Or point me to a web source?

Swampwolf's thread on his new scooter has me investigating them. Not buying just investigating to learn more.

But now I'm confused as heck.

I've learned that there are three classes for the sake of regulation and most states treat the three classes of ebikes the same as regular bikes as far as road use. There is a "fourth" class of ebikes more powerful than those but they get treated as a motorized vehicle by most.

So, here in Georgia a class one which cannot have a throttle and only 750w up to 20mph can go anywhere a regular bike is allowed, class two can have a throttle but is limited to no more than 20mph and 750w and allowed where ever a regular bike can go while a class three is also limited to 750w but can go up to 28mph but cannot have a throttle and is restricted to road use only or bike trail adjacent to road.

If I'm reading it right, that is. Oh, and class 3 requires a helmet to be worn and be 15 or older to operate.

These rules apply to road use or designated public bike paths. I assume off road private property is like motorized stuff, knock yourself out.

My curiosity would apply to an ebike that I might use for work and since my work is urban trapping it is foreseeable that road use might occur.

Anyone care to add to or correct my understanding?

Seems like class 2 has the better option of a throttle vs more speed of the class 3.

Next and even more confusing ebike construction.

Mid vs hub
Derailleur vs internal
Battery size
Nominal vs peak (I belive bikes are classed by nominal)

And some ebikes supposedly come as 1000w but have on board controller settings to drop them down to 750w. Is that legal for road use? Seems to me a switch wouldn't be.

And then there all sorts of online chatter of building a bike with china sourced parts or makers using cheap china sourced parts and doing huge markups or claims of this motor or that battery.

As you can probably figure I've dived in just deep enough to go, what the?

Any and all pointers much appreciated.

As said not buying just learning.

Alabama has no watt restrictions and the class 3 age is 16, otherwise the same as Georgia.

Hence my curiosity on the switchable ones.

They often catch on fire.

Look at NYC apartment fires caused by ebikes.

Saw that on some of the forum links. I gather this is new tech and chinesium parts.

I'd use a Horse.

If you have hills, you definitely want a mid drive. Hub drive struggles on the holls. Also get as high a wattage motor as you can.

I don't see LEO caring about different classes of bikes. They all get a free pass.
A guy in town has a gas engine on his bicycle and zips right past the cops.
It burns me that bikes are okay for streets but I have to have a license for a little motor on a rowboat.

Read the fine print before making a purchase.
Immediate Man Card revocation is not just implied, but mandatory. Fair warning.

Warrior,
I'm not sure about all the laws/regs concerning ebike use on public roads, but most everything else you posted is correct. They are like other stuff....depends on what you want to use the ebike for. Mine was purchased primarily for hunting...private land...not public. But, I will likely use it on some public land. Here in Ga...the 750w limit is the only thing mentioned in Ga hunting regs.....nothing about throttles. I will say that a Ga game warden probably won't check the motor output..lol.

In a city environment.....with a lot of cyclists...I have no clue about regs and law enforcement. My little town I live in could care less about ebikes.

I'm kind of gathering not many badge holders would even know where to look, lol. Lots of chatter on the web to use whatever you want no one knows unless you put it on a dynometer. Then I see others like the UK that evidently have a special trained squad of London bobbies just for ferreting out bikes in excess of their 250w.

Then there's discrepancies with federal dot rules vs state rules or use on national forest/park lands.

And all of these rules appear to be new within the last decade or so.

My guess is a local city cop would notice radar speed long before they ever twigged to check wattage.

Question for you, would a user selectable setting for 750 or 1000 be considered kosher? Assuming the user kept it on 750.

Not sure about a wattage switch. I never stumbled across anything about that when I was doing internet research on which one to buy.

I was just in Florida on vacation, the things are everywhere in Miami on the boardwalk. Seen one the guy said was from Canada, had mid drive, with two chains. He said it was 56 volt. Many others all colors and shapes, even the chicks riding them.

wws

The HJM I just purchased has a 48v 20amh battery. 750w motor. Mine will do 28 to 29 mph. I have no need to go that fast on a logging road.

Wife's Aventon has a 48v 14amh battery and 750w motor. Her's will only do 20 to 21 mph. She says that's fast enough.

We have put about 15 miles on them already just riding around town. So far we are enjoying them.

I believe no larger than 750W on federal lands. If you can afford mid hub, it is better.I got a M2S 750W and it is great.$1200 out the door. If you’re not riding in A LOT of sand and snow don’t get 4 inch tires. Mine are 3” and are good. It does everything I need. I heard some people getting a 1000W and putting a 750W sticker on it. If you are not a weekend warrior trail rider don’t spend a lot. Mine is a rear hub drive. You’ll be spoiled after riding one. Most are all chinese run of the mill. I rode mine quite a bit deer hunting with about 40lbs of gear. They are a game changer for old men.

I'm not sure what the advantage of these are over ATVs?

Less weight, noise and fuel to haul. ATV if you need to haul weight into or out of the woods. Bikes can get you in and out and carry a basic load or pull a small trailer or deer.

The difference for us in Oregon is the private lands get gated up, a lot of these also have a mix of public in them. Very large areas. They allow hunting but no motorized vehicles, they don’t mind e bikes they are not tearing up the property like the jacks on ATV’s do. Don’t get me wrong, I own a Honda four man for work, it’s the guys that just joy ride on and off the roads with no regards to the landowners.

wws