E-bike classes 1, 2 and 3: what the numbers mean

“I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.” Proverbs 4:11 (ESV)

Most US states sort e-bikes into three classes. The class decides where you can ride, who can ride, and sometimes whether you need a helmet. It also shapes how the bike feels: a Class 1 and a Class 3 can look the same in a photo and ride very differently. Here’s what each class means, how the rules differ, and where the bikes I’ve tested fit.

The short version

These definitions are written into state law. Michigan’s version is a clean example: an electric bicycle has a seat, working pedals and a motor of no more than 750 watts, and it falls into one of the three classes by how and when the motor helps (MCL 257.13e). Oklahoma, Idaho, Colorado and Minnesota use nearly the same wording.

The speed number is where the motor stops helping, not a top speed. You can pedal a Class 1 bike to 25 mph down a hill; the motor just adds nothing past 20.

Class 1: pedal assist to 20 mph

A Class 1 bike only helps while the cranks turn, and it cuts out at 20 mph. There’s no throttle. It rides the most like a regular bike, which is why it’s allowed in the most places. Land managers who let e-bikes on paths or trails nearly always start with Class 1.

Two bikes I’ve tested ship as Class 1:

• The Aventon Ramblas, a mid-drive eMTB (its successor, the Ramblas ADV, lists 100 Nm of torque). It climbs very well and you never touch a throttle.
• The Aventon Aventure M, a fat tire bike with the same A100 mid-drive and no throttle out of the box.

The tradeoff is that you always have to pedal. On a heavy bike, starting from a stop on a hill takes some effort. If that’s a deal breaker, look at Class 2.

Class 2: throttle to 20 mph

Class 2 adds a throttle, so the bike moves without pedaling, but the motor still stops at 20 mph. Most states treat Class 2 about the same as Class 1. The main exceptions are some trail systems that only allow pedal-assist bikes.

The throttle helps most in three situations:

1. Starting with weight on the back. Pulling away from a stop sign with a kid on the deck is far easier with a throttle.
2. Riders who can’t pedal hard, because of a knee, a hip or fitness.
3. Short stretches where you want to rest your legs without slowing traffic down.

The Aventon Abound and the RadWagon 4 are both Class 2 cargo bikes, and on both the throttle works from zero.

Class 3: pedal assist to 28 mph

Class 3 assists to 28 mph. On a commute, the extra speed adds up: ten miles at 25 mph instead of 18 saves about 9 minutes each way. It also comes with more rules. Here’s what I found in the state laws I checked:

• Age: Ohio, Colorado, Maryland and Washington bar riders under 16 from operating a Class 3 (Ohio 4511.522, Colorado 42-4-1412, Maryland 21-1205.2, RCW 46.20.500). Texas sets the line at 15 (Transp. Code 551.107).
• Helmets: Ohio and Virginia require a helmet for every Class 3 operator and passenger. Colorado requires one for Class 3 riders under 18.
• Paths: Arizona, Ohio, Colorado and Washington keep Class 3 off bike and multi-use paths unless the path runs along a road or local officials allow it.
• Speedometer: Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada and Minnesota all require Class 3 bikes to have one.

None of the bikes I’ve tested is sold as a Class 3. Aventon lists the Aventure 3 as Class 2 with a top speed of “20MPH (Adjustable to 28)”. Aventon Canada lists the Pace 500.3 as Class 2; the 28 mph figure comes from its page’s top-speed claim, and its FAQ says the throttle maxes out at 20 mph.

About throttles on Class 3: the standard definition says Class 3 assists “only when the rider is pedaling.” Some bikes sold as Class 3 do have a throttle, usually limited to 20 mph. Minnesota’s law handles this with a “multiple mode” category that lets the throttle work only up to 20 mph (169.222). Other states may not have a clear rule, so check yours before you buy.

Bikes that switch classes

A lot of bikes now ship in one class and unlock another in the app or display:

• The MOD Easy SideCar ships at 20 mph and has an off-road mode that goes up to 28.
• The Mokwheel Obsidian shipped capped at 20 mph as a Class 2. Mokwheel lists 28 mph on pedal assist and 20 mph on the throttle, and calls it Class 2/3.

States are starting to deal with this. Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Nevada and Oklahoma make it illegal to change a bike’s speed capability unless the class label is updated to match (Florida 316.20655, Virginia 46.2-904.1). Minnesota goes further: if a modified bike no longer fits any class, the e-bike label has to come off. In practice, if you unlock a higher speed, you’re riding under the rules for that higher class.

The class label

Several states require a permanent label from the manufacturer showing the class, top assisted speed and motor wattage. Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada, Minnesota and Oklahoma all do. Look for that sticker on the frame when you shop. If there’s none and the seller can’t tell you which class it is, the bike may not count as an e-bike under state law at all. Bikes with high power and no pedaling requirement can end up classed as mopeds or motorcycles.

Is a higher class always better?

No. More speed means more weight and harder braking, and you get access to fewer places. On a 3-mile run to the store with a stop sign every block, a Class 3 saves you almost nothing. A Class 2 throttle helps more there.

Which class should you buy?

If you’re buying for a teen, read the parents’ guide. Before you change a bike’s settings or ride a new path, check your state’s e-bike statute, which the parents’ guide links for several states.