Speed unlocks and tuning

Why speed limiters exist

Most light electric vehicles leave the factory with a top speed set in software, below what the motor and battery could deliver. Makers do this for three main reasons.

• Road rules. Many countries and regions set a maximum assisted speed or motor power for each class of vehicle. A model is sold in a version that fits the class it is meant to be ridden in, and the same hardware may be sold with different limits in different markets.
• Safety margins. Brakes, tires, frame and suspension are designed and tested around the intended top speed.
• Battery life and range. Lower speeds draw less current, which keeps the battery cooler and lets the advertised range hold up better.

The legal side

Rules on maximum speed and power for scooters, e-bikes and similar vehicles differ by country, and sometimes by region or city. They also differ by vehicle class: something that counts as a bicycle at one speed or power level may count as a moped or motor vehicle above it, with requirements such as registration, a licence, a helmet or insurance.

That means an unlocked vehicle may no longer be legal on public roads, cycle paths or pavements, even if the change is only a setting. Police in some places check top speeds, and the consequences can include fines or the vehicle being taken off the road. Check your local regulations for your vehicle class before changing anything; this page does not tell you what is legal where you live.

Insurance and warranty

• Insurance. Many policies only cover a vehicle in its approved, unmodified state. After an accident, an insurer may refuse to pay for damage to you, your vehicle or other people if the vehicle was modified, and personal liability can be significant.
• Warranty. Makers can often see that a vehicle has been unlocked or has run unofficial firmware, and many treat that as the end of the warranty, especially for the motor, controller and battery.
• Resale. A buyer, or the next owner's insurer, may not accept a modified vehicle.

What changes physically at higher speed

Speed does not add risk in a straight line. Kinetic energy grows with the square of speed, so a modest increase in speed means a much larger increase in the energy that has to be absorbed when you brake or crash.

• Braking distance grows faster than speed. Brakes that feel strong at the stock limit can feel weak a little above it, and they heat up more on long descents.
• Tires have speed and load ratings. Small, solid or worn tires lose grip sooner, and a puncture at higher speed is harder to control.
• Suspension and steering. Short wheelbases and small wheels can become twitchy or start to wobble at speeds they were not tuned for.
• Battery heat and range. Higher current makes the battery and controller run hotter. Range drops noticeably, and repeated hard use can shorten battery life or trigger thermal protection mid-ride.
• Frame and stem stress. Folding joints, stems and welds see bigger loads from bumps at speed. Any play or creaking matters more.
• Visibility. Other road users judge your speed by what they expect from a scooter or bicycle, and lights sized for lower speeds may not show enough of the road ahead.

The kinds of unlock

Unlocks fall into a few broad groups. We describe them only in general terms.

• A setting from the maker. Some vehicles have a regional or speed setting in the official app or on the dashboard, sometimes meant for private land or for markets with different rules. This is usually the easiest route and the least likely to cause technical problems, but the legal and insurance points above still apply.
• Official firmware options. A few makers sell or offer a different firmware or performance mode, sometimes through a dealer. The maker has tested it, but it may still change the vehicle's class.
• Third-party firmware or hardware. Community firmware, modified controllers or tricks that fool the speed sensor can lift limits on vehicles where the maker offers nothing. These carry the most risk: they can disable protections, damage the battery or controller, void the warranty and make the vehicle behave unpredictably.

If a vehicle in the table below is marked "Not possible", there is no known way to raise its limit, which can be a good sign of a well-protected controller.

Before you ride faster on private land

If you decide to unlock a vehicle for use where it is allowed, such as private land with the owner's permission, run through this list first.

• Check that your brakes are in good condition, correctly adjusted and strong enough for the speed.
• Check tire pressure, wear and speed rating.
• Tighten and inspect the stem, folding joint and handlebars; there should be no play.
• Wear a helmet suited to the speed, plus gloves and other protective gear.
• Make sure your lights are adequate and you can be seen.
• Start with short runs and build up gradually to learn how the vehicle handles and brakes.
• Watch for battery and motor heat and expect shorter range.
• Keep a way to return to the stock settings before riding on public roads.
• Understand what your insurance does and doesn't cover.