Headlines warning about “e-bike dangers” are everywhere. But advocacy groups say many of those stories are not really about true e-bikes at all. Instead, they’re about heavily modified or misclassified vehicles — machines that look like e-bikes but act like small electric motorcycles.
What advocacy groups are saying
- PeopleForBikes — one of the country’s largest cycling advocacy groups — says these “e-moto” vehicles are giving e-bikes a bad name.
- They often have motors stronger than 750 watts, or can go faster than 28 mph, making them illegal as e-bikes under most U.S. laws.
- Some lack real pedals or can run throttle-only, which puts them outside the e-bike classes defined by law.
- Despite this, many are marketed as e-bikes online, confusing both buyers and law enforcement.
- PeopleForBikes lists fixing this confusion — and creating clearer e-bike definitions — among their top 2025 policy goals.
- Their message: don’t punish legal riders for problems caused by unregulated or misclassified machines.
Real examples from around the country
- Reno, Nevada: Two teenagers riding what police called “illegal electric motorcycles” crashed into a bicyclist. The bikes had no pedals, no plates, and could hit high speeds. Both riders were cited. Yet initial reports called them “e-bikes.”
- Milford, Massachusetts: A crash involving a heavily modified “e-bike” led police to issue a safety warning. The bike had been altered to exceed normal limits, but was still described as an e-bike in headlines.
- San Ramon Valley, California: Schools and parents are seeing kids on Super 73-style bikes that can hit 35 mph. They look like e-bikes but ride like motorcycles.
- Marin County, CA: Officials have moved to ban throttle-equipped e-bikes for youth under 16 after a rise in teen crashes.
- New York City: The City Council is debating limits on high-speed e-bikes and scooters — a direct reaction to public fear, not all of which involves legal bikes.
These examples show how the line between e-bikes and electric motorcycles keeps getting blurred — and how the public ends up confused.
Policy & education efforts
- Some states are writing new bills that would make it illegal to market e-motos as e-bikes.
- Advocacy groups and safety organizations recently launched the eBike eCourse, a free online safety program that teaches new riders how to ride responsibly and understand e-bike classes.
- (Cycle News)
- Regulators are also paying attention to battery safety, since misclassified devices with cheap components are linked to more fires and malfunctions.
Why this distinction matters
- Public perception – When every crash is labeled “e-bike,” people lose trust in the technology.
- Policy mistakes – Cities may overreact and pass sweeping restrictions that punish legal riders.
- Bad data – Safety studies often lump together different machines, hiding the real picture.
- Marketplace confusion – Sellers use loopholes to avoid stricter safety and licensing rules.
How to spot a misclassified or modified device
FeatureLegal e-bikePossible misclassified / modified device
Motor power / continuous watts750 W or less (in many jurisdictions)Exceeds 750 W or claims much higher peak
PedalsFully functional pedals requiredPedals may be non-functional or just decorative…