How to Remove Speed Limiter on Electric Bike

To remove the speed limiter on an electric bike, you can adjust the display settings (P-settings), reposition the speed sensor magnet to the pedal crank, or install a plug-and-play tuning kit. Most modern ebikes use an electronic controller to cap the motor at 15.5 mph or 20-28 mph to follow local laws. By changing how the controller sees the wheel speed, you can unlock the motor's full power for faster rides on private land. 

Why Manufacturers Install Speed Limiters

Manufacturers do not limit speeds just to be annoying; they do it to fit into specific legal buckets. In the UK and EU, for example, a bike must stop providing help at 15.5 mph to be treated like a regular bicycle.

If it goes faster, the law calls it a moped. This means the owner would need insurance, a license, and a helmet. By installing an ebike speed limiter, companies ensure their customers can ride on bike paths without getting a ticket.   

There is also a mechanical reason for the limit. Brakes, tires, and frames are tested to be safe at specific speeds. If a bike is designed for 15 mph but is ridden at 35 mph, the brakes might not be strong enough to stop it in a hurry.

This is a major concern during ebike speed limiter removal, as the safety margins of the bike are being pushed to the edge. The heat generated by a motor running at high speed can also melt the insulation on the ebike speed limiter wire or other internal circuits. 

Unlock Your Electric Bike Speed

There are many ways to handle how to remove speed limiter on electric bike systems, depending on how technical you want to get. Some methods take two minutes and a screwdriver, while others require opening the motor or using a computer to change the bike's code.   

Adjusting Display Controller Settings

The easiest way to start ebike speed limiter removal is by looking at your ebike's display screen. Many generic LCD units, like the SW900 or S830, have a "hidden" menu called P-settings.

By entering this menu, you can sometimes just type in a new top speed. For instance, on an S866 display, you can navigate to parameter P08 and change the value to 100, which tells the bike there is effectively no limit.   

Riders often use this method because it is completely reversible. If you are heading back onto public roads, you can simply change the setting back to the legal limit.

To get into these settings, you usually hold the "Up" and "Down" arrows for a few seconds while the bike is on. If your bike is a brand-name model like a Bosch or Trek, this menu might be locked behind a password or require a dealer's computer.   

The Magnet Relocation Hack

This is a classic DIY trick for anyone wondering how to remove speed limiter on electric bike systems with external sensors. Since the bike calculates speed by how fast the wheel spins, you can trick it by moving the sensor to the pedal crank.

When the magnet is on the pedal, the sensor thinks the bike is only moving as fast as you are pedaling. Since your legs move much slower than a spinning wheel, the motor never thinks you have reached the limit.   

To do this, you need to unclamp the speed sensor from the rear frame and move it so it faces the pedal arm. Then, take the magnet off the spoke and glue it to the back of the pedal.

You must keep a tiny gap of about 3mm between the two parts for it to work. This hack is very effective for mid-drive bikes, but it can make your speedometer show the wrong speed on the screen.

Removing the Speed Limiter Wire

On many older or less expensive electric bikes, the limiter is a physical thing. Inside the controller box, there is often a specific ebike speed limiter wire that tells the system to slow down. This wire is usually a single loop that goes out of the controller and right back into it. If you unplug or cut this wire, the "governor" is turned off, and the bike can go as fast as the motor will spin.   

Before you start cutting, you must be sure you have the right one. The ebike speed limiter wire is often thin and colored white, blue, or gray. If you cut the wrong wire, like the throttle or brake sensor, the bike won't work at all. It is always better to look for a connector you can pull apart rather than using wire cutters. If the bike runs faster after you unplug it, you have found the right one.

Deep Dive into LCD Display P-Settings

When you dive into how to remove speed limiter on electric bike software, you will encounter the "P-Setting" table. Every number from P01 to P20 controls a different part of the bike's behavior. For example, P01 usually changes the screen brightness, but the ones that matter for speed are P06, P07, and P08.   

Tricking the Wheel Size (P06)

One clever way to perform ebike speed limiter removal without actually changing the speed limit is to lie to the bike about its wheels. Parameter P06 is where you tell the bike how big the wheels are in inches. if you have 26-inch wheels, but you tell the controller they are only 16 inches, the bike thinks it is traveling a much shorter distance with every turn. Because the bike thinks it is going slower than it really is, it keeps the motor on for longer, allowing you to reach a much higher actual speed.   

