Originally Posted by
Pop N Wood
Not sure where you live but chance are they are legal on the road if they have turn signals, horn, insurance etc.
I'm in the UK. Yes you can technically register them as a motorbike, which is effectively what they are.
UK regulations:-
When is an e-bike not an e-bike?
E-bikes are classed as regular non-assisted bicycles in Great Britain but if they supply electrical assistance when travelling at more than 25kph (15.5mph), have a motor which generates more than 250 Watts of power or motor assistance can be provided without the bike's pedals being in motion, they will be legally treated as a moped or motorcycle. These powered two-wheelers are subject to a different regulatory framework.
Because of our regulations, you only ever see e-bikes (the ones that are like bicycles and indeed classed by law as bicycles) in bike shops. There is no significant market in the UK for the high powered throttle operated e-bikes you are discussing.
FYI here are some common examples of e-bikes sold in bike shops that ride like bicycles and not like mopeds/motorbikes:-
Road e-bike
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes...ke-red__473198
e-mtb
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes...ke-red__481880
Hybrid e-bike
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes...-black__483827
Cargo e-bike
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes...-black__476017
Not everyone who rides an e-bike wants a huge motor and heavy battery. Quite the opposite for an e-road or e-mtb bike. It's more about keeping the weight and handling close to a normal bicycle while providing a modest power boost to augment your own human power.
This thread is a complete train wreck simply because some people are lumping all e-bikes into one single category, even though they can be completely different beasts with a completely different purpose.