Just bought one of these.....

wildebus said:
Trev, what aspect of this makes you say this precisely?
Power Level? Max Speed? Being electric at all?

Be good to understand as, as you know, rules vary between NI and GB and maybe some of what you are saying is NI-specific?
Click to expand...
No we never were allowed them, but halfords sold them and folk got taken to court, so after 2 years are gov adopted mainland rules, ie must be no more than 250w and have a top speed of 15 mph and pedal assist, no hand throttle alllowed.
I read in the papers there was a big clear out in london and other citys as folk were whizzing on f/paths knocking people down, police know what there looking for and it would only be a matter of time util your cought, any way were are ment to be law abidders on here not bandits. 😂 😂 😂
 
trevskoda said:
No we never were allowed them, but halfords sold them and folk got taken to court, so after 2 years are gov adopted mainland rules, ie must be no more than 250w and have a top speed of 15 mph and pedal assist, no hand throttle alllowed.
I read in the papers there was a big clear out in london and other citys as folk were whizzing on f/paths knocking people down, police know what there looking for and it would only be a matter of time util your cought, any way were are ment to be law abidders on here not bandits. 😂 😂 😂
Click to expand...

Don't believe the papers 😂 There ain't been no clear out.

Not the bikes as being discussed here, by place is full of electric scooters and similar, road and pavement.
I think they are a brilliant way of getting around, they are also a PIA. :)
 
Maybe where you are, but the cops before lockdown were lifting them of folk and taking to the station, if there parents came to collect they then got points or worse as you are responsable as a parent for your kids to there 14 years of age, as for adults ridding them, very few here, i also saw one getting nailed by the plod in glenarm harbour, i stayed within earshot as i love a good fight, and it was.
 
mistericeman said:
It does fold up quite nicely....

To be honest I suspect unless you were being a complete knob on it the few police we have... Are likely busier with other more important things.

Just been out and done about 10 miles or so of mixed road/local country park...

Great fun AND I certainly couldn't have managed 10 miles on my road bike without practice (it's been a good while due to knee and foot issues)
Nice and controlled with pedal assist AND thumb throttle when I ran out of arsedness for pedalling...
The suspension with fat tyres was also very welcome.
Click to expand...

Ah so it is a folder also. Looks great. A bit heavy for lugging into the Luton of the van maybe. I fancy one just for cycling around here though in the Dales. I can manage 5-8 miles these days on a good day on my normal hybrid but we are surrounded by hills. I could get further afield on one of them. If the rozzers pulled me I would just laugh and say whaddya mean it's too fast and powerful? Clearly im an athlete! Might be a laugh on the fields and moors as well.
 
Fat tyres are good off road but wheels that small do not make for good stability on a bike. Arthritis may eventually push me to go electric but I'd never go smaller than a 26 inch wheel.
 
trevskoda said:
No we never were allowed them, but halfords sold them and folk got taken to court, so after 2 years are gov adopted mainland rules, ie must be no more than 250w and have a top speed of 15 mph and pedal assist, no hand throttle alllowed.
I read in the papers there was a big clear out in london and other citys as folk were whizzing on f/paths knocking people down, police know what there looking for and it would only be a matter of time util your cought, any way were are ment to be law abidders on here not bandits. 😂 😂 😂
Click to expand...
That is not quite right.
You can have a hand throttle (called a ‘twist and go’ EAPC) , and don't HAVE to use the pedals to make it go - they just have to HAVE pedals - "An EAPC must have pedals that can be used to propel it". Note the 'can be used to propel it' rather than 'must be used to propel it. Bit like the original Mopeds that had pedals but no one used it.
Same as the top speed - you can go more than 15MPH but not using electric power.

(I actually have a UK road legal ‘twist and go’ Electric Bike ;) )
 
Robmac said:
Not road legal from what I can gather, but I would imagine it unlikely that you would be stopped.

Great little machine to carry on a motorhome, especially if it's got some light off-roading capability.
Click to expand...

Everything is usually Ok until there is an accident and someone gets hurt then it's a totally different kettle of fish.
 
wildebus said:
That is not quite right.
You can have a hand throttle (called a ‘twist and go’ EAPC) , and don't HAVE to use the pedals to make it go - they just have to HAVE pedals - "An EAPC must have pedals that can be used to propel it". Note the 'can be used to propel it' rather than 'must be used to propel it. Bit like the original Mopeds that had pedals but no one used it.
Same as the top speed - you can go more than 15MPH but not using electric power.

(I actually have a UK road legal ‘twist and go’ Electric Bike ;) )
Click to expand...
To be legal in the uk it must only be pedal assist and no hand throttle.
 
caledonia said:
To be legal in the uk it must only be pedal assist and no hand throttle.
Click to expand...
The only exemption is if there were bought before the new rules came in, grandads rights, but they only had 200w motor , now 250w but must be pedal assist, no hand throttle.
Halfrods had a big legal sticker board up after the trouble they had to try and get sales moving again, but think its went pear shape as no one is buying, facebook is full of folk trying to empty their stores of ones they have been caught out with.
 
My neighbour bought an electric bike, I assembled it for him when it arrived in its box. Frighteningly fast off the mark without using the pedals and sub standard brakes. Death trap.
 
Red Dwarf said:
My neighbour bought an electric bike, I assembled it for him when it arrived in its box. Frighteningly fast off the mark without using the pedals and sub standard brakes. Death trap.
Click to expand...

Reason I made sure one I bought had hydraulic disks ;-)
 
I was driving through our local town recently in a 30 limit when an electric bike with a lad about 12 or 13 on it overtook me doing about 45!
 
caledonia said:
To be legal in the uk it must only be pedal assist and no hand throttle.
Click to expand...
nope, incorrect.

from the UK Government website:
www.gov.uk

Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance

Electric bikes meeting the EAPC regulations can be ridden on the road without being taxed, licensed or insured
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

What counts as an EAPC

An EAPC must have pedals that can be used to propel it.


It must show either:
  • the power output
  • the manufacturer of the motor

It must also show either:
  • the battery’s voltage
  • the maximum speed of the bike

Its electric motor:
  • must have a maximum power output of 250 watts
  • should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph

An EAPC can have more than 2 wheels (for example, a tricycle).





See this note:
" If a bike meets the EAPC requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed. "

And at the bottom of the page
"Getting vehicle approval for your electric bike

An electric bike must be type approved if either:
  • it can be propelled without pedalling (a ‘twist and go’ EAPC)"
So a 'twist and go' EAPC is still an EAPC. There is nothing in the "What counts as an EAPC" that says it must be pedal assist and no hand throttle to be an EPAC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top