Is there an eBike that will allow me to maintain 28mph?

[flymeaway]

Are ebikes, by current definition, DOOMED to obsolescence due to the real practical needs of the American commuter? Your thoughts?

Good question. Short answer is probably. Here is a great read on the subject. Go to page 11/12 where they discuss a gray area in the law:

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

For commuters with distances longer then 10 miles, particularly in rural areas increased speeds beyond 20mph makes sense. The risk assumed by the rider however is outweighed by the potential risk to everyone else who shares the byway/public way/roadway. I expect as ebike usage grows, the legal definitions of bike verses motorized vehicle will be refined.

Court J.

 

[dimitri brooks]

My unlocked bionx can reach 30mph when peddling. But at that speed my cadence is about 90 rpm. To go faster, I need to change my front chainring from 48T to 52t. Anything above 25 mph is fast enough.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

Most class 3 street legal factory ebikes will help you attain 28 mph but you have to pedal hard at the same time, so it all depends on how long can you pedal hard enough. The battery will also be draining fast (shorten range drastically) and also risk overheating your motor.

Even then, if you attempt to go along with professional cyclists, they will give you a hard time and your battery will be drained out before they will give up on you. Note the speed, cadence, and watts on the telemetry.

This is why I use BBSHD, high capacity battery, and aero bars so I can keep up with professional cyclists.

addendum:
These people do more than a thousand watts on quick bursts.

 

[Nirmala]

At speeds above 20 mph, one legal way to boost your average speed and total range is to add a fairing to your bike:
http://www.zzipper.com/

Another way to get higher speeds is to use an aerodynamic recumbent bike. Both of these factors improve aerodynamics, which becomes the major limiting factor at higher speeds.

I posted a review on here of a recumbent electric tricycle with a full fairing that will easily reach 33 mph on the flats with no pedaling. The owner has ridden it 90 miles on a single charge with only light pedaling while averaging 22 mph. All of this in spite of the fact that the trike weighs 110 pounds!
https://electricbikereview.com/foru...e-ebikes-recumbent-tricycle-conversion.11026/

It is not street legal, but it does show what is possible when aerodynamics are improved.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

Or you can train to be a professional cyclist.

 

[opimax]

Do they have professionals over 60?

 

[Trail Cruiser]

Do they have professionals over 60?

The electric motor will compensate for the age.

 

[opimax]

Agreed! That was my point w/my 60 year sense of humor

 

[Ann M.]

I think the over 60 group is referred to as the Masters Division; now whether you can make any $$ racing that way, don't think so. Personal experience validates that the motor makes up for a lot of age issues and certainly lets you enjoy the scenery a bit more (if you're watching the scenery training for a race though, you're not riding hard enough!)

 

[MLB]

VERY few Ebikes are ridden for commuting (in US) relative to the number sold. Most are for pleasure and exercise rides and thus the real world commuting needs of some riders will not influence the market for ebikes here.
WHO is riding 350w motors and then thinking they are "ready" (or need) to step up to a 750w+ motor?
Nobody I know. 350w is the legal limit and supplies 28mph to many bikes. My 350W Stromer ST1 Platinum cruised at 32mph with my pedal help.
The only people that think they "need" more is Bafang riders or others that really want an E motorcycle.

 

[opimax]

early Stromers were officially 600, since then all are 500. My st2 may go as high as 1200 per a few reports

there is a setting in the st1 for 250 , easily defeated by anyone. This was for Euro spec

 

[Dunbar]

Nominal motor power ratings do not tell you how much peak power the controller will output. It's fairly common for 350-500W nominally rated motors to peak at 700-1000W of power. Basic physics tells you that an 80% efficient motor cannot maintain 28mph with only 350W of power. The true number is probably more like 500-700W of power would be required depending on how hard the rider is pedaling.