AmericanElectric Bike RE Review - $1.8k

[@harveyge1]

Probably here in Pennsylvania this is classified as a moped, meaning it needs a moped license and insurance. An electric bicycle, however, even one more powerful and faster, is not recognized as it comes down the street as anything but a bicycle and needs neither license nor insurance. This problem is pretty much universal, I understand, here in the United States. I would love to get this American 'bike,' but I know I would get pulled and find if I didn't jump through the license and insurance hoops. Instead of marketing this machine as being 'technically' a bicycle, manufacturers MUST address the legality disparity at a legislative level, if they are to expect consumers to purchase and ride.

[@robinhughes2971]

I have had one since 2009 I love, up 30 k/h need to change batteries every 3 year about $400

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Robin Hughes Nice, thanks for the feedback on this one Robin. Love how affordable those batteries are to replace :D

[@LSwaggy]

How does this compare to the Jetson?

[@PlatinumRow]

I love this , do you think that it would be as quick as a powered scooter ??

[@AllBikeUpdate]

Probably not as fast, most 50cc gas powered scooters cost $3K+ but they go 40 to 50mph. Remember that you'll need a license for those and insurance and you won't be able to cut across parks or other areas where bicycles can ride. Also, gas and repairs are more expensive vs. electric scooters and bikes.

[@robertostman2075]

hey, so how about delta style electric trike... cargo trike... suggestions??

[@peapodfairy3598]

Do you know if they will be coming to the UK?

[@damyangmelove6392]

I love this ebike, how much and where can I buy it

[@pioneer7777777]

Would this be allowed on bike paths or bike lanes? I feel like most state no motorized vehicles - and you could probably get away with it having a traditional electric "bike" but this form factor I feel like would get me kicked off the bike path and maybe even a ticket if I tried to use it as a "bike" for commuting.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Good thoughts and insights, this thing doesn't look like a bike and can't really be pedaled like one so I think you would get called out more often. I reviewed it because technically it adheres to the US

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Quitel Cartwright Exactly... Most states have moped licenses and stuff and you don't even need to spend as much getting certified as if you were driving a car and I think the insurance is less etc.

[@Pinesal]

The law says that electric bike can go anywhere a normal bike can go. Check local ordinances for exceptions.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Nick Kilcoyne Good point Nick, that's what the Federal law says (as long as the bike is under 20 mph and under 750 watts) but some state laws have nuances that restrict use on trails or specific areas. You might be able to fight and win a case but it could cost some time and money.

[@mangreat71]

What's the names of the scooters i can easily take the battery out if it go dead and put a new 1 in.And how do i hook up a car battery or motorcycle battery or a lawn mower battery up to this scooter to give it extra travel distance ?

[@PaulGarwood]

Are these available in the UK?

[@KHfreak7526]

a. what's it's top speed and b. do you need a drivers license to drive it in the state of Washington

[@MrNick00713]

Can you change the battery for a longer ride time?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Sort of... If you upgrade to Lithium-ion the battery might be a little larger but it will definitely be lighter and this will improve overall efficiency of the drive system. You could always get a second battery to take along or leave at a half-way point to double the range by swapping them out.

[@conker33350]

What happens when the battery dies can you. Still pedal.

[@johnkoutoulakis8775]

You can pedal it but it's difficult due to the placement of the pedals and the weight it has..I think its almost useless to try pedal it on an incline you should better get off and pull it..

[@flitsies]

You are so lucky having sensible Ebike laws if only Europe could follow your lead on this I think it would solve the worlds pollution problems over night, at least if would get rid of the excuses for not riding two wheelers.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

flitsies I do feel fortunate, not sure why Europe is so strict about their laws. I believe you can get a license and ride speed pedelecs in Europe if you want to go faster? It's a bit more expensive but might be worth it, though I'm not sure you can go on paths then?

