Recent content by Ken M

You mention of this being settled / challenged in court is likely the only way the power issue and differences between the federal Low Speed Electric Bicycle definition and the 3-class ebike definitions gets resolved. The classes are actually interstate commerce violations but the CPSC will not...

The enforcement by "stickers" is one of the reason I am so negative towards the 3-class regulatory system pushed by People for Bikes. They were too focused on getting the auto industry lobby money that they failed to really comprehend how bad the regulatory draft they were likely provided was...

No one seems to understand that the 750W in HR727 is a "rating" not a max power specification for the motor or drive system. Motors do not have a max power per say so EVERYONE claiming it's a limit is simply not technical. If interested in understanding why thinking 750W is a power limit is...

I think the power proves irresitible when trying to maintain commute speeds going up a hill that is more than say 5% slope. None of the 250W EU spec'd motors can sustain anything close to 20mph without a huge effort from the rider which impacts avg speed and that matters when using an ebike for...

No idea what you are saying but if you are doing 110kph on you Emmo it's not a compliant ebike in Canada or the US. Probably one of those "off-road" electric dirt bikes with pedals that exploit a loophole when ridden on public infrastructure. Be aware that if you do end up hitting someone on a...

3-class legislation was promoted by People for Bikes to California first - California did not draft that legislation text (most like a Bosch executive provided it to People for Bikes for many reasons I have brought up in other threads). It is simply not good legislation and it's not good for the...

Most MUP have a 15mph speed limit so I'm confused how a 20mph assist cut-off on a Class 1 ebike ensure safe compliance. I rode over 12,000 miles in 2 years on an ebike and when on a MUP or sidewalk not once have I experienced some crazy fast biker flying thru pedestrians and putting anyone in...

They were formed with the power and responsibility to regulate interstate commerce as well (everyone should take the time to read their history). The problem is they have been neutered by corporations wanting to do was they please and they seem to ignore interstate commerce violations. For...

How many ebikes on a trail would it take to do what the recent storm did in a few hours in Yellowstone? Pretty good proof that erosion from storms should be a far greater trail damage concern than ebikes.

Did I say anything about People for Bikes in this thread? I can only suggest that you ask People for Bikes to comment on HR727 and their 3-class legislation to get a feel if there efforts were pro-bike or pro-auto. I'm suggesting you be the judge but they should be willing to discuss this ...

I rode an ebike over 6,000 miles one year and the few times I had any close call with a pedestrian it was because they were not paying attention. I never hit them as like you said it was my responsibility to avoid them but I would ring a bell they didn't hear (some had head phones on) and it a...

Those are NOT legal / compliant LSEBs per HR727 (those breaking the law should not impact what is good legislation). It could be argued they are compliant to the Class 3 definition since there is not power limit stated above 20mph so long as the rider is pedaling. I know some claim there is...

I was just talking with a guy that purchased a $10,000+ Reise and Mueller ebike and he said his class 3 sticker fell off in 3 weeks. He said he just rides it everywhere bikes are allowed and was on a 3,4000 mile trip across the country to raise money for a cause. The class system is not...

There have always been some accidents between cyclists and pedestrians but most of the time it's the pedestrians' fault for not paying attention. The issue will be if the ebike is compliant (this is where the difference between HR727 compliance and 3-class compliance will be a big deal and...

I have always said there should be no legal difference between a throttle assist and a pedal assist because it would so easy to create a throttle assist ebike that required a pedal rotation every say 10 seconds to keep the throttle working and that could easily be defined as pedal assist system...