Wasn't directing that comment at you, GaRRy.
I agree with you on this in principle (all above). But I personally believe it sufficient to disclose that the bike has SVA as a category L1e moped. There ought to be some straightforward mechanism of granting such vehicles a tax disc and registration. If not, then it is impossible to register a bike with EU harmonised category approval in the UK and that position needs to be corrected. If we're getting anal about it then the practical point of whether the registered vehicle is in turn permitted to be ridden in the UK and subject to what conditions is a separate one which will no doubt keep some people occupied for a considerable period, willingly or otherwise depending on their job descriptions in the appropriate authorities and their other priorities !
There's nothing to stop owners of registered L1e mopeds going to Germany in their campervans and riding them over there with an insurance cover note. In principle !
Regarding the bit in bold, the key point here is that if 50Cycles did this then that's a risk they are choosing to run and I cannot agree with competing businesses like Kudos who elect not to run those risks trying to take legal steps about speculation over this where others are concerned. There is only one way to interpret that behaviour as already elaborated at length above - and it's basically seems no more than toys out of the pram. Many of those buying S-Pedelecs in all likelihood would not bother buying a regular eBike at all so any notion that sales are being diverted to those bikes from the rest of the market is most likely, on the whole, misconceived.
A lot of truth here - most eBikers would not want to be involved so the likes of the mass selling price-undercutters ought not to be getting involved either and imo should back off and leave well alone.
50Cycles do inform customers who make enquiries regarding the matters above relating to S-Pedelecs in my personal experience.
With regard to the bit in bold, you are absolutely right - and EVERY dealer I spoke to when looking for an eBike did precisely that. I am not going to name names but they ALL misled me into believing that the 250W bikes they had available to sell were legal to ride in the UK before any amnesty against prosecution had been announced by the DfT. They technically left me open to a risk of contravention of the UK Road Traffic Act and a considerably lengthy and expensive process to contest any charge with nothing more it seems than the hope that some convoluted legal defence, perhaps relying on referral to a European Court might work in my favour if there was an incident - but no guarantees.
If dealers weren't aware of the legal position then, they ought to have been. As it turns out the technical infractions on account of riding the bike in good faith prior to the Amnesty date did not lead to any adverse consequence and the Amnesty is now in force.
So, let he (or she) who is without sin cast the first stone on matters relating to misleading customers in the eBike industry about the legality of use of eBikes on the road in the UK. As a customer, I have absolutely no time for certain dealers (now that they have what they wanted in the Amnesty which protects their core market) attempting to whitewash themselves over this serious historical omission on all their parts that is being brushed under the carpet in a shower of mud-slinging over what is or is not told to customers about S-Pedelecs. An e-Bike I did get sufficient relevant facts about to decide it wasn't for me was an S-Pedelec - as it happens, from 50Cycles.
Few of us are fooled by all the Dealer-originated hubris. It is plain and simple to see it all for what it is, if you simply open your eyes and examine the facts.
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