Originally Posted by
Robert C
To me it looks like an electric motorcycle (nothing wrong with that) that is trying to squeak past the registration and licensing laws by meeting a local definition of a bicycle.
It would not meet the requirements of an e-bike in the states. Further, at those speeds Motorcycle training and safety equipment should be worn.
Apparently there's no throttle on this thing. To make it move, you have to pedal. The German factory only builds a few each year (they're making 10 this year). There are press articles that came out last month that state the price has been decreased to a little over $18,000 USD. Still too high for a hybrid vehicle that has to be pedaled. (I like the fact that you have to pedal to make the vehicle move, but I suspect many potential buyers who want to go that speed want a throttle on the handlebars.) The bike is also beefed up to meet moped/motorcycle safety standards in Europe so you might be able to license them in the US since I suspect the safety features meet the US NHTSA's safety standards for mopeds and motorcycles too, if you can get your local DMV (and your insurance company) to wrap their heads around the fact that it has to be pedaled to make it move.