Recent legislative moves in the united states aim to draw a clear line between street-legal e-bikes and faster, more powerful e-motos. Both New York and California have introduced bills that would require manufacturers, retailers and online platforms to label their products accurately, ban deceptive marketing, and impose stricter registration and licensing requirements for vehicles that exceed the limits set for conventional electric bicycles.
These measures come after a series of high-profile crashes and growing public concern that riders are being sold machines disguised as legal e-bikes, only to discover they are operating at speeds well above the permitted thresholds. The new proposals seek to protect consumers from misleading advertisements while ensuring that streets remain safe for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.
New York’s S.10700 seeks to eliminate illegal high-speed e-motos
State Senator Kristin Gonzalez introduced Senate Bill S.10700 to give New York a precise legal definition of e-moto and electric off-highway motorcycle. The bill would forbid the sale of any two-wheeled electric vehicle that can travel faster than 15 mph (the current limit for e-scooters) or 20 mph for class-1 and class-2 e-bikes, unless it is registered, insured and driven with a proper motorcycle licence. Retailers would be required to attach a prominent warning label on any device that does not meet the state’s e-bike criteria.
Proponents point to a deadly Queensboro Bridge collision in May, where an e-moto travelling over 50 mph collided with a cyclist, killing both parties. Governor Letitia James has previously warned that marketing such vehicles as “e-bikes” or “e-scooters” violates state law. Gonzalez’s memorandum stresses that online distributors continue to list high-speed machines under the guise of legal categories, confusing buyers and endangering the public.
California’s SB 1167 clarifies e-bike classifications and bans e-moto branding
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill SB 1167 into law, a measure championed by Senator Catherine Blakespear. Effective 1 January 2027, the legislation mandates that any electric two-wheel vehicle capable of exceeding 28 mph or producing more than 750 watts of power must be marketed as a moped or motor-driven cycle not an e-bike. The bill also introduces stricter labelling requirements, obligating manufacturers to print the device’s class, top assisted speed, motor wattage and the name of the responsible company on a permanent sticker.
Beyond labelling, SB 1167 establishes new reporting protocols for law-enforcement agencies, aiming to clean up crash data that has been muddied by the blanket term “e-bike”. The California Bicycle Coalition praised the bipartisan support for the bill, noting that it provides clear guidance for parents and consumers who might otherwise purchase a high-speed vehicle believing it to be a safe bicycle. The law also aligns California’s definitions with those already in place for e-bikes: Class 1 (pedal-assist up to 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle-assist up to 20 mph) and Class 3 (pedal-assist up to 28 mph, rider minimum 16 years).
Industry reaction and a parallel push in the European Union
While the U.S. states tighten their own regulations, European manufacturers are rallying around a new manifesto that calls for an EU-wide ban on “tampering kits” and non-compliant e-bikes. Over eighty-nine companies, including major players such as Trek, Bosch and Amazon, have signed on, arguing that unchecked speed-enhancement modules undercut safety standards and create unfair market competition. The combined pressure from both sides of the Atlantic signals a growing consensus that clear, enforceable definitions are essential for the rapid expansion of electric two-wheel transport.
