By Stan Purdum
When is an “ebike” not a bicycle? is not a trick question. Notice that I’ve put ebike in quotes, which, in this usage, is meant to indicate that I’m using the term loosely, in a non-literal sense.
This question — and my answer to it — has been prompted by two recent eye-openers I’ve had.
The first is that I read an article on the Velo website titled “E-Bike Injuries Are Up 1,800%, But It’s Not Actually E-Bikes: It’s Electric Motorcycles.” In it, Alvin Holbrook, who is a senior tech editor for Velo, explained that many of these accidents, including those resulting in the most severe injuries, actually occurred on two-wheelers that masquerade under the e-bike label but in fact are what the “cycling advocacy group PeopleForBikes calls an ‘e-moto’: electric motorcycles and mopeds sold as ‘street legal’ e-bikes that don’t need a license or registration.”
Holbrook reminded readers that in the United States, true ebikes must legally fit into one of these definitions:
- Class 1: Pedal-assist only, motor cuts off at 20 mph
- Class 2: Throttle-equipped, maximum speed 20 mph
- Class 3: Pedal-assist only, motor cuts off at 28 mph
My ebike, for example, is a Turbo Creo SL Comp E5 road ebike, made by Specialized. It’s a Class 3 steed: with no throttle and with a motor that assists only up to 28 mph.
Holbrook goes on to say that these e-motos “are multitudes faster, more powerful, and far heavier than nearly anything with the word ‘bike’ in it. E-motos are electric mopeds, motorcycles, and dirt bikes with motors producing 1,000, 5,000, or even 10,000 watts. They can exceed 30 miles per hour, often with just a bit of fettering in a companion app. … They’re motor vehicles under federal law, subject to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations, and should not be treated the same way as other e-bikes.”
But, said Holbrook, “e-moto manufacturers have found a loophole: put pedals on an electric motorcycle, add a ‘Class 2 mode’ that artificially limits top speed to 20 mph, and market it as a ‘street-legal e-bike.’” The problem is that “the limiter can be disabled with a magnet, a series of keystrokes, or a simple YouTube tutorial,” information that’s often passed along gleefully on social media.
It’s worth your time to read Holbrook’s whole article but at least view the accompanying photo of the guy doing a wheelie on one of these monster machines.
The second eye-opener came when I recently had an opportunity to ride one of these ebike pretenders. The machine weighed 85 pounds (in contrast, my Creo weighs about 30 pounds, including the motor and battery), and in size, it looked more like a motorcycle than a bicycle. Some of them are even marketed as a ride to take into the woods when hunting, and capable of towing out the carcass of the slain animal.
I found the e-moto eager to move. It quickly reached and sustained substantial speed when I pedaled — assisted by the motor — but it also moved quickly when I employed the throttle. Pedaling with no assist at all, however, required significant effort; much more in fact than my Creo requires to pedal with no assist.
A sticker on the seat tube identified the bike as a “Class 2” unit, and indeed, the throttle topped out at 20 mph, as Class 2 ebikes are required to. However, the pedal assist continued beyond 20 mph — I had it up to 24 mph before I backed off (and it seemed eager to continue to ramp up.) Frankly, I found the whole experience somewhat scary. I later saw a video of a rider who had the same model machine up to 32 mph, with the motor still assisting.
One upshot of both the ride experience and Holbrook’s article is that I now have a better understanding of criticism of ebikes I’ve seen in some article responses on Road Bike Rider.
For example, a reader identified only as “John” insisted that if a two-wheeler has a motor attached to pedals, it should be considered a moped, while if there is no motor attached to the pedals, it is a bicycle. He concluded, “Giving the definition of a moped a free pass by calling them a ‘bicycle’ only obfuscates the reality. They’re profoundly different machines.”
In my recent article “Analog, Smanalog …,” I took issue with John’s response, insisting that real ebikes, especially when operated without throttles, are true bicycles, but I now believe John must have been influenced in his opinion by these e-motos that seek cover — or, as John put it, “a free pass” — under the ebike category. I still disagree with his notion that all ebikes are really mopeds, but I think he was right insofar as he had these e-motos in mind.
But true ebikes, those that fit legitimately into the one of the three classes and look like regular bikes in size are a legitimate boon to riders who need a little help to keep riding in their later senior years, and others who simply want the joy of keeping up with their friends who are still pedaling regular bikes.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
The NYT had a great article in their Sunday magazine two weeks ago on e-bikes (includes e-moto bikes in the article). There were some interesting stats re injuries. On a pedal bike the chance of dying from an injury is 3/10 of 1%. On an a e-bike, its 11%. A pelvic fracture accounts for about 6% of bike injuries but 25% of e-bike injuries. From 2017-2022, head in juries on e-bikes increase 49 fold while sales of these bikes went up 4x. On a positive note, e-bikes are saving four times as much oil as e-cars.