[@flitsies]

ElectricBikeReview.com Well I can tell you why they hate all things small and electric, it's because they are so cheap to run compared to gasoline vehicles, the amount of tax they charge for gasoline is very high if everyone went electric they would lose that money, so what they do in the UK at least is they ban it or the more favoured route is to allow it but make it as expensive to own as possible. Small electric scooters have to be registered as mopeds/motorcycles, and you have to get insurance for them, the insurance is very expensive compared to a normal motorcycle. Don't believe all the adds on the net stating £90 it's a lie, you only get that after a fews years no claims bonus like any motorcycle use. But you are very lucky to have a govt that actually listens to it's people rather than dictating to them what they can and can't have.

[@dcaster1829]

+flitsies no electric scooters suk becus they A:) dont use electromagnetism effectively B:) dont have 3 power sources like cars do. C:) I've owned an electric scooter and can safely say the battery sets last from 3-6 months with each trip getting weaker. Thats' exactly why they suck.

[@dcaster1829]

+flitsies u can put all the coils u want on your electric scooters or cars buddy, all it does is help the range alittle...your like a little child want to know why? cus u dabble with ac not dc. No one cares about rebuying this trash.

[@flitsies]

dcaster1829 What you talking about willis. Ok some of the things you say are true, and if you use it as your main form of transport then you probably will be unhappy with it with the cheap batteries you probably have in the device. But hey you can spend more money and buy top notch batteries if you want to, you see I have one of those really small electric scooters 1000 watts came with crap batteries but it was cheap, right! The thing is if you only use it for fun it's ok but as a real commuter it's crap, but if I spend an extra 2/4 hundred pounds on decent batteries it would replace my motorcycle for all my city driving, the only reason I don't do this is simply because in the UK all electric scooters no matter what have to be registered as motorcycles, my 1000 watt electric scooter which just about gets me 7/10 miles at a whopping speed of 20 mph titta titta has to be registered as a motorcycle.so put simply the govt puts me off so I only use it as a fun thing to piss off the motorists trying to race around the local streets as they get stuck behind my little tiny fully registered motorcycle electric govt taking the piss scooter. Even the police have to wonder at the stupidity of the govt when it comes to the little tiny electric scooters. But hey it is cheap to run, don't cost much to recharge the batteries but then you don't that far. However my electric bicycle on the other hand has top of the range batteries and the bike is quite heavy, but still manages to take me 40 miles on a single charge and it doesn't need to be registered, but it is restricted to 15 mph so the govt screws us again by forcing us to go slower than a none powered cycle, so it's a case of pissing off more motorists when I ride that, so mostly I stick to my petrol motorcycle even though I have alternatives.

[@inaecho2498]

If it breaks, is there a manual to conduct repairs and/or maintenance yourself?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I'm not sure honestly, might be worth double checking with the seller before hand. I think most scooter shops would be somewhat familiar and able to help with repairs even without a manual. Electric motors are much cleaner and simpler than gas so the big issues would be tires, steering and maybe chains or wheels?

[@inaecho2498]

Thanks for the insight! I've been looking at your ebike kit reviews, but there's gotta be cheaper alternatives to the ones that you've tried out. I've seen inexpensive kits on Ebay and Amazon, but I really don't know how reliable the sellers are or their products. Could you guide me in the right direction?

[@alextran8188]

Do the pedals lock if you don't want to pedal?

[@robinhughes2971]

Alex Tran NOT A BIKE IF YOU TAKE PEDDLES OFF BUT EASY TO TAKE OFF, BUT IS THEN A MOTORCYCLE

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Alex Tran Hi Alex, I didn't see a way to lock the pedals but you can always just put your feet on the middle platform (like a traditional motorized scooter). I hope this helps, as Robin says, the pedals are there to qualify it as a bicycle in the US.

[@alextran8188]

ElectricBikeReview.com Thanks for the help! I want to invest in one of these so I don't have to go thru the whole process of registering and having insurance of a vehicle.. and I wanted just to use this as a way of cruising through the neighborhood!

[@alextran8188]

ElectricBikeReview.com​ Great Review Keep it up! You guys should do more of these pedal assisted electric moped reviews in the future! 

