Which class is my e-bike?
Answer two questions to get your class. Class determines where you can legally ride.
Result
How the classes work
The three-class system most states use sorts e-bikes by two things: whether the motor can move the bike without pedaling (a throttle), and the speed where assistance cuts off. Class 1 is pedal-assist to 20 mph. Class 2 adds a throttle, still capped at 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal-assist to 28 mph, usually with a speedometer requirement and an age minimum.
The sticker on the frame is the legal answer: most state laws require manufacturers to label class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. If the label is missing or the bike has been modified, the quiz above gives the class its specs imply, and anything assisting past 28 mph falls outside the bicycle definition entirely in most states. Once you know your class, check your state's rules and trail access for where it can go.
Common questions
What class is an e-bike with a throttle?
A throttle that moves the bike without pedaling makes it at least Class 2, capped at 20 mph. A throttle bike that assists past 20 mph does not fit Class 3, which is pedal-assist only; most states treat it as a moped or motor-driven cycle.
Is a 28 mph e-bike legal?
In most states yes, as Class 3: pedal-assist only, often with helmet and minimum-age rules, and commonly excluded from multi-use paths and natural-surface trails.
What if my e-bike has no class sticker?
Most state laws require manufacturers to label class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Without a label, land managers and police judge by specs: throttle presence and where assistance cuts off. Modified bikes are commonly treated as motor vehicles.
Does the class matter on trails?
Usually it is the whole question. Class 1 is the most widely allowed, Class 2 throttles are excluded on many natural-surface trails, and Class 3 is often limited to roads and bike lanes. Check the land manager rule before you ride.