Does the class 1,2,3 stuff really matter if u just dont go over speed limit?

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AlmightyThor008@reddit

You're unlikely to get pulled over if you are following all the laws, but if you did get pulled over, they may test the bikes power and speed, and deem it illegal. They could then impound it.

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BoringBob84@reddit

... or if there is a collision - no matter who is at fault - then OP could be fined and have the bike impounded.

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Yes that is a big concern. Once you collide and there's an investigation, they might deem your vehicle an unregistered/uninsured motor vehicle. I imagine consequences for this vary wildly, but insurance companies and the other motorist might not want to let the details slide.

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BoringBob84@reddit

I genuinely do not understand. If I wanted the performance of a 3,000 Watt dual-motor bike, then I would get a legal motorcycle and not worry about getting fined or getting the bike confiscated.

Otherwise, I would stick with a legal ebike or a legal moped. I have so many options that it doesn't make sense to break the law.

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Joose__bocks@reddit

Indeed. I have a motorcycle for that reason, though I haven't even driven my car in four months because of my bicycles. My only issue is that my state restricts my speed to 20mph but I feel safer going 28mph when the speed limit is 35 but motor vehicles are going 45. With protected bike infrastructure, I have no issue with a 20mph max since I like to cruise along anyway. Also those lower speeds are better for the motor and battery instead of pushing it to the limit. I feel above 20mph I fall into motor vehicle territory in my state, though I imagine the state courts haven't worked this out fully yet.

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BoringBob84@reddit

I feel safer going 28mph when the speed limit is 35

Around here, this means that motorists are driving at about 45 mph. I avoid roads like this or take the sidewalk.

And if I have to take the lane, I feel safer at 20 mph. Motorists do not expect bicycles to be traveling at high speeds and they pull out in front of me suddenly. At 20 mph, I can still stop to avoid the collision. At 28 mph (or above), it gets sketchy.

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Joose__bocks@reddit

I live on one of those roads, so I have to use it a bare minimum distance to go anywhere. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I get less aggression from drivers the closer I go to the actual speed limit. I almost never go 28 though. I'm usually topping out at about 24.

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BoringBob84@reddit

That makes sense. I think that a big part of the equation is the capability of the machine - especially brakes and suspension. I upgraded my brakes to large-diameter rotors and four-piston MTB calipers.

When I first converted my hybrid bike to an ebike, I got stupid with speed. I had a few terrifying near-collisions at 30+ mph and realized that bicycles are not designed for speed.

Now, I keep the limit at 20 mph for Class 1, so it is legal on non-motorized paths. That is plenty of speed for me on a bicycle. If I didn't have non-motorized paths, then I would set the limit to 28 mph for Class 3.

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Joose__bocks@reddit

Oh yes. I don't know how my bikes compare, but they're all hydraulic disc brakes and not converts. We can agree that faster speeds means less reaction time and greater injury risk regardless.

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BoringBob84@reddit

We can agree

Definitely. I am not arguing - just comparing notes. Sometimes I suck at communicating that clearly.

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celeste_ferret@reddit

Their liability would be huge for operating an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle and I doubt that any insurance would cover them.

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No_Crow8317@reddit

You mean their parents liability?

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celeste_ferret@reddit

Probably, but there are many grown adults who also think that the laws don't apply to them.

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ihateyou__people@reddit

This exactly. Even if you stay under 28mph, if you’re riding an illegal ebike/emoto and accidentally hit a pedestrian, even if it’s entirely their fault, YOU will be sued and you will lose, because your bike was illegal to begin with.

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Bunbun_Bao88@reddit (OP)

Basically dont like do anything stupid and stay single motor while going 28 mph i should be fine. And always look out for crashes and stuff

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Taiyoryu@reddit

You can be the most vigilant rider, and you can still end up in an accident, because there are more things out of your control than within.

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BoringBob84@reddit

This is my point. Someone else could cause the collision, and then OP will be screwed. I know that young people can be impulsive, but it defies logic to spend my last few dollars on a machine that police could impound at any time, when I have good legal alternatives.

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gravelpi@reddit

Or if there's a checkpoint set up somewhere like a bridge.

