April 30, 201610 yr I'm not about to go sticking dongles in my port, willy-nilly and am quite happy with sense of humour v1.0 thanks. Later versions seem to be bugged with an open-mindedness misallocation.
May 1, 201610 yr Are we actually saying this is legitimate ??? Healthy for ebiking ??? [ATTACH=full]13776[/ATTACH] I,m not commenting either way, just interested what everybody else thinks ??? These sellers offering illegal e-bikes need to be shunned and exposed. I don't know about other e-bike enthusiasts, but it makes me really angry when I see them. At the moment we have fairly relaxed laws and no regulation on our e-bikes (we can even use throttle without pedaling still?), but that could change dramatically if a lot of these illegal 1000W bikes start appearing on our roads. All it would take is 1 or 2 nasty accidents involving kids and we'd see a typical government knee-jerk reaction.."regulate all e-bikes". 1000W takes a bicycle into moped territory in terms of speed..and bicycles just aren't meant to go that fast! Anyone riding one at those kind of speeds (unless it's restricted to the legal limit) should really have done CBT test or hold a driving license...and hence why we're likely to see the government move against ALL e-bikes if too many of these start being sold. 250W is perfectly sufficient anyway for most riders...if you have high enough gearing and a light bike, you can easily hit speeds of 23mph on the flat and 30mph+ downhill. 23mph is about at the limit I'd say an e-bike should be going under power, without safety becoming a problem in terms of braking, motor cut-out, and requiring an MOT, a driving license and road safety proficiency. These people who buy 1000W bikes who don't hold driving licenses seem to forget, it's not just them on the road! What happens if they crash into someone car and damage all the body and paintwork!?
May 1, 201610 yr Has anyone noticed there's a large influx of Chinese sellers (operating within the UK) now offering 500W and 1000W kits and bikes on eBay, totally ignoring the e-bike law. eBay as a marketplace is obviously not going to do anything or get involved either if you report the listings as being illegal for road use. I think we, as a community, have a duty though to inform people this is not legal, safe or good for e-biking as a whole...we should collectively report any sellers we see on eBay or elsewhere...if they want to sell for off-road use or on private land, that's fine..but they need to put clearly on their advertising, "strictly off-road use, illegal and unsafe for use on public pavements or roads"..and quote the legal limit is 250W 15.5mph to remind people, as there's still a lot of confusion over what is legal and not concerning e-bikes if you ask random people not familiar with them. The law is very clear and simple...250W max motor power, 15.5mph max speed...350W's slip through occasionally as they look similar size to 250W and don't go that much faster...but 1000W is just taking the piss. Any responsible seller would do that! These fly by night merchants just don't care if anyone gets hurt, or the impact this might have on the entire industry.
May 1, 201610 yr The law is very clear and simple...250W max motor power, 15.5mph max speed...350W's slip through occasionally as they look similar size to 250W and don't go that much faster...but 1000W is just taking the ****. 250W is perfectly sufficient anyway for most riders...if you have high enough gearing and a light bike, you can easily hit speeds of 23mph on the flat and 30mph+ downhill. 23mph is about at the limit I'd say an e-bike should be going under power Which 30mph would you most prefer to get hit at? Confusing isn't it.
May 1, 201610 yr Author I,m afraid Morphix you are wasting your time on here. This Forum could exert plenty of influence over the things you mention..Generally posters are apathetic with some defending their freedom to break law to the hilt.. A few take a similar stance but not many. Many argue its been like this years, and historically the authorities have turned a blind eye , assuming this will continue to be the case. Ebikes/ Pedelecs will soon under go an explosion in their usage. Numbers are growing and soon this growth will be exponential. When that happens,along with the inevitable accidents the authorities will have to change their approach. We will all lose out, I suspect emtb,s more than anyone else. The Forum should be managing and guiding folk to legal bikes. It chooses not to, actually openly helping to promote the things we are moaning about.. It really is crazy.. You will be met with derision and sarcasm pointing any of this out..( as above) Edited May 1, 201610 yr by (NoLongerRegistered#15675)
May 1, 201610 yr Flud, untrained racing bike riders, with favourable conditions, easily sprint up to 40mph mate. MTB riders, of which I am one, rarely go anywhere near that speed, even on a downhill section. eMTB's going downhill don't go any faster either. It's called gravity mate. eBiking out in the wilds like you do, doesn't trouble anyone now does it? Providing you stop your guide dogs pissing in the reservoir that is! Plenty of MTB riders are seriously considering the new style of eMTB coming out in the market. Just to make life going uphill in the mud a bit more enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with progress. Nothing promotes threads better than a good old argument. Keep up the good work.
