If you want to be a reasonable road user you need to be able to keep up with cars, so cruise around 50 and go up to 70 kmh to overtake, maintain speed uphill etc.
Basically it’s more of a scooter in a bike format with low weight and manouvrability. Love it!
Edit: I assume downvotes are from people morally insulted of how illegal it is.
I wish my controller wasn't braindead, I'd gladly accept the 25kmh speed limit if it could actually ramp itself up to 1Kw while below that speed.
On my way home in the dark, I barely have the throttle engaged and its more than fast enough for my liking.
But I agree, my main concern is difference in speed with cars. Worst case I could use electric scooter just for "last mile" and use public transportation. That is something ebike will again have more problems with.
The diference between 25 km/h electric and 25 km/h pedal only is the acceleration and the fact that electric motor never gets tired :)
To have a good acceleration they sell bikes with 500 W motors that are limited to 250 W. I guess in software.
The bikes that I tested, all have pedal assist but also a separate throtle.
European “Speed assist” bicycles that max out at 25km/hour don’t do 25 on their own; they decrease the amount of assistance to zero when your speed reaches 25. If you don’t do over 25 on a ‘normal’ bicycle, you won’t do it on one of these.
* under 250W, under 25km/h: no more approval than a pedal powered bicycle
* L1e-A: under 25km/h, under 1kW electric
* L1e-B: under 45km/h, under 4kW electric ("speed pedelec" class)
L1e-A and L1e-B ebikes need an extra type certification. Plus there are hurdles in terms of insurance, sometimes also helmet obligation, and more.
[0] https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/automotive/legislation/m...
What is the extra certification required? I assume something about tyre size, brakes and perhaps frame strength?
It's a MTB bike shape, so you always leaning forward. Normal city "omafiets" would be dangerous at those speeds - not enough pressure/grip on front tyre.
Also, I don't have to commute, only use it for fun (ok I did came to do some work to the university library right now).
I don't know if it makes much difference to top speed, but it's really nice at 25mph (40 km/h) in the rain! (I have a 1300W mid-drive.)
I'd like to add that having less gears would be nice, currently I have 8, only half are needed.