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Contents
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The three classes, word for word
The state handouts published by PeopleForBikes repeat the same three definitions wherever a state uses the class system:
- C1 "Bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycles reaches 20 mph."
- C2 "Bicycle equipped with a throttle-actuated motor, that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches 20 mph."
- C3 "Bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches 28 mph."
So Class 2 versus Class 3 is a trade: a throttle that moves you without pedaling, capped at 20 mph, against pedal assist that keeps helping up to 28 mph. On a flat commute the extra 8 mph is what you notice. On the law side, Class 3 is where states add conditions.
How the 51 handouts treat Class 3
- 38 of the 51 handouts (50 states and D.C.) use the three-class system.
- 9 recognize only bikes that stop assisting at 20 or 25 mph, or only Class 1 and 2 as bicycles: District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island.
- 2 treat e-bikes as motor vehicles or motorized bicycles (license required): Alaska, Massachusetts.
- 2 do not sort e-bikes by class at all in the handout: Kentucky, South Carolina.
- 28 handouts set a minimum age for Class 3, from 12 to 16 years.
The usual conditions on Class 3, in the handouts' words: an age floor ("Persons under 16 years of age may not ride a Class 3 electric bicycle", California, Colorado, Washington and others), a helmet (Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Virginia, among others; under 18 or 21 in some), and paths ("Class 3 electric bicycles are not allowed on a bicycle path or shared use path unless it is within or adjacent to a highway or roadway", Georgia; similar wording in Maryland and Oklahoma). Your state, quoted, with the bikes that fit: e-bike laws by state.
Which bikes can be set to which class
| Class settings published | E-bikes | Cheapest in the group |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 only | 3 | Aventon Soltera 3 ADV, $1,499 at Aventon |
| Class 2 only | 5 | Aventon Soltera 2.5, $1,199 at Aventon |
| Class 3 only | 3 | Ride1Up Prodigy v2 ECO, $1,295 at Ride1Up |
| Class 1 or 2 (no Class 3 setting) | 6 | Lectric XP Lite2, $749 at Lectric eBikes |
| Can be set to Class 3, with other settings | 37 | Ride1Up Portola 02, $795 at Ride1Up |
| Class not published | 6 | Himiway C3 Cargo, $1,499 at Himiway |
Most of the bikes we read ship in Class 1 or 2 and can be switched to Class 3 in the settings. The ones locked to a single class are worth noting: the Lectric XP Lite and XP Trike models stop at Class 2, while Ride1Up's Prodigy v2 ECO, TrailRush and CF Racer1 are sold as Class 3 bikes with no throttle. Every bike's settings are in the e-bike comparison.
Which should you buy?
- Class 2 setting if you want to ride without pedaling at times (a throttle), ride paths where Class 3 is restricted, or a younger rider will use the bike.
- Class 3 setting if you commute on roads, pedal anyway, and your state lets you: the assist keeps going to 28 mph. Expect less range at those speeds than the brand's Eco-mode figure: how far an e-bike goes on a charge.
- Both: 37 bikes in our check can be set to Class 3 and to Class 1 or 2. That is the flexible choice if you are unsure.
What either costs you per mile in your state: e-bike cost per mile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Class 2 and a Class 3 e-bike?
In the PeopleForBikes definitions most states use, a Class 2 e-bike has a throttle-actuated motor that stops assisting at 20 mph; a Class 3 e-bike assists only while you pedal and stops at 28 mph. Many state handouts add a minimum age and helmet rule for Class 3 only.
Can a Class 3 e-bike have a throttle?
Not under the definition quoted in the state handouts, which describes Class 3 as a motor that "provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling". Several bikes in our check have a throttle and a Class 3 setting: the brands describe the throttle as limited to 20 mph or available in other modes (Ride1Up's Portola 02: "28mph pedal assist and 20mph throttle").
Is a Class 3 e-bike legal in California?
The California handout (2023) recognizes all three classes, requires a helmet for Class 3 and bars riders under 16 from operating one, with "certain access restrictions" on paths. Velotric notes that its custom mode enabling both throttle and pedal assist to 28 mph is "not supported in California".
Can I switch my e-bike between classes?
On many current bikes, yes, from the display or the app: 40 of the 60 bikes in our check publish a Class 3 setting, most alongside Class 1 or 2. Switching is your responsibility: ride in a class your state and the path allow.