Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is warning parents and guardians to use caution before buying electric bikes (e-bikes) as retailers have “blurred the lines, selling heavy, high-speed electric motorcycles while marketing them as standard e-bikes.”
CSP stresses the importance of buyers checking the specs of a bike before purchasing.
“Sometimes what a retailer is calling an ‘e-bike’ is not a bike at all,” stated Col. Mathew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Any two-wheeled vehicle that has a motor exceeding 750 watts, speeds exceeding 28 mph, or no functional pedals may be reclassified as a moped or motorcycle.”
According to law enforcement, e-bikes and electric motorcycles have different legal and safety requirements, and knowing the difference is crucial.
For example, e-bikes can be ridden by younger teens while electric motorcycles require riders to be at least 16, says CSP. In addition to age limits for different bikes, CSP says that vehicle registration and a driver’s license are required for electric motorcycles.
“One of the biggest oversights we are presently seeing is that kids under the age of 16 are riding two-wheeled vehicles that are classified as mopeds or motorcycles,” explained Col. Packard. “In Colorado, you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a full motorcycle endorsement (Class M) on your driver’s license. These devices also must be registered and licensed.”
Why distinction matters
When an e-motorcycle is marketed as an e-bike, the following requirements are bypassed:
- Driver’s license or motorcycle license.
- Vehicle registration and insurance.
- Age restrictions (e-bikes can be ridden by younger teens, while e-motorcycles require riders to be at least 16)
In addition, these devices have different restrictions on where they can be driven. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are generally allowed wherever traditional bicycles are permitted, including bike trails and natural surface paths.
Class 3 e-bikes are typically restricted to roads and designated bike lanes. E-motorcycles are restricted to roads, OHV trails and forest roads that permit motorized use.
In Colorado, municipalities and local jurisdictions have the right to impose their own localized ordinances and restrictions. Be sure to check the local ordinances for your exact town or city as they can differ from what’s allowed at the state level.
“One of the biggest oversights we are presently seeing is that kids under the age of 16 are riding two-wheeled vehicles that are classified as mopeds or motorcycles,” explained Packard. “In Colorado, you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a full motorcycle endorsement (Class M) on your driver’s license. These devices also must be registered and licensed.”