There are also apparently very easy ways to by-pass the max speeds on these e-motors and people are doing that. While I have no plans to ever own one, I don’t at all begrudge those who do. I think that cyclists who transition form 100% pedal power to some e assist are generally very safe users. Its the inexperience riders who all of a sudden have a throttle and the people (mainly kids in our area) riding the e-motor bikes unsafely on roads and trails who stand to regrettably get hurt or hurt others.
If you can get a copy of the article it is worth reading.
Use weight to classify? Your experience with an 80 lb e-bike sets a possible test.
I have 2 fairly high end Ti road bikes, and I outfitted one with a mid-drive motor (CYC) last year when my knees began to wear out. (I had both knees replaced this past February).
The newly outfitted e-bike was a life safer, I don’t think I couldn’t have ridden as mush as I did without it (6000 km). I am riding my non motorized bike much more this year, because my knees are working great on the bike.
Anyway, notwithstanding all the ways people are trying to classify e-bikes, I believe there is a very simple way: “To still be classified as a ‘bicycle’, the e-bike MUST be powered by human muscle and the motor is only a power assist. If the rider stops pedaling, the bicycle will slow to a stop, the maximum power assist I can only match what the rider puts in; if the rider is pedalling at 150W, then the motor can only put in up to 150W” – too easy!
I typically ride with my motor putting out 50W to supplement, and it usually only kicks in when going up hills,
of course, these e-bike and controllers are extremely sophisticated in what they can be programmed to do, so hacking them to ‘break’ the rules is easy, and how most e-bike are now.
Graydon, thanks for posting that definition, as that’s what I was planning to write. If you don’t have to pedal it in order to ride, it’s a moped or motorcycle, not a bicycle of any type.
I nearly got hit by a kid on an electric motorcycle on our bike path. It had no pedals at all. I complained to our city and the police chief sent me a long message about the difficulty they are having in classifying what a ‘motor vehicle’ is when it comes to bike paths. They were very familiar with the e-bike classifications. My minimal requirement for a bicycle of any sort should require it to have pedals, and the pedals need to be turning for the electric motor to be working. I see way to many people out on the trail cruising along without pedaling.
They should contact California which makes it very clear to LEO what is and what isn’t. They go after the Surrons and impound them. e-bikes have a working pedal and crank drivetrain system and e-motorcycles (they are classified as mopeds) have foot pegs.
Your last sentence is backwards – what about those of us who ride non-motorized bikes who have trouble keeping up with their peers on e-bikes?
Many e-bike riders aren’t paying attention to group dynamics. If you’re moving faster than the regular bike riders, either slow down or ride by yourself, A more fair method might be to hold separate rides for e-bikes only. E-bikes have changed the feel of group rides, and not always in a good way.
Graydon is onto something too. Class 2 e-bikes are really e-motos. It’s confusing and outdated to include them in the e-bike Class system. Put simply, anything with a throttle should not be an e-bike. Maybe the e-motos should have their own Class designations, along with separate rules for licensing and insuring.
I was lookin at a Segway bike, and asked the salesman if it would work without the chain. He said “sure” and showed me how some people flip one of the pedals over so both act as foot pegs, just like on a motorcycle. Apparently you can put a rod on that connects them to the frame so they’re static. Voila, a true e motorcycle.
If an “e-bike” has a throttle and requires no pedaling at all, it IS an electric motorcycle. These should have no classification under “e-bikes”. They should simply be classified as what they are AND require the same kind of license as a gasoline powered motorcycle.
END OF STORY!!!
Thanks for all the good feedback!
We need more regulations and maybe even education and licensing.Does a 20 mph to 28 mph motorized bike belong in the bike lane? Most riders of motorized bikes are not aware of biking rules and etiquette. I Was run over by young e-biker from behind and suffered brain bleed and badly lacerated leg and he left me unconscious in the road. Thankfully a good samaritan called 911. Two days in EMER care hospital San Diego is now limiting E-machines to those over 12 but more needs to be done. Gary
Wow! Thats horrible! The NYT article I referenced was centered around a teenager who hopped on an e-motor bike for a quick ride in the neighborhood. Next thing you know she’s being airlifted to a hospital where they removed part of her skull. She eventually ended up speaking to the CA legislature about the dangers of these e-motor bikes. CA passed some laws governing their use and Gavin Newsom signed the bill at her home.
I’m 80 years old. Just take shorter rides and cut down on the climbing. Pretending your riding a bike when a motor is pushing you uphill or home is bullshit.
I know one rider with your attitude.
Most of my group is between 75 and 85. Some of us have e-bikes. Some don’t. We ride in a group and stay together for the most part except when a light catches some of us. The ones in front often wait.
Anyway, it’s disappointing to hear of your attitude.
“A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet”…or not. Mopeds have a motor and pedals. Bicycles aren’t motorized. Calling a pedal actuated, battery powered assisted MOTORIZED an “E”Bike instead of a Moped to obfuscate the true, and accurate definiton is a semantic parlor trick to increase their access and appeal. Mopeds are great, BUT they’re NOT bicycles and should be regarded as such @ use.