De-restricted Vs Restricted E Bike Comparison | Road, Downhill Run & Trail Loop

Derestricting your E-Bike by removing the speed limiter is a hot topic that's for sure! Some people love de-restricted e-bikes, some people hate them! (including the law 🚔 ). But how much difference does it actually make to the average e mountain bike ride? Chris takes on the trails to see if its really worth it…

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[JadenRoseGuitars]

stop boiling everything down to time, its not how we measure fun. I've ridden both restricted and unrestricted bikes and the restricted bike was horrible to ride when the limiter cut in, it was like hitting a wall. derestricting smoothes out the ride and no horrible surprises. bring the limit up to 20mph and I think there will be far less people derestricting.

[jrsuk]

C'mon de restriction isn't about riding a trail park. Ride 10 miles there and 10 miles back and then tell me it doesn't make much difference.
The speed limit really should be a bit higher, maybe 20mph and then it would probably stop most people de restricting their bikes.

[link]

Not a great video at all, a 100m sprint and riding downhill would clearly show minimum gains from the increased limit !. Ride up a fire road for 20mins connecting trails or ride on the roads you use getting to off-road sections and them say the higher speed limit makes no difference. 15mph on the road is not safe with cars doing at least 30. Also to say the bikes are not designed to have a higher top speed is not true. The same bikes are sold in the USA just with different software and a 20mph limit. Not your usual standard of informative video. Clearly a video made to put people off derestricting without sound reasoning. 😣

[markcosens]

EU/UK limit is too slow. The US one is perfect.

[bucharestbiketraffic]

At 1:14 I was like, boy, here we go again.

1. Voiding the warranty: The motor manufacturers that limit their motors here in Europe have the same motors with 32 and 45km/h top speed in the US with the same warranty. The safety non sense that they speak about is jibberish. The same components are present on the same model in US or EU. Even though most of the EU countries have legislated bicycles that go above 25km/h as speed pedelecs and we had at some point the Bosch Performance Line Speed in 2018 up to late 2019. Also, in most of the countries in Europe, riding off road means that there are no regulations for the speed you travel with your bike. And I don't mean trails, I mean any type of off road cycling. Maybe, one solution is doing it like japanese cars, limited on the roads but when on a racetrack, you have the full speed available. It seems to me that things are just plain stupid in this regard.

2. Wearing on the components: Ohhh pppllleaseeee. Give me a break. So you are telling me that all the "e-bike" specific components are just plain marketing? We have e-bike designated transmisions from SRAM, e-bike specific shocks and forks from FOX and Rockshox and even bloody e-bike specific oil for chains from MUC-OFF. Am I missing something here?

3. Accidents: Well, this is again, non sense. I can very well buy a (cheaper) petrol or electric moped, registrate it for next to nothing and ride it and even go faster than an e-bike on and off road. I find it idiotic that even if I have a car/motorcycle licence and welcome the possiblity of registering my e-bike or ensuring it (by having a hologram sticker visible at all times on the frame) the EU legislators still think that I should be a baby and ride with speeds well below a well tuned non e-bike.

4. Is it worth the hassle? : A milion times yes. I derestricted all my bikes and it makes a huge difference. On and off the trail.

[petersterkenburg]

I live in the Netherlands and redistricted my bike because 25km an hour is to slow when you are riding with friends on a normal bike. When the max speed was around 30km/h for a standard ebike I believe most people would accept that without the need to tune your bike.

[PaulGPixelBike]

Changed region on my Shimano E8000 to USA - 32 km/h. It's closer to 30 km/h actually and is really comfortable and more fun. Motor doesn't cut out that often, because it takes an effort to pedal at 30 km/h unlike at 25 km/h.

[garth]

Chris - judging from the comments on this video, and though I admire your attempts to justify the current limit and demonise de-restricting, It's plain to see that the vast majority of the sensible e-biking fraternity have the same argument. It's not about being able to go 40mph on the open road. The current imposed 15mph speed limit is too slow and can compromise safety in many situations. As you pointed out the de-restricted bike allowed the extra inertia to safely double jump. As many have also pointed out - road work needs to be faster to be safer, many do not just used their emtb in bike parks. I have no doubt that the legislation was brought in to protect members of the public in urban areas. However maybe it's time for you and your team to help us lobby our law makers to see if this restriction can be changed to reflect real world conditions and requirements.

[stevejames]

How can the restricted bike be quicker at anything (unless the rider tries harder?)
This video has really tarnished your reputation! (And that’s not including all the errors!) Utter tosh!

[paulsutcliffe]

Derestriction smooths the ride. It doesn’t suddenly feel like riding thru treacle when you hit 25kph

[daverobinson]

I ride a derestricted hard tail on the road. So much better . Generally end up riding between 17 and 20 mph, so it’s not fast, just a normal, comfortable speed (road bikes go wissing past). Restriction at 15 mph is ridiculous. Would be perfectly happy the American model though.

[racetrack]

Would be just great if here in Europe we could go to the 32km/h restriction of the USA which obviously would have no impact on the guarantee !

[taffdavies]

why don't you just get off the fence and just say you don't like derestricted bikes, why would you want to drop down a power level so you dont reach the cutoff ??? thats just a pointless exercise. I derestricted mine at the weekend and had my first ride on it today and it totally makes sense, I went over the limit 4 times on flat fire tracks, it makes sense to ride along comfortable at 20mph, you get to the better stuff quicker 👍

[TCK]

This video was never going to reach the conclusion that "it's a great do it!"

[Paul_VanGo]

Ok, since you asked for our comments:
That was pointless.
1 hundred meter sprint, and the rest below restriction speed.
But you made your sponsors (and the government) happy.
Looking forward to next year's same test, like you do every year.

[likeher]

You've majorly disappointed Me Chris, 32kph/20mph would end this discussion for good. You know it, I know it.... even next doors cat knows it!

[rouxenophobe]

Here in Machester, UK the Deliveroo guys are wizzing up and down Oxford road at about 30+mph, without even pedalling!

[plaxtonexcalibur]

your on screen data is all wrong!! how can 26.38mph and 28.07mph both be 42.45kph and the same issue with average speed figures you have put on screen in downhill section... come on lads, no point doing it if all your figures are wrong

[matthewalexander]

Having a deristricted turbo levo myself I call bullshit on your figures. I know you gotta play the safety card but that's rubbish.

[alainbond]

I live in france and derestricted my bike because 25km/h is to slow when you are riding with friends on a normal bike. When the max speed was around 30km/h for a standard ebike I believe most people would accept that without the need to tune your bike.