Are E-Bikes Safe For Young Teenagers?

[kcoffeelover]

Hi everyone! My 16-year-old male cousin has been asking for an e-bike for a few years now, and this holiday season I am considering purchasing one. I have been doing some research, and have come across countless studies weighing the safety of e-bikes and some harrowing statistics regarding the prevalence of injuries, which I can’t deny, absolutely scares me. I’ll be honest, I do not know too much about e-bikes other than the brief research I have done, and I have never ridden one either. Therefore, I wanted to ask you guys your thoughts on whether or not buying an e-bike for a 16-year-old kid would be worthwhile or too risky. Is there a particular e-bike that would maybe be better equipped for a teenager, perhaps with speed restrictions? Are some brands better than others for young riders? Should I hold off on buying one altogether? Thanks in advance for your insights and opinions!

 

[chunk]

Kids are licensed to drive 5000 pound cars, so how can a 16 Y/O be denied an e-bike. Lots of pros, exercise habit, outside and face not buried in a phone, meet other riders and actually talk face to face, etc. If the kid is responsible, follows basic rules and is courteous to the pedestrian public and always wears a helmet, go for it and get him an e-bike. Lucky kid. I've been on motorcycles since I was 14 and I am still here to tell the story. I was a pretty responsible kid and a respectful rider.

 

[indianajo]

No bicycle is safe for anybody. Riding on streets particularly. I've done it 67 years, only hit and run once.
When I was 16 I was full of springs. I could ride my bike 7 miles out 7 miles back no problem. One has infinite energy at that age.
Let him build up his strength. My excess wind capacity came in handy when I received draft number 37 out of 365 when I was 19. My coordination was bad and my arms were wimpy, but nothing was wrong with my lungs, heart, and legs. I passed the PT test. Mom's taxi ended when I received a 26" cruiser bike age 11. If I needed to be somewhere I biked, walked, or rode a school or city bus.
Reference post # 2, I had a license to drive a car age 16, but did not do it much until I made enough money to pay for one. My Dad & Mom had enough trouble paying for house, insurance, food for 2 teenagers, 2 cars. No money to spare 1963-1970. Dad's car was embarressing. Holes in the floor covered by loose sheet metal, doors held closed by rubber bands, radiator leaked 2 quarts an hour, burned oil 25 miles to the quart. Another student drove 3 of us in her Mom's car to Region band at UofH. (got a ticket too). Science teachers hauled me twice to state science contest in Austin. There was a school bus for 4 high schools to haul 25 students to All State band & orchestra in Austin. I paid my own way through college, including car expense. Room & board was too expensive.

 

[gromike]

I bought an ebike for my son when he was 15 after he dropped out of high school. He's been employed ever since, though he now has a car. That was 8 years ago.

 

[Mike_V]

No,
It's winter, he'll break it right off the bat like any toy, does he even ride his bike?, is he a cyclist because most young cyclists rather distain ebikes.
As - Heavy - Why are you riding them too easy ? etc etc?
{ Who's going to fix it then ? ?}
Because: Cyclists in general are athletic and enjoy the exercise ( in mild weather ), whereas those of us who generally ride ebikes are generally less rigorous athletes.
Mike ( A Daily Commuting Cyclists Dad )

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Welcome! I applaud you for trying to sort this out in advance.

A lot will depend on the kid himself. Is he responsible and respectful of others at age 16 — i.e., is he likely to ride courteously and obey traffic laws? Does he have common sense — especially regarding mechanical things like momentum and tire adhesion? Does he pay attention to his surroundings? Is he an experienced cyclist already?

I live in an area with many teens loose on ebikes. Trust me, none of this can be taken for granted.

Much also depends on the adults around him. Will they sit him down and make sure he understands relevant traffic laws and the reasons behind them? Ditto for common-sense bike safety? Will they ride with him early on to make sure he understands?

Quite clear that little if any of this happened for many of the kids I see on ebikes. The majority are just let loose on the world — and for more than a few of them, to the peril of all concerned.

And what are his friends with ebikes like? Will they push him to do stupid stuff when adults aren't around? See a lot of that here — especially in males.

