laws you must follow (which is usually all of them) while using a bicycle, motorized or not. It isn't often enforced but in most states you can be ticketed and fined for powering through a stop sign or ignoring a red light , even on a non-motorized bicycle and you can find this fact in your state's DMV regulations web site.
PS: In the US the main federal laws concerning e-bikes deals with transporting them across state lines, and that's mostly concerning the battery. There is a distinction between "riding" an e-bike and "transporting" an e-bike battery across state lines. When transporting the battery, certain DOT "hazardous material" precautions must be followed.
Well done as always!
Good job on the video. This entire area of law is very gray right now because of how fast these bikes are advancing. Let’s just hope it does not get so out of hand that they end up banning all E bikes. I know everyone is saying that would not happen. But it has happened in the past with a three wheel motorcycles. At least in the USA, in January 1988, sale of any ATV/ATC, was banned. This was because people were getting hurt. They did not ban just the fast ones. Many of the three wheelers were used on farms and ranches. They ended up banning everything. BTW, a study over a five year timeframe showed that there were just over 300,000 injuries in the early 1980s. A five-year study from the same place, showed that there were more injuries than this on ebikes over a five-year period from 2017 to 2022. Again good job on the video.
It’s not gray at all..federal law in 2002 was passed that describes what an ebike is
They didn't ban them. They just ceased the production them. Banning them means they wouldn't allow them to be ridden, even after having been purchased in the past.
@@NotSoFast71 they banned the sale of them in the United States. They cannot ban a production of bikes made in Europe and Japan only the sale in the United States.
Greatr video, Any e-bikes recommendations?, 750 watt, 100 torque, dual batteries etc.
check out www.biktrix.ca
I've got a mid drive Bafang 750, a 500w Bafang hub, and 2 Jauopay's 1000/1500 hub motors running 52 volts.... the best preforming one I got is a Carbon Speed Cycle 250-350-500watt (the only difference is the controller...motor same) I'm running one on 36volts and it's almost as fast/torque as the 500Bafang on 52 volts, and I just bought a front and rear to make AWD bike!!!
These CSC hub motors don't weigh much more then a regular wheel, and do not create a lot of resistance peddling w motor off, it's like riding a regular bike. Some of them are impossible ride if the battery die
They cost around 250$, 60$ to ship from China, battery around 100$ and are easy to instalL
Great information! Thank you.
Very helpful, thank you. -New subscriber.
Thank you very much. Very good presentation!
Guess what the e-bike laws are in South Florida?
nobody gives a shit
because the cops don't pull you over on an e-bike
they have better things to do
South Florida over here as well I be going over 30mph on the bike lane and they don’t give two fucks.
love Florida
Not just south Florida, its like that in all of Florida...
That's beautiful. Florida is where I picked up my Tommebike from E-bike guy. I love Florida!
Same here in Tulsa OK , tyrannical laws regulations are more of a blue state thing . TURMP 2024 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We get asked how we can sell 1500 watt E bikes and is it legal, my answer " it's not illegal or legal, it just is, it's up to you to know where you can use it, or what you feel comfortable ". Our target is outdoors, not recreational .
I ride an Ebike, actually a two wheeled recumbent that I converted into an Ebike. My top speed is right at 20mph. Might be higher if my bike was not so heavy. Any thing over 28mph, is getting dangerous. You should always wear a helmet, and if your bike goes over 28mph, helmets are available now. Its not the battery per say, its the charger. People are using the wrong chargers. My two batteries use a 2amp hour charger. If I tried to use say a 4 amp hour charger, I would blow up the battery, and start a fire. So use the right charger for your battery. Class one, pedal assist only. Class 2 pedal assist and a throttle. Class 3 Throttle only. And if you ride a class 3 ebike that can go 28+ miles per hour, you will need a license, at least in some states, if they every enforce said laws. Ebikes are allowed in Yellowstone, where ever bikes are allowed.
The lower you can charge the longer your batteries will last over time in theory. I also think its a little of both. People are trying to charge them faster and they might not know how powerful these batteries are. There are also alot of clone batteries out there and who knows if these fly by night companies are using legit cells. I would bet they are not. Buy from reputable companies and use the correct charge rate
While looking into bike law/rules in my area, I found out I'm not allowed to ride my bike on the sidewalk. You're also not allowed to roller skate, sled or wheelbarrow on the sidewalk. 😂
I have a Hebb Electroglide 500, 350 watt, throttle only. What class is that? 1.5?
