Removeing throttle to be compliant and responsible

PedalUma said:
I have run wires through handlebars. Mostly for stealthy classic beach cruisers that have coaster brakes. So, you do not see any handlebar wires or cables. The new Creo has two hidden buttons under the lever hoods. Here is the real throttle loophole. Cruise control is not mentioned. I have a bike that when you get up to assisted speed you push a button and do not need to pedal to hold that speed while you take off your jacket and stow it.
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Good point.
My bikes have both cruise control and throttles. If enforcement gets more strict where I ride, I may remove the throttles, which I rarely use anyway.
 
PedalUma said:
If you do, use anything like a cap like on the non-writing side of a Bic ballpoint pen and some shrink tube to seal the exposed connector.
Click to expand...
I use these vinyl caps to cover all unused Julet or Higo connectors:

1743365803838.png


I buy them in bulk from Mocap for a variety of projects

FPT

MOCAP
store.mocap.com store.mocap.com

Free samples are available if you email them.
 
I've been experimenting with this low profile thumb throttle. It's easily put on and removed in less than 30 seconds, with just one screw. The low profile design mounts right or left, takes up just a half inch of bar space, and allows the use of full length grips on both bar ends.

1743440100288.png


I like the fact that I can remove it quickly and stick it in my pocket if I'm riding an enforced class 1 only trail or MUP. Doesn't require removing the grip or any other bar accessories.

Not great quality for $16 but it seems to function well enough. Time will tell just how long it will continue to do so.
 
PedalUma said:
Here is the real throttle loophole. Cruise control is not mentioned. I have a bike that when you get up to assisted speed you push a button and do not need to pedal to hold that speed while you take off your jacket and stow it.
Click to expand...
This raises an interesting question: Can a bike have cruise control and still be class 1?
I haven't seen it mentioned in regulations for the states where I ride.

When posing the question to AI, I got this response:

AI Overview

No, a Class 1 e-bike, which is pedal-assist only, cannot have a throttle and therefore cannot have cruise control, as cruise control relies on a throttle to maintain a constant speed.

Here's a breakdown of why:
  • Class 1 Definition:
    Class 1 e-bikes are designed to provide motor assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and the motor stops providing assistance once the bike reaches 20 mph.

  • No Throttle:
    A key characteristic of Class 1 e-bikes is that they do not have a throttle, which is a feature that allows riders to propel the bike without pedaling.

  • Cruise Control and Throttle:
    Cruise control, as it's typically understood in vehicles, relies on a throttle to maintain a constant speed.

  • Class 2 and Throttle:
    Class 2 e-bikes, on the other hand, do have throttles and can be used without pedaling, but their speed is also capped at 20 mph.

  • Class 3 and Speed:
    Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assist only, but they can provide assistance up to 28 mph.


Apparently, this assumes a throttle is necessary for cruise control but this isn't true in every case.
 
6zfshdb said:
cruise control
Click to expand...
Yes, it is an oddity loophole. "Look no throttle. What throttle? Where?" Do not teach AI about it. "I was only drinking from my water bottle and putting some sunscreen on my neck after fiddling with my downtube pack while holding my place in the group ride." "This bike coasts well on the flats because it has Onyx premium bearings that roll super smoothly" "They coast without any clicking sound, and with instant engagement". Try it for yourself. No handlebar throttle. Just good wheels with Santa Cruz rims.
 
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How about a wireless throttle?
This one is designed to look like a USB port. Maybe something like this could be modified to look like a handlebar bell, or a clip on design so you could quickly remove it and put it in your pocket:
1743594320999.png

www.falconpev.com.sg

E-Bike Wireless Throttle for E-Scooter E-Bike

E-Bike Wireless Push Button Throttle for E-Scooter E-Bikes Comes with a wireless transmitter and a receiver. The receiver will plug into the throttle input of the controller (if the controller has a 3-wire throttle input). If the controller does not have a 3-wire throttle input, then this...
www.falconpev.com.sg www.falconpev.com.sg

Of course this raises the possibility of unexpected actuation caused by RF interference from a garage door opener or some kid flying his drone.
 
6zfshdb said:
This raises an interesting question: Can a bike have cruise control and still be class 1?
I haven't seen it mentioned in regulations for the states where I ride.
Click to expand...

I would say no. The model legislation that most states have used doesn't say anything about throttles, it just says that class 1 and 3 have "a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling". Class 2 says they can have "a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle". So its not a question of throttle, its a question of whether the motor is pedal assist only (class 1 or 3) or can be engaged when not pedaling (class 2). Since cruise control propels the bike without pedaling, its class 2.
 
I agree with your logic @jabberwocky. Legislation does generally allow for walk assist, a less than 6 mph type of self-propulsion.
 
Classes in the US compare a bit with the regulations in the EU, an e-bike is allowed with walk assist up to 6 km/h, and L1e moped can have a DU with 250Watt an also with walkassist up to 6 km/h and support while pedaling up to 45 km/h, you need a license plate, insurance, drivers licence and a NTA8776 helmet. Than there is the obscurer and I think fased out L1be catergory. Which has the throtle function up to 20 km/h, support while cycling to 25 km/h and a max of 750 watt for the DU, you would need a helmet (NTA8776), insurance and in the Netherlands a blue license plate instead of the yellow for the L1e.. This roughly translates to the Class 1 and 3 , the L1be would be the class 2.
 
