Police in Kirkby-in-Ashfield seize customised bike 'capable of 28mph'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2l87gq89n2o

45 points · 23 comments · view on lemmy.world

23 Comments

lemmysmash@piefed.social · 29 pts · 7d

treadful@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 7d (2 replies)

Current legislation states any bike powered beyond 15.5mph (25km/h) counts as a motor vehicle and requirements such as a driving licence and insurance can apply.

woof

WolvenSpectre@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 6d

25Km/hr is pretty standard for electric bike legal limits, with some places in the us making it 25mph instead. The thing is is that many 5 and 10 speed bikes break that, but oh the electrons make it all the difference. The electrons make the bike hurt more when a person is hit by one, don't you know.

Now think about e-cargo bikes. They have to have the power to carry their load at 20-25Km/hr, but when you aren't carrying a load you are now going to be going faster. Go to fast and you will have your bike seased, and that is $3000+ USD gone.

book@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 6d

That's a crazy low speed. Amateurs average 20mph for 5 hours all the time. Not me, I'm old now, but wow.

CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de · 15 pts · 7d

There’s more wiring in the aircon in a police car than that contraptio, contrary to the spokespersons smarmy comments.

hallettj@leminal.space · 12 pts · 7d

Officers said something with pedals "doesn't automatically make something a legal electric bicycle"

Nice, people understanding these nuances is exactly what we want!

A closer inspection revealed a scooter motor, plenty of wiring and enough tape to keep the local DIY shop in business.

Lol!

psud@aussie.zone · 7 pts · 7d (6 replies)

I couldn't electrify my bike, it is a recumbent that can get to 60km/h under my pedaling power (and I'm not that fit), more when going down hill. It would exceed the e-bike speed limit even on a 200W motor

rollerbang@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 5d (3 replies)

Which recumbent?

psud@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 5d (2 replies)
rollerbang@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 5d (1 reply)

How are hills for you on this?

psud@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 5d

I do them quickly enough, about 8 to 12km/h depending on steepness

Nighed@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 7d (1 reply)

The motor could help on the hills still and would give you more weight for the downhill stretches!

psud@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 6d

Actually it's fine here. Ebikes are power limited, scooters are speed limited.

cheeseburger@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 6d

riskable@programming.dev · 3 pts · 7d (2 replies)

How much does it cost to insure a half-effort, DIY POS?

Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 3 pts · 7d (1 reply)

You can't unless it has got an individual approval by MOT. That isn't extremely expensive – the cowards importing Cyber Trucks have done that – but beyond what the bike is worth.
I highly doubt, as being held together by duct tape, the bike would get the approval.

riskable@programming.dev · 2 pts · 6d

Hey now! If a cybertruck can get approved, this "bike" surely has a higher reliability and pedestrian crash rating!

lntl@lemmy.ml · -2 pts · 7d (5 replies)

Doesn't say exactly why the police seized this bike. It implies that I wasn't insured or the operator didn't have a license, but it doesn't actually state the fact.

Looks like fuel for another "we need to regulate" push

Cort@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 7d (4 replies)

Headline says capable of 28mph. Law limits ebikes to 15.5mph.

It isn't an ebike, but an unregistered motorcycle.

LodeMike@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 6d (3 replies)

Or more specifically capability of providing power when at or above 28kmph. 100% of e-bikes are capable of reaching 100mph.

fake@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 6d (2 replies)

100% of e-bikes are capable of reaching 100mph.

Ehh probably not. The downhill bike speed record is only a little over 100mph, took a 45 degree slope, high altitude and an aero suit. Most of these cheap shitheaps would be falling apart at half of that.

LodeMike@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 6d (1 reply)

I didn't say safely

fake@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 6d

I'm not sure dropping it out of a plane counts?