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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2020 19:09:33 GMT
A friend of mine can get up to 25mph with his 250w 36v kit motor, depending on the gearing on the rear block. 20mph is easy. Apparently the speed limit can be altered as one rides along, using the control panel. How are the dibble to spot him anyway, that sort of speed can easily be reached pedalling without the motor, 30mph is easy downhill. Who is going to catch him whizzing along a lovely smooth paved empty canal towpath? So what is the problem? Where is the great risk? No one has been had up for it, even the guy that hit a woman at 30mph got away with it, it was her fault for stepping in front of him. The law is an ass anyway, the e motors only have to be "rated" at 250w with a label on the case. Labels are available. The 250w bafang motor can easily be uprated to 350w, by setting current to 18amp rather than 15amp using a usb lead and a laptop. That does not increase the speed though and uses more juice, probably best kept for the off road bridleway adventure rides where a bit more poke would be useful. If I make a decision not to go for a small motorbike next Spring, I will probably buy a high powered ebike.I agree with you that the law is a total ass in our H+S obsessed culture, but that wont stop me getting a heavy fine if I get caught, so I'll get a 1000 watt bike, but I'll fit a speedo, and keep half an eye on my speed, just in case.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 6:57:16 GMT
Pete Doherty was nicked last week for using a powered scooter on the pavement. Also I was told by someone who is into the electric cycle thing in a big way that the 1000W motors are awful although as is usual was a bit hazy on 'why'. The scooter thing will be because a few months ago they were made road legal, as a sort of green initiative- but only one specific model, that you have to hire. They are still not legal on pavements, or if you are on a different model- and again, the police have been briefed on which is the legal model and what it looks like. Its a political hot potato because a pedestrian was killed some time ago by a scooterist. Partly because you are in a standing position, I believe the injuries (to you) from a collision or fall can be worse that if you were on a bike. And of course the H+S police immediately swarm over anything that has an appearance of increased risk- hence they have been banned from UK roads for years, regardless of the positive impact they could have had on reducing carbon emissions. The fact is many other countries are planning to, or have already, made electric scooters road legal, with the same max speed as ebikes. As usual the UK is years behind in terms of common sense, preferring to stay totally risk-averse and highly controlled, and just blindly accept any of the consequences that approach causes. Scrotes and idiots can and do cause chaos on our roads by riding pushbikes carelessly and fast around busy roads and junctions. The H+S empire has convinced us that if they do those same 15mph speeds (or less) on a battery-powered scooter, they suddenly become a deadly threat to society. I would add that the early generations of 1000watt motors were mostly hub-based, pretty much made in China at a time when it was producing goods of sometimes questionable quality. They were probably not as well designed as you would like, and were snatchy and unreliable. But as in other areas, Chinese quality standards have improved greatly over the last decade, and there are now well-designed mid-drive options that directly drive the crank, as well as hub based motors. I'm sure there will be a few firms who are still lagging in terms of quality, so you do need to be careful. But if you shop around, check user reviews, read expert reviews in magazines and forums, I cant see any issue in picking up a good quality 1000watt motor that will work really well. As fuel prices increase over the coming years, I expect we will get more and more illegal ebikes on the roads as commuters seek options, and it will be interesting to see how many of them are spotted, and where the public/legal debate goes. Anything that will do 30mph even up an incline is going to have to be classed as a moped, and insured etc- I cant see that changing. But maybe it will become easier to get all the type-approval paperwork sorted so they can be licensed.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 7:27:21 GMT
Amusingly Mr Doherty was stopped twice by the police while out on his scooter. He was on the road the first time, where the nice easy-going officers advised him he wouldn't get arrested if he continued on the pavement.
I see a lot of people using scooters - road, pavement, anything they like. They have one thing in common - the 'me first f*@k you' attitude. Maybe its because they are illegal and therefore appeal to a certain mentality. As Irvine Welsh once commented, "if orange juice was illegal they'd inject it".
