Chopper bike to carry passenger?

[cwah]

Hello there,

I've found this bike:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/american-stingray-schwinn-chopper-bike/1047162818#photo-content

If I electrify it, would I...
- Not be stopped by police with something that looks like a motorbike
- Be able to carry passenger safely on the same seat?

 

[flecc]

It would be a police magnet I'm afraid. As far as the seat goes, being a semi-recumbent you need the raised back part of the seat to push against when pedalling, so pedal effort would be difficult with a passenger.

Also the seat is a bit short for two. If you replaced it with one of the short light motorcycle or moped dual seats, they often have a slight step up between the two halves. That would give you something to brace against and have more room for the two as well.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Memer AzKhan has one with a big direct drive motor and 48v. He said that he doesn't get any hassle from the police, but I think the moment you put a passenger on the back, the game will e over.

 

[Clockwise]

That bike is much smaller than you think, here is a "child" riding one...

 

[Emo Rider]

I would be worried if the back wheel would take the weight of kit plus a passenger (and having a passenger on a bicycle is not permitted unless your passenger is a child under 22kgs and in an approved, properly attached seat.)

 

[cwah]

ok you're right. Probably better not to get a chopper then...

 

[Alan Quay]

I would be worried if the back wheel would take the weight of kit plus a passenger (and having a passenger on a bicycle is not permitted unless your passenger is a child under 22kgs and in an approved, properly attached seat.)

As far as I understand it, that's not the case.

In order to carry a passenger legally, the bicycle must be 'Constucted or adapted for the carriage of more than one person'.

How far you can push this is a matter for debate, but it's clear that the law allows for modification of a bike to carry a passenger.

 

[flecc]

Indeed, there are no rules on weight or size. There's plenty of guidance on this webpage

 

[SRS]

Indeed, there are no rules on weight or size. There's plenty of guidance on this webpage

The court fined him £100 for the offence of carrying a passenger, and ordered him to pay court costs of £85 and a “victim surcharge” of £15.

I'd chuck the kids in the car and light a cigarette.

Mad, there a local guy, cycles his kid to and fro to school.
The two kids sit on what looks like a plank of wood on the rack. Works well for him.

 

[Alan Quay]

I looked into this when I constructed my own child carrier for my (then) 3 year old.

I wanted him to be between me and the handlebar, so that he could fully participate in the cycling experience.

I considered the device I had constructed to be suitably well engineered that if push came to shove I could defend it in court, but it was never necessary to do so.

When cycling with my son, meeting the approval of the law was easy. Meeting the approval of my wife was quite a different matter.

 

[Emo Rider]

As far as I understand it, that's not the case.

In order to carry a passenger legally, the bicycle must be 'Constucted or adapted for the carriage of more than one person'.

How far you can push this is a matter for debate, but it's clear that the law allows for modification of a bike to carry a passenger.

Yes of course you are correct. A tandem bike would be a great example. However we are talking about the chopper not bikes in general. I do not believe that the chopper could be legally adapted for a passenger larger than a child in an approved seat. Again the back wheel would have to be built a lot stronger than factory (thinking wheel from motocycle). Or maybe it can be adapted. A sidecar perhaps? Solutions anyone?

 

[Emo Rider]

Indeed, there are no rules on weight or size. There's plenty of guidance on this webpage

Excellent artice flecc. It provided a lot of info on the said subject. But as the author infers, the regulations are widely open for interpritation. If you stick to British safety standard regs you should be ok. Home workshop mods may be hard to prove as being safe or suitable for purpose.