Twist and go: allowed, with caveats

This is an area where the EAPC legislation does differ from the EU rules. “Because of the particular benefits for elderly and disabled users, pedal cycles providing electrical assistance without use of the pedals - usually called "Twist and Goes" - are included in the above GB classification provided they are capable of pedal operation and comply with the above restrictions on maximum motor power and assistance cut-off speed”, says the Government’s information sheet. So, you can have a throttle so long as you also have a pedal-assist mode. In the rest of the EU, that isn’t allowed, except for speeds up to 6km/h (as a walking mode to help you move your bike around). Although you can have a throttle that works so long as the pedals are turning. I know, we’re confused too.

 

I found this on E Bike tips dated April 22nd 2016, is this correct ? I thought after January they were no longer allowed.

Twist and go: allowed, with caveats

This is an area where the EAPC legislation does differ from the EU rules. “Because of the particular benefits for elderly and disabled users, pedal cycles providing electrical assistance without use of the pedals - usually called "Twist and Goes" - are included in the above GB classification provided they are capable of pedal operation and comply with the above restrictions on maximum motor power and assistance cut-off speed”, says the Government’s information sheet. So, you can have a throttle so long as you also have a pedal-assist mode. In the rest of the EU, that isn’t allowed, except for speeds up to 6km/h (as a walking mode to help you move your bike around). Although you can have a throttle that works so long as the pedals are turning. I know, we’re confused too.

 

I found this on E Bike tips dated April 22nd 2016, is this correct ? I thought after January they were no longer allowed.

 

To my understanding that be true.

Allowed in uk. May change again Jan 2018 though?

 

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That's been the way of the two ebikes i've bought. Both featured 'twist and go', as well as pedel assist operation. Both were certified BS approved.

 

Without 'twist and go', you'd have just pedel assist and be forced to starting off in a lower gear under normal human power, which kind of defeats the benefits of ebikes for us older riders.

That's been the way of the two ebikes i've bought. Both featured 'twist and go', as well as pedel assist operation. Both were certified BS approved.

 

Without 'twist and go', you'd have just pedel assist and be forced to starting off in a lower gear under normal human power, which kind of defeats the benefits of ebikes for us older riders.

 

Everything I read says that from January 2016 throttles are not allowed, only to 4 mph but agree with what you say.

 

I personally find the bike a lot easier to ride when starting off with unrestricted throttle, get up to speed then start peddling if in the mood. Banning throttles is a big step backwards.

 

All I hear is stuff about being green, whats greener than a bike apart from walking, government should be encouraging electric bike riding not start throwing obstacles in the way.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/dft-pedal-cycles-converted-twist-go-exempt-type-approval/

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/dft-pedal-cycles-converted-twist-go-exempt-type-approval/

 

Great, I am converting my new bike thats been ridden on the road so no longer new asap. My old bike had twist & go but on buying a new one it no longer has it. Its just a lot better to ride & control with unrestricted throttle.

get what you want plod dont care or wont enforce the law as i bet not in the public interest anyway.

 

if they wont chase me then they wont bother with anyone else

Mmmm just read it again, it says ordinary bikes that have been converted, by that I think it means an ordinary bike (non electric) converted to electric. Still seams a bit grey to convert an already electric bike to have unrestricted throttle.

Yes, converted bikes. Never thought about how it would relate to converting an off-the-peg ebike?

get what you want plod dont care or wont enforce the law as i bet not in the public interest anyway.

 

if they wont chase me then they wont bother with anyone else

True enough. Sticky wicket could be if you were involved in an accident, say you were taken out by a car or crazy youth giving it large on their scooter moped thing...insurance company gets wind of potential illegality of your ride, you might find you're coughing up for your own wheelchair as they squirm out of liability?

