ITT: y’all be taking my random before-bed shit thought way too seriously.
this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2026
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.
Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:
- Both “200” and “160” are 2 minutes in microwave math
- When you’re a kid, you don’t realize you’re also watching your mom and dad grow up.
- More dreams have been destroyed by alarm clocks than anything else
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Isn't it the electric equivalent of a moped?
You're right but the word "moped" has lost meaning in most countries.
Here in the UK I suspect the majority of people asked wouldn't appreciate it originally had pedals and would point to a vespa image if asked.
I have an electric vespa-shaped vehicle (goes about 80kmh) that as you can see i really struggle to name as "electric scooter" most people think of one of those stand on things so I've landed on calling it an "electric moped". It works as equally in no way can someone accuse me of trying to make it sound cool :)
ice cycles. I really am not fond of ice on so many levels.
Upvote for the thought.
Not all motos are 4 stroke. My buddy rides a two stroke KTM and that thing cooks.
Is an e-scooter a motorcycle?
In Australia at least, e-scooters are classed as 'personal mobility device' which is the same classification that motorised wheelchairs are in.
In Germany they have to have a license plate, which means they're basically treated as mopeds. Ebikes don't need one.
Huh, I guess that makes sense. I don't think they fit into any category in Denver, CO. They aren't allowed on the sidewalks so that makes them a vehicle. But they really aren't a vehicle and are sort of pedestrians in the road.
Not actually sure on this one, because the terminology for motorcycles is... Weird.
Motorcycles are what we're all thinking of, Harleys, Kawasaki's, Yamaha's, etc. Mopeds and scooters look the same, and both usually have manual transmissions, but have a floor in them. I don't know that there's a word that encompasses both, much less including ebikes? Maybe motorbike
Motorbike has been used interchangeably with motorcycle for most of their existence.
Not all the time. My engine cycle has a three cylinder 2 stroke. It's scary fast.
I live in south east asia and motorbikes are the dominant transporation tool here and yes fast e-bikes are absolutely motorbikes. They would be treated here the same way and law wise but the adoption is very low because compared to a motorbike it's mostly a meme/entertainment vehicle as good ol motorbike is far superior and actually cheaper vehicle.
Depending on State, a small enough engine on a bicycle doesn't count as a motor vehicle.
The difference is in power and control. Ebikes are speed capped. There are two types, pedal assist and throttle control. Pedel assist are ones that only turn on the motor when you are pedaling. Throttle control ebikes are speed capped even more than pedal assist. I think they should be banned because of jailbreaking and it puts you in the mental state of operating a machine rather than pedaling a bike.
Also, the engine on enginecycles is a four-cycle engine.
Electric motorbikes are a thing too.
You can buy e-bikes on amazon that weigh more and travel faster than a Honda Cub, a registerable motorcycle. They're in Grom territory. This idea, at least in the US market, that they're fitting into the two classes of safe e-bike is disproven with 30 seconds of observation in any city or adjacent suburb. The only riders pedaling are the leisure riders in parks.
Fortnine has two videos on the topic, one of the 60mph e-bike and one of converting a Cub to EV, making it faster than stock.
Yes you can buy illegal things and break the law. Like really?
Or you're talking about electric motorbikes, which are not ebikes they are electric motorbikes.
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Etymologically speaking, "engine" means any invention, whereas "motor" means specifically something that makes things move. A gasoline engine is a motor; an electric motor is an engine.
Uh, no. Maybe check the definition of a word before you accuse people of using it wrong?
Besides, there is literally no benefit to this kind of approach. The most popular use of a word is the definition of the word, not the other way around. And yes, this means it will change over time. So even if motor didn't literally refer to a certain type of engine, the definition of the word motorcycle is not dependent on the definition of the word motor. Even if there was a contradiction between the definition of the two words that's literally irrelevant. There's no point getting all annoyed about it, that's just how language works. But you will not help anything by trying to force people to change how they're using a word. It'll just cause confusion and make communication even less clear.