Throttles and California

[Chargeride]

Yes, it depends how deep they want to dig, but remember if you hit someone, they'll dig to China...

 

[m@Robertson]

For the 750w limit, it's likely targeting the base wattage for the motor listed by the man/battery label, which for mine is 750w, it peaks at 1320, but who is going to measure the wattage output in the middle of a ride? If they try this tactic, I can show this is a 750w bike as per the manufacturer, and that's what it uses when I ride as far as I know. Is there a "motor-wattage-ometer" I was unaware of? I doubt it.

Counter opinions to this? What am I missing?

Police in other parts of the world set down bicycle dynos and test power output. I actually saw one in Fresno California but it was years ago, and I was driving by so I never had to deal with it and have no idea what PR stunt they were pulling.

Also if you read the law it is absolutely clear that the power output is limited to an absolute 750w peak. The 'nominal' method of calc'ing motor output went out the window which is why you see the discussion you do here. You can find links in this thread as well as quotes from the law here.

The yellow scooter pic came from 2016 so this dyno thing is nothing new. The one I saw in Fresno looked a lot more like the blue Dutch one on the left.

So far I have seen reporting on seizures of Sur Rons and nothing more. It *seems* as if law enforcement was just waiting for the green light to put the hammer down on them. With that said on my last two rides I've seen two Sur Rons on the paths, so they have not gone away just yet. And a little rugrat blew by me yesterday at the wharf doing a wheelie on a Super 73 clone so there's still lots of room to keep the cops busy before they start going after the Rad Runners.

 

[cleverest]

Time will tell, but I doubt there will be much action done against actual class 2+ (modified to class 3, 28mph bike with pedaling.... It seems like a real PITA to try to enforce unless people are driving recklessly stupid and calling attention to themselves in the process. We shall see.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Counter opinions to this? What am I missing?

Who are you actually cheating?
Yourself?

 

[Chargeride]

The DJI motor has a 1000w boost mode, completely legal in Europe under our '250w' legislation.
It always was a speed limit.
A 1500w bbshd with no throttle and 15.5mph restricted would be effectively legal, just lacks the 'official' paperwork.

 

[PCeBiker]

A 1500w bbshd with no throttle and 15.5mph restricted would be effectively legal, just lacks the 'official' paperwork.

And it would be REALLY Useful to deal with mountainous terrain hauling cargo or a typical North American weighing almost 300 pounds.

It's just got to have reliable brakes for coming back down the mountain.

I think speed limits are the way to go.
Sometimes you need lots of power, even to go really slow.

 

[Allan47.7339]

Counter opinions to this? What am I missing?

As far as your subterfuge, it's pretty obvious when someone is just moving their feet while riding 20mph. You're not fooling anybody at all with zero effort riding. I do think they are targeting the so called "off road" electric bikes and bad riding behavior. A couple of years ago parents were buying them for their kids to get around. One of the local police departments started a parents education program to let them know their heinies and assets where hanging out in the wind when/if their kids hurt somebody. I haven't see them on the main MUP much at all lately.

 

[kevinmccune]

I'd like to see an accurate readout of that bike at maximum power. From my experience living in hilly country (and I'm pretty darn fit for 70+), 240 watts would not be enough power -- unless it's an incredibly light ebike.

As far as California's law, it's unenforceable. Though I guess it could be used as a cudgel on almost any ebiker in the good ol' USA.

I know 600 wat

 

[kevinmccune]

I'd like to see an accurate readout of that bike at maximum power. From my experience living in hilly country (and I'm pretty darn fit for 70+), 240 watts would not be enough power -- unless it's an incredibly light ebike.

As far as California's law, it's unenforceable. Though I guess it could be used as a cudgel on almost any ebiker in the good ol' USA.

I know from experience 600 watts( if you help") will carry you up a grade that is hard to walk up,my 500 watt "hill and Dale" was a very capable climber( wish I would have kept it).