Enginecycles? If you specifically refer to internal combustion engine (ICE) then it'd make sense to call them icecycles. It sounds weird, maybe icicles?
But seriously EU has a definition of what an ebike is, it's not just a bicycle with motor, there's max allowed power, max assistance level, and importantly it should only assist when pedalling. Anything beyond that, yes, is classified as a motorbike.
I'm a bit triggered by this, so let me apologize in advance for the incoming rant.
You might be kind of right etymologically, but bikes, e-bikes, motorcycles, and likely in the near future e-motos, are specific things defined by law. The confusion between these vehicle classes is causing harm.
An e-bike is a pedal powered bicycle with an electric motor that assists the rider while pedalling up to 25km/h. You might be able to switch modes between more assistance and less assistance but there is no throttle.
If you purchase a cheap walmart / k-mart bike, swap the rear wheel with a powered hub from alibaba and strap on a battery from temu, that's not an e-bike. They have a throttle and no limiter and in most cases can propel a 12 year old idiot at 50km/h but some times more than 70km/h. This is not an e-bike and more accurately described as an unregulated electric motorbike.
The frame isn't built for this kind of stress, and the riders often have no capacity to understand the danger they're imposing on themselves and others - zipping past kids playing and so on.
It's an emerging disaster in Australia and I imagine other places as well. It's turning the population against e-bikes when they're not the problem.
We urgently need more appropriate legislation drafted to clearly define the classes of vehicle, and we need police with the right skills and equipment to enforce those laws.
Upvote for the main thought, but
Really? Because I don't remember pedaling my Honda 750.
The Honda Goldwing is a six cylinder outdoor Campervan Winnebago.
Don’t tell that to e-bike fans. They’re very vocal and easily triggered.
And don’t dare suggesting helmets or licenses. They will crucify you.
Really unfortunate this classification system has happened. What you're thinking of is an electric moped, but it's all getting lumped together. Check this out.
Upvote for the thought.
This is actually a really good one.
Not all motos are 4 stroke. My buddy rides a two stroke KTM and that thing cooks.
Is an e-scooter a motorcycle?
Isn't it the electric equivalent of a moped?
Not actually sure on this one, because the terminology for motorcycles is... Weird.
Motorcycles are what we're all thinking of, Harleys, Kawasaki's, Yamaha's, etc. Mopeds and scooters look the same, and both usually have manual transmissions, but have a floor in them. I don't know that there's a word that encompasses both, much less including ebikes? Maybe motorbike
My friend said something similar to me a long time ago. I said, General Motors.....?
Some motorcycles have starter motors, these are hybrids now.
Not all the time. My engine cycle has a three cylinder 2 stroke. It's scary fast.
ITT: y’all be taking my random before-bed shit thought way too seriously.
Well first off, whether or not an internal combustion engine is called a motor or an engine differs by region for English-speakers and in fact in my language there's only "mootor", for both electric and combustion engines.
Secondly, the engine on an enginecycle could also be a two-cycle engine, that's common in small engined dirtbikes and moped particularly.
Thirdly, this may depend on your local legislation, but where I live, a low-power e-bike would be a moped and a high-power e-bike would be a motorcycle. In terms of the license requirements anyway. If it's limited to 25 km/h and requires pedaling, then it's an assisted bicycle and requires no license and no helmet (provided you're over 16).
Etymologically speaking, "engine" means any invention, whereas "motor" means specifically something that makes things move. A gasoline engine is a motor; an electric motor is an engine.
The difference is in power and control. Ebikes are speed capped. There are two types, pedal assist and throttle control. Pedel assist are ones that only turn on the motor when you are pedaling. Throttle control ebikes are speed capped even more than pedal assist. I think they should be banned because of jailbreaking and it puts you in the mental state of operating a machine rather than pedaling a bike.
Also, the engine on enginecycles is a four-cycle engine.
Electric motorbikes are a thing too.
Depending on State, a small enough engine on a bicycle doesn't count as a motor vehicle.
Anything is everything if you blur the lines enough.
I live in south east asia and motorbikes are the dominant transporation tool here and yes fast e-bikes are absolutely motorbikes. They would be treated here the same way and law wise but the adoption is very low because compared to a motorbike it's mostly a meme/entertainment vehicle as good ol motorbike is far superior and actually cheaper vehicle.
If it can go on the highway it is a motorcycle if not it is a moped.
ice cycles. I really am not fond of ice on so many levels.
Uh, no. Maybe check the definition of a word before you accuse people of using it wrong?
Besides, there is literally no benefit to this kind of approach. The most popular use of a word is the definition of the word, not the other way around. And yes, this means it will change over time. So even if motor didn't literally refer to a certain type of engine, the definition of the word motorcycle is not dependent on the definition of the word motor. Even if there was a contradiction between the definition of the two words that's literally irrelevant. There's no point getting all annoyed about it, that's just how language works. But you will not help anything by trying to force people to change how they're using a word. It'll just cause confusion and make communication even less clear.
top 96 comments