Ebikes that do 30mph? That’s a special category called speedpedelec here. Need a license to ride, mandatory helmet, mandatory insurance and mandatory license plate on the “bike”. All other electrified bicycles are called ebikes, no license, plates or helmet required (but I insist you wear one anyway), they’re limited to 25kph (what is that, like 14mph?) assisted and the motor can’t exceed 250W.
I routinely break 30MPH on my regular unjuiced legs. I do understand how the fact that ebikes can readily and easily break that speed in any conditions leads to them doing it regularly thus making them a greater risk to themselves and bystanders. But it still always strikes me as a little funny or ironic how they need a license in many places to do that while I do it all the time for free, and how the conversation over safe streets often revolves around how to manage them, while meanwhile cars in my country continue to kill 125+ people every day.
However, your ebike (max 25kph pedal assistance) can be tested by police and if it fails the test (altered pedal assistance, motor >250W, …) they are taken and later destroyed. People generally don’t go over the pedal assisted speed because the bikes are rather heavy.
I converted my bike to an ebike. I could set it to 60kph but I don’t because I don’t want it taken away and 25kph is plenty okay imo. The first time I tested the bike i managed to go 40kph I think and that’s when my legs couldn’t move fast enough to drive the pedal assistance. It’s only a 7 speed and at that time I still only had caliper brakes 😅. It just one of the first test rides checking the configuration.
Also, neither pedelec nor ebike are allowed to use/have a throttle. That would make them electric scooterbikes, which is a different category of vehicle with more/other regulation. My kit came with a throttle, but I didn’t mount it.
Where is that out of curiosity? I don’t know the laws everywhere of course not even in different states, but I was able to get a 500W(advertised at 1000 peak) off of Amazon here in GA, US for fairly cheap and ride it without any issues.
Looking at the GA state laws, it would count as a class 3 ebike (under 750W pedal assist higher than 20 mph but lower than 29 mph)(also has a mode that works as class 2, full motor up to 20mph but I never use it), which just means I have to be above 15 and wear a helmet. Technically, I should always ride it on the road instead of on the sidewalk, but the sidewalks around here hardly ever have people on them, so I mix between.
I do generally prefer lower pedal assist since I use it for exercise as well, and I don’t feel comfortable going above 20 anyway so I only hit max 25 going down hills because I’m already trying to brake if I’m going above 23 or so
Ebikes that do 30mph? That’s a special category called speedpedelec here. Need a license to ride, mandatory helmet, mandatory insurance and mandatory license plate on the “bike”. All other electrified bicycles are called ebikes, no license, plates or helmet required (but I insist you wear one anyway), they’re limited to 25kph (what is that, like 14mph?) assisted and the motor can’t exceed 250W.
Are regular cyclists allowed to ride faster than 30MPH?
If the posted speed is >30mph and you juiced your legs like Armstrong, then I guess, at least here, it’s fair game.
Large groups of cyclists can go between 40 and 50kph on a level road, so if they go downhill then sure.
I routinely break 30MPH on my regular unjuiced legs. I do understand how the fact that ebikes can readily and easily break that speed in any conditions leads to them doing it regularly thus making them a greater risk to themselves and bystanders. But it still always strikes me as a little funny or ironic how they need a license in many places to do that while I do it all the time for free, and how the conversation over safe streets often revolves around how to manage them, while meanwhile cars in my country continue to kill 125+ people every day.
Can confirm on the “unjuiced legs”
I live in a super hilly town and often hit 30-33 downhill.
Ebikes don’t need licenses, pedelecs do.
However, your ebike (max 25kph pedal assistance) can be tested by police and if it fails the test (altered pedal assistance, motor >250W, …) they are taken and later destroyed. People generally don’t go over the pedal assisted speed because the bikes are rather heavy.
I converted my bike to an ebike. I could set it to 60kph but I don’t because I don’t want it taken away and 25kph is plenty okay imo. The first time I tested the bike i managed to go 40kph I think and that’s when my legs couldn’t move fast enough to drive the pedal assistance. It’s only a 7 speed and at that time I still only had caliper brakes 😅. It just one of the first test rides checking the configuration.
Also, neither pedelec nor ebike are allowed to use/have a throttle. That would make them electric scooterbikes, which is a different category of vehicle with more/other regulation. My kit came with a throttle, but I didn’t mount it.
Where is that out of curiosity? I don’t know the laws everywhere of course not even in different states, but I was able to get a 500W(advertised at 1000 peak) off of Amazon here in GA, US for fairly cheap and ride it without any issues.
Looking at the GA state laws, it would count as a class 3 ebike (under 750W pedal assist higher than 20 mph but lower than 29 mph)(also has a mode that works as class 2, full motor up to 20mph but I never use it), which just means I have to be above 15 and wear a helmet. Technically, I should always ride it on the road instead of on the sidewalk, but the sidewalks around here hardly ever have people on them, so I mix between.
I do generally prefer lower pedal assist since I use it for exercise as well, and I don’t feel comfortable going above 20 anyway so I only hit max 25 going down hills because I’m already trying to brake if I’m going above 23 or so
Central EU, Belgium