A traffic stop of an 8-year-old on an electric dirt bike in Salida highlights confusion over Colorado’s laws distinguishing electric bicycles from motorcycles.
DENVER — A recent traffic stop involving an 8-year-old riding an electric dirt bike on a sidewalk in Salida is highlighting growing confusion over what qualifies as an electric bicycle in Colorado, and when an electric ride is legally considered a motorcycle.
Colorado State Patrol released body camera video from July 2 showing a trooper stopping the child after spotting the electric dirt bike being ridden on a sidewalk.
This story continues below.
Retailers who sell both electric bicycles and electric motorcycles say many parents don’t realize there’s a legal difference between the two.
“There’s so much confusion,” said Austin Chipman, owner of Dynamic Pro Scooters and Bikes in Denver.
What makes an e-bike different from an e-moto?
Under Colorado law, an electric bicycle can have a motor of no more than 750 watts and can assist riders up to 28 mph, depending on the class of bike.
Jared Berger, general manager of Sportique Scooters in Denver, said a legal e-bike is designed as a bicycle first.
“This right here is an e-bike,” Berger said. “This is a 750-watt pedal assist. It also has a throttle, but it’s a 7-speed bike first.”
He said bikes that exceed Colorado’s e-bike limits are no longer considered electric bicycles under state law.
“When you get above 750 watts, those are kind of e-bikes that can go sometimes 30, 40 miles an hour, and no 10-year-old kid should be doing that unless they’re on a dirt bike or [under] supervision and things like that,” Berger said.
E-motos are meant for off-road use
Chipman said many of the electric dirt bikes he sells are intended to be ridden on private property or at off-road riding areas.
“Before it leaves the store, our idea of the customer’s use is to be riding on private property,” Chipman said. “There’s dirt bike tracks all over the Front Range.”
Some models can travel much faster than a typical electric bicycle.
He said parents are often surprised to learn those bikes aren’t street legal as they’re sold.
“The kids will bring parents in because they want one and, little do the parents know that, yeah, they are technically all being ridden illegally,” Chipman said.
What are the rules?
To legally operate an e-moto on public roads, riders generally need equipment such as headlights, brake lights and turn signals. The vehicle must also meet registration requirements, and the rider needs the appropriate driver’s license and motorcycle endorsement.
Without those modifications and credentials, Chipman said riding an off-road electric dirt bike on public streets or sidewalks is illegal.
Berger encourages parents to verify Colorado’s rules before making a purchase.
“The thing is, when you do your research, stop asking friends on Facebook,” Berger said. “Just go look up what are the rules in Colorado for these kind of e-motos and for these e-bikes. There’s a lot of good information that you can just find.”