In Ireland, probably in most of Europe, anything above 25kmh pedal assist, or above 250Watts or has throttle is considered a moped and requires licence, motorcycle helmet, insurance, motor tax and is NOT allowed to use in bicycle/bus lanes.... You better off buying normal (non electric) motorbike...
In Lynchburg, Virginia police suggest that you ride on the sidewalk if possible. The state law states that you are supposed to ride in the streets. The speed limit on electric scooters is 20mph. Mine will do 22mph. I've never been busted on speeding. Downtown the laws change. 16mph max, and sidewalks only.
In France, if you owned a drivers license for over 2 years without major offense, you are allowed up to 11kw of power. Above 11kw, you need a motorbike license.
Also, throttle makes it a different class where you must have registration, insurance, number plate road traffic endorsement at the very least, whatever the power is...That's why I custom make bluetooth throttles for my customers.
That’s cool. 11kw is a lot!
Great and informative video 👍.
In California, all ebikers will be ticketed unless you can prove that you just stole it.
Fair enough. When you steal a bike you cannot know if it is a legal one or not. 😊
You just DON’T have one! JEALOUSY, that’s all it is!
Well, PARENTS SHOULD KNOW about it. If not, they DO NOT even HAVE self-discipline! That’s all! You DON’T agree. Well, that’s too bad, GROW UP and you’ll know what I mean. Good luck!
Ebike riders who are IMMATURE, UNDISCIPLINED, DISRESPECTFUL must NOT ride Ebike at all!
On the wattage limit question: The argument presented is a logical one. I may have a car with a 400HP motor but if the carburetor is restricted to deliver only enough fuel to develop 200 HP then the power output of that engine NEVER exceeds 200HP. Many e-bike controllers come with a factory set, 750 watt output limit. Even a controller rated for (say) 1200 watts is likely to be limited to 750 watts by default. The problem is, the many states that regulate the wattage of the motor rather than the controller can legally fine you for a motor greater than 750 watts regardless of the controller's limits. In my opinion, this is a regulation that needs to be changed, but the stat's argument is that the factory setting of a 750 watt limited output controller CAN be overridden either by firmware, or PC board modification so this argument, no matter how logical, in most state courts would fail.
This is why I like seeing bikes with a 750-watt sticker even when it's more than 750. Maybe they ship limited to 750 and the buyer can unlock it? I could be wrong, I don't even own one yet, but I've been watching videos like crazy trying to find something that at least looks legal for my state, Massachusetts
@@rickymahoney6664 Many controllers have a way to unlock the output limiting. Some with LCD display have a wattage output unlock sequence of buttons, usually NOT found in the manual. Some have DIP switches on the PC board and others have a jumper wire on the board that you can cut. Most of these don't openly publish the procedure for doing this, but with a bit of sleuthing you can usually find it somewhere on the internet. Just be aware, unleashing a 1500 watt controller on a 1000 watt motor can stress the motor over time because it can run at maximum wattage and a "fixed" controller doesn't care. A motor that runs at 85% of it's maximum power will last a lot longer.
If you are handy, try converting a regular bicycle. The fact that it has a motor goes unnoticed by most people (and cops) if it looks like an ordinary bike. Like the video says, stay away from the bikes that are trying to look like motor cycles.
Back in my 20's I could maintain 20 mph, for about 30 mins, I could break 30 mph for a few mins. most of the time I did not have a speedometer.
How would my Evercross EO8 Scooter 350 watt, max speed 19 mph be classified?
8:05 not very safe riding... was that clip a demo of what not to do? or an example of how to ride around bending narrow foot paths
8:56 would have been perfect time to insert clip
I feel that in Canada, the establishment has found themselves a cash-cow because of the massive boom in E-bike use/sales in the last 4 or 5 years ( and by golly they gonna git their cut.) Obviously they can't target manufactures with levies or tariffs as that's not how the economy works and the manufacturers would just tell them to pound sand and pull their products out of Canada and Canada would loose out on sales income. "Of course" the check is going to have to come from the consumers/us the people. This may come in the form of making more classes/categories of e-bikes so people who really want to have a useful e-bikes can pay for licensing, registration and God only knows what's next. The law in BC says your motor isn't allowed to output more than 500W continuous. The Eggrider controller is the only one I've found on the market so far that allows you to set your motors power output in percent.( you can actually set everything in your motor with this!) A 1000 watt BBSHD for example with the power set to 50% is 500 watts nominal output. It also allows for 2 separate profiles so you can keep in line with the road laws and have power for off-road areas as well.