Direct Speed Limit Adjustments (P08)

Parameter P08 is the most direct answer to how to remove speed limiter on electric bike units. This is the "Speed Limit" setting. On many Chinese-made controllers, this is set to 25 km/h (about 15.5 mph) or 32 km/h (20 mph) out of the box. You can often toggle this number up to 100. Setting it to 100 doesn't mean the bike will go 100 mph; it just means the software will never stop the motor from helping you.

Using Passwords to Unlock Menus

Some displays are more protective. They know that people want to try ebike speed limiter removal, so they hide the P08 menu behind a code. Common passwords you might run into include "1010," "8650," or even "1234". You usually enter these by using the plus and minus buttons to change digits and the power button to move to the next slot. Once you are in, the world of speed is open to you.

Tuning Kits for High-End Motors

If you own a premium bike with a Bosch, Shimano, or Yamaha motor, the simple tricks won't work. These motors are very smart. They use a "CANBUS" system, which is like a computer network for your bike. If they detect that the sensor is being tricked, they will show an error code and shut down. For these bikes, you need a specialized tuning kit like SpeedBox or VOLspeed.   

How Tuning Chips Intercept Signals

A tuning chip is a small electronic box that you plug in between the motor and the speed sensor. It doesn't actually remove the ebike speed limiter; it lies to the motor in real-time.

When you are going slow, it sends the real speed to the display. Once you go over the limit, it starts sending a fake, slower speed to the controller. This allows the motor to keep pushing you to 30 mph while the computer thinks you are only doing 14 mph.   

These devices are the gold standard for ebike speed limiter removal because they are plug-and-play. You don't have to cut any wires, and you can take them out if you need to take the bike to a shop for repairs.

However, they are expensive, often costing between $150 and $250. Some newer Bosch motors have "anti-tuning" software that can detect these chips and lock the bike permanently, so you must always check if your firmware version is compatible.   

The Bosch "Countdown" Feature

When using a SpeedBox on a Bosch motor, you might notice a strange timer on your screen when you stop. This is a countdown designed to "clean" the data. Because the motor knows how much battery was used and how far you should have gone, the chip has to fix the numbers before the bike turns off.

If you turn the bike off before the countdown finishes, the system might trigger a "504 error," which puts the bike in limp mode for 90 minutes. Understanding these quirks is vital when learning how to remove speed limiter on electric bike setups with high-end tech.   

Managing the Ebike Speed Limiter Wire and Connectors

For the DIY enthusiast, the ebike speed limiter wire is the most interesting part of the controller. Most controllers have a "wiring harness" with many different plugs. To find the right one, you need to know about Julet and Higo connectors. These are waterproof plugs that are color-coded to help you identify what they do.   

Identifying Connector Colors

When looking for the ebike speed limiter wire, you will see different colored rings on the plugs. While there is no universal law for colors, many follow a standard pattern. Red is usually a 2-pin connector for lights or simple power, while Green is a 5-pin connector used for the display. The speed limiter is often a single wire with a small black or white plug that doesn't connect to anything else.

Table: Color Ebike Speed Limiter Wire

If you find two white wires with a single-pin connector that are plugged into each other, that is almost certainly your ebike speed limiter. Unplugging them is the easiest way to perform ebike speed limiter removal on a budget bike. If the wires are soldered directly to the board, you may need a multimeter to test the voltage before you decide to cut anything.

The Risks of Cutting Wires

The biggest danger when exploring how to remove speed limiter on electric bike hardware is a short circuit. If you cut a live power wire and it touches the frame or a ground wire, you could fry the entire controller in a split second. Always remove the battery before you touch any wires. If you do cut the ebike speed limiter wire, make sure you use heat-shrink tubing or electrical tape to cover the ends. Never leave bare copper exposed to the rain or dirt.

How Motor Power and Voltage Affect Speed

Removing the limiter is only half the battle. You can't make a slow motor go fast just by changing the software. The top speed of your bike is ultimately limited by the motor's wattage and the battery's voltage. A 250W motor will struggle to go faster than 20 mph regardless of ebike speed limiter removal, because it doesn't have enough "push" to fight the wind.   

The Role of Voltage

Voltage is like the pressure in a water pipe. The more voltage you have, the faster the motor can spin. Most ebikes use a 36V or 48V system. A 48V system will almost always be faster than a 36V system. If you want a real speed boost after you handle how to remove speed limiter on electric bike settings, some riders upgrade their battery to a higher voltage. However, this often requires buying a new controller that can handle the extra pressure.   

Wattage vs. Torque

Wattage is the total power, but torque is the "grunt" that gets you moving. For a heavy bike, torque is more important than raw speed. A 750W motor has a lot more torque than a 250W motor, which means it can reach its top speed much faster. When you perform ebike speed limiter removal on a 750W motor, you will feel a massive difference in how the bike pulls away from a stop sign.