Last but by no means least, what's the bike infrastructure like where he'll be riding? Good bike lanes and paths?

Consider an audition by renting ebikes and helmets for both of you. Don't tell him what the outing's about and see how he handles himself. And what the bike infrastructure's like.

Bottom line: No ebike's safe if the rider and riding environment aren't.

As for the bike itself, buy a quality bike that's legally an ebike, not a thinly disguised e-motorcycle. Pay special attention to the brakes. Buy from a local shop willing and able to service it, as any poorly maintained bike eventually becomes unsafe.

Legal Class 1 and 2 ebikes are restricted to cut assistance at 20 mph, Class 3 at 28 mph. You can go faster — e.g., downhill — but the motor won't help you do it. Given the weight and therefore momentum of a typical ebike, 20 mph is plenty fast enough for a teen.

 

[Tom@WashDC]

I’ll be honest, I do not know too much about e-bikes other than the brief research I have done, and I have never ridden one either. Therefore, I wanted to ask you guys your thoughts on whether or not buying an e-bike for a 16-year-old kid would be worthwhile or too risky.

Serious question: How much do you know about the maturity, behaviour, mores, morals and conscientousness of this "kid"? Any model ebike could be dangerous in the hands of the wrong "kid".

 

[J.R.]

Hi everyone! My 16-year-old male cousin has been asking for an e-bike for a few years now, and this holiday season I am considering purchasing one. I have been doing some research, and have come across countless studies weighing the safety of e-bikes and some harrowing statistics regarding the prevalence of injuries, which I can’t deny, absolutely scares me. I’ll be honest, I do not know too much about e-bikes other than the brief research I have done, and I have never ridden one either. Therefore, I wanted to ask you guys your thoughts on whether or not buying an e-bike for a 16-year-old kid would be worthwhile or too risky. Is there a particular e-bike that would maybe be better equipped for a teenager, perhaps with speed restrictions? Are some brands better than others for young riders? Should I hold off on buying one altogether? Thanks in advance for your insights and opinions!

These days, it depends on what a 16-year-old calls an ebike. If he wants a 1500-3000 watt, throttle motorbike like a Super 73, I wouldn't buy it. That's what the typical teenager wants. I am not against kids riding motorbikes, my father bought me a 50cc minibike when I was 7, more than 50 years ago. We rode them legally off-road. Kids these days ride electric motorbikes on the road and I personally wouldn't buy something for a kid that might permit them to break the law and potentially get them arrested. I wouldn't be against them having a Class 1 eMTB. It might start a lifelong passion for cycling. That said, a healthy 16-year-old young man should be able to outperform, or at least match most Class 1 ebikes without assistance.

"Depends"

eBike:

Not an eBike:

Best of luck. Merry Christmas!

 

[Chargeride]

You can ride a Euro legal ebike at 14 here, tbh I'd be far more worried of the child being mugged for it and being injured trying to defend themselves.

 

[gromike]

How things change. When I was 16 we just got motorcycles. Life was so much simpler, I guess.

 

[February]

Hi everyone! My 16-year-old male cousin has been asking for an e-bike for a few years now, and this holiday season I am considering purchasing one. I have been doing some research, and have come across countless studies weighing the safety of e-bikes and some harrowing statistics regarding the prevalence of injuries, which I can’t deny, absolutely scares me. I’ll be honest, I do not know too much about e-bikes other than the brief research I have done, and I have never ridden one either. Therefore, I wanted to ask you guys your thoughts on whether or not buying an e-bike for a 16-year-old kid would be worthwhile or too risky. Is there a particular e-bike that would maybe be better equipped for a teenager, perhaps with speed restrictions? Are some brands better than others for young riders? Should I hold off on buying one altogether? Thanks in advance for your insights and opinions!

