10/15/2025
Hello Encinitas,
Charlie’s Electric Bike will be closing. Niko’s original vision of bringing an e-bike store to Encinitas began in 2017 and grew steadily—especially during the Covid era. It is with a heavy heart that I share this news: my views on e-bikes no longer align with much of the industry, particularly when it comes to youth riders. I’ve been outspoken about this, and I continue to believe it’s an important issue.
To succeed as a bike shop in Encinitas today, you need to sell what are essentially electric motorcycles marketed toward kids. These machines are not bicycles—they’re illegal for street use. If you’re considering an e-bike for street riding, please make sure it’s classified as a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike. Anything outside these classes is most likely an unlicensed motorcycle.
Kids: if you’re reading this, ride safely, and always be aware of your surroundings—even on a Class 1 e-bike.
Parents: please reconsider buying your child an e-bike to ride in traffic alongside cars.
In our absence, we recommend Leucadia Cyclery for servicing the brands we’ve sold over the years. Jeff, the owner, is knowledgeable about both bikes and e-bikes. You can reach them at 760-436-2786.
Thank you, Encinitas, for allowing Charlie’s Electric Bike to serve you—both in helping you choose the right e-bike and in keeping your bikes rolling.
— Niko Sougias