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Bunbun_Bao88@reddit (OP)

Whats a checkpoint

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gravelpi@reddit

Occasionally the police will pick a spot and check all the bikes coming through. It doesn't happen a ton, admittedly, but it's something I could see happening more often with the current ebike backlash.

I'd either buy a legal bike, or get an actual electric motorcycle if you want to go faster.

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No_Crow8317@reddit

Where has this ever happened?

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gravelpi@reddit

NYC (NY, USA) has had checkpoints ticketing ebikes. Granted, that was the previous administration.

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elvinLA@reddit

A point where you get checked..

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Bunbun_Bao88@reddit (OP)

How would i know where a checkpoint is

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bradland@reddit

You don't. That's the idea behind a checkpoint. Law enforcement set them up without your knowledge because their goal is to catch you.

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Outside_Percentage_5@reddit

They only do this in like Europe

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OkGuide3784@reddit

have you EVER had ANY kind of insurance or dealt with claims????

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Outside_Percentage_5@reddit

I don’t see the correlation

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OkGuide3784@reddit

if you hit a vehicle, that driver's insurance WILL investigate you. they WILL discover you are riding an illegal, unregistered motor vehicle, and they WILL sue your for damages.

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Outside_Percentage_5@reddit

That has absolutely nothing to do with what I said did you just want to be a snobby asshole

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murphysfriend@reddit

Well; with last recnt years passing of new ebike laws in New Jersey; they might likely be doing some enforcement in U.S. too.

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Bunbun_Bao88@reddit (OP)

Ok thanks.

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nicvic83@reddit

I find in Florida most illegal e-bike I see are operated by darker skinned persons and are their main form of transportation.

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celeste_ferret@reddit

I find that there are a lot of racists in Florida.

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Livid_Paramedic_6973@reddit

To stay on the safe side :

Don't go past 28mph. In fact, set the limit to 28mph just in case cops test it by lifting the back tire and throttling it.
Disable dual motor.
Always pedal to blend in with other cyclists.
Wear a helmet.
Obey all laws.

You will be fine.

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MrCeleryLegs@reddit

But 28mph on throttle is also illegal. Throttle operation is allowed only under Class 2, which is limited to 20mph.

So even cruising at 25mph while not pedaling (and I’m guessing OP’s bike isn’t really meant for pedaling) indicates an illegal setup. Are the cops savvy enough to catch that? 🤷‍♂️

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Gino-Bartali@reddit

Throttle operation is allowed only under Class 2, which is limited to 20mph.

Class 3 should allow both pedal assist to 28 AND throttle only to 20.

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MrCeleryLegs@reddit

Class 3 is limited to pedal assist only. Check any of the US bike regulation guides. (It is legislated at a state level, and it’s possible some state allows throttle under Class 3, but that’s not in the model legislation most states have adopted.)

Some controllers let you select Class 2 or 3 as a configuration setting. Others allow both throttle to 20 mph and pedal assist to 28mph, the argument I guess being they are switching between Classes 2 and 3 on the fly…though I’m not sure the legality of that arrangement has been tested.

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cleadus_fetus@reddit

But this doesn't work. Mine is limited and on the street WILL NOT go over the speed limit. BUT if you lift the tire up you can get up to 80. But it could fry the controller lifting it up and revving it like that. Ask me how I know.

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wewouldmakegreatpets@reddit

Imagine having such a piece of crap bike that you can fry the controller just by using it as intended.

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wewouldmakegreatpets@reddit

I think hes asking about legality, not what are his chances, like youre all suggesting here.

Its illegal straight up. No, just because you self limit your speed, does not magically change the ebike class 3 law to allow 6000 watts to a mid drive train.

In fact, by even asking this question, I can tell your front lobes aren't even developed

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Bunbun_Bao88@reddit (OP)

Kk they font normally test wats right

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Skagit_Buffet@reddit

This is basically what I do. My e-bike is pretty beefy, and technically can go over 28, but I always (unless coasting down a big hill) keep it under 28, always pedal, and always go low speed and behave in a considerate manner on trails and paths.

Since buying the bike I've discovered that I have no interest in e-moto performance, and will certainly go back to a bike that conforms to the California class system for my next e-bike.

