Funhang EB-C2

Under the US three-class framework, Class 1 is pedal-assist to 20 mph, Class 2 adds a throttle and still caps at 20 mph, and Class 3 allows pedal-assist to 28 mph but no throttle in most states. The federal definition of a low-speed electric bicycle at 15 U.S.C. §2085 is written around 750 W rated. The EB-C2, as the Amazon listing describes it, clears all of that with room to spare: 500 W rated, 20 mph, throttle. Nothing about that needs a caveat, including in the seven states that ban Class 3.

The caveat comes from Funhang itself. Both EB-C2 product pages on funhang-ebike.com describe a top speed of 21.7 mph. That is exactly 35 km/h. A throttle bike that reaches 21.7 mph is not Class 2 and fits no other class. We follow the Amazon listing because it describes what the buy button sells, but the check is quick: on your first ride, hold full throttle on flat ground and read the LCD. If it passes 20 mph, look for a speed-limit setting in the display menu before using bike lanes or paths. Our street-legal-by-state guide covers local rules.

We cover two Funhang step-throughs, and the Funhang City Cruiser 26 (the EB-C1) is the other one. On the sheet they look almost identical: the same 500 W rated motor, the same 374.4 Wh pack, a rear rack, an adjustable stem, 7 speeds, 20 mph and UL documentation. The differences are in the frame and the disclosures.

The EB-C1 carries its battery on the outside, behind the seat tube. The EB-C2 puts it inside the down tube, where it is still removable but out of the weather and out of sight, which gives it a cleaner line and keeps the space behind the seat tube clear. The EB-C2 also states 62 Nm of torque, a 62.83 lb weight and a 300 lb maximum load; our City Cruiser review found no weight or payload on that listing. The City Cruiser costs $319.99 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) against $339.99 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) here. If the integrated battery and a published weight are worth the difference to you, buy the EB-C2. If you only want the cheapest legal Funhang commuter, the City Cruiser does the same job.

For rougher ground, Funhang also makes the Funhang Fat 26 on 4-inch tyres with a 624 Wh battery, and the Funhang EB-M1, a cheaper hardtail with no rack.

Funhang quotes 20-30 miles on throttle and 40-50 miles with pedal-assist from 374.4 Wh. We treat 15-30 Wh per mile as the realistic band for a 63 lb commuter, which gives 374.4 / 30 = 12.5 miles at worst and 374.4 / 15 = 25 miles at best.

The throttle claim needs 374.4 / 20 = 18.7 Wh/mi at 20 miles, which sits comfortably inside that band, and 374.4 / 30 = 12.5 Wh/mi at 30 miles, which is optimistic. The pedal-assist claim needs 374.4 / 50 = 7.5 Wh/mi, and even 40 miles needs 9.4 Wh/mi. That does not survive the arithmetic. Plan on about 20 miles, fewer with hills, cold weather or a heavier load on the rack. A round-trip commute of 10-15 miles fits inside that; a long weekend ride does not.

The Heybike Cityscape 2.0 at $609 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) is the obvious step-through to set against it. It has a 750 W rated motor, a bigger 468 Wh battery and Class 3 pedal-assist to 28 mph, with UL 2849 and UL 2271 documented, and it weighs about the same. It is faster and goes further; the EB-C2 is cheaper and simpler legally, with no class setting to think about.

The Gotrax Dolphin at $494.98 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) is lighter at about 50 lbs but has a 350 W rated motor and a 281 Wh battery. The EB-C2 has more motor and 93 Wh more battery for a heavier frame. If you carry the bike up stairs, the weight gap matters more than the battery gap.

Dual disc brakes, a front suspension fork, full fenders, a solid rear rack, an LCD display, a headlight, an electric horn and reflectors. Five modes (throttle, pedal-assist, normal bike, cruise and a booster/walk mode) with five assist levels. The battery is IPX5 rated and removable. Funhang states a rider height range of 5 ft 3 in to 6 ft 1 in, 85% pre-assembly, and a 1-year warranty with lifetime technical support.