[@tylerhendrix14]

Would I need a motorcycle licence because of the speed?

[@michaelzolg1675]

where can you get this bike at

[@breewilliams8259]

Make and model?

[@elistein7082]

where can I get this?

[@jordanlong4825]

Is it street legal?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Jordan, I think that really depends on where you live and which streets you plan to ride on. This thing has front and rear lights as well as turn signals and mirrors but limits to 20mph (unless you unlock it somehow). I think you could ride it as a bicycle but might get unwanted attention on bike paths. The other alternative is to use it on neighborhood streets as a light electric vehicle and have a license. Hope this helps!

[@davitaislamay2883]

Can u get mistaken as riding moped? Cause I was going to ask my dad to get me that for school and I really don't want to get in trouble by the police

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hey Davita, that probably depends on where you live but it's much more likely to happen with something like this than a basic electric bicycle like the eZip Trailz or some other affordable option. Here's a full list of more affordable ebikes you can explore: electricbikereview.com/tag/affordable/

[@davitaislamay2883]

Thanks

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Davita Islamay Sure thing, good luck finding a great electric bike!

[@Pinesal]

Yeah you will occasionally get mistaken for a moped but you won't get in trouble because the law is on your side

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Thanks for your input Nick Kilcoyne I agree that if you aren't breaking the law things should go relatively smoothly. There may be some interruption and delay if/when you get questioned but hopefully that's it. Definitely wear a helmet though and know your other laws about turning or riding on street vs. sidewalk because they could get you for that kind of stuff if they've already pulled you over.

[@davitaislamay2883]

Do u need a license for this?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Sort of... it's kind of cheating in the world of electric bikes because it goes a bit faster than 20mph and the pedals don't really work so this is more of a moped. But, in some areas the "low speed" could qualify it as a bike if ridden on streets. I'd suggest a normal ebike that's lighter and smaller like these if you're on a budget: electricbikereview.com/tag/affordable/

[@conehead5849]

In the uk with these you need no licences and age is 14 to drive one

[@joneopedal8461]

In Norway it isn't age resistance:)

[@walkerbelle]

Is this the same American Electric bike maker out of Florida that has countless complaints filed with a dozen+ agencies and also the company that's under investigation by the FEDS for fraud and other possible criminal charges???

[@mclumpynuggets6429]

Luv that 165 Pounds

[@LuckyDarkGamerz]

Why would u buy this? you can get conversion kit that can go 50mph + And you can buy a petrol moped for 500$

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I think people get it for the two-person setup, it's easier to deal with than a conversion (if you aren't mechanically inclined or just too busy) and it's less expensive and messy to maintain than a gas scooter (and quieter). You don't need a license or insurance to ride and can technically ride in bike lanes vs. streets which might be safer.

[@robinhughes2971]

ActingGaming you are missing the point it is electric

[@robinhughes2971]

Robin Hughes lots of reasons to own an e bike I HAVE A MOTORCYCLE LICENCE AND THEY ARE CHEAPER BY A MILE

[@LuckyDarkGamerz]

Robin Hughes I'm talking about having to waste 1K on stupid eletric scooter when you can buy petrol cheaper..

[@fantasyreflection]

They need to be able to travel 30mph to keep up with traffic and not hold it up.

[@claytondillard8815]

Too slow they need to change increase the e-bike top speed to 35 MPH maximum no lisence needed. No driver's test needed, just pass written test which is included in registration for first time e-bike riders​ only. State I.D. number is used on plates to identify the property of own to protect riders against theft optional not a requirement additional 5 dollar fee.

[@lorenaramirez9511]

Had the worse experience with this bike, the tires are way to easy to puncture (very cheap) my radio went dead after a month and since they never answer the phone i dropped it at the store and they didnt honor their warranty, also this is not american, my alarm was in Chinese, if i could do it again i would go with a regular bike that already has recognition to their name

[@danielharris6623]

that looks like the bike the girl was riding in no place I'd rather be 😂😂😂😂😂

[@KokendeVannIhelvette]

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