Enlighten me on some of these intricacies - seeking the expertise of knowledgeable folks here!

[tomjasz]

Something disturbing today in an email from Bolton. They are selling counterfeit class stickers under the guise of "Want to let everyone know what class your ebike is so you can ride the trails, explore the roads, and share what your ebike can do - Bolton Ebikes Style?!" Yeah, right. Wink, Wink! A real nose thumbing to laws and regs.

They aren’t necessarily nefarious. You could buy labels that are correct for the proper class on a kit bike. I bought a couple of sets that are proper for the bikes I’ll label.

 

[TomD]

The horror. The whole class system is idiotic to begin with. There is no material difference between a Class 1, 2 or 3 or unrestricted ebike with the same motor. It comes down to the user not the sticker on the bike but I'm sure this has been debated to dearh in other threads.

 

[tomjasz]

The whole class system is idiotic to begin with.

Agreed.

 

[6zfshdb]

Something disturbing today in an email from Bolton. They are selling counterfeit class stickers under the guise of "Want to let everyone know what class your ebike is so you can ride the trails, explore the roads, and share what your ebike can do - Bolton Ebikes Style?!" Yeah, right. Wink, Wink! A real nose thumbing to laws and regs.

While the potential exists for abuse of these stickers and the majority of sales will likely be for fraudulent use, they also provide a useful legitimate purpose. The Class 2 sticker on my bike has become unreadable due to wear. To avoid any possible legal issues where I ride, I've been looking for a replacement. The bike manufacturer was unable to help me so I was planning on making my own with transparent sticker paper and a laser jet printer. This Bolton product offers an easier, cheaper solution.

I may be in the minority here by actually ordering a class 2 sticker for a class 2 bike but thanks for posting the information!

 

[Asher]

I asked this question of the California AG’s office when Juiced released the Cross Current S with a Class 3 decal but unlimited off road mode and received a letter basically saying they were not going to do anything about it. Without VIN numbers these mopeds cannot be titled, registered, or insured, for riding on public roads.

I've heard that you can make up a number for the VIN and get it titled as a moped. In California, the laws are actually very permissive, if you have a motorcycle license. Pay $20 once, you get a license plate, and you're allowed to use a motorized bicycle with a 30 mph top speed, 4 hp (3kw). Not allowed on off-street bike paths, technically.

Can a company sell 1000+ W powered E-bikes without any legal problem?

Certainly in California, and I imagine everywhere, because a vehicle doesn't need to be road legal to be sold.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has the regulatory powers over eBikes and at the Federal Level they have so many other things to worry about that eBikes are pretty low on the list. The Bicycle Products Safety Association and People for Bikes that are the lobbying arms of the industry of course are trying to implement their view of how things should be via the Class Law's but I only see this as an extention of the EU regs due to the fact that the primary market to this point, other than China, for eBikes is to be able to modify our laws so that they don't have to do much other than a software tweak and a plug change to import bikes here.

There are no Federal regs that would allow for a 28mph bike although the Class Laws do so what if you are in an accident involving others would the Class Law protect you or could the Federal 20mph limit be a factor if it went that far in a court of law even if your state has adopted the Class Laws?

The CPSC only bans 21-28 mph ebikes that are solely powered by the motor. Class 3 ebikes do not violate that rule, by definition.

CPSC definition: " (2) a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph. " [emphasis added]

Bicycle Requirements Business Guidance

www.cpsc.gov

From link below:
"the CPSC’s definition of an electric bike centers around a 20 mph limit, with the caveat that this 20 mph must not be exceeded if the electric bike is solely powered by its motor. Accordingly, this definition permits an electric bike which is powered by its rider (with the possible assistance of a motor, making the electric bike what some call a “pedelec”) to travel faster than 20 mph. The distinction is key to a correct interpretation of the CPSC’s definition. "

Legal analysis: Confusion over electric bike regulations

Lawyer Steven W. Hansen guides us through a mass of electric bike regulations.

www.bicycleretailer.com

It all kind of fits under the radar when you consider that you can buy a car off the lot that will easily exceed any national speed limit posted. At the end of the day it is the responsibility of the operator to follow the rules of the road and act prudently.

That's not because the system works, it's because as a nation we're all addicted to breaking the law and don't actually want to enforce it. The EU is set to introduce speed limiters which promise to reduce road deaths up to ~30%. The kind of thinking you're espousing is just what industry says to allow it to continue cars that are fast and fatal, because they know 99% of the performance playtime is not on a professional track. (Ie it wouldnt be hard to limit cars speed except on designated tracks. But your freedom to speed is considered more important than the lives of victims, and it might impact industry sales.) lol just imagine the IRS saying 'it's the responsibility of the taxpayer to be honest and pay their proper taxes, we're not going to check.' Or restaurant inspectors, or building inspectors, or really any matter of public safety/regulation that people actually care about. 'responsibility of the operator' is just a canard to defang the law and the protection it promises when written and enforced sensibly.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_speed_adaptation

In general, it's silly to conflate 2 hp ebikes with 100+ mph cars. There's little evidence the former poses much fatal danger to bystanders, and even to the rider, and plenty of bodies to point to danger with the latter.

 

[Dewey]

I may be in the minority here by actually ordering a class 2 sticker for a class 2 bike

Me too, Class 2, 250w, 20mph, in advance of Virginia adopting the 3-class legislation this year. I highly doubt anyone will ever look, I've had no remarks on the local Police registration decal I already have on my bike.

 

[Dewey]

I've heard that you can make up a number for the VIN and get it titled as a moped.

Do you have a source for e-bike specific information on how to obtain a donor frame that meets FMVSS standards required for a VIN number? The California DMV has a page about Specially Constructed Kit Vehicles but the forms require a VIN number, and the Motorcycle legal foundation advice page only lists DMV requirements for home-built gas motorcycles. The most relevant thread on Endless Sphere advised converting a moped frame with an already existing VIN number, like these kits for converting a Honda Cub (without operable pedals).

 

[Asher]

Do you have a source for e-bike specific information on how to obtain a donor frame that meets FMVSS standards required for a VIN number? The California DMV has a page about Specially Constructed Kit Vehicles but the forms require a VIN number, and the Motorcycle legal foundation advice page only lists DMV requirements for home-built gas motorcycles. The most relevant thread on Endless Sphere advised converting a moped frame with an already existing VIN number, like these kits for converting a Honda Cub (without operable pedals).

A motorized bicycle in CA doesn't require FMVSS certification or really anything as long it's two/three wheels, under 4 hp & 30 mph, and electric; for other states I wouldn't know.