Electric Bicycles

Can I learn on an electric bicycle (e-bike)?

Yes Bicycle Solutions can teach you how to ride and use an e-bike properly but only if the e-bike is street legal in California. We cannot teach you how to ride or use an e-moto.

Before you purchase or ride an e-bike we highly recommend you first become proficient at riding roads while following traffic laws using a regular non-assist pedal bike. E-bikes are excellent vehicles, but with great power comes great responsibility.

E-bike pros:

• Faster

• Easier to pedal (less sweat)

• Front and rear lights are often built in

E-Bike Cons

• Heavier

• More expensive

• Harder to service & more can go wrong (electronics can be more fragile and tricky)

• If you run out of charge, harder to pedal.

• Can burn down your house or apartment building. Make sure your e-bike is UL 2849 or EN 15194 certified and that you follow all the manufacturer's directions for charging and storage.

Tips

• As with a regular bike, it is best to buy an e-bike from a local reputable bike dealer, not online. 

• E-bikes must follow all the same laws as bicyclists but there may be a few additional restrictions.

• Torque sensors on an e-bike generally provide the best and most natural ride experience because they naturally magnify your power. The harder you pedal the more assist they provide. Cadence sensors tend to feel a bit less comfortable as the assist level get stronger or weaker less predictably.

What is an E-Bike?

In California as of January 1st, 2025 per SB-1271, an e-bike:

• Must have operational pedals.

• Must have a motor that is 750 watts peak power or less.

• Class 1 must be pedal assist only with a maximum electric assist speed of 20 mph or less. It must not be modifiable to go faster than 20 mph. Riders younger than 18 must wear a helmet.

• Class 2 can be throttle or pedal assist and must have a maximum electric assist speed of of 20 mph or less. It must not be modifiable to go faster than 20 mph. Riders younger than 18 must wear a helmet.

• Class 3 must be pedal assist only with a maximum electric assist speed of 28mph or less. It must not have a throttle. All riders must wear a helmet and be 16 or older. An e-bike that can switch between Class 2 and Class 3 is illegal in California. It must not be modifiable to go faster than 28 mph.

Many bike clubs do not allow class 2 e-bikes on their rides because cyclists who ride class 2 e-bikes tend to crash as well as cause crashes more frequently. While Bicycle Solutions can teach students with class 2 e-bikes we much prefer class 1 and class 3 e-bikes.

Riding an electric bicycle (e-bike) does not require a drivers license, license plate, registration, or insurance. You may use a regular bicycle helmet with an e-bike as you are going the same speeds as a regular bicycle.

What is an e-scooter?

A motorized e-scooter has 2 wheels, a motor, handlebars, and a floorboard that you can stand on while riding it.

You can generally drive e-scooters on low speed streets, roads, bicycle paths, trails, or bikeways, not on a sidewalk, and you cannot exceed a speed of 15 mph but check local laws and regulations.

You do not need to register e-scooters.

You can drive an e-scooter with any class driver’s license and must follow standard traffic laws.

What is an e-moto?

An e-moto is any electric 2 or 3 wheel vehicle that is not an e-bike or e-scooter and may or may not have pedals because it exceeds the above speeds or has a motor that is more powerful than 750 watts peak power.

If it looks more like a moped or a motorcycle than a standard bicycle, it is probably an e-moto and not an e-bike. If the seat is not adjustable up and down, it is probably an e-moto and not an e-bike. Most Super73 bikes are e-motos, not e-bikes although the most recent Super73s have been redesigned so they should be class 2 e-bikes.

To drive an e-moto (electric motorcycle or motor-driven cycle or moped) in California, you need: 

• a street legal e-moto,

• a motorcycle license (M1 or M2), 

• registration,

• license plate, 

• insurance, and 

• a DOT-approved helmet. 

The exact requirements depend on the vehicle's classification, which is determined by factors like motor power and top speed.