How to Increase Your eBike Speed Limit Safely

If you ride an eBike, you've probably experienced the sudden "brick wall" effect — the moment when your motor cuts out because you've hit the speed limit. It's frustrating, especially when you're on an open trail or a quiet road where these restrictions don't always make sense.

For most bikes, that’s:

• 25 km/h (15.5 mph) in Europe
• 32 km/h (20 mph) in the US
  

While these limits exist for “legal” reasons, when you’re out on an open trail, or cruising a quiet road, they can feel a bit unnecessary. A lot of riders, myself included, want a bit more freedom. Whether you’re looking to make your commute faster, want a bit more support on longer rides, or you just enjoy pushing the limits, there are ways to get around it.

I’ll run you through the main options out there, what’s good, and what’s not-so-good about each, and I’ll be straight with you — none of them are perfect, but some options are definitely better, easier, and safer than others.

What Are Your Options for Removing the eBike Speed Limit?

1. Electronic Dongles or "Hacks"

These are devices you wire into your bike that trick the speed sensor. The bike thinks you’re going half the speed you actually are, which keeps the motor assistance running.

A few popular brands (like SpeedBox or Volspeed) make these, and they usually come with an on/off feature.

✅ Pros:

• Can unlock speeds well beyond factory limits (50 km/h+ in some cases).
  
• Flexibility to switch on/off.
  
  

❌ Cons:

• High Detection risk: These are always detectable by the bike’s software. Newer bikes especially have smart detection systems.
  
• Warranty risks: If detected, it can void your warranty.
  
• Error codes: Can trigger codes that put your bike into "limp mode" (reduced power).
  
• Battery drain: There’s a window after your original speed limit and before your new limit where your motor keeps working, where it wouldn’t have been before, so you’ll see extra battery use in that range (though, as you can imagine, you’re going to get this with all of these devices).
  
• Legalities: Like all tuning devices, it’s not legal in every region. Always check your local laws.
  

2. DIY Modifications

This includes anything from reprogramming firmware, relocating sensors, or adjusting wheel size settings to trick the system.

✅ Pros:

• Cheap (sometimes free).
  
• Gives you full control if you know what you’re doing.
  
  

❌ Cons:

• High risk: Easy to mess up and damage your motor or battery.
  
• Complex: Not beginner-friendly — needs solid technical knowledge.
  
• Detection risk: These changes are detectable by the bike’s software, just like dongles.
  
• Warranty risks: If detected, you could void your warranty.
  
• Error codes: Same chance as dongles of triggering system errors or limp mode.
  
• Legalities: Same story as other options — you’ll need to check your local regulations.
  
  

3. Mechanical Tuning (That’s Where SPEEDi Comes In)

This is where I (Neale) got interested. After doing a ton of research and getting frustrated with the risks of electronic options, I wanted something simpler and safer.

SPEEDi is a fully mechanical system that adjusts how your bike reads wheel rotation, using a planetary gear system. No wiring, no software changes — just good old mechanics.

How it works:

Your speed sensor reads wheel rotations. SPEEDi changes the ratio at which the magnet passes the sensor, letting your motor assist you up to about 1.5x your factory speed limit.

If your bike is capped at 25 km/h, expect around 37–38 km/h. And honestly, every customer (and myself included) has found this to be more than enough — by that point, you’re usually maxed out with gearing and wind resistance, and your motor can’t push much further anyway.

✅ Pros:

• Mechanical, not electronic: No wiring, no software changes.
  
• Easy install: Remove your rear wheel, pop off the disc hardware, install SPEEDi, reinstall. Standard bike tools do the trick.
  
• Usually undetectable: We have sold thousands of SPEEDi’s with no error codes thrown. On newer bikes with smarter detection methods, there’s a very small chance of error codes — but SPEEDi is far less detectable than electronic methods. And if you have an older bike, you’re good to go.
• Removable: You can take it off anytime, no trace left behind.
  
  

❌ Cons:

• Some detection risk: On the newest bikes, there’s a small chance of triggering detection software. If it happens, you might get an error code and reduced power mode, depending on your bike.
  
• Battery use: There’s a window after your factory speed limit where your motor continues to work, which means some extra battery consumption.
  
• Speed limits: SPEEDi caps at about 1.5x your factory limit, which is less than what an electronic device will give you. But realistically, that’s more than enough — you’ll hit natural limits before you need anything faster.
• Legalities: Like all tuning devices, it depends on your local regulations.

You can check out the official SPEEDi product page for details.

So, Which Option Should You Go With?

Here’s the honest truth: all these options come with trade-offs. I’ve done a ton of research into this, and while there’s no perfect solution, some are definitely better and safer than others.

If you’re a confident DIY tinkerer and don’t mind risking error codes or warranty issues, electronic dongles or mods might get you higher speeds. But if you want something simple, mechanical, and much less likely to get you into trouble with your bike’s software, SPEEDi is a great option.

It’s not about turning your eBike into a rocket — it’s about keeping your motor support going at those higher speeds where you’re still pedalling hard and making the most of your ride.

For most riders, especially commuters and weekend warriors, that’s exactly what you’re after.

Final Thoughts

I built SPEEDi because I wanted to ride with fewer limits, and I know a lot of riders feel the same. It's not about going 100 km/h, it’s about keeping the motor support going at those useful higher speeds.

There’s no perfect solution, but SPEEDi strikes a good balance of simplicity, effectiveness, and lower risk — and hey, our customers love it.

If you want to try it out for yourself, check out SPEEDi here. And if you’ve got questions, just flick us a message. We’re always happy to help out a fellow riders.

Ride on,
Neale

The necessary legal note 🥱

No matter what method you choose, always check your local laws. In some places, modifying your eBike’s speed limiter can make it illegal to ride on public roads or bike paths. It's on you to ride responsibly.

Some potentially helpful resources...

• CONEBI – European Bicycle Industry Association
• UK Government eBike Regulations
• PeopleForBikes – US eBike Laws

About NLS Components

Neale is a mechanical engineer and lifelong mountain biker, and the creator of SPEEDi. When he’s not in the workshop, you’ll find him out testing gear on New Zealand trails.

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