We see this all the time when something cool comes out and takes off.. the Government steps in and regulates it to death or just until it ceases to be fun or useful anymore. Maybe all cars should be speed regulated with horsepower limiters? A tesla S electric car can go from 0 to 60 MPH in under 2 seconds! Perhaps they need classes of vehicles, low speed and high speed... WAIT!! Isn't traffic laws already in place to limit speed.??? With this in mind, It truly becomes clear that all these regulations and classes has nothing to do with safety. A 10 speed pedal bicycle can go up to 70kph on a straight stretch with no motor, and upwards of 100+ kph downhill!!? Perhaps these need auto-actuating breaking systems installed by Trudeau himself to keep them under 30kph? ..... Now doesn't that sound ridiculous.. like to the max? I'm pretty disgusted by all this actually..
Question? If i am riding on Federal Lands such as a WMA, am i required to have drivers license? Can i ride with a gun on these lands? Can it be conceled in compartment or on me? Someone should do a video on e bike laws on WMA and federal forestry lands.
super helpfull thanks
How Fast does your e-bike go ? anybody ?
I got my ridingtimes to 34 mph yesterday. I’ve only had it for three days. I had to use a secondary speedometer because this one stops at 40km and only reads in kilometers.
a really stupid rule in the UK is the road speed limit doesn't apply to bicycles. so you can ride 40mph in a 20mph zone, the only risk is if you are judged to be riding with wanton abandon when you run into a pedestrian.
What about engwe pro 2 international version
🐝👍 ebikes are fun great to get around on🤘
The class system is weird. My ebike has a 750w motor. Can pedal assist up to 28mph so it's a class 3, but it also has a throttle that can get up to 28mph. So it's a class 2 but also maybe kind of illegal or something?? lol. Weird. I'm just going to be like idk officer. It's an ebike I bought on Amazon lol.
Excellent thanks.
i am in europe and when i am in the city i pretend i have 250w motor with 25km/h maximum speed, and my tumbthrotle is just ringbell, basically always pedalling with lower power mode, sometimes i decrease the maximum speed in the computer to pretend even more convincingly, i have 1000w motor with max speed of 50km/h and i am uneable to register the bike as speed pedelec since the the bike is sold as the lowest class ebike where you dont need any plates or registration, so i cant get the certifications from the manufacturer
Great advise!! thanks
advice vs advise
Very well stated.
So I live in manitoba and I'm wanting a cargo bike but the motors are 750+ watts and top speed of 45km/h if I'm able to limit them its ok?
I think if you follow traffic laws and ride responsibly you’ll be fine. Over here in Florida cops don’t really give a shit if your bike is a little faster than a class three.
Living in Utah, we have ZERO infrastructure for bike riding or e-bikes. We have to ride along the highway because we have no actual paths or trails to get around town. Hard to follow bike laws when there is no infrastructure for them to begin with!
my bike is both peddle assist and throttle but it goes 25MPH. I have no idea what class it falls into then. I have 750 wat motor. I've never been stopped by the police or anything but I feel like they give me the stink eye when going 25 MPH in the bike lane.
Class 3 e-bikes doesn't sound right that law makes it dangerous for the rider especially if it has multiple assist settings , there must be some special reason for that because I have a class 2 and due to the pedal assist going up to that speed it makes it hard to control the speed variations needed to control the bike Safely
Here in kansas there no laws for bikes like these
Sounds like the land of ebike dreams
Yep @@Biktrix
Came to give appreciation to thumb nail clip lol.
Here in the States, our laws are defined by the Consumer Product Safety commission. Bikes faster and power, are out of class. Not legal on the road. Light electric motorcycles need DOT VIN numbers, and DOT regulated brakes. CPSC.