May 1, 201610 yr The Forum should be managing and guiding folk to legal bikes. Generally it does and as already stated, the majority own legal ebikes. As in most walks of life though, people are going to do what what they are going to do. If enough people tread a path, the law will tend to follow. Eventually. On the issue of access rights, you raise a whole lot of 'ifs'. You clearly only see a doomsday scenario and are intent on wasting your energy trying to convince us so, but I guess that is your perogative.
May 1, 201610 yr I,m afraid Morphix you are wasting your time on here. This Forum could exert plenty of influence over the things you mention..Generally posters are apathetic with some defending their freedom to break law to the hilt.. A few take a similar stance but not many. Many argue its been like this years, and historically the authorities have turned a blind eye , assuming this will continue to be the case. Ebikes/ Pedelecs will soon under go an explosion in their usage. Numbers are growing and soon this growth will be exponential. When that happens,along with the inevitable accidents the authorities will have to change their approach. We will all lose out, I suspect emtb,s more than anyone else. The Forum should be managing and guiding folk to legal bikes. It chooses not to, actually openly helping to promote the things we are moaning about.. It really is crazy.. You will be met with derision and sarcasm pointing any of this out..( as above) That's very unfortunate. I agree, the forum doesn't do enough to emphasize the inherent dangers and risks to themselves, to other members of the public, and the entire e-bike industry of riding clearly illegal bikes in public places. I can guarantee you one thing though, Cycle Charge will never be accepting anyone with illegal bikes as members. And if we find anyone using charge points with illegal bikes they will be banned. Nor we will be supplying subsidized batteries to illegal bike owners or sellers. When I roll out the new website we'll make it crystal clear what's legal and what's not and play our part, as members of the BEBA! Edited May 1, 201610 yr by morphix
May 1, 201610 yr Which 30mph would you most prefer to get hit at? Confusing isn't it. Not confusing at all. If you're riding an e-bike with a motor larger than 250W or capable of going faster than 15.5mph without pedaling, you're breaking the law.
May 1, 201610 yr When I roll out the new website we'll make it crystal clear what's legal and what's not and play our part, as members of the BEBA! BEBA hasn't existed for quite some time now. Its the Bicycle Association now for a number of reasons.
May 1, 201610 yr When I roll out the new website we'll make it crystal clear what's legal and what's not and play our part, as members of the BEBA! That'll make interesting reading. 250W is perfectly sufficient anyway for most riders...if you have high enough gearing and a light bike, you can easily hit speeds of 23mph on the flat and 30mph+ downhill. 23mph is about at the limit I'd say an e-bike should be going under power Especially seeing as you've personally tweaked the ebike acceptable speed limit up by 7.5mph already. What else will you be tweaking. Suits you sir? Not confusing at all. If you're riding an e-bike with a motor larger than 250W or capable of going faster than 15.5mph without pedaling, you're breaking the law. Well Sir, you've confused me. So, which is it. 15 or 23mph? Oh, I get it. 15 is 'the law' but you're quite ok with 23mph on a personal level. So you're personally ok with breaking the law. Is that about right? Or did I miss your point entirely?
May 1, 201610 yr Author Morphix Please pm me with details ..think Forum is sick of me so will be win win... Pity this one cant be more responsible. Take care.
May 1, 201610 yr BEBA hasn't existed for quite some time now. Its the Bicycle Association now for a number of reasons. I've been out of the loop for a year, so thanks for letting me know! Glad someone did. Has it just renamed/merged or actually closed down, and what happened to the founders, Whisper? That's a worrying development. The BEBA was very important to the industry and I don't think you can lump the e-bike industry with the regular bicycle industry association. They are very different.
May 1, 201610 yr Morphix Please pm me with details ..think Forum is sick of me so will be win win... Pity this one cant be more responsible. Take care. Don't forget to tell them about your guide dog pissing in the reservoir will you Flud.
