another newcomer

[fatal]

hi,
fatal here,been lurking around for well over a year now so thought i would finally jump aboard, i used the info found on here to help me decide which bike to get and went for the alien apollo.

al.

 

[indalo]

Hi Fatal and welcome to the Pedelecs forum.

That's a brave choice of moped you have opted for as it's a lot of money for something which can only be used legally on private land with permission. I wish you lots of enjoyment and many happy miles of trouble-free riding on whichever private estate you choose to ride it over.

Indalo

 

[KirstinS]

Welcome fatal - good luck and fun with your new bike

This forum, or a select yet vocal group, can sometimes be rather judgemental with anything that steps over the legal-for-road-use line. If you find this is not for you then head over to endless sphere forums where there is a more open atmosphere IMHO

Indalo - perhaps it is just me but your welcome seems somewhat insincere, presumptuous and passive aggressive to me. I'm sure this is unintentional

 

[flecc]

Welcome to the forum fatal, we have a number of members owning the Aurora, it's been a popular choice so you aren't alone here.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Fatal,

You might find it hard to believe, but some of us are actually quite friendly and welcome any new member.

Perhaps you might like to give us your impression of the Alien Apollo.

Regards,

 

[fatal]

hi,
i have been reading this forum for over a year so am aware how friendly and helpful everyone is, and how much debate there is about illegal pedelecs.

i have had the bike for a year now and use it for commuting to work and back weather permitting 10 miles each way, i have had a few niggles with the battery range, battery connectors and the brakes but am on top of the range niggle, i hope, now that i use the cruise control.
overall am happy with the bike, it survived the winter and a house fire lol.

al.

 

[GaRRy]

Hi Fatal and welcome to the Pedelecs forum.

That's a brave choice of moped you have opted for as it's a lot of money for something which can only be used legally on private land with permission. I wish you lots of enjoyment and many happy miles of trouble-free riding on whichever private estate you choose to ride it over.

Indalo

As far as i can see the Apollo is road legal as shipped. Its the Aurora that isnt so not sure what your point is ?

 

[indalo]

As far as i can see the Apollo is road legal as shipped.

GaRRy, may I just draw your attention to this web page?

Electric Bicycles - Apollo £1,199

There are brand new mopeds freely available for half the money this bike cost when new but the OP chose to buy something which resembles a bicycle and then doesn't pay RFL and other associated costs like other moped riders must. Why is that, do you think?

Let's not delude ourselves here; the vehicle is illegal on our roads, end of story!

Indalo

 

[GaRRy]

Hmm looks like they have made two apollos this is what i found

http://www.alienbikes.co.uk/USERIMAGES/Alien Apollo Assembly Manual.pdf

So i guess its a matter of which one he bought ?

 

[indalo]

Hmm looks like they have made two apollos this is what i found

http://www.alienbikes.co.uk/USERIMAGES/Alien Apollo Assembly Manual.pdf

So i guess its a matter of which one he bought ?

Hi again GaRRy

It really isn't my intention to be pedantic about this but contained in that web page you linked to is the following:

Please also note that, as per the listing, this modification
can only legally be used off road in the UK and I do not
accept any responsibility for any repercussion resulting
from carrying out this modification!

The seller happily tells customers how they can switch their bike from legal to illegal therefore that makes him an accessory before the fact in my view. His disclaimer is absolutely meaningless in law when it's public knowledge that he will tell or show customers how to make the product illegal.

In any event, I'm not sure about this but I think it might actually be illegal to sell electric bicycles with motors capable of sustained power output in excess of the 250W most ebikes are limited to. Of course, if they are sold as mopeds, the seller has a whole host of compliance issues to address as well as any purchaser.

There are forums for mopeds and for scooters. There is also ES which I look into from time to time but I find that a bit geeky. It's full of electricians trying to outdo each other with their memories of C&G course work from technical college.

Indalo

 

[GaRRy]

Nope not illegal to sell bikes to powerful to use on road just illegal to use them (as with any other not for road use vehicle eg F1 car )

Dont get me wrong there is no way I would condone the use of a illegal vehicle on the road but I do find your original assumption flawed with out actual proof that OP's bike is illegal.

Personally as a motorcylist of far to many years the idea of a 30+ mph sustained speed bicycle scares the hell out of me. At those speeds id want really good brakes, helmet ,set of leathers and a bit more rubber on the road

 

[Davanti]

... the idea of a 30+ mph sustained speed bicycle scares the hell out of me.

... me too!

 

[flecc]

Personally as a motorcylist of far to many years the idea of a 30+ mph sustained speed bicycle scares the hell out of me. At those speeds id want really good brakes, helmet ,set of leathers and a bit more rubber on the road

We have a 50 mph club for the members who've exceeded that on their bikes, downhill of course. I've not quite qualified, having only reached 48 mph on a calibrated bike computer. How scary depends on the bike and road, the eZee Torq 1 felt fine at that, but a Lafree I owned was terrifying at 37 mph on the same downhill.

 

[bode]

Whether or not the OP's bike is illegal, and whatever one may think of illegal ebikes, it is rather hostile to greet a new member in such a way. It is fortunate, as he says, that he has lurked for some time before posting and is aware of the true nature of the forum.