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Let's face it, an e-bike that goes to 70 rarely looks like a bike. For instance: - https://hpcbikes.com/products/revolution-xx https://hpcbikes.com/products/re
by Sayrus 1y ago
Let's face it, an e-bike that goes to 70 rarely looks like a bike. For instance:
- https://hpcbikes.com/products/revolution-xx https://hpcbikes.com/products/revolution-xx
- https://www.eridepros.com/pro-sr https://www.eridepros.com/pro-sr (no bicycle pedals)
I was able to find some 60MPH e-bikes that looks somewhat like a very bulky bike but even then, it's still closer to a motorcycle with pedals.
- Night_Thastus 1y agoIt's a motorcycle that in theory can be pedaled manually.
- shkkmo 1y agoThat's not an e-bike. That's an e-moto. It is sold and marketed as an e-moto and has no pedals. Depending on the jusrisdiction. these can often only be legally ridden on private property since they aren't street legal motorcycles. Some jurisdiction may allow them to be used in public OHV areas.
- Sayrus 1y agoI realized that and edited my comment with a link for one with pedals, bicycle saddle and 10kW power.
- shkkmo 1y agoYou've misunderstood that law. > By law, an electric bicycle is a bicycle that (1) has operable foot pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts and (2) qualifies as a class 1, class 2, or class 3 bicycle https://www.cga.ct.gov/2024/rpt/pdf/2024-R-0154.pdf https://www.cga.ct.gov/2024/rpt/pdf/2024-R-0154.pdf
- Sayrus 1y agoThanks, I also edited the answer. That also gives context to the sentence in the article: > Connecticut already uses the common three-class system that codifies legal e-bikes as up to 20 mph (32 km/h) and 750W (one horsepower) for Class 1 and 2, or up to 28 mph (45 km/h) for Class 3 e-bikes. So these device are already not street-legal and not allowed to be sold as e-bikes, right? Even at 30mph they aren't classified as e-bikes. Were they previously in an undefined zone and are now classified as motor-driven cycle/motorcycle? Then I don't understand the claim that this will change anything since "an electric motor of less than 750 watts" cannot provide anywhere near even 50MPH on a bike-sized device.
- shkkmo 1y agoYou are correct that the mention of the new law doesn't really make sense in the context of the article. The currently state of affairs is that "e-bikes" with more than 750W didn't have a legal classification. They couldn't be treated as motorized bicycles or motorcycles under state law so were it seems they were probably legally limited to private property in Connecticut. This law seems to expand access as to where these kinds of devices can be legally used, so it doesn't make immediate sense in the context of the article. My best guess for actual relevancy is that it also effectively expands the penalties for using them illegally (i.e. in bike paths or without the appropriate license or insurance) since they now qualify legally as a motor vehicle. Not a lawyer, just an enthusiast who tries to understand the changing regulatory landscape for my hobby.
- shkkmo 1y agoThe link you added to the HPCBike actually looks far more like an bike than many of the much slower class 2 e-bikes that are sold. Appearance isn't that helpful when it comes to enforcement or crafting regulations. It is, however, a great example of the kind of device being discussed in the article. Sold as a "class 2 e-bike" but with a software toggle to let it hit 70mph at will. However, I would argue that in many jurisdictions (such as Connecticut) it still doesn't legally qualify as an e-bike even with the software limiter because it has a >750w motor.