Proposed California law seeks to create new Sur Ron style e-bike category for legal status

California is set to shake up how out-of-class electric two-wheelers are regulated, as a newly proposed bill, SB 586, aims to clarify the status of electric bikes without pedals, officially dubbing them “eMotos” and classifying them as off-highway vehicles.

The new bill, introduced by Senator Brian Jones, tackles the confusing gray area surrounding pedal-less electric bicycles, which currently skate between classifications of bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles.

These types of electric two-wheelers are often referred to as Sur Ron-style bikes due to the popularity of Sur Ron motorbikes that launched the infamous format. In addition to Sur Ron, similar models can be found from manufacturers such as Talaria, E Ride Pro, Segway, and others. They are generally smaller than typical motorcycles or dirt bikes, often weighing around 100 to 140 lb (45-65 kg) and usually reaching top speeds of between 40-55 mph (65-80 km/h). Despite looking somewhat similar to conventional electric bicycles due to the use of like-sized frames, they lack pedals and function more like light dirt bikes.

Other than the catch-all term “Sur Ron-style” bikes, there hasn’t been a good name for this rapidly growing unofficial class of two-wheeler, at least not until now. Under SB 586, a new class of “eMotos” is explicitly defined as including electric two-wheeled vehicles built on “bicycle frames” but lacking pedals and traditional engine identification numbers, and not requiring traditional vehicle registration.

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Instead, the new bill would have these “eMotos” regulated like other off-road vehicles, such as dirt bikes and ATVs, requiring them to have an official identification plate issued by California’s DMV.

If the bill passes, riders would need to follow established off-highway vehicle regulations, which include mandatory helmet use and restrictions on where these vehicles can be operated. The legislation also mandates the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and local law enforcement to create educational programs to promote the safe and compliant use of these vehicles in off-road areas.

California’s Division of Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation would collaborate with the CHP to develop comprehensive guidelines for using eMotos in designated state recreation zones, ensuring users understand their responsibilities and legal boundaries.

This would bring these Sur Ron-style e-bikes into the fold with a new legal classification, however they would still not be permitted on public roadways. Instead, their Off-Highway Vehicle classification would allow them to be legally used on public off-road trails, which is one of the main applications they were originally designed for – at least until they fell into favor with you riders who now use them largely for illegal street riding.

This legislative move addresses growing concerns around safety and enforcement difficulties caused by the current ambiguous classification of pedal-less electric two-wheelers like these, which aren’t designed to operate as street-legal electric motorcycles despite exceeding electric bicycle regulatory limits.

By explicitly categorizing eMotos as off-highway vehicles, California aims to eliminate confusion, enhance rider safety, and streamline law enforcement efforts in managing the booming popularity of electric mobility solutions.

Electrek’s Take

I largely agree with this move to create a legal classification for these bikes, even if the term “eMotos” isn’t a great choice. These pedal-less electric motorbikes were never designed with urban streets in mind. Most were built for fire roads, dirt paths, and off-road exploration – places where speed, power, and the lack of pedals make more sense and pose fewer safety concerns. By classifying them as off-highway vehicles, California is making it clear how and where these machines should be ridden, and that clarity is long overdue. This could also help prevent misuse on public streets and sidewalks, which has become a growing concern in many cities.

For folks who really want to ride these types of vehicles on the streets and treat them like mini-motorcycles, there are already street-legal versions like the NIU XQi3 that have jumped through all the regulatory hoops to design them for street-legal riding in North America. But for almost all the other ones out there, they just aren’t designed for road use and so that’s not where they should be.