User Selectable E-Bike Class.

[Stefan Mikes]

Why couldn't the throttle couldn't be disabled once it is switched to Class 1 or Class 3?

Because it never is?

 

[Chazmo]

Driver facing cameras are supposed to become law pretty soon in the US. Insurance companies paid off the politicians for that one. There is an uprising to repeal it. We shall see.

Oy!

 

[Biplaneguy]

I admit I can't quite understand it. So you are happily riding on the throttle with your feet stationary on the pedals in Class 2. Then you click to switch to Class 3. Will the throttle be disabled? I do not think so! Throttle and 28 mph makes it a motorized bicycle.

On my Radster, I don't think it can be switched while in motion. Class 1 disables the throttle, and class 2 works like you'd expect (throttle to 20 mph). In class 3, throttle will still take you to 20 mph but no more; to go any faster you have to pedal, and pedal assist cuts out at 28 mph. The Radster also has a fourth setting which tops out at 25 mph for NYC riders.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

On my Radster, I don't think it can be switched while in motion. Class 1 disables the throttle, and class 2 works like you'd expect (throttle to 20 mph). In class 3, throttle will still take you to 20 mph but no more; to go any faster you have to pedal, and pedal assist cuts out at 28 mph. The Radster also has a fourth setting which tops out at 25 mph for NYC riders.

That sounds proper!

 

[Bobsiii]

All the new imposing regulations makes the switchable class bikes more desirable to me anyway. Get them while you still can before some moron in government changes the rules making them unavailable. As long as your ride and act respectable with it, like and adult should, there should be no one the wiser. Two months ago I picked up a new bike just for this very reason, class 1,2,3, and off road mode switchable, capable of 28 mph with both PAS and throttle and NO over the air updates to reduce or change my setting or top speed, this one is a keeper for sure, and I enjoy riding it like a responsible adult.

Thx for giving me something else to worry about, over the air updates for my Velotric D3. And here I was zipping around in Custom mode, loving the responsiveness, trying out gravel trails, not a worry in the world.

Wish I believed that couldn’t happen.

 

[PedalUma]

The key I see is to physically remove the throttle from any bike claiming to be Class 1 or 3. Anyone going over 20 mph without pedaling is in violation. Anyone pedaling over 20 with a battery physically on the bike is Class 3 or illegal. The best enforcers are Karma, Darwin, and Hades when they suddenly join forces.

 

[Jim1348]

...Anyone going over 20 mph without pedaling is in violation. Anyone pedaling over 20 with a battery physically on the bike is Class 3 or illegal...

I disagree with that. There are Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes that will go over 20 MPH coasting downhill. Some people could pedal over 20 MPH on a Class 1 or Class 2.

 

[Chargeride]

Poor Darwin, we only know him old.

 

[PedalUma]

I disagree with that. There are Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes that will go over 20 MPH coasting downhill. Some people could pedal over 20 MPH on a Class 1 or Class 2.

Okay, up hill or on the flats. Tour de France bikes go at very high speeds down mountains. And it takes an athlete to sustain high speeds by pedaling on the flats or up hills. Extreme outliers only prove the general rule. When an out of shape chubby kid it doing over 20 without pedaling, that is a big red flag.
Darwin had to wait to publish because of the backlash potential.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I disagree with that. There are Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes that will go over 20 MPH coasting downhill. Some people could pedal over 20 MPH on a Class 1 or Class 2.

It is all about the assisted speed, not the actual speed. The assisted speed is the maximum speed at which an ebike motor is still allowed to engage (it is cut off above).

Let me give you an example.

This Spring I participated in a "gravel e-rally" (a race without the podium). It was 63.7 mi with 5,050 ft elevation gain. All four guys before me rode Euro gravel e-bikes with the 15.5 mph cut off and a single battery. The winner came at 3 h 54 minutes, meaning he achieved the average speed of 16.33 mph. How could he (and his three competitors) make it? The answer is very simple. Each of those four guys was pedalling on their own leg power on the flat or downhill, greatly exceeding 15.5 mph. In that situation, the motor was cut off and didn't take any energy from the battery. However, the speed was going down on many very steep climbs. As soon as the e-bike speed dropped below 15.5 mph, the e-bike motor engaged. Meanwhile, I rode an S-Pedelec (Euro Class 3) with the 28 mph assisted speed, had two batteries and came only fifth. Despite the high motor cut off speed my net average speed was only 15.28 mph!

Yes, a strong rider can ride above the maximum assisted speed but the law only regulates the assisted speed.

 

[6zfshdb]

What about e-unicycles?

 

[Jim1348]

What about e-unicycles?

I live in Minnesota and the laws here don't recognize either EUCs (Electric Unicycles) or quadricycles (four-wheel bicycles).

 

[stompandgo]

Scooters? Skateboards?

 

[Catalyzt]

Well, here in Los Angeles, yesterday I saw what looked like a 12-year-old riding an electric motorcycle (no plates, obviously) sitting at a red light on Gower and Franklin, major avenues. He was wearing a motorcycle helmet, and sitting in the middle of the lane.

I just wonder what he was thinking... if it was, "I don't care" or "they'll never stop me" or something else.

Somehow, that's where we've wound up with all of this... 12-year-olds on motorcycles.

Scooters? Skateboards?

Sure, whatever, I guess. I'm not against regulation, I'm just baffled by why more regulation just seems to lead to utter lawlessness. I have no answers, I'm not even sure I know what the question is anymore.

What's next? I'll probably get passed on the freeway by a nine-year-old girl on an electric tricycle. Or maybe it will have six wheels.