Just a thought...

then ill put this in my wheel chair

http://www.evwest.com/catalog/images/thumbs/def/large/products/am-racing-250-90-ac-motor-liquid-cooled-remy-cartridge-1.jpg

ill set the fastest lap round tesco with that mofo 210bhp 150kw

then ill put this in my wheel chair

http://www.evwest.com/catalog/images/thumbs/def/large/products/am-racing-250-90-ac-motor-liquid-cooled-remy-cartridge-1.jpg

ill set the fastest lap round tesco with that mofo 210bhp 150kw

And bring new meaning to doughnuts in the bakery aisle

Hahahaha. Proper. Now let's see an S1000RR lump in there.

Still don't get it, you can ride a pre January 2016 electric bike & you can convert a peddle cycle (used post 2016) to have unrestricted throttle but you can't buy a new bike with one, talk about silly, my knees are shot after 50 years of working & spending a lot of time on my Knees. I like to get out into the country like anyone else on a nice day but sometimes my knees need to rest & not peddle at all.

how fast do you want to go? if it is 15mph law limit just fit one and forget about it

 

you will be slower than a child on a bmx tho

how fast do you want to go? if it is 15mph law limit just fit one and forget about it

 

you will be slower than a child on a bmx tho

 

 

Sounds ok until some twat knocks you off & leaves you disabled & insurance will not pay out as I was on an illegal bike. The insurance companies will do anything to get out of paying for sure.

 

15mph is fine with me, I am in the countryside to enjoy & see it not hurtle thru without having time to look at anything.

Still don't get it, you can ride a pre January 2016 electric bike & you can convert a peddle cycle (used post 2016) to have unrestricted throttle but you can't buy a new bike with one, talk about silly,

 

It's the way you are interpreting this that is misleading you into thinking it silly.

 

There is a law that specifies that new e-bikes post January 2016 have to have type approval to have a throttle.

 

However, type approval only applies to manufactured e-bikes, e-bikes created by converting ordinary bikes don't have an approval scheme, yet at least.

 

Therefore there is no law saying the conversion can have a throttle, simply an absence of a law saying they can't, so one can take advantage of that omission.

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Sounds ok until some twat knocks you off & leaves you disabled & insurance will not pay out as I was on an illegal bike. The insurance companies will do anything to get out of paying for sure.

 

15mph is fine with me, I am in the countryside to enjoy & see it not hurtle thru without having time to look at anything.

 

This is me being blunt, so I apologise.

 

What you want is a motorbike, what you don't want is to pay tax / insurance etc, so you want the benefits of a motorbike without the costs.

 

This is the loophole the motorbike industry is trying to stop, hense the new rules... if it can move without being pedaled, its a motorbike.

Everything I read says that from January 2016 throttles are not allowed, only to 4 mph but agree with what you say.

 

Just to clarify this further, there was no mention in law that throttles were allowed before January 2016 either.

 

It's just that the pre 2016 law didn't specify how the power was applied, so one could use any method.

.

This is me being blunt, so I apologise.

 

What you want is a motorbike, what you don't want is to pay tax / insurance etc, so you want the benefits of a motorbike without the costs.

 

This is the loophole the motorbike industry is trying to stop, hense the new rules... if it can move without being pedaled, its a motorbike.

 

Being blunt !!! I have no problem with that. But no I do not want a motorbike, I sold my last motorbike about 3 years ago after a lifetime of riding them (nearly 50 years) I very much like the idea of getting into the countryside & being able to get along cycle tracks & all the places a cycle can go.

 

Motorbikes can only go on the road & I have had enough of that.

 

I have an ordinary cycle in my shed but with advancing years & knee problems I found it was getting too hard for me to ride any distance, I discovered electric bikes & it was the answer for me, I can start going out again without all the hard work of a normal cycle.

 

I had a pre 2016 bike & I found it very easy to control using the throttle where the area is busy i.e. in parks where I don't want to be going along at 10 12 or 15mph using the peddles. I found that I could quite safely ride along at 6 or 7 mph without any problems to others. The new bike I have starts to zoom away as soon as I start peddling, even on the slowest setting its 10mph which when its busy is too fast.