Safety Checks After Removing the Limiter

Once you have successfully finished your ebike speed limiter removal, you must realize that you are now riding a much more powerful machine. The safety parts of your bike need to be checked more often. Higher speeds mean more heat and more vibration.   

Brake Performance

The energy required to stop a bike increases very quickly as you go faster. If you double your speed, you need four times the distance to stop. Most ebikes come with disc brakes, but there is a big difference between mechanical and hydraulic ones. If you are going over 25 mph, hydraulic brakes are almost a requirement for safety. They provide more "bite" and don't get tired (fade) as quickly as mechanical ones.   

Tire Ratings

Bicycle tires have speed and weight ratings. A cheap tire might be safe at 15 mph but could burst if it hits a pothole at 30 mph. When you figure out how to remove speed limiter on electric bike caps, you should also look at your tires. Look for tires with an "E-50" rating, which means they are tested for speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph). Keeping your tires at the right pressure also helps reduce drag and keeps you stable at high speeds.   

Battery Health and Heat

A motor running without a limiter pulls a lot more current from the battery. This creates heat. If your battery feels hot to the touch after a fast ride, you are pushing it too hard. Overheating can lead to a shorter battery life or even a fire in rare cases. After ebike speed limiter removal, it is a good idea to take breaks on long rides to let the electronics cool down. Always check the ebike speed limiter wire and other connections for any signs of melting or discoloration.   

The Legal and Financial Consequences

Before you commit to how to remove speed limiter on electric bike modifications, you need to understand what happens if you get caught. In many places, riding a modified ebike on the road is the same as driving an unregistered car.   

Fines and Criminal Charges

In the UK, the police can seize your bike and crush it if they find it has been de-restricted. In France, you can actually face jail time for selling or using tuning kits. Even in the US, if you have an accident on a bike path while going 30 mph, you could be sued for more money than your insurance will cover. Most insurance companies will refuse to pay if they find out you performed ebike speed limiter removal.   

Warranty and Resale Value

Removing the limiter will almost certainly void your warranty. Manufacturers can see the "top speed" reached in the controller's memory. If the motor burns out, they will see that you were going 35 mph and refuse to give you a free replacement. Additionally, many people are afraid to buy a used bike that has been modified because they don't know how much stress the motor has been under. This can hurt the resale value of your bike in the long run.   

Practical Tips for Novice and Advanced Users

If you are new to this, start small. Don't go cutting wires on your first day. The best way to learn how to remove speed limiter on electric bike caps is to explore your display settings first. It is the safest and most reliable method for beginners.   

For advanced users, you might look into "Open Source Firmware." This is where you replace the software inside the controller with a version written by the community. This gives you total control over torque, speed, and even how the throttle feels. However, this requires a special programming cable and a lot of patience. Regardless of your level, always wear a helmet. A crash at 15 mph is a bad day; a crash at 30 mph is a life-changing event. 

Choosing the Right Ebike for Speed and Cargo

If you find that you are constantly trying to figure out how to remove speed limiter on electric bike settings because your current bike is too slow or weak, it might be time for a specialized model. For those who need to carry heavy loads while maintaining solid performance, a long-tail cargo ebike is the perfect solution.

The letrigo minivan se is built with a powerful 750W motor that provides 90Nm of torque, allowing it to handle hills and heavy payloads without feeling sluggish. Because it is designed to be a "car replacement," it features high-end Tektro hydraulic brakes and a stable frame that can handle the extra forces of daily hauling. Rather than risking your safety with dangerous hacks on a flimsy bike, investing in a high-torque model like the Minivan SE ensures you have the power you need within a safe and legal framework.

FAQs

Is it illegal to remove the speed limiter on an e-bike?

It is usually legal on private property, but it makes the bike illegal for use on public roads and bike paths in most regions unless you register it as a moped.   

Can I remove the speed limiter without any tools?

Yes, if your bike allows ebike speed limiter removal through the LCD display's P-settings. You just need to know the button sequence and potentially a password.   

How much faster will my bike go after unlocking?

It depends on your motor. A 250W motor might only gain 3-5 mph, while a 750W motor can often reach 30-35 mph once the limiter is gone.   

Will the magnet hack work on every bike?

It only works on bikes that use a spoke magnet and an external sensor. If your bike has the sensor built into the motor or uses a disc-brake magnet, this trick won't work.   

Does the "speed limiter wire" exist on all controllers?

No. Many modern, high-end controllers are entirely digital and don't have a physical wire to cut. These require software tuning or chips