keep in mind difference in location, I live in a rural coastal town of 6k people and go a week or more without even seeing a police officer maybe more, three stoplights in the whole town. I ride on the roads not bike paths aren't any here I know of, one ride on my regular bike takes me 18 miles along the river and farms, seldom see a car, worst hazard I have run into is a farm dog or two giving chase for a short bit. I know in city's like Chicago where I grew up on Lake St. they have a law, license, tag, tax, fee, fine, ordinance, for everything under the sun, I grew up in that environment , but in the west and rural places it's not the same. I know for people in the city it's hard to imagine but when I go to visit my son who lives in Ca. it is a 850 mile trip, we make it in 12 hours and until I exit I5 I never stop but to fuel my truck twice. I went on a group ride from Astoria Or. to Seaside and return and cars were rare as we use the back roads. I am not in the least concerned with being stopped or harassed about any law concerning a bicycle for sure.
We have many gas powered bicycles running around here on the roads, no license or plate is needed and they go way over 20 trust me. The bikes I am looking at are class 2 with throttle and mid drive, and the auto CVT rear hub, to me the perfect scenario for around here.
If I was to get a pedal only bike I looked at Farraday beautiful looking bike but low power, small motor, pedal only, no throttle, slow, and over 3k, doesn't make sense to me, might as well continue on my regular Trek, on which I can exceed 20 mph with out to much sweat, 27 speed. Went down a long 3mile grade on the coast and hit over 50 last time, admit I shut it down pretty quick and dropped to 35 or so I am not crazy, but with these mountain grades you can coast sometimes for miles and miles with no motor at all, one place almost 8 miles and rarely touch the pedals for power. Going south on the same section though is a B*^&%$!!! worth it though for the ride home. We do a 22 mile ride and the other is 60 to Coos Bay Or. but that is a long day and tough for me at least. Last time I called my wife and ate my pride for a ride home, bike in the back of the truck,,,LOL, but I was spent and didn't feel well enough to make it home. She clocked almost 70 miles for the ride, no problem though cause she thinks riding a bike that far is nuts anyway.. Now on a electric may be a different thing all together.
We have many gas powered bicycles running around here on the roads, no license or plate is needed and they go way over 20 trust me. The bikes I am looking at are class 2 with throttle and mid drive, and the auto CVT rear hub, to me the perfect scenario for around here.
If I was to get a pedal only bike I looked at Farraday beautiful looking bike but low power, small motor, pedal only, no throttle, slow, and over 3k, doesn't make sense to me, might as well continue on my regular Trek, on which I can exceed 20 mph with out to much sweat, 27 speed. Went down a long 3mile grade on the coast and hit over 50 last time, admit I shut it down pretty quick and dropped to 35 or so I am not crazy, but with these mountain grades you can coast sometimes for miles and miles with no motor at all, one place almost 8 miles and rarely touch the pedals for power. Going south on the same section though is a B*^&%$!!! worth it though for the ride home. We do a 22 mile ride and the other is 60 to Coos Bay Or. but that is a long day and tough for me at least. Last time I called my wife and ate my pride for a ride home, bike in the back of the truck,,,LOL, but I was spent and didn't feel well enough to make it home. She clocked almost 70 miles for the ride, no problem though cause she thinks riding a bike that far is nuts anyway.. Now on a electric may be a different thing all together.
