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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

I didn't say safely

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

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.

Which recumbent?

http://www.m5-ligfietsen.nl/site/EN/Models/Carbon_High_Racer/

M5 CHR

How are hills for you on this?

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

That god awful contraption is practically screaming "there's definitely something about it that would allow you to confiscate it if you just take the time to figure out what."

Meanwhile, my 45mph ebike looks just like any 20mph ebike so if I just stay around 20mph where in supposed to nobody cares.