The regulatory reasons are actually what the speed limit on bikes is about. Lots of places, once you’re powered and going over 20mph they become motorcycles, meaning they can only be used on roads, require blinkers, brake lights, horns, registration, licensing, insurance, etc.
So the manufacturers have the motor cut off at 20mph to keep them classified as bicycles.
That’s assuming they’re actually limited, or that the limiter isn’t trivial to bypass. There are a lot of them where I live and it makes trying to use the bike path frustrating sometimes. Regulation is spotty and enforcement is almost nonexistent in most locales.
I dunno why you’re getting downvotes, I built my own e bike from a kit, and the speed limiter was enabled via a jumper that was uninstalled by default. Pedal assist was also completely optional. The thing could go 45mph (about 70km/hr) on level ground
I never rode it in pedestrian spaces though, as it would have been very unsafe to do so
Because I outed myself as one of “those people” who dare to own a truck for literally any reason, probably.
What kit did you use? I’m looking into building a capable ebike with my friend who needs to replace a car they can’t afford and something slow would be unsafe on the highway we call a main thoroughfare between them and where they work.
The regulatory reasons are actually what the speed limit on bikes is about. Lots of places, once you’re powered and going over 20mph they become motorcycles, meaning they can only be used on roads, require blinkers, brake lights, horns, registration, licensing, insurance, etc.
So the manufacturers have the motor cut off at 20mph to keep them classified as bicycles.
Question for everyone, if I, in the unlikely event, go over 20 mph on a bike lane using an nonelectric bike, can I get a ticket?
I can’t speak for the whole world but in Sweden if a bike goes over the speed limit you get a ticket. That’s if the cops somehow notice or care.
Sacramento ticketing for speeds over 15mph:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrdkc7I5o2g
at least once somewhere in the world in the past it was ruled no because you don’t have a speedometer
More likely you will still get a ticket but be able to use the above excuse in court.
Kinda depend on where you are. In my country the cop rightfully doesn’t care, as long as you don’t cause problem.
In many places , yes you can be ticketed. Maybe even have your bike impounded like a car.
That’s assuming they’re actually limited, or that the limiter isn’t trivial to bypass. There are a lot of them where I live and it makes trying to use the bike path frustrating sometimes. Regulation is spotty and enforcement is almost nonexistent in most locales.
I dunno why you’re getting downvotes, I built my own e bike from a kit, and the speed limiter was enabled via a jumper that was uninstalled by default. Pedal assist was also completely optional. The thing could go 45mph (about 70km/hr) on level ground
I never rode it in pedestrian spaces though, as it would have been very unsafe to do so
Because I outed myself as one of “those people” who dare to own a truck for literally any reason, probably.
What kit did you use? I’m looking into building a capable ebike with my friend who needs to replace a car they can’t afford and something slow would be unsafe on the highway we call a main thoroughfare between them and where they work.
I can’t really recommend the kit I used XD
It was just about the cheapest 1kW model I could find on eBay, and I’d fully Theseus-ed it within a few years because all its components were crap