Just like with any motorized vehicle, electric bikes also must follow specified laws. If you have an electric bike and do not follow these laws, you can find yourself in a lot of trouble. Drivers of any kind of motor vehicle have a lot of responsibility to uphold. Electric bikes certainly are no exceptions to these rules. It does not matter where you live, electric bike owners need to know what the laws are. If you plan to buy an electric bike always make sure you are responsible and follow all safety and legal requirements.
One of the first sources of confusion is in the styling, where they fall into two categories. There are those that look like traditional bikes with a motor attached to the frame. And then there are electric bikes that look like scooters.
Another question people ask about electric bikes is, why do you need pedals if you have a motor? Well, modern electric bikes, such as the Salisbury LPX, can switch between three modes: normal cycling – in which you use it as a ‘normal’ bike; ‘pedal assisted’ – you still use the pedals but the motor helps out, making it less fatiguing; and ‘motor only’ – where you simply twist the grip and let the motor take the strain.
A moped is what it sounds like, a motor and pedal. What you have is a motorized bicycle. To confuse things more there are electric bicycles also called e-bikes, but we will get to those later. A moped looks like a small motorcycle with or with out pedals. The most common distinction between a moped and a motorcycle is the limited engine size of mopeds or an electric motor on the moped.
So what do you need to make one, and how much will it cost? About $300 should do it for a first attempt, plus a decent donor bike. There are a few quality variables like the motor, and the batteries especially. You definitely get what you pay for, and the cheaper variety can be a false economy. They will probably need replacing much sooner. You will also need access to a few power tools to put it all together properly, and a decent plan of what you want to end up with.
Fuel prices are ever increasing, with petrol averaging at 130p per litre. Not to mention the cost of insurance, road tax, services etc. Own a car in general is incredibly expensive, so consider the amount of money you could be saving if you replaced just half of your car journeys with an bicicleta eletrica mountain bike 800w.
However, some people are still not comfortable with the idea of having to sweat all the way while traveling. Some someone came up with the idea of electric folding bicycles.
Most people choose to buy an electric bike already put together but you can pay to have someone else do it for you. There are also kits you can use in order to do it yourself though some states frown upon that. No matter what you do, always take extra special care to avoid injury. You should also be sure to ride with all necessary safety equipment. Wear your helmet because all it takes is one accident to seriously harm you. Be a responsible rider and your electric bike will serve you for a very long time.