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You're not reading the law correctly. That's just word-play. Everyone knows a 250W-rated motor can potentially generate MORE than 250W of power output if sufficient current is put through it and depending on factors like incline, torque etc. The point is the motors nominal power rated output...

I would hope not either. That would be silly telling people to do something which is illegal and a criminal offense likely to land you in court with a fine, penalty points on your license or even a license ban if you're involved in an accident of any kind. I recall we did have a big discussion...

But the fact you're carrying it in public, is a criminal offense unless you can demonstrate good reason. Do you really wanna go there, when the penalty is possibly prison?

It's one of the simplest legislations though of all! Here Juicy Bike has put a nice summary of the EU Directive which was finally harmonised into UK law last year, bringing UK e-bike law in-line with the EU Directive. Here's the summary points to check if wanting to ride on the road legally...

Why would even do that? Is it worth it for a fine of up to £5,000 or 4 years in prison for just the sake of carrying a knife?

It certainly will. I'll post you the link when I'm done, with a special page dedicated to explaining the law. Errr no I never "tweaked" the limit. The limit is 15.5mph and everyone who owns a legal pedelec knows that. You're easily confused I must say. What's complicated.. Law: 15.5mph...

Tis a nice picture of the motor there! I forgot what a hefty beast of a motor that is I can't wait to see it running :D The old original motors are not too expensive, selling at around £50 on eBay for one that's been stripped down serviced and tested. That's one of the CHEAPEST parts on the C5...

Woah great post thank you! Flipping the motor to the centre axle to drive both wheels never even occurred to me, that's a great idea. You're right they are worth a fair bit once fully restored, so this could be viewed as an investment to sell on once restored I suppose. Although the C5alive...

Ah thanks for explaining! Look a bit like the over-priced Speedict's that appeared on the market from China around 2010... they were kind of a little Bluetooth widget that sat between the controller and your Android phone and gave you a lot of control over your controller...ability to adjust the...

Well it's been an interesting and lively debate and no personal insults, so that's good progress!! :D I respect people have very different views and may see me as being alarmist and totally disagree with my own and Flud's view, and perhaps may take the view that somehow, it will be the other...

What are these "dongles" I keep hearing about?! lol I've never heard that term in e-bikes before..but I've been out of the loop for a while.

Thanks :) I thought they were *badly* written..I'm not very good articulating myself!!

Sorry but we will have to agree to disagree there. I can see regulation coming on the horizon if things continue as they are now. In a few years from now, if I'm wrong you can tell me how foolish I was to worry! But what if I'm right?

Since you have the numbers to hand, I'm curious to know: 1) How many members of the 12.500 registered would you estimate own and ride an illegal pedelec? 2) Of the 150,000 active e-bikes, you say "most" are legal. What % are not legal? 3) Comparing the market now, to how it was in 2007, how...

What's got into me? Concern! Alarm. At how far the market has moved from legal to illegal, and how open people are about it! I've never rode illegal bikes d8veh! I've only owned 2 both had 250W motors. You mean riding on throttle only? Yes I'm guilty of that But, that's a grey area...

My answer to that would be this flecc, it's the government! We know them of old. Here's the scenario a guy gets a hand-gun from a gun-club or smuggled into the UK, and shoots a few cops and it sparks a media storm and the government feels under pressure to act. There's a a white-paper a show of...

Well said Bob. There is definitely a market for high-powered e-bikes and nobody is suggesting they should be banned or not discussed on this forum. No doubt there's a lot of interest in those and specialist interest groups, as you suggested, racing and so forth. I think all Flud and a few...

True we do, but they could go MUCH further don't you think? All they have done so far in the law, is define what an e-bike is and set a legal limit for compliance. There's been no attempt to regulate the industry, tax or license it. If we give them enough excuse to do that, they surely will do...

I agree that e-bikes do blend in, many illegal ones are hard to recognise from legal (to a point) and many police wouldn't know a legal one from an illegal one, at least the police I've spoken to anyway. I don't think the government would ban them, that would be too difficult as you say and...

I haven't seen these hover boards you speak of...I've seen these weird electric things with gyroscopes in them. Is that what you mean? Those are indeed a grey area as far as the law is concerned. They don't come meet e-bike definition as they have no pedals. They seem to go pretty fast too so I...