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Post by Jim on Oct 2, 2020 8:29:14 GMT
On the news this morning, an MP pushing for the legalisation of 15mph scooters on roads, way greener than cars.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 8:54:20 GMT
On the news this morning, an MP pushing for the legalisation of 15mph scooters on roads, way greener than cars. Don't hold your breath. The Germans thought up that type approval crap you know.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 9:05:31 GMT
If anyone is thinking about an ebike with a half-decent bit of shove, but very stealthy, this looks ok: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAMEBIKE-26-Folding-Electric-Bike-Mountain-Bicycle-Ebike-21-Speeds-30km-h-E3U5/164390497454?_trkparms=aid%3D1110012%26algo%3DSPLICE.SOIPOST%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D228191%26meid%3D8423ce86598c4615b67c343164d1fe2d%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D164229661120%26itm%3D164390497454%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DPromotedSellersOtherItemsV2%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219It's only 500 watt as opposed to 1000, which means you are going to have to work harder to maintain your 20mph cruising speed, and it has a 10ah battery, so it wont have the longest range out of the box (and a bigger battery could easily set you back £250-300). Also, as with many of these, the components are not great- but they do work, and there are several positive reviews on youtube, including an Irish guy who commuted I think 30 miles each way for over a year on this same model- but he must have been pretty fit. The big advantage with this one is that there is no obvious motor or battery on it- so even if you sail past the police (and as long as you obscure the manufacturer name), its very very unlikely you'll be pulled. This one could be a great all round compromise if you need something that will cover say 20 miles in an hour or so.
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Post by lollygagger on Oct 2, 2020 9:09:26 GMT
Sorry, but why don't you just pedal the damn thing, within a week or two you'll build a few muscles and wonder why you were buggering about with this electric bike malarky.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 9:13:34 GMT
Sorry, but why don't you just pedal the damn thing, within a week or two you'll build a few muscles and wonder why you were buggering about with this electric bike malarky. I think the answer to that one is 'because its there'. I can see the appeal of not arriving covered in sweat though.
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Post by Jim on Oct 2, 2020 9:17:25 GMT
If anyone is thinking about an ebike with a half-decent bit of shove, but very stealthy, this looks ok: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324212510137It's only 500 watt as opposed to 1000, which means you are going to have to work harder to maintain your 20mph cruising speed, and it has a 10ah battery, so it wont have the longest range out of the box (and a bigger battery could easily set you back £250-300). Also, as with many of these, the components are not great- but they do work, and there are several positive reviews on youtube, including an Irish guy who commuted I think 30 miles each way for over a year on this same model- but he must have been pretty fit. The big advantage with this one is that there is no obvious motor or battery on it- so even if you sail past the police (and as long as you obscure the manufacturer name), its very very unlikely you'll be pulled. This one could be a great all round compromise if you need something that will cover say 20 miles in an hour or so. The bafang bbs01b kit will do everything you want, and is legally rated at 250w.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 9:23:50 GMT
Sorry, but why don't you just pedal the damn thing, within a week or two you'll build a few muscles and wonder why you were buggering about with this electric bike malarky. Hills
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 9:27:32 GMT
If anyone is thinking about an ebike with a half-decent bit of shove, but very stealthy, this looks ok: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324212510137It's only 500 watt as opposed to 1000, which means you are going to have to work harder to maintain your 20mph cruising speed, and it has a 10ah battery, so it wont have the longest range out of the box (and a bigger battery could easily set you back £250-300). Also, as with many of these, the components are not great- but they do work, and there are several positive reviews on youtube, including an Irish guy who commuted I think 30 miles each way for over a year on this same model- but he must have been pretty fit. The big advantage with this one is that there is no obvious motor or battery on it- so even if you sail past the police (and as long as you obscure the manufacturer name), its very very unlikely you'll be pulled. This one could be a great all round compromise if you need something that will cover say 20 miles in an hour or so. The bafang bbs01b kit will do everything you want, and is legally rated at 250w. I've already got a 250watt ebike and I commuted on it for 2 years. It doesnt do half of what I want- even with the settings tweaked. The Irish guy I mentioned above also bemoaned the lack of power in his 500watt ebike when doing a 30 mile trip, and he is a lot younger and fitter than me. I would like 1000 watts if it can be done stealthily
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Post by patty on Oct 2, 2020 11:17:14 GMT
Sorry, but why don't you just pedal the damn thing, within a week or two you'll build a few muscles and wonder why you were buggering about with this electric bike malarky. Hills hate hiils... everyday I try to figure out where to walk the dogs with the minimum of hills.... every day I end up trudging up the same old hills
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Post by lollygagger on Oct 3, 2020 6:38:01 GMT
I like hills. In fact when I go on my holibobs I head for the hills and walk up amd down them for the fun of it.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Oct 3, 2020 7:24:42 GMT
It surprises me when I hear people taking of e bikes in one breath, then health and fitness in the next. Regular cycling is a good way to get/ keep fit. Riding an e bike isn't.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2020 7:31:12 GMT
It surprises me when I hear people taking of e bikes in one breath, then health and fitness in the next. Regular cycling is a good way to get/ keep fit. Riding an e bike isn't. This is patently untrue. It still requires effort to move an ebike. You might not be testing your muscles as much but its still very good for cardio.
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