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CoolButterfly1108@reddit

It’s quite interesting how people are paranoid about going over the ebike speed limit when many of us can surpass 28 mph on a regular road bike and no motor.

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BoringBob84@reddit

many of us can surpass 28 mph on a regular road bike

Only elite athletes can maintain such a fast pace, and they are extremely rare.

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wewouldmakegreatpets@reddit

Once again you're having problems with your frontal lobes but it's not people having problems with e-bike speed limits. In fact you might even had some reading comprehension issues mixed in there because the question was about class 3 e-bikes and the maximum allowed wattage to either a hub motor or a mid-drive train. I think there might be 20 or 25 words in the sentence that you would have to Google

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bradland@reddit

Does it matter if you have a kilo of polvo blanco in your trunk if you don't get pulled over? No, of course not.

However, I'm not sure you're framing your risk appropriately. You said, "Lets say im riding 3000w dual motor bike..." What does this bike look like? Law enforcement are starting to pay more attention to e-bikes that push the limits. If your bike looks illegal, that might draw attention on its own.

It's impossible to say for sure though because enforcement isn't even remotely uniform. Two things drive increased enforcement: tragedy and complaints. We've had a number of high-profile deaths involving illegal e-motos near where I live. We went from basically zero enforcement to law enforcement pulling over anyone riding anything that looks like a motorcycle. It's mostly Sur Rons and Talaria type bikes they're targeting (no pedals), but I've seen some fat tire e-bike riders getting attention on the side of the road.

No one can tell you what enforcement is like in your area though. The only guaranteed way to avoid being impounded is to buy an e-bike that is legal in your area.

As long as im under 28 with pedals and like only one motor nothing really would happen right?

This is not correct. The 28 mph e-bike limit is different than car speed limits. For cars, you can drive a Corvette ZL1 with +1,000 HP, and so long as you stay under the limit you're fine. With e-bikes, it is the capability to go faster that matters. Cops will lift your rear wheel off the ground, press the throttle, and if it passes 28 mph, you're cooked. Your bike will be impounded and you'll get citations.

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Fonzdj@reddit

I think honestly if you are riding your e-bike safely and following the rules I don’t think cops will bother you.

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photog_in_nc@reddit

28mph cutoff is typically only legal on bikes with no throttle. If your bike has a throttle, 20mph is the most.

Around me, towns are really starting to crack down. I expect police will get better at recognizing what bikes are legal and which ones are not.

Also, shared paths here have speed limits of 10mph or 15mph, depending on jurisdiction. So there’s more at play than The bike’s cutoff.

I personally wouldn’t risk something that looks e-moto-ish. A cargo bike that has a bigger than legal motor to get up steep hills with a load? Sure.

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BassesNBikes@reddit

Could you drive around in a 1983 Chevette without registration or insurance if you just obeyed the rest of the laws?

Sure, probably, for a while, until you couldn't anymore.

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murphysfriend@reddit

Well; matter of fact; on numerous occasions occasions I’ve seen this same@1985 Chevy pickup truck; driving in the city; with a white cardboard rear plate which says: Farm UseOnly 🤦🏻‍♂️ So without knowing; that truck seems to get by 😜

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BassesNBikes@reddit

That's an actual legal thing. Unregistered electric minibikes on public roads not so much.

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jimglidewell@reddit

Let's say you have an accident involving another person on a mixed-use trail. You are subsequently cited for illegally operating a motor vehicle on a non-motorized trail. You are also sued by the other party in the accident for medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Is there any insurance company that will cover you for liability while you are operating an unregistered and illegal motor vehicle? Even if you have some sort of blanket liability coverage via renter or homeowner insurance, it probably won't cover you in a case like this.

Impounding of the bike would be the least of your worries.

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CraziFuzzy@reddit

You are essentially riding a motorcycle. Legally not much different than riding a Harley, but being good by staying under 28mph.

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Worldly_Abalone6341@reddit

Honestly it really depends on where you live. My town has mostly ice bikes running around so the cops dont even bother the ebikes. Just dont blatantly ride like a jackass. Stay off the sidewalk as much as possible. Do the speed limit appropriate when in their presence and 9 times out of 10 you will be fine

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