Alien Typhoon.
- Thread starter Jimod
- Start date
My 2 personal cents.
If I buy a bike compliant with EU/UK laws, than I can not be held responsible for any margins either in court or within an insuranse dispute. In fact, I may also have a good case against the manufacturer of the bike if it is found not compliant with the regulations.
Buying/building the illegal bike and using it on public roads will make me directly responsible for all the possible outcomes of the misfortunate events. It's a game of chances which are very small, but I am sure that one of the illegal bike owners will eventually be made an example for all others.
If you still want to ride fast, you may want to make sure that it would be easier to make an example from someone else and not from you. In other words, having the biggest, nosiest and the shiniest hub motor may equally help you to get faster to your destination and to find some legal adventures really fast.
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good luck with buying your bike then as technically 200w is the legal continuous power limit in the UK at the moment...Edit: actually the 200w limit is British law if I understand Flecc's postings on this for NI I think the EU rating applies. IE: 250w
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Yes alexk, it's true that there exists the possibility that one of these days, someone riding an illegal ebike will be prosecuted. That, in itself, may be no big deal but it could bring the unwanted attention of various authorities including those who might see the fiscal opportunity in compulsory tax, registration, insurance, etc.
Frankly, those who boast of their machine's illegal performance in this forum are just plain stupid. If it's all about speed, there are other 2-wheeled machines which can go much faster. Those who purposely buy ebikes with "off-road" capability are the very people who will ensure ebikes incur stricter legislation in the future. If current legislation was such that electric bikes were limited to say, 10mph, with peak power limited to 150 or 200 watts, most of the Optibike/Aurora and similar types who probably only manage single figure distances on a charge would be riding some other type of powered machine and paying for the privilege.
It all strikes me as rather juvenile really and not a little pathetic.
Regards,
Indalo
Frankly, those who boast of their machine's illegal performance in this forum are just plain stupid. If it's all about speed, there are other 2-wheeled machines which can go much faster. Those who purposely buy ebikes with "off-road" capability are the very people who will ensure ebikes incur stricter legislation in the future. If current legislation was such that electric bikes were limited to say, 10mph, with peak power limited to 150 or 200 watts, most of the Optibike/Aurora and similar types who probably only manage single figure distances on a charge would be riding some other type of powered machine and paying for the privilege.
It all strikes me as rather juvenile really and not a little pathetic.
Regards,
Indalo
You will find most people on decent pedal unaided cycles travel faster than 15mph. In fact i have seen them cycle up to 30 mph and beyond before. I have been warned before now a few years ago for "speeding" on a pedal bike. It human nature to push things to the limit and the insinuation that people are buying off road biles or over powering their bikes just to go much faster is somewhat of an assumption. I think 15mph is too slow for a limit i think it should be set around 20mph but no higher than 25. If you dont want to cycle that fast then dont, just buy a slower bike or just pedal slower and stop moaning about others.
I do agree that its somewhat unnecessary to whiz around on a high powered 1kw motor at full tilt, i have had 158 mph out of my car (on a track) its also a road legal car but that doesnt mean i drive everywhere at 158 mph.
Oh and it will be the huge quantities of ebikes sold that will lead to regulation not speed. As fuel goes up in [rice more people will look for alternative transport and as ebikes get better more and more people will take them up therefore the government will decide to regulate it to generate income.
As for juvenile well a) not all of us are old on here and b) some things make people feel younger and imo theres nothing wrong with that.
Going purely by spec and the photos is seems to be broadly similar to the GSII the obvious differences to me are the £300 higher price, single front chain ring, 700c wheels, control panel with three assist levels and 19" frame. The forks, brakes, gear shifter, brake levers, motor and battery capacity all seem to be the same.OK getting back on topic. I don't care if someone rides an Aurora and I don'tcare if it's illegal.
There's a lot of choice at £900, what else have you looked at?
