Electric Motorbikes: Toy or Ticking Bomb?

Almost daily, police reports mention a young motorcyclist injured in traffic. Someone taken to the hospital. Anonymous details—just another number in the stats. But have you ever stopped to think about the story behind that number? Would you want to be the officer knocking on a parent’s door at midnight to say their child is in critical condition from a crash—without a helmet?

Electric motorbikes are marketed as cool, affordable toys. But when you spend €4,000–€5,000 on one for your kid, did you check if it’s road-legal? Many of these bikes are technically mopeds or full-on motor vehicles, requiring registration, insurance, and a license to ride legally in public.

There are two types in that price bracket: one that meets the requirements for legal road use—and another, more powerful, faster version that doesn’t. Unfortunately, the latter is what dominates the streets. And here’s the problem: we now have underage riders with no training, no license, no helmet, and no idea how to safely navigate real traffic.

These vehicles can weigh 50–60 kg and exceed 70 km/h. That’s not a toy. That’s a small, silent missile. And when the driver zigzags between sidewalks, parks, and bike lanes—or tears down a main road in the wrong direction—it’s not just their life on the line.

Legally speaking:
👉 Any vehicle exceeding 6 km/h that doesn’t fall under a long list of exceptions (like e-scooters or assisted bikes) is a motor vehicle.
👉 Motor vehicles require a license and registration.
👉 If the vehicle exceeds 25 km/h or weighs over 25 kg and goes faster than 14 km/h, it must be insured.
👉 If an uninsured or unlicensed rider injures a pedestrian, the parent is liable. If the injury recovery exceeds four months, it’s a criminal case.

Head trauma doesn’t care about age. Insurance may cover the damages—but they’ll come after you to pay it back.

The common reasoning—“At least they’re outside and not glued to a screen”—doesn’t hold up when a crash changes their life forever. So before buying, do your research. Enroll your child in traffic school. Choose a road-legal, age-appropriate vehicle.

Because you’re not just buying a bike. You’re taking responsibility for a life.