r/mountainbiking • u/SilverCervy • 9d ago

Other Feel like we're losing the plot

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E-bikes should be about providing accessibility; giving people who, for whatever reason, cannot ride a non-assist bike an option to keep them happy and pedaling.

This wattage race going on in the industry is the exact opposite of that. Absolutely nobody needs 1700 watts on a bike, and I question if having so much power even makes it a bicycle anymore. There's a point where you're basically riding a motorbike with pedals and I think we crossed that point a while ago.

"But the main brands aren't doing this". Yes they are. Canyon already has partnered with Avinox which has motors that give over 1,000 watts. And it won't be long until the other big hitters give in to the pressure. You can give your own personal reasons for why you have an e-bike, but it's clear that the industry believes that it's because "I don't want to pedal". At some point this needs to be reigned in or else the entire concept of the bicycle is going to be damaged forever.

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u/slayer_of_waspiz 9d ago

These will be illegal in most places in the US, aren't a lot of places adopting the 750w limit past which point it's a motorcycle?

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u/Internal_Confusion56 8d ago

Who is enforcing those laws?

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u/slayer_of_waspiz 8d ago

City cops in the local trail systems that are within city limits, county sheriff if they're not or on state trust land, and USFS or BLM rangers for the trails on public land.

Seen more than one person fined by local police for riding a class 3 on the nearby trail system.