Is it easy to bypass the 15mph limit on E-bikes?

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raleighnut

Legendary Member
Aye laddie, he seemed pretty determined. I think he was successful in the end.

This chap got a bicycle through MSVA. View attachment 427517
Looks very much like a 'Raleigh Wisp' motor grafted in there so shouldn't be too difficult.


View: https://youtu.be/BLrgBV_tdC8
 
I thought about an electric motorbike a few weeks ago and started googling. Within 10 minutes I'd found the sequence of levers and buttons to pull to lift the maximum speed from 30 to 40.
It's very rare to see an L plate moped only going 30 round here.
So where there's a will there's a way with anything.
 

jowwy

Can't spell, Can't Punctuate....Sue Me
[QUOTE 5366045, member: 9609"]so when you see someone on an E Bike and they are not pedalling then that has been fiddled with and is no longer legal ? caus it is just like a motor bike.

I see someone who never pedals, they don't go fast and are not riding dangerously but they certainly dont pedal.

Am I correct in thinking the electric motor can only assist your pedalling ?[/QUOTE]
My ebike is pedal assist.....if you dont pedal, it dont work.

Even though people like crankarm think differently........
 
[QUOTE 5366045, member: 9609"]so when you see someone on an E Bike and they are not pedalling then that has been fiddled with and is no longer legal ? caus it is just like a motor bike.

I see someone who never pedals, they don't go fast and are not riding dangerously but they certainly dont pedal.

Am I correct in thinking the electric motor can only assist your pedalling ?[/QUOTE]

The law changed about a year ago. Prior to that you could have a throttle, so you didn't need to pedal. These still remain legal to use, just can't be sold on new bikes anymore. I've got one. On all new bikes sold now, you have to pedal in order for the motor to then engage and assist with your pedalling, up to the legal limit of 15.5mph, above which the motor must cut out.
 
D

Deleted member 26715

Guest
So my disabled friend, who had a bike that did this and didn't dare stop on a hill because he wouldn't be strong enough to pedal to get started again, is now unable to buy a bike he can use?
Surely not, I have no experience in this, but logically if your friend is able to stand on one leg & apply pressure to a pedal with the other then the motor should kick in assuming I have understood it correctly.
 
D

Deleted member 26715

Guest
Well, not on a hill. He had a bike like this and he sold it because he just wasn't able to put enough power into the pedals up a hill to get the motor to kick in.
Okay I just sort of presumed it would have some type of pressure switch, when it felt the effort it started the motor, but I think some may have proportional type ones so the more pressure the speed etc.
 
So my disabled friend, who had a bike that did this and didn't dare stop on a hill because he wouldn't be strong enough to pedal to get started again, is now unable to buy a bike he can use?

Possibly not. The new rules do allow a throttle to help setting off without pedalling, but for the power to continue once the speed gets above 3.7 mph, the pedals must be going round. However, not all bikes will be sold with a throttle, so your friend would have to make sure he goes to a specialist dealer to get the correct setup.
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
That's good. It maybe the case there's a loophole that add-on conversion kits could easily be imported which still come with a throttle.

Possessing a conversion kit which has a full speed throttle is not an offence

The offence is using it where the public has access.

Thus 'illegal' kits can be sold openly, which they are.
 

TheDoctor

Europe Endless
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
Not sure a 250W motor would take you faster than 15mph anyway, regardless of speed restrictions.
Don't faster e-bikes come with 500-1000W motors?
 
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