E-bikes and thoughts

[Cropduster172]

Oh hell no.

Fat tire bikes in general are asinine and aren't bikes, they are monkey machines. My definition since you are doing YOUR definition is NO because fat tires. Yah can't friggen pedal that silly thing.

Feds have some regs, some states have stupid wattage regs like feds. Those are stupid. They are somewhat akin to idiotic gun laws.

I don't have a dog in the fight regarding e-bikes but I have to agree with you about fat tire bikes. They are clown machines.
They're just flat out goofy looking. It seems they've lost their appeal as I see far fewer of them around town where we have our beach house and I believe riding them on the beach at the tide line was supposed to be one of their features.

 

[Pablo]

I don't have a dog in the fight regarding e-bikes but I have to agree with you about fat tire bikes. They are clown machines.
They're just flat out goofy looking. It seems they've lost their appeal as I see far fewer of them around town where we have our beach house and I believe riding them on the beach at the tide line was supposed to be one of their features.

I think people found out that you can’t actually ride them. Especially without a motor or engine

But I was being disingenuous - making a silly point that laws by features can not be very effective

Of course fat tire bikes are bicycles I just drew my own line

Two wheels = bicycle

First step to motorcycle is pretty clear unless it has pedals…..

 

[Ranger83]

We’ve owned an ebike since around 2005, when we added three motorcycle batteries and a hub motor to a Giant mountain bike. When the batteries failed, we were able to get a LiFe replacement, which was half the weight and several times the charge life. We lived with a huge hill between us and the grocery store, so it was very handy. My knees were shot and I couldn’t pedal so this was a way to ride with my kids.

In 2015,got knee replacements. In 2019 we wanted to upgrade. Mid-drives were available and more bikes had front suspensions and disk brakes. We skirted the 20mph issue by buying the bike and [750W] drive separately and assembling them. We also specced a Shimano Nexus internal shifting hub. And it has a hand throttle.

Since this picture we’ve added fenders and a rear luggage rack (which is why we got a hard tail bike).

The original chain stretched after a few years: my teenage son preferred max assist at each traffic light instead of peddling a bit more on his way to and from work.

We took it to Liberty Bike Shop and the owner put on one of the newer ebike chains, and no problems since.

When I ride it on the street I wear a Dickie’s hi-viz vest similar to what LEO’s wear. Boston has a fair number of bicycle police so drivers somewhat pay attention. On state roads in NH folks don’t give you much room and are going faster so it’s not much fun.

https://www.dickies.com/hi-vis/hi-vis-safety-vest/L10528.html

 

[Cropduster172]

I think people found out that you can’t actually ride them. Especially without a motor or engine

But I was being disingenuous - making a silly point that laws by features can not be very effective

Of course fat tire bikes are bicycles I just drew my own line

Two wheels = bicycle

First step to motorcycle is pretty clear unless it has pedals…..

What I believe is outrageous and stupid is in NJ, if I installed this kit on a beach cruiser bike and even governed it down to 20-25mph maximum, it needs to be registered, insured, inspected...but an e-bikes that has the same maximum speed requires nothing. Just buy it and ride it.

https://a.co/d/6jPCOFn

 

[mikeduf]

Here in California, a Class 1 goes to 20 mph Max then cuts off. No throttle.

Class 2 goes to 20 mph max, with a throttle. Then cuts off.

Class 3 goes to 28 mph Max. No throttle.

Trek just released the new FX 1 + S which is a class 3 with a throttle! First time for Trek making any bike with a throttle. 2K out of the box not a bad deal. I wish I could get one here in California..