Generally, since e-bikes have a motor, governments can and probably will require licensing. An e-bike with a bicycle drivetrain simply isn't enough to avoid any licensing requirements. Although I think class 1 and maybe class 2 aren't enough justify licencing. Class 3, especially the high performance should and most likely will require licencing in the future. BTW, E-bike represents a few classifications of two- wheeled devices. E-bicycles, e-mopeds, and e-dirtbikes. Many HP e-bikes that are dirtbikes (Suron, Juiced, ect.) are not really bicycles. The pedals and drivetrain are added to help classify it as a bicycle to make them street legal. These bikes seem to attract the motorsports and high adrenaline types whom many of them never cared for cycling to begin with.
Fact is license isn't supposed to be required unless conducting commerce. Motor vehicles are commercial vehicles and private automobiles are in the private and require no license. Cops have been engaged in criminal activities you savvy ? And dist of Columbia and friends are foreign corp not a government. They are defacto
That what you said about getting a 1000w motor and just limiting it to the legal limit of whare you are is a massive NoNo here in the UK! I have a 7 grand emtb pedal assist only just got it bosch smart system the motor class here is 250w but its continuous output is 600w but as long as the nominal Watts is 250w is how manufacturers are getting around this just now, its all legal shimano, bosch, bafang pinion etc are 600w continuous but regulated at 250w for legal jargin! It's quite interesting when you read into it all fall down that rabbit hole but because you can't run these motors
Or infact any motor for a long period at its continuous output before it burns out then it's legal and classed as the 250w max on mid drives, we have just had a massive update on the system adding an auto and sport mode givi us 7 assist modes now and most all torque tunable apart from embt and tour+ there set for climbing trails at
Max output
The state of Wisconsin requires registration of electric bikes and you must obtain a certificate of title. Riders must possess a valid driver’s license, operators license or instructional permit.
Ride it like a bike. Take the road when you HAVE TO. Stick to bike path and trails and lanes. Thats it.
Emphasis to ride it like a bike and not like a motorcycle.
My ebike is fairly fast going nearly 40mph. But you dont NEED to go that fast. Especially on public trails.
As long as you have torque on demand then theres no need to go fast on public trails.
And when youre on the road in the bike lanes. Youre not obligated to keep up with traffic. You can go as slow as you want.
And if you want to go fast. Go on the road.
Make sure the person asking you questions know the difference between a motorized bike and a ebike. They have very different laws. And yes I've had to explain the difference to a officer
I think as long as you're wearing a helmet and not doing wheelies on an electric dirt bike you should be good. 4 years of riding and no tickets or even pulled over.
Do you have a licensed? I’m thinking about getting one but I don’t have a license and I wanna get one that looks like a motorcycle
@@mathewlinden8602 no license 🪪 required
Where can I find a video for ohio
Some of this is government overreach, but a healthy dose of enforceable rules and regulations is warranted. In particular are speed limits and other rules intended to protect the bystander. Tort laws are already sufficient to deal with the aftermath of actual injury. And certainly 'disturbing the peace' applies if in the good judgement of authorities or bystanders the ebike activity is creating an environment of chaos, fear or terror by proximity. Regulating consumer safety aspects of the ebike itself among manufactures has merit with respect to battery fire containment, etc.
But all of that to say that regulating the potential speed, power or even rider safety is overreach. It suggests that government knows more about our intentions and cares more about our own personal safety than we do. The hypocrisy of such laws is immediately evident in the car analogies to include legal lane cutting by motorcyclists. For that matter, allowing cyclists on many roads with speed limits in excess of say 35 mph is generally perilous and just another form of hypocrisy if personal safety is the prime objective. Those delusions of supremacy by our governing officials are nothing less than an abuse of authority that must be abolished.
In new zealand we are limited to 300 watts pedal assist.
You should understand that we Americans consume more calories than New Zealanders, so we're a little more hefty, so it takes a little more power to move us around. If the U.S. limited e-motors to 300 watts, we would just have a bunch of burned out motors.
Can you speak into e scooters and the law and regulations , I am from the USA -The land of the Fee and the Slave.
I live in CA & what you say isn't the law. A Class 2 Ebike is defined by Fed Law into the 3 classes. CA defines Class 2 as pedal OR electric ONLY operated. I have operable legal pedals but took the chain off. Much better.
Thanks Biktrix for the video. Love my Juggernaut 52v Ultra FS. If you don't ride like an idiot, (ebike moto-x down the sidewalk) slow it when you come across others, you'll probably be good. This is also for non-E road racers on the bike trail doing 40mph and mountain bikers flying on the downhill. Act like a narcissistic child, be treated like one.
