Our Road-Legal Promise
Every e-bike we sell is road legal in Canada, and it stays that way. We think e-bikes are one of the best things to happen to Canadian cities, and keeping them safe, legal and welcome on our roads and pathways is part of our job. This is our promise to every rider.
What we promise
Every motor we sell is rated at 500 watts continuous or less, the legal limit in every province we ship to.
Assistance stops at 32 km/h (or lower where local rules require), exactly as the manufacturer set it.
We will never unlock, tune or de-restrict a bike, and we will never show anyone how to. Not in the showroom, not in service, not on request.
We carry brands built to recognized safety standards, including UL 2849 and UL 2271, from manufacturers who stand behind their warranties.
A note from our founder
I started Scooteretti in 2010 after a few years living and working in China, where I watched electric bikes and scooters change the way an entire city moved. I came home convinced Canadians would love them just as much, and they do. We began with scooters, added e-bikes in 2011, became an e-bike-only shop in 2016, and since 2019 we have built our range around certified Bosch drive systems.
In all that time, one thing has never changed: we sell e-bikes exactly as they were designed to be ridden. I sit on the NBDA's E-Bike Safety & Standards Panel with retailers, manufacturers, engineers, law enforcement and policymakers, and I can tell you the future of e-bikes in this country depends on shops doing the right thing. A few bad actors put every rider's access to bike lanes and pathways at risk.
That is why this promise is personal for me. If you ever feel we have fallen short of it, I want to hear from you directly.
William Leishman
Founder & Owner, Scooteretti
How we check every e-bike before it leaves our shop
Every bike we sell is inspected and road tested by our certified technicians before it is delivered or shipped. Here is what that check covers:
- Drive system verified. We confirm the motor's rated continuous output is 500 W or less and that the drive system is a certified, unmodified original.
- Diagnostics and firmware. We connect the bike to the manufacturer's diagnostic tools, install the latest firmware and confirm there are no error codes or signs of tampering.
- 32 km/h confirmed on the road. We test ride every bike and confirm the motor stops assisting at 32 km/h. Not 33, not 35. 32 km/h means 32 km/h.
- Safety systems checked. Brakes, wheels, tires, lights and every critical bolt are checked and torqued to spec.
- Fit and handover. We set the bike up for you and walk you through the rules for your province before you ride away.
Why riders trust us
The longest-established e-bike retailer in Ottawa and Gatineau
We know ebikes and recognized as one of North America's best retailers
Bosch and Shimano certified service team for diagnostics, maintenance and warranty work
Member of the NBDA's E-Bike Safety & Standards Panel focusing on ebike safety and compliance
We prioritize e-bikes with drive systems certified to the UL 2849 safety standard
Recognized as Canada's Best eBike Shop and Best eBike Service Department
Why it matters to us
The rules on power and speed are what allow e-bikes to share bike lanes, pathways and transit with everyone else, without a licence or insurance. Riders, retailers and manufacturers all benefit when those rules are respected. We would rather explain the rules clearly than sell a bike that puts a rider at risk of fines, insurance problems or a voided warranty.
If you want the details, our guides cover how to check if an e-bike is legal, e-bike laws in Ottawa and Ontario, and wattage rules province by province.
Frequently asked questions
Will you unlock a bike I bought from you if I ask?+
No. We will not unlock any e-bike, even if you tell us it will only be ridden off-road on private property.
What happens if I bring in a bike that's been unlocked or tuned?+
We will refuse to work on it. We do not service any e-bike that is not road legal or that has been unlocked, tuned or manipulated in any way. Every e-bike we sell and service must be legally compliant.
Do any of your bikes have an "off-road" or "race" mode?+
No. Every bike in our collection is classified as an e-bike, and to be 100% compliant with provincial laws, an e-bike must not have any user-adjustable setting that can exceed the legal limits.
Do you sell throttle e-bikes, and are they legal?+
Yes, we sell e-bikes with throttles. As long as the motor does not exceed 500 watts continuous output and the assistance stops at 32 km/h, they are legal in Canada.
Does the promise cover bikes shipped outside Ontario?+
Yes. Our Road-Legal Promise applies 100%, without exception, whether you buy in store or online, and wherever in Canada we ship your bike.
I bought an e-bike somewhere else. Can you check whether it's legal?+
Yes. As long as our team is satisfied the bike is safe to ride, we can test it for compliance.
Questions about your e-bike?
Whether you bought it from us or not, our team is happy to talk through the rules for your province. Book a free consultation, visit us at 100 Trainyards Drive, Unit 32, Ottawa, or call (613) 244-0000.
Ride with confidence
Every e-bike in our collection is road legal from the moment it leaves our shop.
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