BBC Breakfast item today on illegally modded ebikes

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classic33

Leg End Member
COuple of articles from Road.cc that I saw today

First about Police tackling illegal ebikes

https://road.cc/news/cycling-live-b...with police to discuss modified e-motorbikes

Hope they know about old pre-2016 ebikes that allowed a Throttle
and the concept of DVLA "single vehicle authorisation for one as well
but they are a very small minority so great if they do it properly


and James May making sense about "Bike breaking the speed limit"

https://road.cc/news/very-few-peopl...limit-on-a-bike-says-james-may#comment-921783
Police in Leeds city centre have been getting them on unassisted speed. Drive wheel(s) placed on a dyno and simply checking if the cut-off speed is the legal limit.
 
Location
Widnes
Police in Leeds city centre have been getting them on unassisted speed. Drive wheel(s) placed on a dyno and simply checking if the cut-off speed is the legal limit.

I've seen that - but they do not seem to be pedalling

it looked like they were just testing the speed using the throttle
which would make it (normally) illegal anyway

which was confusing
 

classic33

Leg End Member
I've seen that - but they do not seem to be pedalling

it looked like they were just testing the speed using the throttle
which would make it (normally) illegal anyway

which was confusing
If they're not cutting out at the 151/2 limit they've been seizing them there and then.

Gets round the grandfather rights of older bikes, with no special training on them. Those that might have been put through the MVSA are marked upon passing the test/assessment. And will have paperwork to prove it. None of those seized so far have been put through the MVSA.
 
Location
Widnes
If they're not cutting out at the 151/2 limit they've been seizing them there and then.

Gets round the grandfather rights of older bikes, with no special training on them. Those that might have been put through the MVSA are marked upon passing the test/assessment. And will have paperwork to prove it. None of those seized so far have been put through the MVSA.

Yes - still running after 15.5 then illegal

but the images I have seen do not show anyone pedalling or otherwise turning the pedals

Now, if they can power it over walking speed using a throttle or anything - then you don;t need to go any further
but the ones I have seen , the rear wheel was spinning at speed
and the copper was standing next to it

Has anyone seen them testing one by turning the pedals??

I'm not worried about mine as I know it is legal

but idle curiosity really about how they test them
 

classic33

Leg End Member
Yes - still running after 15.5 then illegal

but the images I have seen do not show anyone pedalling or otherwise turning the pedals

Now, if they can power it over walking speed using a throttle or anything - then you don;t need to go any further
but the ones I have seen , the rear wheel was spinning at speed
and the copper was standing next to it

Has anyone seen them testing one by turning the pedals??

I'm not worried about mine as I know it is legal

but idle curiosity really about how they test them
From my understanding they're been showing what they've been failed for. Vehicle, not the rider.
The MVSA, which reclassifies the bike as a light moped(with everything that goes with riding a moped), allows throttle control upto the 151/2 mph cut-off speed. The test is for any where the "motor assist" goes beyond the cut-off speed. Speeds above the 40 mph mark are commonplace, and the motor isn't cutting out.
 
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