Instead of electric motorcycle news for Episode 189, I wrote this rant about so-called e-bikes being marketed by companies like Sur-Ron. This mini-episode contains some strong language. The opinions expressed in this episode are mine and mine alone. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this podcast’s sponsors, advertisers or any other organization with which I may be affiliated. No sponsor or advertiser should be considered associated with or responsible for this commentary.
High-powered electric “bikes” are creating a problem that goes well beyond annoying behavior. Police are arresting teenagers for reckless riding on machines capable of motorcycle speeds, including a 15-year-old in Virginia Beach on a modified bike capable of nearly 60 mph, while e-bike injuries and hospitalizations have risen sharply nationwide and serious youth crashes and deaths are already driving new enforcement and regulation. My concern is simple: when irresponsible riders on high-powered electric motorcycles create enough public backlash, the resulting laws rarely stop neatly at the people causing the problem—and that risks making life harder for everyone who rides on two wheels.