In England our laws are even harder, peddle assist only up to 15.5 mph, throttle assist up to 3mph, and maximum of 250w motor. The reality is we use what we want, police only pull people who are acting like idiots, I've a 2000w motor and don't have any issue with the law.
What really makes no sense are the speed regulations. An ebike can only *”ASSIST”* you up to a certain speed? So what if I’m going *DOWN* a steep hill? Even on a non-ebike? Why not limit *THOSE* speeds, too?
That said, I live in California and already have a *_Class M-1_* motorcycle license. So, I could *PROBABLY* register an ebike as a _"moped",_ but I wouldn't like to be *FORCED* to do that. Like firearms, idiots are going to own and use ebikes. There's only a limited amount you can do to prevent idiots/jerks/criminals from *MISUSING ANYTHING,* and piling more laws and regulations on the people who use something *legally and responsibly* doesn't stop those who freely break existing laws and will undoubtedly do so with additional layers of burdensome new laws.
you can ride minibikes, quads, dirt bikes and whatever you want in my city. only karens care about my gas bike on rail trails. cops said im legal as long as i keep it at 15 mph on trails. 🍻
@@niteshades_promise which city?
in most states in usa the e bike age law is 16... btw
But we are in the free world , that is what they tell us
Unless you yap it, how does anyone know 350 from 500 from 750 from 1000.. don't be an idiot like some e- bikers on YT like to be and noone will bother
Something they evidently never told you, or a lot of the idiots that are ruining e-bikes for everyone by behaving badly, is that freedoms always come with responsibility.
What's completely silly is you can put a motor on a bicycle in people believe it's still a bicycle and not a motorbike😂
Guess what you have an overpriced underperforming moped 💯
Sounds like the over reach of a corporation has the same rights as a individual person. No cause it isn't an individual. But they made the law stupid. And, it's still there . Is anything right with laws like that? No. Too bad, they never seem to remove many really dumb laws.
I am an epileptic I just discovered e bike not allowed to drive . So My ebike is freedom and I am afraid of that guy play the take the little freedom I have
Likely your ebike could
get a medical allowance . Check with your medical insurance doctor and local disability law .
Honestly, I feel the laws need to be standardized nationwide in the US, not this piecemeal. As it is, there's sections of the US I can't use my trike.
I politely disagree on the point of mandatory bike lane use. During my 90 minute commute, 99% of the time I'm using bike or share-use infrastructure, but please understand that cyclists are not legally obligated to use the bike lane anywhere in Canada. Often the bike lane is sub-optimal, littered with debris; parked cars...and without exception, long distance cycle commutes like mine require multiple modal transitions where dedicated cycle networks are incomplete, disconnected or shared - being able to make the best route choices as a road user should be available to all.
Cyclists are legitimate users of the road and we are entitled to the lane just as any other vehicle. Speeds are defined by maximums for a reason.
Any e-bike law is stupid. They are essentially battery operated bikes. Shouldn’t matter if it has pedal assist or not. If I hook up a battery operated drill to a bike and ride it around, why should there be a law against that. Or a handicapped mobility scooter. There should be no difference. Are they looking at how fast someone goes. That’s a different story. There shouldn’t be a law on what the bike looks like or fall into some designated class. They are just battery operated sewing machines on two wheels, that don’t sew material. Facts.
I think I agree if i understand what youre saying. I should be able to buy any bike if I can follow the same laws other bikes do. Just like a car in any country anywhere. You can buy a 200mph car in any country. It doesnt mean you can use that power or that laws dont apply to you
Standard bicycles drive faster on trails, 20mph or faster. I do think standard bikes should have to have a license. I do agree that ebikes should have to have a license. Standard bikes to not stop lights or stop signs, we see people daily drive through red lights.
Helmets should be done by government; I have seen riders no helmets. I had a helmet when I had an accident from a car.
Police here in UK are stopping the ebikes and testing them looking them over one guy just a fortnight ago was in the motorway on one of these cheap DIY kits in a worse cheap Ali ex bike he'd fitted it to and was stopped by police as he was speedi as 22mph on it when picked up on the speed gun they had on him! This just effects all of us with ebikes one of these stupids stunts!