Started riding motorcycle at age 16. I don't know what ER nurses call cyclists, but my mom always called motorcyclists organ donors, I imagine nurses and doctors still do. I'm really lucky that cycling came natural to me and so to did a preternatural desire to keep living. I've seen all the dumb@ssery there is to be seen on anything with two wheels. Here is the real questions? 1. Why does he want an ebike? If he's healthy and just wants transport, he would be better served by an electric dirt bike or motorcycle, or a Gasser moped, or motorcycle. If you're worried about safety, here is how it is, people are like outdoor cats when it comes to motorized anything, some have the common sense for self preservation, some get run over their first time outside. If the kid is responsible and you can trust him, get him what he really wants, which is probably a dirt bike or motorcycle, whether that is electric or a gasser is up to you.

 

[February]

How things change. When I was 16 we just got motorcycles. Life was so much simpler, I guess.

Born in the 1900's. I remember a day with no video games except those at the local 7-11 or arcade. Back before cellphones and pagers. I wouldn't say it was simpler or easier time, but it was certainly different.

 

[harryS]

Where I live, riders must be 18 to ride ebikes. What's the rule where you live? Start with the legalities. What do the parnets think about it.

When I was in high school, my brother bought a junk motorcycle. I got it running and we rode it everywhere that summer, with neither of us having a drivers license or insurance. How we didn't get killed was a wonder.

 

[February]

Where I live, riders must be 18 to ride ebikes. What's the rule where you live? Start with the legalities. What do the parnets think about it.

When I was in high school, my brother bought a junk motorcycle. I got it running and we rode it everywhere that summer, with neither of us having a drivers license or insurance. How we didn't get killed was a wonder.

So old I forgot, they keep raising the legal driving age. 14 for ebikes of any class, 15 for mopeds, 18 for motorcycles, in Michigan. Makes sense a kid would want a class 3 and doesn't need a license or anything.

 

[Extreme1]

I’m completely against an e-bike for a young person. If they are healthy they should ride a regular bike. Now if they have some disability or are overweight and an e-bike will help them on their way to getting healthy, that’s a different story.

My wife and I bought our first e-bikes when we were 58 years old and it’s made us ride more than we did. We don’t fear bonking far away from home, or hitting a headwind coming home after our ride and not being able to make it. Our 55 year old friend bought her first e-bike so she could ride with her son in the Death Valley Century. He was on a regular bicycle, but she couldn‘t ride that far in her regular bike.

 

[February]

In my neck of the woods and probably throughout the United States there are a lot of people who put toddlers on gas powered dirt bikes stronger than any ebike. I don't agree with it, but I don't agree with a lot of stuff. If it's an age and a law issue, let the kid be a kid. An ebike at that age would certainly give a teen more mobility for either work, school or play. I'm planning on buying a cruiser bicycle some day so I can travel to flats and just bicycle, but as healthy as this young man might be, there are no kids who want to hoof it up the hills I'm using assist for. I say again though, What does he want the ebike for? I still think if it's just transportation, he might be better served by a gas powered moped if legal where he lives. We haven't heard back from OP. Sounds like age and law will be the determining factors.

If OP just wants to know about danger. At 20mph, no different than the danger of riding a bicycle. Just google bicycle accident and you should find a lot of people who messed themselves up just casually riding a bicycle. I know someone who had to get dental veneers after a slip. I know another guy who wrecked his shoulder. These were minor accidents on bicycles. So yeah, not including people trying to run over OP's cousin, he can do plenty of damage on his own.

 

[Roamers]

If he doesn't have physical limitations, no to the ebike.

 

[February]

I don't get what's up with the if you're healthy no ebike attitude. If nothing else, riding an ebike could give the kid a whole appreciation for bicycling. I would have loved to have had an ebike when I was 16. Is there anyone posting here who wouldn't have? I mean if you're talking 2 to 3 large, I can see the argument, if you're talking a cheap bafang or VIVI around $500, it's a no brainer.

 

[gromike]

At 72 I live life with the benefits from decades of pedaling a bike. Though, it would be of benefit for the kid to get off the couch and ride an ebike. It would be even more beneficial if they actually pedaled.
We live in a sedentary world.

 

[Roamers]

don't get what's up with the if you're healthy no ebike attitude. If nothing else, riding an ebike could give the kid a whole appreciation for bicycling

We don't need to encourage "easier". If it weren't for our soon to be 70 y.o knees we wouldn't ride ebikes. Most of my riding is still unassisted.