At the risk of stirring up another debate over Ebikes on the woods, I saw an ad for this Ubco 2×2 Electric Bike. AWD, 30 mph top speed, 75-mille range, no pedals. This is more of a motorcycle than a bike — the company calls it both an Ebike and a motorbike, which it is. “Whether you’re cruising up the Rocky Mountains or down into red rock canyons, you’ll never forget what you see from the seat of your electric motorbike.”
I have NO problem with such bikes on roads and trails where motorized vehicles are allowed. But they do not belong on other trails. Conflicts ahead as such Ebikes become faster and more powerful?
I agree; it is absurd to put these machines in the same category as “bicycles”. They are “MOTORcycles.”
Conflicts? Definitely!
Makes me happy my national forest recreation trails–and, especially, wilderness management–days are well behind me. I will not be surprised at trail use–even incursions within designated National Wilderness Protection System lands where mechanized and motorized devices are prohibited–as use of these things increases while effective trail patrol/maintenance and wilderness management resources decrease.
Interesting. That is definitely more in motorcycle territory, but it is interesting how much eBikes blur the line between bicycles and motorbikes.
One thing I know, as these things get more popular they are going to radically increase demand for motorized single track. I’ve always felt bad for dirt bikers because there is barely any motorized single track in Colorado. Rampart Range, Texas Creek, Taylor Park, the Rainbow Trail, and some trails near Dillon are pretty much it, besides a few short isolated trails here and there. Theres’s a bit more for them if you count 50″ trails, but there aren’t a whole lot of those either. Everything else has long since been converted to hiking or mountain bike trails.
The rising popularity of eBikes plus an aging population that will need motorized assistance to access the outdoors should eventually force the Forest Service and BLM to address their complete failure to provide an equitable amount of motorized single track opportunities in Colorado.
Am I missing it? Because I don’t see them labeling it an e-bike anywhere on the page you linked. They refer to it as an “electric motorbike” or “motorbike”. It’s neither an e-bike nor advertised as one. It’s not at all where e-mtbs are headed, either, as they are trending towards lighter and less powerful rather than heavier and more powerful as the 60Nm “mid-power” bikes are surging in the market.
It says “2×2 Electric Bike” at the top of the page, but you’re right — they do refer to it as an “electric motorbike” or “motorbike.” And that’s what it is. But some folks will think of them as E-bikes suitable for mountain bike trails.
Like you Steve I have nothing against e-bikes and have been happy to see them coax many of my friends into cycling. The more gung-ho only use the engines for steep hills. That said, definitely NOT on backcountry trails. E-bikes are legal on many bike paths I ride including the 20-mile Wood River Valley bike path between Bellevue and Ketchum near SV. But local municipalities are already having complaints and problems with safety as many e-bike riders (especially tourist renters) do not know bike trail etiquette and will often rush up from behind suddenly passing regular road bikes without notification. Their excessive speed would really make them a hazard on trails. On national forest, public lands, state parks etc they should be able to get ample challenge from jeep routes & trails open to OHVs and motorcycles. We have lots of those in Idaho.
Yes, but as Patrick would point out, many travel management decisions are closing jeep and OHV trails. So… how will that play out in the long run?
I have had regular mountain bikes rush up from behind without notification also. I just think they’re badly behaved. But I’m sure there’s an educational component as well.
I’ve been startled by mountain bikes and Ebikes that come up from behind with no warning. The Ebikes are quiet and FAST.
No pedals? Not a bicycle, therefore, should not be allowed on non-motorized trails (because it is powered by a motor!).
Yes, it seems like the simple answer is motor=”motorized.” Motor+pedals? Let’s keep it simple.
On the 2022 Special Edition page, Ubco says, “Ride on or off road. Feel like going off the beaten track? The special edition has an electric motor in each wheel giving you optimal control no matter the terrain. Stay confident whether you’re on wet roads, dirt roads, or a sand coast.”
Between five and seven thousand dollars. Battery weighs 70 kilos. The ranges is pretty short at “max 75 miles”. I’d think as battery technology improves weight and range will increase. For now more of a city thing.
Funny the comments complaining about the exact same issues as with mountain bikes. Music to my ears.
Managing e-bikes on public lands is going to challenge land managers. Thankfully they do have rules to guide enforcement. I truly wish these non compliant products wouldn’t keep showing up, or the marketers of them would cease calling them bikes. This one clearly falls outside the Federal classifications, calling it a bike only serves to obfuscate the topic.
Enabling / Allowing people to go places that they will be unable to get out of when something breaks (person or machine) is a recipe for disaster. It’s all giggles and grins until it isn’t. A person fit enough to ride a bike into the backcountry is likely fit enough to walk back out if it breaks.
Note: I am not a fan of electric bikes and I kind of like regulating somewhere between class 1 and 2 versus 3 (although how effective this would be in practice is not clear).
Nevertheless, the argument that people don’t belong in the backcountry unless they’re fit enough to walk out would call into question horseback riding..
and possibly any mechanized travel where it is currently allowed. And snowmobiles.. It seems like those folks have figured out the safety angle.