May 1, 201610 yr Author That'll make interesting reading. Especially seeing as you've personally tweaked the ebike acceptable speed limit up by 7.5mph already. What else will you be tweaking. Suits you sir? Well Sir, you've confused me. So, which is it. 15 or 23mph? Oh, I get it. 15 is 'the law' but you're quite ok with 23mph on a personal level. So you're personally ok with breaking the law. Is that about right? Or did I miss your point entirely? I think you are deliberately clouding the issue. This happens on here a lot, folk then exploit the fog and buy/ sell/ ride illegal motorbikes. You know full well what points he is making . No point talking to black labs.It was the dog melud.
May 1, 201610 yr A quick thought.... In the UK electric bike use generally is pretty paltry, so this conversation occurs based on lots of assumptions and speculation. If we look towards other countries where electric bikes are a lot more popular, has there ever been a ban on any area of ebike use due to the use of illegal bikes? I know in China that there was a recent crackdown of non-pedal scooter style bikes, but even there, traditional ebikes are still okay. EDIT: In fact, let's take it further - Has there ever been a ban of ANYTHING legal due to illegal use of the very same thing? Edited May 1, 201610 yr by danielrlee
May 1, 201610 yr Morphix Please pm me with details ..think Forum is sick of me so will be win win... Pity this one cant be more responsible. Take care. Thanks Flud. I'm beginning to see a lot has changed in the short time I've been away. And not for the good either.
May 1, 201610 yr You know full well what points he is making . I know what he said Flud. Was it me that clouded that by quoting him then? From my viewpoint, the whole thing is very cloudy indeed. Maybe you could lend me your silver lining glasses? EDIT - I do like your posts Flud. You keep things 'balanced' as you see them. Edited May 1, 201610 yr by LeighPing
May 1, 201610 yr A quick thought.... In the UK electric bike use generally is pretty paltry, so this conversation occurs based on lots of assumptions and speculation. If we look towards other countries where electric bikes are a lot more popular, has there ever been a ban on any area of ebike use due to the use of illegal bikes? I know in China that there was a recent crackdown of non-pedal scooter style bikes, but even there, traditional ebikes are still okay. EDIT: In fact, let's take it further - Has there ever been a ban of ANYTHING legal due to illegal use of the very same thing? Thinking further about this, a good parallel is the use of air weapons. They can be difficult to distinguish from an illegal firearm, but they've never been banned. The more I think about it, the less likely it seems like a general ban would occur due to the use of illegal bikes.
May 1, 201610 yr there is no chance of a general ban, there isn't enough interest in this to even generate column interest in the daily fail (or flud would be hanging out on the letters pages instead of trolling on here.) much less any kind of real action. Thanks Flud. I'm beginning to see a lot has changed in the short time I've been away. And not for the good either. bit harsh man, to be fair since flud appointed himself resident troll/forum police, this forum has changed from a friendly helpful place to discuss/get advice on ebikes, to a friendly helpful place to discuss/get advice on ebikes with a resident troll/forum police. (and to be fair, when flud isn't on his soapbox, he seems just as keen to participate and be helpful as anyone else around here) wouldn't get too carried away - spirit and actions of this forum doesn't seem to have changed in the last couple of years to me, except for the above
May 1, 201610 yr I've been out of the loop for a year, so thanks for letting me know! Glad someone did. Has it just renamed/merged or actually closed down, and what happened to the founders, Whisper? For a while Wisper merged with Freego, but later they agreed to part again. As part of that to establish a separate identity again and to establish that he represented some other bike marques, David Miall changed the company name Wisper to Amps Electric Bikes. He still sells the familiar 705 to 905/6 Wisper models but also some German e-bikes: Amps Electric Bikes BEBA merged into The Bicycle Association since it was thought their interests had so much in common and there is strength in a larger organisation. .
May 1, 201610 yr A quick thought.... EDIT: In fact, let's take it further - Has there ever been a ban of ANYTHING legal due to illegal use of the very same thing? Full bore handguns are now banned, as are automatic weapons. And knifes now require a lot more care. When I were a lad as a 5 year old I could buy a knife and use it for cutting wood etc.
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