 

I am not registered disabled & hopefully never will have to be but the e bike does give me some freedom back that I lost, I have a 4x4 & a van for my self employed work that I do so I pay enough road tax etc. While I am out on the bike I am not using my vehicles so a bit greener as well.

 

Whats next, make the children or their parents who ride their electric cars & motorbikes (toys) in the park go thru some sort of test & tax & insure their motorised vehicles.

Being blunt !!! I have no problem with that. But no I do not want a motorbike, I sold my last motorbike about 3 years ago after a lifetime of riding them (nearly 50 years) I very much like the idea of getting into the countryside & being able to get along cycle tracks & all the places a cycle can go.

 

Motorbikes can only go on the road & I have had enough of that.

 

I have an ordinary cycle in my shed but with advancing years & knee problems I found it was getting too hard for me to ride any distance, I discovered electric bikes & it was the answer for me, I can start going out again without all the hard work of a normal cycle.

 

I had a pre 2016 bike & I found it very easy to control using the throttle where the area is busy i.e. in parks where I don't want to be going along at 10 12 or 15mph using the peddles. I found that I could quite safely ride along at 6 or 7 mph without any problems to others. The new bike I have starts to zoom away as soon as I start peddling, even on the slowest setting its 10mph which when its busy is too fast.

 

I am not registered disabled & hopefully never will have to be but the e bike does give me some freedom back that I lost, I have a 4x4 & a van for my self employed work that I do so I pay enough road tax etc. While I am out on the bike I am not using my vehicles so a bit greener as well.

 

Whats next, make the children or their parents who ride their electric cars & motorbikes (toys) in the park go thru some sort of test & tax & insure their motorised vehicles.

A good point well made.

There is also the noise of a motorbike in the countryside to consider. The peace and tranquillity of the setting will not be disturbed by an e-bike.

Going on from there are the green credentials of by far reduced pollution and sustainability extended by ebikes over motorbikes .

It sounds like a motorcycle would in effect be going backwards for you.

What you want is out there; but perhaps not in the form of an off-the-peg ebike, you may be better served by looking at a self-build hub/mid-drive kit or a bespoke custom built ebike from a reputable builder?

All the best in your quest to find what you want.

A good point well made.

There is also the noise of a motorbike in the countryside to consider. The peace and tranquillity of the setting will not be disturbed by an e-bike.

Going on from there are the green credentials of by far reduced pollution and sustainability extended by ebikes over motorbikes .

It sounds like a motorcycle would in effect be going backwards for you.

What you want is out there; but perhaps not in the form of an off-the-peg ebike, you may be better served by looking at a self-build hub/mid-drive kit or a bespoke custom built ebike from a reputable builder?

All the best in your quest to find what you want.

 

 

Yes your right, I can see it now, me riding along the river or through the park on a Sunday on a motorbike. Everyone that see's me is smiling & hoping that I am having fun, even the local bobby is pleased to see me riding through the park & having a good time.

I don't disagree with your point, but what I'm saying is the law has to draw a line in the sand, and with pressure from the cycling industry and the motorbike industry, the line is being drawn here.

 

We might not agree with it, or we might argue that the planet, society and individuals would benefit from a different line.

 

But it is what it is.... you want something that the powers that be have decided you can't have, without breaking the law.

 

The problem is that you could I'm sure be trusted to use your throttle powered bicycle with respect. Others will see that they can use electric motorbike in places that cycles are allowed and won't be so respectful.

 

But it is what it is.... you want something that the powers that be have decided you can't have, without breaking the law

 

Sorry but, if I read flecc post correctly then he can have what he wants, a 250w road legal bike with a throttle. He just needs to covert not purchase off the peg.

 

This is allowed by lack of any law to contrary rather than an explicitly allowed

 

...i have a horrible suspicion I've missed something here...."