Just checking in

[mreadman]

Hi all – new to the site. I've owned a Pedego Cruiser Tandem for the past five years, which is a blast and a head–turner, but a bit of a beast! I'm toying with getting something a bit more transportable, so hope to draw on the collective intelligence and experience of the forum.

 

[sjpt]

A blast (if used on UK roads) partly because it has an illegal 500w nominal motor.
We just moved from a Viking tandem with Woosh conversion (XF07) to an 2nd hand Ecosmo.

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The change was mainly because the Ecosmo is easier to step over; I was finding the Viking increasingly difficult. Also, the Ecosmo folds so is much easier for transport. These are both rated 250w, so legal but almost certainly not so blasty as yours.

The Ecosmo is looking good so far with some changes. I needed a slightly higher seat post for me; I'm around 5'10" (maybe a little less now!) We also swapped over the stoker post and saddle for the Suntour NX12 we had on the Woosh. The top gear is very low, about 50". I'm considering changing the 14-28 freewheel to an 11-28 or 11-32 which will take it to around 60-65". We also moved across our two sonorous bells.

When we have finished tinkering and ridden for a few hundred miles I'll post a bit of a review.
Our tandem rides are mainly fairly short and not very fast. I wouldn't suggest either the Viking or the Ecosmo for longer distances.
Most other foldable (transportable) tandems are in a much higher price bracket; I can't give any first hand opinion on them.

 

[mreadman]

@sjpt – interesting. Must admit, when I bought it in 2017 (so 8 years ago not 5) from Pedego Cotswolds I didn't even consider the power of the motor – I just wanted to replicate what I'd enjoyed riding on holiday in America. It's not a 'blast' because it's fast, but it's a real pleasure to cycle relatively effortlessly with PAS on rolling terrain at about 15–17mph.

 

[sjpt]

Another aspect of pedelec laws in GB (*) is that there most be no assistance above 15.5mps (with 10% tolerance). You can go as fast as you like (are able) with pedalling or downhill, just not assisted. You might just get your assisted 17mph; or decide to be happy with 15mph. Throttle rules are also a bit confusing.

With stock gearing I couldn't pedal the Ecosmo at 15mph; but I think it would probably manage that speed on top assistance on rolling ground. That would mean 100% motor work, no energy input from us; just keep the pedals moving to keep the motor system on (ghost pedalling). Don't expect much range from the battery in that case. I'll try it next time we are out, we just got back from a short ride, early to avoid the heat.

In the past the police have been pretty relaxed about the precise rules, especially for people riding sensibly. The main risk was possible consequences if involved in accident, so police or other parties insurance looked deeper into the details. As you will see from other threads (especially https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/more-seizures.48053) they are being much more proactive now, even picking up on minor legal details such as labelling.

(*) Not sure about NI; there have been anomalies that made almost all ebikes illegal there; not sure if they are finally sorted to match UK (almost same as EU regs).

 

[flecc]

(*) Not sure about NI; there have been anomalies that made almost all ebikes illegal there; not sure if they are finally sorted to match UK (almost same as EU regs).

Yes, that is all sorted now and in fact they are more in line than we are:

"Northern Ireland has its own Road Traffic jurisdiction,
though they mainly follow ours. The mainland UK 1983 law as amended by the 2015 law were only adopted from 13th May 2020 in Northern Ireland. They already had the 14 years lowest age limit to ride pedelecs via our 1988 RTA which they adopted there in their 1995 RTA. They also have the same EU regulations."

but don't have the Type Approval dodge we use to have a throttle. Nor does any other country following EU style law, since that dodge makes them motor vehicles and not EAPCs in law, only having ministerial approval in Great Britain.
.