Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes

[classic33]

Police using electric bikes to catch illegal e-bikes. 16 seized, and taken for crushing.
https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/09/inside-mission-stop-illegal-e-bikes-whizzing-around-london-25277360/

 

[mjr]

Police using electric bikes to catch illegal e-bikes. 16 seized, and taken for crushing.
https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/09/inside-mission-stop-illegal-e-bikes-whizzing-around-london-25277360/

Seen it elsewhere. In fact, the police are using Surron e-motorbikes, as a proper legal e-bike at 15mph isn't going to be much help catching the illegal e-motorbikes. Is it actually possible to register some Surrons as motorbikes, or are the police being a bit 'do as we say, not as we do'?

Edit to add: it seems the L1E and variants can be, but max speed is 45mph, which will catch more dodgy motorbikes but not the fastest.

 

[classic33]

Seen it elsewhere. In fact, the police are using Surron e-motorbikes, as a proper legal e-bike at 15mph isn't going to be much help catching the illegal e-motorbikes. Is it actually possible to register some Surrons as motorbikes, or are the police being a bit 'do as we say, not as we do'?

Edit to add: it seems the L1E and variants can be, but max speed is 45mph, which will catch more dodgy motorbikes but not the fastest.

Which is why I clearly said electric bikes to catch illegal e-bikes.

It is possible to register a Sur-Ron. The fact that they are electric motorbikes, not an ICE one being the major difference.
But you knew this already.

 

[mjr]

Which is why I clearly said electric bikes to catch illegal e-bikes.

Nothing clear about that statement, especially on this site where "bikes" is usually used for pedal bicycles, not motorbikes.

But I feel you knew this already and were baiting for clicks.

 

[classic33]

Nothing clear about that statement, especially on this site where "bikes" is usually used for pedal bicycles, not motorbikes.

But I feel you knew this already and were baiting for clicks.

The post you quoted, and are questioning clearly said electric bikes, not just "bikes".
Clearly differentiated between electric bikes and e-bikes.

 

[Alex321]

The post you quoted, and are questioning clearly said electric bikes, not just "bikes".
Clearly differentiated between electric bikes and e-bikes.

So just what do YOU define as the difference (which may be clear to you, but may not be as clear to others).

The e- in e-bikes is just a shortening of electric bikes, or often used for the even fuller Electric Assist Pedal Cycles.

It was only the context, and the fact you had used two different forms of words in the one sentence that made it clear(ish) you were talking about two different things.

 

[classic33]

So just what do YOU define as the difference (which may be clear to you, but may not be as clear to others).

The e- in e-bikes is just a shortening of electric bikes, or often used for the even fuller Electric Assist Pedal Cycles.

It was only the context, and the fact you had used two different forms of words in the one sentence that made it clear(ish) you were talking about two different things.

Also given in the linked article.

 

[Alex321]

Also given in the linked article.

Not really.

The first paragraph

Police are racing through city streets on powerful e-bikes to take down criminals using them to snatch watches, phones and bags from pedestrians.

And later

The Met now has a fleet of Surron e-bikes which can exceed a speed of 50mph.

It did at one point say

But they are now being pursued by Met officers on their own electric bikes to level the playing field.

But that still doesn't really suggest that they see any difference between "e-bikes" and "electric bikes".

 

[Drago]

The surrons are electric motorcycles, and whether used by s***bags or met officers, whether properly registered and documented or not, should be referred to as such.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Does anyone know if an Surron can actually be a legal electric motorbike
Clearly it can be registered - but does it have the necessary "thingy whatsit and doofa" to pass the regulation
and can it be MOT'd

OK - I'm not sure what I mean - but basically is it up to standard in the way a Suzuki would be?

 

[Drago]

Does anyone know if an Surron can actually be a legal electric motorbike
Clearly it can be registered - but does it have the necessary "thingy whatsit and doofa" to pass the regulation
and can it be MOT'd

OK - I'm not sure what I mean - but basically is it up to standard in the way a Suzuki would be?

Yes, you can buy road registered legal versions but theyre very spendy.

 

[Dogtrousers]

There's an article here that says yes you can buy Sur-Ron bikes with "thingy whatsit and doofah" that are road legal

https://www.mxbits.com/blogs/news/are-sur-ron-electric-bikes-legal-in-the-uk-what-you-need-to-know

As @Drago says they are not cheap. £4,500 for a road legal L1E
https://revmonkeyuk.com/shop/surron/surron-light-bee-l1e/

But there are more that aren't legal. Sorry, are perfectly legal for off road use with landowner's permission.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

There's an article here that says yes you can buy Sur-Ron bikes with "thingy whatsit and doofah" that are road legal

https://www.mxbits.com/blogs/news/are-sur-ron-electric-bikes-legal-in-the-uk-what-you-need-to-know

As @Drago says they are not cheap. £4,500 for a road legal L1E
https://revmonkeyuk.com/shop/surron/surron-light-bee-l1e/

But there are more that aren't legal. Sorry, are perfectly legal for off road use with landowner's permission.

Thanks - that is what I expected

They really need to find a way of stopping people selling these things - they know they are "very likely" to be used on the road but can get away with it in some small print

no idea how

 

[Alex321]

Thanks - that is what I expected

They really need to find a way of stopping people selling these things - they know they are "very likely" to be used on the road but can get away with it in some small print

no idea how

I have no idea how eiter.

Unless they are made illegal to even own, then they can't rationally be made illegal to sell.

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's not a new situation. When I was a lad in the 70s I had a mate whose dad was into motorbike trials. We'd go along to watch sometimes. People would arrive with trial bikes on trailers.

It was (and is) perfectly valid to own an off-road bike for off-road use.

As far as I remember the roads weren't full of unregistered trial bikes in the 70s. I have no doubt that a fair few were ridden that way sometimes, but buying dirt bikes with the sole intention of riding them on the road in towns wasn't a widespread thing. Not that I remember at least. It probably went on here and the but not much.