raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Not if the bike was built before the current regs came into force in 2016
Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes
- Thread starter Dogtrousers
- Start date
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Not if the bike was built before the current regs came into force in 2016
OP
OP
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
classic33
Leg End Member
They're fitted, that much is obvious from the picture. Working is something that can't be seen.That's OK then. I'll happily ride a ratty old MTB at 90 mph if it's got disc brakes
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
Not sure they would stop it safely from those speeds!
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
Those regulation also say max power is 200W rather than 250W and a few other little bits
I had one - it was only 180w - the difference when I got my current one was amazing!
Saying "capable of 100mph" is sensationalist bollox. An outright lie. The wheel might spin at that speed, which means it's a reasonable test for legality but with air resistance it's against the laws of physics for the bike to travel at that speed. While illegally modified ebikes are a big problem, and it's bad enough that scrotes are tearing round on them at 30-40mph, fearmongering people into thinking they can reach 100 mph is going to whip up more moral panic. It's deeply irresponsible reporting.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
What about if it were ridden in a vacuum, or by a pointy headed rider laying horizontally?
classic33
Leg End Member
When they can reach just shy of 60mph, would it still be fearmongering?
https://www.magnetmotos.co.uk/elect...rDCJSvyVyNHd8Cslmr7JYJoKKOsb52JcGDJzg440FJXJB
The above sold as road legal.
Straw man argument. The Sur-Ron you linked is not a converted BSO like the one in the article, it's a completely different animal. It's sold as road legal as it can be registered as a motorcycle*, which of course it is, equivalent to a 125cc. And it also looks like one.
With articles like that they are planting the seed that anything that looks like a normal bicycle with a battery and motor is capable of similar performance, which is total fearmongering. This then tarnishes the image in the public consciousness of legal EAPCs.
* According to the website anyway, I don't know the ins and out of motorcycle classifications.
Edited to add: I'm not complaining about the seizure, it was clearly illegal. I'm complaining about the reporting.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
What if the rider was shaven headed, naked, greased up and high on amphetamines? That'd be an easy ton in the bag.
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
I think you are confusing this thread with some of your "special interest" websites
This is about cycling - sometimes anyway
classic33
Leg End Member
A converted bike was seized in the town centre early last year. The rider was boasting that he'd led police on a 60mph chase.
26 inch wheel, with the motor taking up half of the space. Twin pack of batteries slung over the top tube provided the power.
He'd crashed when the rim brakes failed to slow him enough to take a corner.
With regards tarnishing bikes that comply with the current regulations has already been done. A year ago you could report a dozen in the centre of Leeds, that were clearly illegal, and the police wouldn't do a thing. Their reasoning, it had pedals it was a legal e-bike, it may have had no chain, but that didn't matter because the pedals were fitted.
Then, in the middle of this year something changed. They started stopping, and seizing, what they let continue on their way at the start of the year. And it's on the simple things, that can be checked, and dealt with at the roadside. Throttle cut-off speed, lights, the ability to propel the bikes by pedal power alone.
Maybe so, and quite right it was seized. If the bike in the article had been that one, and they'd said 60 mph, I'd have had no problem with it. The one shown however is one of the bog standard ones we see all over. You quite can't see the motor but judging by the amount of spoke showing I'd guess it's the common 1000w type which could get it to 30-35mph, but not much more. Googling tells me a 5000w motor would get to 60mph, but 100mph is in a different league.
Drag increases with the square of velocity and the power required to maintain the speed increases with the cube. Not even road legal 125cc bikes will do 100.
I still say 100 mph based on how fast the wheel might spin lifted of the ground, is a ludicrous, sensationalist, fearmongering claim.
classic33
Leg End Member
The police don't need to check that the bike is capable of faster than the legal speed limit for an e-bike to be legal.
If it goes more than walk assist speed, with no input from the rider, it's illegal.
What speed would two motors get you up to? One on each wheel. It seemed to be standard on the mountain bikes used in the town centre. Before they were seized and removed from the pavements.
If your issue is with the reported speed and the way they were tested, check some of the videos from Leeds police. They show a display fitted to the handlebars which gives the speed. I believe in the city centre a dynamometer has been used to get the speed.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Cough. Cagiva Mito. Cough. Aprilia RS. Cough. Nineties Suzuki RG. Cough. Mito Evolutione . Cough.
All ton+ 125s, at 101, 104, 105 and 107 respectively.
All in full power form, natch.
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