Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes

[Webbo2]

I was out walking the dog whilst at my daughter and son in laws. They are based in Leuchars which is a British army base in Fife. The housing is no longer in the base and just part of the village housing, some is even let to Asylum seekers.
I got wizzed by a young lad on a electric scooter looking like he was heading to the village shop. I did wonder about saying something but I didn’t fancy having a row with some giant squaddie.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Today I was sent a link to supposedly legal folding ebike with an optional throttle for an extra £200, that the UK company uses to get a dvsa certificate for that specific bike that is sent to you.

Pedibal Navigata, hadn't even heard of company.

One YouTube video I came across, filmed in Clacton iirc, said the ebike will only exceed 15.5mph when the 5-speed assistance mode is changed to 0, which sounded a bit odd.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Today I was sent a link to supposedly legal folding ebike with an optional throttle for an extra £200, that the UK company uses to get a dvsa certificate for that specific bike that is sent to you.

Pedibal Navigata, hadn't even heard of company.

One YouTube video I came across, filmed in Clacton iirc, said the ebike will only exceed 15.5mph when the 5-speed assistance mode is changed to 0, which sounded a bit odd.

As far as I know the ability to set it to ignore the motor speed cutoff make it illegal

and if it has a throttle of any kind it need single vehicle approval - which I presume is what they mean

sounds dodgy but might just be OK

 

[Drago]

As far as I know the ability to set it to ignore the motor speed cutoff make it illegal

Correct. A hidden setting in the menu or physical switch that overrides 15.5mph renders the bike illegal by default.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

As far as I know the ability to set it to ignore the motor speed cutoff make it illegal

and if it has a throttle of any kind it need single vehicle approval - which I presume is what they mean

sounds dodgy but might just be OK

I think you misunderstood me about the 15.5mph bit, the Clacton lady video suggested the ebike refused to go over 15.5mph full stop unless the motor was turned off manually, whereas normally you/I on legal ebikes could stay in whichever assist mode and could ride above that speed and simply get no help from the motor.
But I'm now thinking Clacton lady was wrong and she simply didn't have the power herself to ride aove the motor cutoff speed.

Here's a review from a different reviewer, not someone I watch regularly, but I recognised her face in the video review preview...


It does beg the question, that if the throttle is legal, why aren't other companies offering this for £200 too? Lack of places to do the test on the specific ebike ordered by customer in the UK? It uses more battery, but could be enormous help for some, even if just for a few minutes pedalling rest.

 

[classic33]

I think you misunderstood me about the 15.5mph bit, the Clacton lady video suggested the ebike refused to go over 15.5mph full stop unless the motor was turned off manually, whereas normally you/I on legal ebikes could stay in whichever assist mode and could ride above that speed and simply get no help from the motor.
But I'm now thinking Clacton lady was wrong and she simply didn't have the power herself to ride aove the motor cutoff speed.

Here's a review from a different reviewer, not someone I watch regularly, but I recognised her face in the video review preview...


It does beg the question, that if the throttle is legal, why aren't other companies offering this for £200 too? Lack of places to do the test on the specific ebike ordered by customer in the UK? It uses more battery, but could be enormous help for some, even if just for a few minutes pedalling rest.

There's currently no e-assist cycles that have type approval in the UK. You can put one through the MVSA, which if it passes would get it approved and reclassified, allowing the throttle. But brings a host of other issues to the fore as well. It no longer being a pedal cycle being the biggest.

From memory, there's fewer than half a dozen testing centres able to handle e-assist bikes on an MVSA, covering the whole of the UK. There's another bike manufacturer that was putting a newly bought bike through the approval scheme, but they've gone quiet of late. Similar price charged by them for this service.

Video is over 18 months old.