Base said:
Classes in the US compare a bit with the regulations in the EU, an e-bike is allowed with walk assist up to 6 km/h, and L1e moped can have a DU with 250Watt an also with walkassist up to 6 km/h and support while pedaling up to 45 km/h, you need a license plate, insurance, drivers licence and a NTA8776 helmet. Than there is the obscurer and I think fased out L1be catergory. Which has the throtle function up to 20 km/h, support while cycling to 25 km/h and a max of 750 watt for the DU, you would need a helmet (NTA8776), insurance and in the Netherlands a blue license plate instead of the yellow for the L1e.. This roughly translates to the Class 1 and 3 , the L1be would be the class 2.
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I think this regulation for L1e-B vehicles is different in the European Union:
1743677067493.png

This definition for Ireland is exactly the same in Poland, so it should not be different to the Netherlands.

To re-iterate and expand on your points:
  • The L1e-B needs the individual Euro Compliance Certificate as any other moped
  • It has to carry the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • It has to be equipped with specific safety items:
    • Certified automotive grade lights with the STOP indicator; the vehicle must have the number plate lit
    • A horn
    • Hydraulic brakes with the STOP indicator sensors in brake levers. The brake lever must be equipped by a safety ball at its far end.
    • The certified tyre type/model must be used, and the wheel circumference figure must be read-only in the hardware
    • A rear view mirror is mandatory
  • The vehicle must be registered, carry a number plate and undergo MOT
  • The L1e-B has to be insured (Third Party Liability).
The rider and use are defined by each EU member state:
  • The rider must carry either the Category B or AM driving license (users above certain age as myself are exempt from this requirement)
  • L1e-B can only be ridden with traffic (except for Denmark where riding on bike paths is allowed)
  • The rider must wear a helmet (any in Poland, NTA8776 in the Netherlands, a motorcycle helmet in the UK).
The Chinese scrap meets no criteria as listed above.

How do I know?

1743678052589.png

Well, I owned and rode an L1e-B with all bells and whistles until 2023. Was stopped and controlled by the police twice.
 
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Correct for that category. L1be is a different one. We used to have them in our range (and indeed I did the paperwork for the legislation, getting them on a license plate based on the VIN)

I was comparing with the classes 1,2 and 3 in the US.

The one you refer to is the electric-moped version. That would not qualify as a bicycle category in the Benelux
 
A "speed-pedelc" would just be a class 3 or L1e here

did a quick check, the L1e-be would also require a motorcycle rated helmet in the benelux. In the UK a Speed-pedelec L1e would just require a NTA8776 helmet like in the EU.
 
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The U.S. Class 3 is very liberal compared to Europe. Not sure Base you know it but if you export a Specialized Vado (e.g., 4.0) to the EU, it is programmed to 25 km/h while exactly the same Vado 4.0 exported to the U.S. gets programmed to 28 mph or 45 km/h. No extra safety features, nothing! The same motor and system, just a different world region. While Bosch is very conservative and delivers the motors that are hard-coded for any world region. If the OEM needs a batch of Class 3 e-bikes then the OEM orders Bosch Performance Speed units. The CX motor for Europe is hardcoded for 25 km/h but it is another CX motor hardcoded to 32 km/h for Canada. (I'm sure you know it the best!)

A Specialized Turbo Vado S IGH is currently one of few L1e-B offered in the European Union. The motor is similar in the features to the Bosch Speed. (Of course, there are more brands using the Bosch Speed or Brose TF motors).
 
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DU's from the vendors like Bosch or Shimano et al. are not delivered to the OEM with the final firmware, just with the test firmware from the factory. At the end station (in general, some brands could do this different) the e-bikes get their battery and hmi mounted and than the bike gets its firmware for the version of bike it is. At that moment all the components for this bike with its VIN or framenumber are combined and stored in the database of the DU vendor and for internal references in the database of the brands. So the DU wont know what kinda bike it is in prior to the firmware installation at the end of the assembly line. Prior to BES3 all the terminals at the and of the line had to have OEM-dongles in te pc, the correct settings file and the correct firmware for the DU/HMI and battery. Brose systems did not have a physical key just an OEM regitered software shooter.
 
I've been looking for an easily removeable throttle for those class 1 only MUPs, and came up with this idea:

1744467520070.png


Performance is very smooth with no flat spots or cutouts. Uses a yellow 3 pin male Juliet connector and was plug & play with my bikes.
To make it easily removeable, I replaced the OEM Allen head cap screw with this thumb screw:
1744467737665.png


1744467836176.jpeg
1744467880707.jpeg
1744467935713.jpeg


The throttle can now be removed in seconds with no tools necessary. No removing grips or other bar accessories required.

As to whether this makes a class 2 bike legal on a class 1 only MUP is up to the questioning officer or park ranger. YMMV.
 
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