E-Bike Gravel Road Climbing Comparison | Is A 25Kph Limit Too Slow?

Steve investigates whether the 25Kph speed limit on an E-Bike is appropriate. Using a gravel bike, a normal mountain bike and an E-Mountain Bike as a comparison, Steve sets some times on both a climb and a flat trail to investigate.
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For an uphill climb the E-Bike isn't restricted by the 25kph limit, and even manages to surpass the super light gravel bike. However where it can feel frustrating and restricting is on the flat, but let's be honest, they were designed to help you climb!
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[@embn]

What do you think? Is 25kph just too slow?

[@johnmfjw]

You should carry out the same test with a De-restricted ebike.

[@GadgetAddict]

I recently got an ebike, the qicycle. On flat roads, a cyclist who's been riding to the office for years will be able to match my speed or even outpace me by a small amount. But as soon as we hit even a slight incline, I'm passing them with very little effort.

[@ruthmoreton6975]

I ride a Carrera Crosfuse for a living (Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo Modes). I'm a cycle courier and I regularly ride at 20 mph under my own power, above the 15.5 mph speed restriction but that takes quite an effort to keep up over 4 to 8 hours. So I do find the restriction too slow. I ride on the roads where the speed limit is 30mph. I constantly have impatient cars beeping at me and pushing past unsafely. I am very much seen as a second class road user and I get cursed at every single shift. I use lights, I wear reflectives, I wear a helmet I wait at traffic lights and I take command of my lane where appropriate for my own safety.

[@paullavelle5963]

Thank you for a very interesting test. The bigger issue with the 25km limit is for city riding and its just short of what feels comfortable and slower that a reasonable rider on a race bike can achieve. The American limit of 20mph(32km) is far more enjoyable and does not equip you to ride any faster that a normal bike. Of course 25km limit is only part of the story and the other being the motor restriction of 250w and this is quite bonkers. Firstly every major manufacturer cheats and really the motors are more like 500w but if you want to help for example and older, overweight person to get out and exercise 250w will not get you up a hill. In fact for a 100kg person on a 10% hill at 25km would require 1000w (1kw). I love your channel - thank you for your work.

[@davidwalker2194]

I'd start by saying that I am a disbled rider of a Cube EMTB which I bought last August 2017. Since then I have covered about 1600 miles and inspite of increadably weak legs caused by muscular wasting (CMT) I have ridden every one of those miles with relative ease, and when I say weak legs, I would not be exagerating to say I don't have the strength to step up a regular curb these days!

[@Ballynoes]

Like the channel guys, keep them coming. However when you do these videos you always concentrate on rider weight and tyre choice, time and time again. You fail to mention rider ability and fitness. I am late 50's and not as fit as the young guys, and THAT is the main reason I own an eBike. If it wasn't for the motor, I would be left behind and unable to go places I can now get to. To me that is the main reason for owning an eBike, it gives me back my younger legs and allows me to go place I would otherwise not get to. As for 25Kph limit, I just pedal through it on the flatter sections, it's the climbing I need the eBike for. Cheers.

[@billyrock8305]

32 km/hr here in Canada 🇨🇦

[@desgamble9220]

Excellent comparison between bikes in different situations. 25kph is too slow for public roads as regular light weight bikes can travel at 30-40kph. Also there is a well founded argument that indicates that if you are closer to the speed of vehicular traffic, the less likely you are to be be involved in a collision. A mtb ebike comes into it’s own off road in hilly terrain where technical riding necessitates slower speeds. Some ebikes are much harder to pedal above 25kph because of the drag of the motor on the crank. Riding in the higher modes drains the battery quickly so unless you’re riding short distances, the lower levels of assistance are preferred. Ebikes get more cars off the road and unfit/ageing people into healthy lifestyles. This can only be a positive thing.

[@OtterFlash]

First off I'm in the U.S. so my bike is restricted at 20 mph and my go to ride is to ride 11 miles of road to the trails, get in 8-10 miles of off road riding and then ride the 11 miles back home. What I find is that I actually use trail mode (Shimano E-8000) on the road to ensure my legs are good for the trails, go into eco mode for the off road as I like the feeling better than the higher boost levels when riding rocky terrain and then on the way home I'll toggle between eco and trail depending of how I feel and how much battery I have left. The only time I use boost mode is up a very steep street near my house and even at max effort and a low gear I'm moving at less than 10 mph up that.

[@pineman10]

With the Bosch active motor, the feeling of the motor cutting out at 15mph felt like id hit a brick wall, far too much resistance, its what made me derestrict my bike, now i cruise around at 18-20mph which doesn’t sound a lot but the feeling of the constant on/off of the motor is gone which makes me happy...

[@Corey_G]

Cheers!!!

[@billnewell4516]

Just waiting for my new cube 400 to be delivered. Thanks for the very informative information, can’t wait to get out and about in the fresh air after no bike riding for the last 25 years👍

[@baldieman64]

To be honest, the 25kph limit is what's stopping me from buying an e-bike.

[@claytonprice7833]

I think you have done a great job explaining the 25km restriction on an emtb and for 80% of people I would agree with you. If they had a Road Mode setting, that would be awesome. I have come from Road Riding and I bike my emtb to the tracks.. My average speed on the Trails is 20km which shows me that this video makes a whole lot of sense. New Zealand has a 32km/h restriction and that works perfect on the trails. It's the longer, flatter trails rides that bother me.. In Eco Mode I ride unrestricted at 36km/h at 85 cadence, well beyond the restriction limit and for most fit mtb and Road riders would agree that the 25km.h limit is too slow for us. If I can go flat out on a standard mtb down a hill at 40+km/h why restrict the emtb so they can't?

[@mikepacey1469]

Well done on the video keep them coming I am a older rider with a torn meniscus in my knee and have to what till April 2019 for surgery

[@Marmattron]

I'm thinking of upgrading my Trek mountain bike to a Bergamont e bike and that video was the most informative yet. Thanks mate.

[@cmuralhas]

For commuting I agree with Anthony that it would be safer for the limit being 20mph(32Km/h). I do a lot of commuting and used a Bionx motor with US firmware (cuts off at 20mph) and it felt much safer among the traffic than when it was cutting at 15mph (25Km/h). For the trails I used an eMTB on lent from a store for 3 trail days and never felt the need for assistance above the 25K.

[@Deuteross]

This channel is getting better and better. Great work Steve, your videos are very insightful.

[@clebertonus]

Excelent !!!