Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes

[Drago]

When I was at my fittest,probably around my early 40s, I could easily maintain a speed in excess of a legal ebike. Uphill or down dale. Indeed, when I got my first ebike I had to learn to slow down to benefit, which took a lot to overcome the ingrained habit of grinding everywhere at warp 9.

Now though, while I can still easily peak past an ebike and in good conditions maintain an average above 15.5, it ain't getting easier and I dont even bother trying to uphill, any more.

 

[Dogtrousers]

250W will comfortably propel you along 18+ mph on the flat. In a pack over 20mph is easily achievable.

But I am a human e-bike. I have a 15.5mph cutout.

Any faster on the flat just wastes energy fighting the wind. And I'd blow up pretty quickly if I tried to ride around everywhere at threshold. I am a human e-bike with a not very big battery.

 

[DCLane]

I caught and passed someone on an illegal e-bike on this morning's commute - no pedalling up a slope, so throttle only.

They got a bit of a shock.

 

[classic33]

The law as it applies in 2025.
https://emovement.co.uk/blogs/news/electric-bike-laws-uk

 

[Drago]

The law as it applies in 2025.
https://emovement.co.uk/blogs/news/electric-bike-laws-uk

Sadly not very well written.

 

[CXRAndy]

The law as it applies in 2025.
https://emovement.co.uk/blogs/news/electric-bike-laws-uk

Err

Its incorrect

. EAPCs – Road Legal
EAPC stands for ‘Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle’. In the UK, you don’t require a licence to ride a pedal-assisted e-bike or get it insured, taxed, and registered, given its motor is below 250w and speed below 15.5km/h.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Err

Its incorrect

. EAPCs – Road Legal
EAPC stands for ‘Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle’. In the UK, you don’t require a licence to ride a pedal-assisted e-bike or get it insured, taxed, and registered, given its motor is below 250w and speed below 15.5km/h.

What's wrong with that? I mean there are fine details like "continuously rated" and "assistance cutoff" that they have missed, and possibly other details about throttles, grandfathered-in bikes etc but it's broadly true, if a bit imprecise.

This, however, is dodgy ...

You can ride an EAPC without a licence. On the other hand, if you exceed the speed limit or ride an off-road electric bicycle that doesn’t follow the EAPC rules, you can be prosecuted for riding without a licence and insurance. Additionally, exceeding the speed limit for any e-bike can result in getting a fine or points on your license

As they've gone to pains to explain that an EAPC is a type of e-bike, using the term "any e-bike" implies you can get points for speeding on an EAPC which I don't think is true, is it?

 

[CXRAndy]

What's wrong with that? I mean there are fine details like "continuously rated" and "assistance cutoff" that they have missed, and possibly other details about throttles, grandfathered-in bikes etc but it's broadly true, if a bit imprecise.

This, however, is dodgy ...

You can ride an EAPC without a licence. On the other hand, if you exceed the speed limit or ride an off-road electric bicycle that doesn’t follow the EAPC rules, you can be prosecuted for riding without a licence and insurance. Additionally, exceeding the speed limit for any e-bike can result in getting a fine or points on your license

As they've gone to pains to explain that an EAPC is a type of e-bike, using the term "any e-bike" implies you can get points for speeding on an EAPC which I don't think is true, is it.

Its 25kph not 15.5kph

It should have said 15.5MPH

 

[Dogtrousers]

Its 25kph not 15.5kph

It should have said 15.5MPH

duh. I didn't notice that

 

[Drago]

implies you can get points for speeding on an EAPC which I don't think is true, is it?

Correct. A legal EAPC has the same legislative status as a bicycle, and speed limits do not apply to bicycles.

 

[tom73]

Clearly this lad thinks the current speed limit is not fast enough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgk0glxw3mo

 

[Dogtrousers]

Clearly this lad thinks the current speed limit is not fast enough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgk0glxw3mo

Well strictly speaking it's just the assistance cut-out limit. Maybe his motor had cut out and he was pedalling at 45mph, and thus completely blameless. The article isn't clear on that point.

 

[Jenkins]

And it's not just illegal ebikes now - wouldn't have liked to ride that, especially as it's only got rim brakes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c891jv14lzgo

 

[classic33]

And it's not just illegal ebikes now - wouldn't have liked to ride that, especially as it's only got rim brakes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c891jv14lzgo

There was one modified in the same way running round here. Forgot about a bend in the road. Low wall saved him.

 

[mjr]

Re speed travelling above 15mph is very common for most regular cyclists,

Not for much of any ride, surely?