HopCycle EB3L

Peak wattage is what a motor pulls for a few seconds on a hill. Rated wattage is its continuous output, and it is the figure US law uses. The federal consumer-product definition of a low-speed electric bicycle (15 U.S.C. §2085) is written around 750 W rated and 20 mph on motor power alone, and most state three-class laws copy that 750 W figure. Oregon is the outlier, allowing 1,000 W.

HopCycle states both numbers you need: 750 W rated and a 20 mph top mode. That makes it a Class 2 e-bike if it has a throttle, and Class 1 if it does not. The listing never actually mentions a throttle, so check the handlebar when it arrives. Either class is legal on roads and bike lanes in all 50 states, including the states where Class 3 is restricted. Local path rules still vary; see our street-legal-by-state guide.

One caution on the rating itself. Holding 750 W from a 36 V pack draws about 750 / 36 = 21 amps continuously, which is a lot to ask of a 10.4 Ah battery. Treat 750 W as the label figure the law cares about, not as a promise of 750 W of sustained climbing. The listing also contradicts itself on peak power: the bullets say 1000 W, the live title says 1500 W. The rated figure is the same in both.

The five bullets describe motor, range, wheels, app and speed modes but say nothing about battery capacity. The product description fills the gap: 36 V 10.4 Ah, which is 374 Wh, with a 3-4 hour charge. The spec table lists "36 watt-hours", which is the voltage typed into the wrong field.

Run the claims against 374 Wh:

• 55 miles with pedal assist (bullet): 374 / 55 = 6.8 Wh per mile
• 80 miles (current title): 374 / 80 = 4.7 Wh per mile

A 50 lb e-bike on 26-inch tires usually uses 15-25 Wh per mile depending on assist level, rider weight and hills. That gives 374 / 25 = 15 to 374 / 15 = 25 miles. Plan on about 20 miles of mixed riding. That covers a 7-8 mile commute each way on one charge, not a 55 mile day.

Neither UL 2849 (the complete e-bike electrical system) nor UL 2271 (the battery) is documented for this listing, and we found no HopCycle brand website to check. The seller of record is a Dongguan trading company. If your building requires UL-certified e-bikes for indoor charging, this one does not have the paperwork.

The five speed modes are capped at 10, 12, 15, 18 and 20 mph, which is more useful than it sounds: the 10 and 12 mph modes suit a nervous first ride or a shared path. The app lets you switch modes and watch battery level. The rest is standard budget hardtail: 7-speed gearing, a front suspension fork (the spec table says "Dual" but the photos and description show no rear shock), dual mechanical disc brakes, 26 x 1.95 inch tires, a headlight, fenders and a bell. HopCycle quotes a 49.6 lb weight and a rider height range of 5 ft 3 in to 6 ft 1 in. Max load is listed as 264 lb in the spec table and 330 lb in the description; use the lower figure. The warranty is also stated two ways, 180 days and 12 months, so get it in writing from the seller if it matters.

The Funhang EB-M1 at $229.99 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) is the mirror image: the same 374 Wh battery size and a 500 W rated motor, with UL 2271 and UL 2849 documented, but no stated top speed. HopCycle states the speed; Funhang documents the safety certs. The Qlife Racer at $234.99 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) pairs a 750 W rated motor with a similar 375 Wh pack and 21 gears. The Jasion EB5 at $199 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) has a 500 W rated motor, a 360 Wh pack and far more owner history on Amazon. If a step-through frame suits you better, the Gotrax Dolphin at $494.98 (as of Sep 16, 12:01 PM EDT, subject to change) is a 20 mph Class 2 bike from an established US brand, with a smaller 281 Wh battery.