BBC Breakfast item today on illegally modded ebikes

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Just come across this article about Liverpool police seizing an ebike modded to do 62mph!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwye84yj14lo.amp

 

[Drago]

^^^ that's not an "ebike" though, and never was. From the moment it plopped off its owners workbench it was a moped or motorcycle. The media and the Feds should be more careful with their terminology.

 

[Cavalol]

^^^ that's not an "ebike" though, and never was. From the moment it plopped off its owners workbench it was a moped or motorcycle. The media and the Feds should be more careful with their terminology.

If you scroll a little further down, they're saying it's this...

...not that Surron thing. To be honest, I'm not convinced that mountain bike would do 62mph, it looks like a fairly basic cheap home mounted kit.

 

[Drago]

If you scroll a little further down, they're saying it's this...

View attachment 779696

...not that Surron thing. To be honest, I'm not convinced that mountain bike would do 62mph, it looks like a fairly basic cheap home mounted kit.

Yes, thats the the picture I was referring to.

An ebike, pedelec, whatever, has a certain legal meaning and the media and dibble should be careful to maintain that state of being in the public consciousness to avoid the legal majority being tarred with the same brush.

This device was never an "ebike" - from the moment it left its owners workbench it was a motorcycle, regardless of appearances.

 

[raleighnut]

If you scroll a little further down, they're saying it's this...

View attachment 779696

...not that Surron thing. To be honest, I'm not convinced that mountain bike would do 62mph, it looks like a fairly basic cheap home mounted kit.

Speed is controlled by the box of gubbins, easily possible you'd need a lot of power but that could easily be a 1,000-1,500 or 2,000 watt rear wheel, fit a control box from a 16" wheel kit and easily possible with no sensors fitted. Don't understand why they took the chain off though, if I did it I'd have a 52 tooth ring/crankset on the front as those wheels have a standard freehub on them.

 

[Cavalol]

Yes, thats the the picture I was referring to.

An ebike, pedelec, whatever, has a certain legal meaning and the media and dibble should be careful to maintain that state of being in the public consciousness to avoid the legal majority being tarred with the same brush.

This device was never an "ebike" - from the moment it left its owners workbench it was a motorcycle, regardless of appearances.

Ahh, my apologies then, I thought you were referring to that Surron 'thing'.

 

[Drago]

Ahh, my apologies then, I thought you were referring to that Surron 'thing'.

No worries.

Although it equally narks me when the media and the Bow Street Runnere refer to Surrons, which are very obviously mopeds/motorcycles and even available in road registered form, as "ebikes". It belies a lack of understanding and does responsible riders a disservice.

 

[fossyant]

If you scroll a little further down, they're saying it's this...

View attachment 779696

...not that Surron thing. To be honest, I'm not convinced that mountain bike would do 62mph, it looks like a fairly basic cheap home mounted kit.

Given there is a rather large motor in that hub, yes it probably does, but then you've got a cheap set of brakes to try and stop it. Let's say, I'm very glad I have a set of high end four pot brakes on my MTB, but I never get near 50mph - more like 25 off road, and then you need the stopping power.

Got passed by four balaclava'ed lads last night, doing wheelies through the village - unfortunately they survived (the drivers in that pat of town are shocking - cyclists seen as peasants - if you know you know). The shocking thing, that were actually on dirt bikes. Brum.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I'm at least glad in the article that they have finally thought it important to describe what a legal e-bike is. Many articles (especially a local one where the e-motorcylist was critically injured) just refer to them as "ebikes" so uneducated people assume that even legal ones are the ones doing 40mph with no license!

 

[Dan Lotus]

Off topic a bit, but I really believe there is a place for ebikes as proper commuting machines, with a higher limit for faster roads.
15.5mph is only really going to assist me uphill or into a serious headwind on a regular basis.

My commute used to be about 1h20, and I would have seriously considered an e-bike to cut that down to around an hour each way, and I would have ridden in more frequently as well.

As is, they still have a purpose and a place, but for me, the potential is not being fulfilled.

 

[Drago]

Theres no need to change existing laws to do that. Buy one, tax and register it and it's suitable to use in the UK.

Exactly this,

I cant understand why people want a moped but are unwilling to,arrange the minor and inexpensive matters of tax, insurance and MOT.

The line between licenced and unlicensed has to be drawn somewhere, and its quite sensible that it is somewhat south of what has been successfully legislated as a moped for half a century now.

Legal EPACs exist. If you want more get a legal speed pedelec and pay the minimal tax and insurance to go along with it.

 

[Badger_Boom]

Back in the 70's loads of us had 'field bikes', generally mopeds or small capacity motorbikes that we rode around farm lanes or the local quarry*.
These high powered e-bikes just seem a new version of this, no doubt 'older folks' were just as pished off by us back then.

* even Allan Millyard did it but being him he grafted a Mini 850 engine into a BSA Bantam frame..............by his own account it was lethal.

The problem is that most of these are on a high street or pavement in already busy towns and cities not out of the way of everyone else.

We encountered a young belter wheelying his way at speed down a local shared path the other day. There are enough small children, oldies and dogs using the same space that someone (with luck only the rider himself) will get hit and injured before long. We’ve already had one ebike fatality nearby on the same network, and I doubt that will be the last.

 

[Psamathe]

Report I saw was a brief campaign in one city. I'd have thought all cities suffer same so why aren't more Police forces doing this.

As I understand it it's a significant offence(s) eg illegal vehicle, no insurance, motorbike in pedestrian area, no licence (no L plates),etc.

Ian

 

[Electric_Andy]

Report I saw was a brief campaign in one city. I'd have thought all cities suffer same so why aren't more Police forces doing this.

As I understand it it's a significant offence(s) eg illegal vehicle, no insurance, motorbike in pedestrian area, no licence (no L plates),etc.

Ian

The police can rarely catch them, as they can go through narrow alleys etc. and when they do catch them, there's injuries or worse, riots and cries of "he was such a good boy, never dun nuffink to no one"

 

[DRM]

The police can rarely catch them, as they can go through narrow alleys etc. and when they do catch them, there's injuries or worse, riots and cries of "he was such a good boy, never dun nuffink to no one"

And he loved his Mum/Grandma/Dog/Cat etc etc