Is your ebike legal or not?

[Kingfish]

If I kept it below 20 mph, sure... but then I woke up.

If 2 hp is considered a moped, then that's what this is - except for missing indicator lights and whatnot.
~KF

[friedwires]

mine is legal as long as i dont get caught

[stanz]

I said legal-ish because my motor peaks above 750 watts when going full throttle up a steep hill. It doesn't come close to 20mph while doing so but technically 817 watts is illegal.

I don't exceed 20mph since I pedal while under power and my gearing doesn't allow me to go that fast while pedaling at a comfortable rate.

[AussieJester]

So you guys that have stickers voted legal-ish or illegal, right?...

Wrong...i voted legal ... in case any Western Australian Police Officers Google e-bikes
and spot this thread, i want them to know my bike is legal 200watt stickered
KiM

[REdiculous]

Wrong...i voted legal ...

I printed off a 1.21 gigawatt sticker and slapped it on my forehead so I could go back in time and add a "I have a sticker" option to the poll.

[liveforphysics]

I said legal-ish because my motor peaks above 750 watts when going full throttle up a steep hill. It doesn't come close to 20mph while doing so but technically 817 watts is illegal.

I don't exceed 20mph since I pedal while under power and my gearing doesn't allow me to go that fast while pedaling at a comfortable rate.

The law says nothing about what you put into your motor.

It says the motor can't be "rated" for more than 750w continuous output.

Even if you pump 40kw bursts into your motor (as my plasma dicks motor got served), it doesn't change what the continuous rated power is for the motor in any way.

[AussieJester]

Wrong...i voted legal ...

I printed off a 1.21 gigawatt sticker and slapped it on my forehead so I could go back in time and add a "I have a sticker" option to the poll.

Re-casted my vote....but i still stand by that my bike is 100% legal for off road use

KiM

[REdiculous]

Shoot...I didn't know adding the "I have a sticker" option would zero the tally. Sorry guys!

If you consider legal-ish the same as illegal then I think it was about 3:1, illegal to legal, before being zeroed. Not too surprising.

[Green Machine]

I'm gonna start a good business selling stickers...

[Kingfish]

I'm gonna start a good business selling stickers...

Make one with a lightening bolt that says 750W MAX!

... and put me down for two
~KF

[biohazardman]

Sticker on mine says 600W so I has to be legal specially if I keep it at the legal 20MPH limit? I usually keep the speed down so the batts last long enough to get me the 20+ miles there and back. I hate pedaling a 55 LB bike home. So like is there difference between I have a sticker and totaly illegal? Mighty fine line it is? ;^)

Don't forget the 40MPH club stickers I'm sure we can explain them as they are being red by the men in blue.

[stanz]

The law says nothing about what you put into your motor.

It says the motor can't be "rated" for more than 750w continuous output.

Even if you pump 40kw bursts into your motor (as my plasma dicks motor got served), it doesn't change what the continuous rated power is for the motor in any way.

Totally legal then!

[REdiculous]

The law says nothing about what you put into your motor.

It says the motor can't be "rated" for more than 750w continuous output.

Totally depends on where you are. In Oregon..

(a) Has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts

[wojtek]

Wattage: the peak W is 10x the legal limit of nominal W allowed
Battery Voltage: only 8V above the legal limit.
Max speed: only 2x the max limit
My personal feeling: 20x too weak for my taste

conclusion: change the law!

[Vadim]

In Ontario the laws are thus:
Less then 120 Kg (265 lb)
Less then 500w output power.
No greater then 32 km/h (20mph)

Weight isn't a problem in my opinion.
But output power and top speed are annoying, I can do that speed without power assist (for short distances that is). I average about 18km/h over 40km.

Anything other that and it's legally a "limited speed motorcycle" and needs to me insured, registered and have a valid LSM licence plate.
Also the driver needs an m (motorcycle) license.

Also max speed of an lsm is 70km/h (43mph) after that it's considered a full motorcycle, electric or not.

[wasp]

mine has been illegal since it was 1 hour old...lol
and speaking of legal check out a law dicionary for driver...means hauling passengers or cargo for a fee in commerce
we are traveling unless it can be shown were we lost specifically lost our right to travel then it still exists
no lisence,no regestration=no contract or joinder as the cops like to say...so don't contract and enjoy traveling

[Lessss]

legalish - - If it looks like a bike, it's a bike, if it doesn't, it isn't.

[darkshirikens]

Mine is legal till i get a good straight away lol

[beast775]

nope,i see wasp is up on his maritime admiralty laws.excellent.

[John in CR]

My bikes will all do 50mph or better, and they are 100% legal as bicycles. Actually I enjoy one added legal benefit that bicycles don't...since mine are motorized and can maintain > 40kph they are ok to take on the few highways where bicycles are prohibited. You better believe that I'm lovin the ebike freedom I enjoy.

[kevo]

legalish - - If it looks like a bike, it's a bike, if it doesn't, it isn't.

+1 Agreement with Lessss

[Lessss]

Kevo, that's what the dumb-ass minister of Transport spots instead of actually writing an ebike law in N.B. Canada
http://ebikesoutride.com/LazyMLAs/emailbikes.html

[kevo]

Lessss,
That's kinda funny in a strange way. Might as well take advantage of the rules as they is.
-K