The quest for a 70 mph electric bike for sale is an exciting one. It hints at a no-compromise take on race-inspired performance: a machine that knows neither family nor style, only the swift lap time and the unforgiving wind, warm and cold. I have made the mistake myself, mesmerized by the large numbers and what appeared to be a genuinely exhilarating ride. But it's a journey that's more complicated than just locating a product listing. It’s a legal, engineering and personal safety minefield to navigate. Before you decide, you should think carefully about what you actually need and what delivering such performance in situations where it is really needed actually involves. This isn't about talking you off the dream, merely about giving you the information to go after it intelligently and safely.
The Legal Reality in the UK
The first – and most important – barrier is of course the law, here in the UK. You probably have in mind the kind of machine you can ride in cycle lanes and on the street without the need for a license or insurance, when you search for an “electric bike.” This category is officially known as an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) in the UK. The laws for an EAPC are strict and simple: It cannot provide more than 250 watts of continuous power, and the electrical assistance must gradually dim above 15.5 mph (25 kilometers per hour). You also need to be pedalling for the motor to kick in. A 70 mph machine is so far outside of these parameters that it isn’t, legally speaking, an electric bike at all. It would come under the category of an electric motorcycle and would need to be registered with the DVLA, road tax, MOT, a car driving license or bike license with category entitlement and full motorcycle insurance. It is ILLEGAL to drive such a vehicle on public roads if it doesn't meet all these criteria and there are very harsh penalties including fines, points on your license and the potential for your vehicle to be impounded. Here is the plain fact that anyone in the market for one of these rustling 70 mph “e-bikes” must grapple with: In legal terms, the thing you are seeking to purchase is a motorcycle.
The Machine Itself: Engineering a 70 mph E-Bike
Now let’s get to the machine itself. Reaching 70 mph on two wheels is serious engineering — a far cry from what a typical bicycle frame can take. I’ve had the opportunity to get up close to a few of these hand-built, high-power machines, and while they’re wonders of engineering, they have almost nothing in common with an ordinary electric bike. The thing isn’t a 250W hub unit, and a heavy, powerful unit is commonly in the KWs (5000W, 8000W, etc). To drive that, you’re not talking about a tiny tube full of cells being hidden inside the frame; you’re talking about a huge, heavy battery pack with a high voltage and amp-hour rating, often bigger and heavier than an automotive battery. In particular, the frame itself cannot possibly be a standard aluminium (nor indeed post the year 2000, carbon) composite bicycle frame as the forces at those speeds would rip it into a small number of large pieces. These bikes feature modified, reinforced steel or motorcycle-grade frames. But the brakes on these are not ordinary bicycle disc brakes, they are hydraulically operated motorcycle brakes with massive rotors. That suspension isn’t a stripped-down front fork; it is full-on motorcycle suspension, front and rear, built to absorb extreme forces and stabilize the bike. In other words, the cost of building an e-bike that can go 70 mph is essentially the cost of building an electric motorcycle from scratch.
The Unavoidable Question of Safety
When vehicles achieve this sort of performance, there is a discussion on the table, and it will not go away, about safety. It is amazing how much more kinetic energy (1/2 *M *V^2) a 15 mph car has versus a 70 mph car. A fall at 15 miles per hour you may just come away with some scrapes and bruises; a fall at 70 miles per hour, you’re very likely to enter a life-altering or fatal situation. Typical cycling kit, even with a standard bicycle helmet, is hopeless. For that you would be kitted out in full motorcycle gear: full-face ECE-rated helmet, armoured jacket, armoured trousers or leathers, proper motorcycle boots and gloves. The stopping range from 70 mph is also enormous and mind you, you must think two wheels ahead at every instant, constantly looking as far as possible ahead for potential issues. It's a dangerous and heavy responsibility, and it's impossible to overestimate. I definitely caught myself off guard with the speed, on a high powered electric bike and private land! It requires complete focus and a healthy sense of awe for the power you are wielding.
Finding Your Thrill: Legal Alternatives and Off-Road Power
Once you think about (or learn from) the legal, technology, and safety realities many riders I speak with seem to come to the conclusion that what they really want isn’t a particular magic number somewhere around 70 mph, but the feeling of power, freedom, adventuring, and all-terrain everywhereness. They’re looking for a thrilling ride that can also double as transportation and is also practical and reliable — and technically legal to ride on the street. One brand I always feel do this well is ENGWE and their EP-2 Boost is a perfect example of good work that delivers this sensation. It also fits neatly under the 250W EU legal limit, ensuring it's genuinely EAPC-compliant so you're free to take it anywhere. But the magic is in its clever engineering. It has a torque sensor which gives a very smooth and responsive pedalling, such that the power feels very natural – like it is an extension of your own effort. The real headline-grabber though is the Boost button; press it and all 55Nm of the motor torque is allowed to amass for an exhilarating kick of power that makes even the steepest incline seem like a walk in the park. It is an adventure bike, and it comes with fat, knobby 20x4.0 fat tyres and one-piece wheels. The fat tyres and one-piece wheel setup ensures excellent grip and stability on all city-slick tarmac and single-track trails. The package is finished with practical high-quality functions such as powerful 180mm disc brakes, a dependable 7-speed Shimano gear system, a removable battery with an impressive maximum 120km range and a wonderfully compact foldable frame for convenient storage and transport. This is how you achieve an actual powerful and fun riding experience without the legal hassles and absolute dangers of a 70mph machine.
