Other Interests, Hobbies and Sinclair Products > Other interests and hobbies

Electric Bike

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Kurt:
No that is fine Karl.

I hope to bring this with me as well to Brooklands. Then you (and anyone else), can have a proper go.

It is great fun and I am sure that I saw a mod for it some where that gives you an 'off road' mode 'strictly' for use not on public road that overides the 15mph upto 20 mph.

:) Kurt.   ;D

Karl:
...you want to try out the Brooklands test hill mate !

I watched Bob French peddle up it during the press conference   :o

He was using a racing bike, and managed to wheelspin going up !

 ....bet he eats three Shredded Wheat every day !!

Kurt:
Certainly happy to take on the Test Hill challenge and see how it does.

I have changed the tyres for some Swhable Marathon Plus tyres, which are much better on the road and have much less rolling resistance and are also 'puncture resistant'. Also fitted a wireless cycle computer and gave it a test run today.

I am getting an Average speed of 16mph, with token pedalling, but if I combine the throttle and moderate pedaling then I am getting 20mph, which I was quite impressed with. Best top speed so far has been 26mph.

Best fun is dropping it to 3rd or 4th gear and then doing a fast pedal and full throttle twist away from the lights as you can really zip off fast and left a few startled drivers behind, which was great fun.

Was also fun overtaking some bod on his racer bike decked out in all the Lycra, with me in my big coat and a rucksack full of shopping, whizzing past him barely breaking a sweat!

Umpa:
Have you seen this
http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1031615939/fda21ef8.html

I want one !

Karl:

--- Quote from: Umpa on  11, March, 2009  - 07:38:52 ---Have you seen this
http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1031615939/fda21ef8.html

I want one !

--- End quote ---

That does look interesting  :)

...although I am puzzled as to how it manages to fit into the same category as a C5  :-\


This is the spec ( as quoted form Roy Woodwards site) ;

a new category of electrically assisted vehicle was legally defined in August 1983. The key features were:

Two or three wheels with pedal propulsion
Maximum weight of 40 or 60 Kg, depending on vehicle configuration
Maximum motor continuously rated output, 200 or 250 Watts, depending on vehicle configuration
Maximum powered speed 15 mph (24 kph)
In addition, this class of vehicle could be driven by any one of 14 years of age and over. It did not require a licence, insurance or road tax. Furthermore no protective helmet had to be worn.


Given that the "electric mopeds" previously sold via F2 motorcycles as suitable for 14yr olds were recently re-classified as motor vehicles (therefore became subject to road tax,insurance,helmet,licence etc etc), I have my concerns that these new three wheelers might not be legal ? Just looking at the piccie suggests they are too heavy to qualify

This is from the F2 motorcycles site ;

WHO CAN RIDE AN ELECTRIC BIKE.....Electric bikes are clearly defined under two UK laws so please make sure when you buy one that it complies with at least one of them. Put very simply, if it has usable pedals just like a bike, weighs less than 40 kg, has 200 watts or less power and will not exceed 14 mph on the motor alone, it is probably road legal. If it looks like a kids scooter and has no pedals like a push bike, it's not road legal.. If it's faster and heavier it will need to registered as a moped. Anyone of 14 years or older can ride an electric bike on the public road or cycle path with no licence, no insurance, and no crash helmet. Just as with normal push bikes, all the usual road markings should be obeyed and they should not be ridden on the pavement or anywhere else a push bike is not allowed to be ridden

Then there is this aspect to consider ;

Whether a pedal vehicle with an electric motor should be regarded as a pedal cycle or a motor vehicle (as per section 185 RTA 1988) depends on it's primary method of propulsion. In Winter v DPP 2002 the Court considered the nature of a 'City bug', a scooter type device with an electric motor and pedals on the front wheel (fitted to try and get round the above British regulations).
The American version of the City Bug without the pedals
 
The vehicle was shown to be primarily intended for use with a motor. Using the pedals was difficult and precarious. It could not be used safely on the roads by pedal power alone. The vehicle was deemed to be a motor vehicle not a pedal cycle. Also see the document relating the the meaning of a motor vehicle and / or DPP v Saddington 2000 for a similar decision regarding Go-ped type powered scooters.
A pedal cycle with a built in electric motor to assist on hills was marketed by Sir Clive Sinclair in the 1990's as a 'Zike'. This was held to be a  pedal cycle. The question as to whether Sir Clive's ill-fated electric 'C5' machine was a pedal cycle is less clear. It is considered more likely that it would now be regarded as a motor vehicle because the pedals were intended to assist the electric motor rather than the other way round.
If there is some doubt in the future it is suggested that a look at the marketing literature produced by a manufacturer may assist and of course if need be a statement may always be obtained from them. However, the matter will ultimately be a decision for the courts.

Quite sad how things get complicated really quickly  ::)

I'm not being a killjoy, I'd love to see them on the roads - but before parting with my cash I'd want to be certain I could legally use the thing  ;)
 

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