The difference between an E-bike and a motorcycle: What parents need to know

It may move like an e-bike and look like a bike, but that electric cycle sitting in the garage may not be technically speaking be an e-bike, or be street legal, in California.

E-bikes have reached popularity throughout the country, especially among children and teenagers, and that surge has been met with a wide range of models with different specifications and capabilities.

But according to law enforcement officials who have worked on cases involving e-bikes, many models given to children and teenagers bought from brick-and-mortar and online sellers are more like motorcycles than bicycles, and can reach dangerous speeds in seconds.

“Sometimes, what looks like an e-bike or is sold as an e-bike is not a bike at all,” said state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on a consumer alert about bicycles in April. If your or your child's electric two-wheeler is too fast, it's either a motorcycle or a moped.

Police departments also try to educate the public before issuing citations or towing an illegal bike, but officials said it's a challenge.

“We're teaching the public what these words are, what they mean, and what to look for,” said Los Angeles police officer Brandon Pon of the West Traffic Division. “Most of these collisions are, for the most part, preventable.”

It is not just a matter of terminology; The consequences of a parent giving what they think is an e-bike but the capacity of a motorcycle to an inexperienced young rider can be disastrous, he said.

Here are some suggestions of what to look for.

What does not qualify as an e-bike?

A two-wheeled electric vehicle with an electric motor is not considered an e-bike, cannot be ridden by anyone without a motorcycle license and requires vehicle registration with the DMV if it has any of the following characteristics:

• It has no working pedals
• It has a powerful engine with more than 750 watts of power
• It provides pedal assistance above 28 mph
• It has a throttle that reaches a speed of more than 20 mph

What are the classes of e-bikes?

Electric cycles in California are also divided into three classes, depending on features and speed, according to the California Department of Justice. All should be labeled according to their categories:

• Class 1 – Known as low-speed pedal-assisted bicycles, they provide power when propelled by the rider's hand up to a speed of 20 mph. Can be ridden by all ages.
• Class 2 – Known as high-speed throttle-assisted e-bikes, they have pedals, but can only be powered from the throttle to a speed of 20 mph. Can be ridden by all ages.
• Class 3 – Known as pedal-assist electric bicycles, they provide electric power when operated manually by the rider, but can reach speeds of up to 28 mph with the help of a motor. They can only be ridden by people at least 16 years old, and wearing a helmet.

Are there other legal guidelines to consider?

All bicycles must be properly labeled by sellers, and law enforcement encourages parents to check what type they are buying for their children, or for themselves.

“Parents generally did not know the difference between Class 2 or Class 3,” said Sgt. Gerard McCann of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. “That's part of the problem.”

Law enforcement officials also point out that any type of modification to e-bikes may not only be dangerous, but may also turn the e-bike into a motorcycle or moped under California law.

Such modifications, such as changing the wheels of an e-bike, changing its motor or battery, or modifying its control panel to change speed controls and limits, may be considered a crime if the rider does not have a DMV license, according to California's attorney general.

Local cities, counties and school districts may implement their own, additional rules and regulations regarding the use of e-bikes in their area.