Jon, please give me credit for understanding that 15mph is not very fast and I can ride much faster on all my other unpowered bikes than I can on my heavy ebike.
The point I was making is that it doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks is reasonable as a maximum legal speed. The law has provided an envelope within which ebikes may be used legally on our roads yet we have people in this forum who openly boast about their illegal acquisitions and their ability to reach powered speeds way above the permitted limit.
"As for juvenile well a) not all of us are old on here and b) some things make people feel younger and imo theres nothing wrong with that."
God forbid that it ever happens to anyone close to you but if one of my loved ones were maimed or killed by some cretin riding an illegal ebike at 35mph, I'd be more than a little upset! The subtle difference, which you seem happy to ignore by your remark, is that the illegal bike shouldn't be on the road. A normal push bike, however, may be used legally and can be ridden at any speed consistent with prevailing limits.
You may say that the law is an ass but we are where we are and when people make up their own rules, openly defying the law, then there is something wrong with that.
Clearly, from your car story, you get a buzz from going fast. You're not alone in that but when it comes to two wheels, there already exists the means by which any of us can go fast. Those bikes have internal combustion engines attached and for me, it's simply wrong to glamorise or glorify ebikes which can be powered to illegal speeds, in some cases, without even pedalling.
Great game of football between Braga and Benfica!
Regards,
Indalo
Who boasts speed? Its all about torque
I understand both sides of the debate. If its 15mph on a road bike it does feel slow. But the motors are only assist for hills really etc and to go further than you ever would with out a little help.
I'm only young ish and love the push bike and although never really a keen cyclist love the fact it really is a viable commuting tool. Least when the weathers good.
I personally think 15mph is a bit low. But i imagine when the law was past the knew things would be going slightly faster and the average rider un assisted manager 12mph.
This way a speed limit of 15mph really does not change the way a push bike performs or the safety.
However at 20mph it is really another ball game.
I understand both sides of the debate. If its 15mph on a road bike it does feel slow. But the motors are only assist for hills really etc and to go further than you ever would with out a little help.
I'm only young ish and love the push bike and although never really a keen cyclist love the fact it really is a viable commuting tool. Least when the weathers good.
I personally think 15mph is a bit low. But i imagine when the law was past the knew things would be going slightly faster and the average rider un assisted manager 12mph.
This way a speed limit of 15mph really does not change the way a push bike performs or the safety.
However at 20mph it is really another ball game.
Do you care if the Typhoon is legal across UK? If yes, than you may want to ask for a written conformation from Alien that the bike is perfectly legal for UK use. Just to have your self covered in case s..t happens.OK getting back on topic. I don't care if someone rides an Aurora and I don'tcare if it's illegal.
If you don't care about legal issues, than there are better Alien bikes to choose from. There are also some nice bikes from Xipi.co.uk, which allow you to ride the bike either in "legal-like" 250Watt mode or to boost it to the off-road 800Wt.
"another ball game" .. dead right. I've got a 180 watt front hub and I averaged 19.3 mph recently due to near perfect conditions for my route. I was flying! ..At times I was doing 25 mph un-assisted and 46 mph down my steepest hill .... If all my commutes were like that I would have to seriously consider some body armour i.e. motorbike leathers .. Also .. it surprises people when you go that fast on a bicycle and if I hit anything or anyone at that speed then its going to hurt (see pigeon video "my first road kill" if you haven't already!)Who boasts speed? Its all about torque
I understand both sides of the debate. If its 15mph on a road bike it does feel slow. But the motors are only assist for hills really etc and to go further than you ever would with out a little help.
I'm only young ish and love the push bike and although never really a keen cyclist love the fact it really is a viable commuting tool. Least when the weathers good.
I personally think 15mph is a bit low. But i imagine when the law was past the knew things would be going slightly faster and the average rider un assisted manager 12mph.
This way a speed limit of 15mph really does not change the way a push bike performs or the safety.
However at 20mph it is really another ball game.
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