BBC Breakfast item today on illegally modded ebikes

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Dogtrousers

Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
It's quite possible that most e-bikes out there are legal, but most of the e-bikes that you actually see (the ones that do the most miles and are most visible) are delivery riders on illegal bikes. Often see them flying up the hills round my way without pedalling
 
Location
Widnes
Teh newer ones seem to be trying to disguise the battery in the frame more and more

which makes it difficult to tell at a glance it is an ebike

The kits are easy as they are not a subtle and this includes most of the illegal ones

If you look at the rear hub it is also clear - if it is the size of a dinner plate then it is a long way over the legal power limits
 

Dadam

Über Member
Location
SW Leeds
It's quite possible that most e-bikes out there are legal, but most of the e-bikes that you actually see (the ones that do the most miles and are most visible) are delivery riders on illegal bikes. Often see them flying up the hills round my way without pedalling

That's kind of my point, except it's the ones you notice. You probably see a lot of folks on the ones with the integral batteries but don't think ebike as they're pedalling.

Like my Gain:
1773331663561.png
 

Drago

Legendary Member
which makes it difficult to tell at a glance it is an ebike

Glance at the compliance plate/pedal, which is easy.

There are some poor quality fakes on the market, but only a total tool would evrn try it. Possession of a "false instrument with intent to deceive" will get them in far greater sheet than motoring document offences will.
 
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Drago

Legendary Member
I think 100% of the well dodgy electric motorbikes that you see delivery riders zooming around on are ... er ... well dodgy electric motorbikes. ;)

I see one same time, every weekday morning, form over a year now. If I thought the dibble would bother doing anything id report it.

Edit - I've had an idea. Next tiome I see him I'll video myself shouting a hurty word at him and post the video on Facebook. The police will be round quicker than you can say "rapists often get off with a suspended sentence"!
 
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Location
Widnes
Glance at the compliance plate/pedal, which is easy.

There are some poor quality fakes on the market, but only a total tool would evrn try it. Possession of a "false instrument with intent to deceive" will get them in far greater sheet than motoring document offences will.

The plate on mine is on the bottom bracket - only really visible if you turn the bike upside down

Previous one was the same

Which I would happily do if stopped for a check - which has never happened
now have I ever seen a check happening
 

Dogtrousers

Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
So extremely easy to spot for any copper who's been briefed to eyeball them.

Yes, but I think there is some cross-purpose discussion going on. We (or some of us) were talking about an ordinary person in the street, not a trained copper.

Jack or Jane Ordinary might think that the majority of "e-bikes" out there are souped up Deliveroo specials. And they might come to this conclusion because they don't even notice that some bikes with hidden batteries even are e-bikes. (And they don't even know what a compliance plate is)
 
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Location
Widnes
So extremely easy to spot for any copper who's been briefed to eyeball them.

Ye s- if they stop someone and check it
but not just as someone is passing

and stopping people who they suspect are on an ebike - so they can check it is the problem - it does not seem to be happening

I have seen headlines where it has - but I suspect that was then it for that area

is certainly is not the "average copper on the beat" - the management and the finances and priorities are the cause I suspect
 
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