Luckily there are only a handful of electric bike accidents caught on video, most of which are here on this list. In the majority of the accidents below, the riders are making simple mistakes that could have been avoided. This is a fun list, and no one is seriously hurt. In case you will not have time to watch all these videos, I will include one morbid photo at this juncture as a reminder that it is possible to get seriously injured if you are not careful on your E-bike. In China where electric bikes are widespread, thousands of people are killed and maimed each year (2500 dead in 2007) while riding electric bikes…they have even been nicknamed “The Silent Killers”:
Hmmm….what a groove killer. I guess you would call that “dramatic pre-leaf”. Now let’s hurry up and get to the comedy:
1. Liveforphysics Death-Bike Crash
BE CAREFUL WHEN APPLYING THROTTLE FROM A DEAD STOP!
This crash was caused by throttle twitchiness and a new rider on a super powerful electric bike. As the bike accelerates the rider is pulled back. and this just causes the throttle to jerk back even more. This video was filmed at the San Francisco E-bike Hill Climb in 2011, on a bike capable of speeds of 70-MPH. (read more about this bike on our 10 fastest e-bikes story). Please make note: in this video and others here, the rider is wearing a HELMET AND GLOVES!
2. Killacycle Crash
DO NOT ATTEMPT BURN-OUTS ON A RACING E-BIKE IN PUBLIC IF YOU ARE NOT PRO RIDER!
This rider is attempting to do a burn-out for the media but loses control of what was at the time, the fastest electric motorcycle in the world.
3. Liveforphysics Drag Strip Hub-Motor Crash
BE CAREFUL WHEN RIDING ON WET SURFACES!
4. Alligator Bridge Electric Bike Crash
BE CAREFUL WHEN RIDING ON WET SURFACES!
A rider on a hub powered mountain bike is having a wonderful and joyous ride, just before going over a wet wooden bridge and falling hard.
5. E-bike into Flames Golden Gate Park Frisbee Gold Course
DO NOT ABUSE LIPO BATTERIES!
While riding through Golden Gate Park, this woman did not have her LiPo battery strapped down properly, and it bounced up and down in its basket front rack, causing it to be pierced by a metal sharp edge at the bottom of the basket, setting the pack on fire and risking an innocent Frisbee golf course to a potential forest fire:
6. China Woman vs. Semi Truck
OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNALS!
This woman runs a red light on an electric scooter and pays a hard price. Fortunately she got away with just losing her scooter:
7. China Woman vs. Semi Truck #2
OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNALS!
This woman isn’t so lucky. In the USA they have a saying…“look both ways before crossing the street”. The good news is she did survive this horrible crash.
8. Blacktrail Bike Crash
DO NOT RIDE HIGH POWERED E-BIKES INDOORS ESPECIALLY IN OFFICE BUILDINGS!
Watching someone crash an $80,000 electric bike is always fun, especially when its an attractive German female. Given that there is a disproportionate amount of men who ride ebikes, it is surprising that there are so many women on this list. I guess I can point this out because a disproportionate amount of our readers are men.
9. Optibike Crashes at Pikes Peak Race
BE CAREFUL WHEN APPLYING THROTTLE FROM A DEAD STOP!
Speaking of women crashing expensive electric bikes, this Optibike team rider let the twitchy throttle of a powerful 1100R Optibike get away from her and smashed into the only non-optibike contender in the race, damaging his bike. This story has become electric bike lore and now someone finally posted a video of the calamity (Read story about 2012 Pikes Peak Race).
10. Railroad Track Electric Bike Crash
WHEN RIDING AT HIGH SPEED DO NOT LOOK BACK!
Please let me know in comments if you know of any other electric bike crashes caught on tape, or if you have any thoughts on this list. I will try to update this list as more footage comes along. I hope my E-bike and I don’t make this future list. I will leave you with some make-believe crashes – German electric bike crash dummy testing. And if you like this story please take the time to Subscribe to our news-feed.
