We get this question a lot. Someone walks in, eyes the electric bikes along the wall, and says something like “I’ve been curious about these, but I honestly have no idea how they work.” Sometimes they’ve been curious for months and just never asked. Sometimes they’ve been Googling eBike classes for half an hour and still feel confused.
That is completely understandable. The eBike world has a way of making something simple sound complicated. So let’s just talk through it like you’re standing at the counter.
First Things First: It’s Still a Bike
An eBike is a regular bicycle with a small electric motor built in. The motor kicks in while you pedal and gives you a boost. That’s really it. You still have to pedal. It is not a scooter. It is not a motorcycle. It is a bike that makes the hard parts a little easier.
Think about that big hill on Old 92 just outside of town. On a regular bike, you might dread it on your way home. On an eBike, you just… go. The motor is reading your pedal effort and adding to it, so the hill still feels like a hill, just not a wall.
The battery is tucked into the frame or mounted on the downtube, and a small display on the handlebars lets you dial up or down how much help you want. Want a workout? Turn the assist down. Want to just enjoy the ride? Turn it up. You get to decide.
The Three Classes, Explained Simply
Here is where people usually get tripped up. In the US, eBikes are sorted into three classes, and the class determines where you can ride and how fast the motor will help you go. It sounds more complicated than it is.
Class 1: The Trail-Friendly One
Class 1 is pedal assist only, and the motor cuts off at 20 mph. No throttle, meaning the motor only helps when you’re actively pedaling. These are the most widely accepted eBikes you’ll find, and they’re welcome on most multi-use trails where regular bikes are allowed, including the Sugar River Trail.
If you’re not sure where to start, Class 1 is usually the answer. It opens the most doors and feels the most like traditional cycling.
Class 2: Same Speed, but With a Throttle
Class 2 also tops out at 20 mph, but it adds a throttle, which means you can get a little push without pedaling at all. A lot of riders love this for starting from a dead stop at intersections or cruising a flat stretch when their legs need a break.
The tradeoff is trail access. Some trails that welcome Class 1 do not allow Class 2. Worth checking the rules for wherever you plan to ride most.
Class 3: The Fast One
Class 3 is pedal assist like Class 1, but the motor keeps helping you all the way up to 28 mph. That is noticeably faster, and it makes a real difference if you are commuting or covering longer distances on roads.
The catch: Class 3 is generally limited to roads and paved paths. Most unpaved trails and shared paths with lower speed limits are off the table. But if your riding is mostly on pavement, it’s a serious upgrade.
Quick cheat sheet: Class 1 = most trail access. Class 2 = throttle plus same 20 mph cap. Class 3 = faster, pavement focused.
Wait, What About Those Electric Dirt Bike Things?
Good question, and an important one. If you have seen something that looks like a motocross bike but electric, that is an eMoto, and it is genuinely a different category. No pedaling required, much heavier, much faster, and it falls under different legal rules depending on your state and municipality.
eMoto bikes are not trail-legal in most places and are not street-legal in the same straightforward way that a Class 1, 2, or 3 eBike is. If you have seen one blazing down a shared path and thought it felt wrong, your instincts were correct.
We do not carry eMoto at Shifting Gears. We carry eBikes, and you can browse what we have in stock right here. We think the distinction matters, and we will always be straight with you about it.
So Who Are These Actually For?
More people than you’d think.
We sell eBikes to people who want to commute to work without arriving soaked in sweat. To folks in their 60s and 70s who want to keep riding but need a little help on hills and do not want to admit it (we respect that). To parents who want to actually keep up with their kids on the trail. To people who used to ride years ago and want back in without it feeling brutal.
We also sell them to experienced cyclists who just want to go farther, ride more often, and stop dreading the last five miles home.
Almost everyone says the same thing after their first test ride: “I didn’t expect to like it this much.” It does not feel like cheating. It feels like riding a really good bike that happens to meet you where you are that day. Some days that means crushing 25 miles. Some days that means an easy loop around town with the kids.
The Best Way to Understand One Is to Ride It
We have eBikes on the floor and we are genuinely happy to talk through the options with you. No jargon, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about what you actually want to do on a bike and which one makes sense for that.
If you want to test ride before you buy anything, put May 16 on your calendar. That’s our eBike Demo Day. Come to the park, take one out, and see what all the fuss is about. It’s exactly as low-key as it sounds.
Stop in any time we’re open and we’ll show you around. Everyone deserves a great bike, and for a lot of people, that bike turns out to have a motor.
Shifting Gears Bike Shop | Evansville, WI | 608-736-8687 | Tue/Thu 12–6, Wed 12–7, Fri 12–5, Sat 8am–12pm