Looking for recommendation for Electric Bikes...

We have a Populo Sport. Not the most comfortable ebike you can get but it is light and not expensive.

Big Katuna wrote:
There are four classifications of e bikes. Three are tentatively allowed on designated bike trails.

Are you talking bike trails or paths? There is a difference and no, trails in places like Colorado are generally only going to allow class 1 e-bikes on them, not the 3 designations you are referring to. One must check the regulations first because even though Colorado may have many places that allow class 1 e-bikes on trails, certain places, Boulder, do not allow ANY e-bikes on trails. This is just one example, every state may very.

One must first verify if it is legal to ride an e-bike on a trail and even a path here in the US.

BTW, OP, Trek and many other major cycling companies are starting to make e-bikes.

My wife and I put Tongsheng 500 watt TSDZ2 mid drive pedal assist kits on a pair of Treks. Cost was about 700 bucks a bike—kits, batteries and all. They were great; the Tongshengs have torque sensors and the motor responds to how hard you pedal—makes you feel like Superman. The bikes were stolen.

Now we have a pair of tadpole trikes, an ICE and a Catrike. 750 watt TSDZ2s are on the way.. Security has been increased.

Speed is the issue and it’s not just e bikes. We had a bad accident on a trail near hear last year when avid young cyclists were pumping hard, came around a corner on a trail and plowed into a slow moving family with young children.

Big Katuna wrote:
I agree we’re in the Model T phase of laws and light enforcement.

As popularity grows and the number of bikes multiply and trails start to get more crowded and a few extreme riders cause issues THEN enforcement starts. Follow California laws.

They usually pave the way for the rest of the country.

Florida is regulating by watts that I know of but by speed.

If it goes over 20 it’s not legal on bike paths or sidewalks.

I’m going to end up with two. A 750 Watt beater and probably
A Motan Addmotor 1000W Bafang mid drive. Fat tires
100 mm adjustable dampened fork 1500w peak
Rated for 350 pounds.

It’s a beast.

I have the 1000 watt Bafang with a 52 volt battery pack and it gets up and fly's, you can upgrade the 30 amp controller to 50 amp and it will get up to 45 mph, seen it done however it will over heat the motor, the wattage law on electric bikes is not the issue on bike paths and such its the speed you drive, you can just hold back your speed when people/police are around and when its clear just let her rip.


My next bike will be 5000 watts, it can do 60+ mph.. :E




old people ride 250 watt slow lame bikes :p

My wife and I have two bikes that are setup with BionX rear wheel motors. The best think is that they have a big dealer repair base not that I have had any issues the only issue is they are made in Canada so it could be a few extra days if parts are needed. The battery is installed in the middle with a lock and you can take battery of with a turn of the key. The best investment we did in a long time.

I agree we’re in the Model T phase of laws and light enforcement.

As popularity grows and the number of bikes multiply and trails start to get more crowded and a few extreme riders cause issues THEN enforcement starts. Follow California laws.

They usually pave the way for the rest of the country.

Florida is regulating by watts that I know of but by speed.

If it goes over 20 it’s not legal on bike paths or sidewalks.

I’m going to end up with two. A 750 Watt beater and probably
A Motan Addmotor 1000W Bafang mid drive. Fat tires
100 mm adjustable dampened fork 1500w peak
Rated for 350 pounds.

It’s a beast.

Big Katuna wrote:
The problem with the fast ones is they won’t be legal on most state and federal trails.

There is talk of registration and license plates and basically categorizing them as electric motorcycles.

Don’t get me wrong. I like them too. But I get that the purist pedal only mountain bike crowd doesn’t want 2-3 hp e mountain bikes spewing gravel at them on uphill trails.

Most states require electric bikes 750 watts or more to be licensed as a moped or motorcycle and may have to have insurance, I don't have my 1000 watt licensed or insured and never will, most cops don't know the law or even know where to look on the motor to tell its watts, when I see a cop I just slow down and pedal fast as if I am doing all the work, to find the watts listed on my bike it has to be flipped upside down and it has very small print, thinking of grinding that part off so if ever caught they wont find the watts listed..

Breaking the law is Fun...
:C




32 mph without pedaling

The problem with the fast ones is they won’t be legal on most state and federal trails.

There is talk of registration and license plates and basically categorizing them as electric motorcycles.

Don’t get me wrong. I like them too. But I get that the purist pedal only mountain bike crowd doesn’t want 2-3 hp e mountain bikes spewing gravel at them on uphill trails.

Well there is electric bikes than there is electric bikes, I have a 1000 watt 30 amp fat tire bike that can get up to 32 mph and maintain 18 mph on a hill, I will never own a electric bike unless it was 750 watts or more, there is also some that have 2000 watts 50 amp and they rock..





Just don't get caught doing over 20 mph, some states require you to license it as a moped or even a motorcycle if it has more than 750 watts.

{ I fly under the radar and if ever caught I will just say its 500 watts, most cops would never know }

:W