Those with access to private land, who still yearn for that unregulated, higher-speed hit, will find themselves in the world of powerful electric off-road bikes. These are the machines that are sold lawfully under the name “off-road use only.” They are race built, not for EAPC rules but for performance! Here you will discover bicycles with motors from 3000W to over 10,000W, acceleration and top speeds that in some cases are in excess of 70mph. They are very commonly used on private estates, farms and on their own dedicated off-road tracks. As you search for your next ebike, it is extremely important to purchase from a trustworthy supplier and one who is open about the status of their bike. You’re purchasing a specialist item of sporting equipment, not a mode of transport. Here the emphasis is on strong construction, long-travel suspension and powerful brakes to manage the high speeds and challenging terrain. And yes, even on private land, all of the safety elements remain in play. Full body protection is necessary and knowledge of both your limitations and the machine's limitations are key to this adrenaline-fuelled sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the legal difference between a UK EAPC and an S-Pedelec with a higher speed?
The EAPC (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle) is the typical legal electric bike in the UK. Its motor has to be no more than 250W and assistance has to stop at 15.5 mph (25 km/h). You don’t need a license, registration, tax or insurance to ride one, and it can be utilized on roads and in cycle lanes. An S-Pedelec (Speed Pedelec) is a higher class which can be used above 28 mph (45 km/h). In the UK, an S-Pedelec is treated as an L1e-B moped. This means that, legally, they need DVLA registration, vehicle tax, an MOT certificate (if the vehicle is over 3 years old) and insurance and the rider must hold a relevant driving licence (a driving licence which entitles the rider to ride the equivalent size of manual motorcycle, if issued before Feb 2001, or a CBT certificate otherwise) and a motorcycle helmet. They may not be used in bicycle lanes.
2. Is insurance required for riding on an extremely powerful electric bike?
If that bike is classed as an electric motorcycle (if, as it sounds, it is above the 250W/15.5 mph EAPC limits), and you want to ride it on the road, then yes insurance is a legal requirement – as it is for any moped or motorcycle. It’s not a legal requirement if you will only ever be riding it on private land which isn’t open to the public. Yet, you should still give it a try. A specialist insurance can be taken out which will cover you for theft (these are expensive, valuable bikes), damage and crucially, personal liability should you have an accident involving someone else or their property.
3. What gear do you have to have to ride fast?
Normal cycling gear doesn’t cut it for anything over 20-25 mph. What would a motorcyclist wear if they were the absolute lowest? This includes:
- Helmet: A full-face ECE 22.05 or 22.06 approved motorcycle helmet. It covers your whole head, including its jaw and face, all of which are incredibly fragile in a high-speed crash.
- Jacket: A real-deal motorcycle jacket constructed of an abrasion-resistant textile or leather with CE-rated armour at the elbows, shoulders and back.
- Pants: Motorcycle pants or riding jeans with CE-rated armour in the hips and knees.
- Gloves: Full-on motorcycle gauntlets, which defend the knuckles and the palms, to keep your hands from getting shredded when you're sliding across tarmac.
- Boots: Tough, over-the-ankle motorcycle boots that guard against crushing and twisting injuries.
4. What effect on performance does the wattage of a bike’s motor (for example: 250W vs 3000W) actually have?
Power is measured in watts. While also associated with top speed, it has an immediate impact on torque and acceleration.
| Power | Effect on Performance |
|---|---|
| 250W (Legal Limit) | This much power will offer substantial assistance and hills will feel flatter and cruising requires less effort. The increase of speed is easily felt, but smooth and manageable. |
| 3000W+ (Off-Road) | A 3000W power plant will deliver savage acceleration to the point where it can spin the rear wheel on loose surfaces and even pop the front wheel if you’re not paying attention! It has the power to ascend the steepest of gradients effortlessly and will traverse the toughest of terrain at high speed. It’s the distinction between a useful shove and something raw, vehicle-like. |
5. Why are fat tires seen on a lot of powerful or all-terrain e-bikes?
There are several key advantages to fat tyres – usually 4 inches or wider – making them ideal for a more capable electric bike. To start, they feature a far larger contact patch with the ground, so are able to gain considerably better traction on all sorts of surfaces (sand, mud, gravel and yes, even snow). This enhances safety and control. Secondly, the high air volume in the tyres acts as a natural suspension, soaking up bumps and vibrations that you will encounter on uneven surfaces, giving you a smoother and a more comfortable ride. For high powered bikes, this additional grip is important to converting the power from the motor into forward momentum before the wheel spins up, under acceleration, on loose surfaces.
The best electric bike in the world is, as the saying goes, the one you have access to: the one that lets you get out on your local trails and have fun.
