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California Wants to Put License Plates on E-Bikes and Slow Them Down. Cyclists Are Not Happy About It
(guessingheadlights.com)
this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
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What would a bike require to go 200km/h.
Seriously. Think about it.
A motor. Which is what ebikes have. The difference between a 20km/h ebike and a 200km/h ebike is the strength of the motor.
If you don't cap the strength of the motor to be classified as an "ebike", one could build an electric motorcycle that goes 200km/h and call it an ebike.
That's exactly what i'm talking about.
We're facing similar kneejerk laws down here and there is a massive world of difference between a 250-500w ebike and a multi kilowatt emote / dirt bike. However, legislators are acting like a goddamn 250w pedelec with an assist cutout at 30kph is the same as an illegally imported kilowatt emote some dipshit 17 year old ploughs into the back of a parked car at 60kph
I think we probably agree on the fundamentals here: it's the power and speed that should be a regulatory distinction.
That's not e-bike versus e-motorcycle exactly. It doesn't matter what the form factor or control mechanism is. If it's fast and powerful, you can't ride it on bike paths and need a driver's license to take it on the road.