How to Legally Ride a Burchda E-Bike on European Public Roads

To ride an electric bicycle on public roads in Europe, you must comply with local laws and regulations. While the EU has unified standards, individual countries may have different enforcement rules.

Classification of E-Bikes in the EU & Requirements

(1) Standard Electric Bike (Pedelec)

Motor power ≤250W
Maximum assisted speed 25 km/h
No registration, license, or insurance required
Classified as a non-motorized vehicle
Exceeding these limits subjects the bike to motor vehicle regulations.

(2) Speed Pedelec (S-Pedelec)

Motor power ≤4000W
Maximum speed 45 km/h
Must comply with L1e-B category certification (EU Regulation 168/2013)
Requires registration, insurance, and helmet use
Rider must be at least 16 years old and hold an AM-class license (basic motorcycle license)

(3) Electric Motorcycle

Higher power or speed
Subject to motorcycle regulations (A1/A2/A-class license required)

As you can see, riding above 25 km/h on public roads imposes additional legal requirements on the rider.

Making Burchda E-Bikes Road Legal

Burchda E-Bikes feature powerful motors suitable for all-terrain riding. However, to comply with road safety laws, you can take the following steps to ensure your bike qualifies as a Pedelec (≤250W, 25 km/h):

Limit the maximum speed to 25 km/h (Burchda e-bikes are factory-set to this speed).
Remove the throttle (Burchda e-bikes use a trigger throttle, making it easy to detach).
- This ensures the bike operates only in pedal-assist mode.
Avoid displaying the motor’s actual max power (label it as ≤250W if necessary).
By applying these restrictions, your e-bike can be classified as a Pedelec, exempting it from registration and licensing.