One of the reasons why the EU wants to enact mandatory motor insurance for ebikes is because they've seen a spike in ebike accidents and deaths, especially among older riders. Policymakers are also calling for wider bike paths because of the increased number of riders on faster ebikes. On the trail side of things there are plenty of anecdotal reports, just like here, of asshole newbs showing up and causing problems.
There are also Euro/UK forums where people bitch about ebikes in bike parks, not unlike here. The difference is they are bitching about bike parks because they have limited off-road options elsewhere. Europe is a big place. In a lot of places bikes aren't allowed on dirt roads and trails like they are here. They are somewhat limited to bike parks or what we call resorts. In Austria, for example, mountain bikers are still trying to legalize mountain biking on forestry roads.
Once you scratch the surface, the idea that North American MTBers should become more like Euro MTBers ends up as a dubious argument.
ACCESS: "LEGAL BIKING CAMPAIGN IN AUSTRIA LEADS TO DISCUSSION IN VIENNA PARLIAMENT
Seriously, how long before someone makes one of these into a timbersled? I give it a few months. Gonna be sick!
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What about the uk, France, Italy . It’s exploding along with access
Of course they’ll need to make bike paths wider. Yes partly because of added speed but just as much because of added participation, which is a good thing. Common sense generally prevails unless it’s the states and corporate $’s prevail
TZ knows what’s up. He could use some E
I don't know about Austria, but I've been in Spain France Slovenia and Italy and mountain biking is great. Lots of singletrack, built up stuff, etc
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I loved the comments around 5:00-7:00 about cheating. Spot on.
Those Mondraker's look awesome. I'm riding this which is slightly older technology but is super fun: https://electricbikereview.com/haibi...ro-allmtn-8-0/ .
Ya few interesting tid bits in that vid that dispell some of the myths
Nice looking ride you have there. That inverted sc fork looks dope. How is that? Or the bike in general?
I see Sam Pilgrim riding a non e Haibike enduro bike at whistler , in his vids. I guess until they allow ebikes. I like his yt channel. Hilarious mechanic skillz. Zero fucks given
The bike is magic. I guess the inverted fork helps but I don't have enough experience to really know. It feels substantial, with zero flex. I was specifically looking for 3" tires and this one had them. I used to race MX bikes and the geometry felt familiar to me when I got on it the first time. It's heavy, but feels neutral in the air. In fact Sam Pilgrim says the same thing about the added weight actually feeling better on jumps.
My friend rented a Specialized Turbo Levo Fattie and we both liked the Haibike better in every way, but I do think it could use more gears. It's 11-48, but only 8 cogs so the gaps are large. It's not a problem finding a usable gear, but a couple more would have been better.
Those are electric powered motorcycles IMO.
A few people feel the rain. Most people just get wet.
Typically only see magura brakes in North America . I’m not familiar with their forks. Inverted just looks tech. I’ve always listed after a manitou dorado. They look and work great and have been durable. Shouldn’t be hard to change your gearing up. Definitely helps having closer gearing for climbing. I see sram has a ebike specific cassette. Steel to last longer for the added wear. I think it’s 10 spd, not sure
Haa more like the modern day trail/enduro bike but it’s an ebike. Like other companies , their non e trail/enduro bikes look the same. Haibike are relatively new do they look a little more futuristic but it’s still pedal assist with the same standards as other E mountain bikes. If you were looking at getting an ebike and there’d be the slightest possibility you might go cruise around the forest on a green or eventually a blue trail, a full suspension ebike roughly similar to that would be a million times more comfortable, more safe, more fun, easier on the body and would still be a great commuter/exploration bike
This breaks down the classes
You can create all the linguistic hurdles you want, they still have electric motors, hence motorcycles.
Live Free or Die
Laws will have to adapt to accommodate the different classes of bikes and different needs of the riders. Good thread to discuss it. Kids will, as always, do lawn jobs for kicks.
A few people feel the rain. Most people just get wet.
So according to you a class system defining e-bikes based off of their propulsion system and their power outputs does not make sense to you and they should all be classed as motorcycles?
How do you justify or explain the laws and rules that have been accepted and have been set for low powered scooters and mopeds. They do not follow or fall under the same class system as motorcycles and the laws and requirements have been defined as different than motorcycles.
On that ^^subject I would question if that is an accurate way to classify E-bikes, I have been reading about e-bikes in yurp that have been modifyed to do 100KPH
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
E-cycles are here and will be getting to be a larger part of a market. That is a foregone conclusion.So according to you a class system defining e-bikes based off of their propulsion system and their power outputs does not make sense to you and they should all be classed as motorcycles?
How do you justify or explain the laws and rules that have been accepted and have been set for low powered scooters and mopeds. They do not follow or fall under the same class system as motorcycles and the laws and requirements have been defined as different than motorcycles.
Where it matters is when considering Non-motorized trails and E-cycle access. Many people will say that what "class" they are fit into will not matter, they all have motors.
I am one of those people.
If E-cyclists wish for access to non-motorized trails, it is up to them to make their case.
Should these enthusiasts decide "fuck it, this is a bicycle and I am going to just ride it on those trails and screw the consequences".... well..... Already I am seeing this and it is alarming.
Seems like most of the discussions about e-bike classes are in the context of commuting, and the use of e-bikes on bike paths (both paved and gravel). While I'm sure that's a necessary discussion, particularly in places where those paths are crowded, I don't personally really care what the outcome is.
The use of ebikes on motorized and non-motorized singletrack is different. The history is different, the issues are different, and the land manager's positions are different. People talking about ebike class in that context are about 5 steps ahead of where the conversation needs to be (and, at the moment, is, at least in the north american market).
Truth. Seeing all the different types that are being built with all the work and design being put into them it’s hard to believe there won’t be spill over on to the trail system. I’d think they’ll be a need for serious and fair discussion.
Not really related to mtb ebikes , but could be a partial barometer, I was struck by the number of uses and wide range of commuter bikes. A ton of parcel delivery bikes, people carriers(epedi cab?) , racks and lights, enclosed incumbents. It certainly doesn’t look like e bikes are going to fDe away
Why is this alarming?
In Tahoe, most trails are illegal. So what difference does it make if you ride a e mountain bike?
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For sure. I imagine it'll be the small ICE scooters and mopeds that'll be the ones fading away. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see the millions of scooters that are so heavily used in Asia gradually change over to electric (both ebikes and just electric scooters without pedals).
If they can pump them out they will. One under every Xmas tree. 2020’s cabbage patch kid. It is influential though
I've been eyeballing an e cargo bike pretty hard. Weve got a paved multi use path from the neighborhood that runs all the way into town, but it sucks to come home up the hill at night after a concert or a couple beers, especially if you are towing a trailer full of groceries or children. It seems like the e cargo bike would be a great commuter rig for us.
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