California SB 1167: Fast E-Motos Can't Be Sold as E-Bikes in 2027

This post is general information, not legal advice. Check the bill text and your local rules before you buy or ride.

What SB 1167 changes for buyers

California already defines an e-bike as a bike with working pedals and a motor of 750 watts or less, split into Class 1, 2 and 3. Classes 1 and 2 stop helping at 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal assist up to 28 mph. SB 1167, by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, doesn't change those numbers. It stops sellers from slapping the e-bike name on machines that blow past them.

Here's what the law requires, according to the senator's office and the bill's sponsors:

• No more "e-bike" labels on e-motos. A vehicle over the e-bike limits can't be marketed or labeled as an e-bike.
• A class and top-speed label on every e-bike sold in California, easy to see and read.
• A clear warning on faster machines. Sellers must tell you they aren't e-bikes and need registration and a license to ride.
• Better crash data. Police must include the e-bike label information on incident reports.

The bill passed the Legislature with no votes against it. It is Chapter 846, Statutes of 2026.

What to do now: if a listing calls itself an e-bike but promises throttle speeds over 20 mph, pedal assist over 28 mph, or a motor over 750 W, it isn't a California e-bike. It's a moped or motorcycle with a bike-style ad. Read the bill status on the California Legislature site.

The other two California bills signed the same day

Newsom signed two more e-bike bills on September 30:

• AB 2346 sets a default 10 mph speed limit for e-bikes on sidewalks, where sidewalk riding is allowed at all, and lets cities set 10, 15 or 20 mph limits on bike paths and multiuse trails. Those rules start January 1, 2027. From January 1, 2029, new Class 2 bikes must have a speedometer and all new e-bikes need front and rear lights. Sellers also have to tell you the class and top speed at the point of sale. We cover the speed limits in our AB 2346 explainer.
• AB 2595 lets San Mateo County cities opt into a pilot that bars riders under 12 from Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, through January 1, 2031. It isn't statewide.

For the full set of state rules, see our California e-bike laws guide.

Why Orange County parents are paying attention

On September 13, 2026, the Orange County District Attorney's office held what it called the first e-bike and e-moto buyback of its kind, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Gift cards ran from $300 for a Class 1 e-bike to $1,000 for an e-motorcycle. News reports say more than 1,000 vehicles were turned in. The DA's office also started a "Ride Safely" prosecution unit in May, and it has charged parents who let kids ride illegal e-motos.

For riders, the takeaway is simple. Officials are going after fast e-motos, and SB 1167 is meant to keep legal Class 1 to 3 bikes in a separate category.

New York is having the same fight

On September 30, 2026, three New York City Council committees held a joint hearing on micromobility with 23 bills on the table. One of them, Int. 1110, was introduced October 8. It would ban riding Class 3 e-bikes on city streets, with warnings only until April 1, 2029. The city's consumer protection agency testified that not all products accurately list their speed, which makes enforcement harder. None of these bills had passed when we published.

The October 21 CPSC battery hearing

On the battery side, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will hold a virtual public hearing at 10 a.m. Eastern (7 a.m. Arizona time) on October 21, 2026. It covers the proposed safety standard for lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, scooters and other micromobility products. The proposal, published June 24, 2026, would make the electrical systems in these products meet existing voluntary safety standards, with changes. To speak, you must send a request and your written remarks by 5 p.m. Eastern on October 15. See the hearing notice in the Federal Register.

Nothing changes for the bike in your garage yet. A proposed rule isn't a final rule. Our CPSC battery rule guide covers how to shop and charge safely in the meantime.

A 4-point check before you buy

1. Get the class in writing. Ask whether it's Class 1, 2 or 3, and check that the motor is 750 W or less if you want a California-legal e-bike.
2. Look for UL 2849 certification of the whole electrical system, not "tested to" wording. Ask for the certificate and check the lab's listing for that exact model.
3. Charge only with the charger made for that battery.
4. Ask who services it. A brand with no phone number and no parts won't help you when a battery fails.

Where a local shop helps

A local shop can tell you the class of the exact bike on the floor, what's allowed on the paths near you, and who handles warranty work. In California, start at our California shop directory, or go straight to Orange County or Los Angeles County. In New York, try the New York directory.

Sources: California Senate District 38 (Sen. Blakespear) release, Sept. 30, 2026; SB 1167 chaptered text (Ch. 846, Stats. 2026); AB 2346 (Ch. 842) and AB 2595 (Ch. 843) bill text; Federal Register 2026-20296, Oct. 5, 2026; Orange County DA buyback announcement via OCDE Newsroom; NYC Council hearing record, Sept. 30, 2026, and Int. 1110-2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does California SB 1167 take effect?
January 1, 2027. Governor Newsom signed it on September 30, 2026, as Chapter 846, Statutes of 2026.

Does SB 1167 change California's e-bike speed limits?
No. E-bikes still top out at 750 watts, 20 mph for Class 1 and 2, and 28 mph pedal assist for Class 3. The law stops faster vehicles from being labeled or sold as e-bikes.

When is the CPSC e-bike battery hearing?
October 21, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern. It is a virtual hearing on the proposed lithium-ion battery safety standard for micromobility products.