Converted bike and rider.

[blzbob]

I'm 74 and just a casual cyclist. I converted my bike but looking to upgrade it to a higher power.

 

[sjpt]

You don't say what conversion you used.
Don't forget that if you go over 250w nominal power, or assisted speed over 15.5mph, the bike is no longer legally a pedalec but a moped or s-pedalec, so needs to be registered, plated, taxed and insured.

That said, the chance of being caught or prosecuted are very low, especially if you ride sensibly. The main risk is if you do have an accident the bike may get looked at rather carefully by the police or the other partie's insurers.

 

[blzbob]

Thanks for your reply, it is 500w and never knew about those regs. I don't suppose thousands do but what if they are bought from a shop, do they tell customers their bike needs to be plated and such.It is regulated to 15 but it is a twist throttle.

 

[Nealh]

It is up to the end user to adhere to the rules/laws of the road and not the vendor.

 

[sjpt]

Thanks for your reply, it is 500w and never knew about those regs. I don't suppose thousands do but what if they are bought from a shop, do they tell customers their bike needs to be plated and such.It is regulated to 15 but it is a twist throttle.

You'll find lots of discussion of the seller's responsibility and the rules around throttles on conversions in other threads. A currently active one on throttles is https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/petition-to-legalizing-throttle-only-ebikes-for-the-disabled.33921/page-3#post-672621

Many sellers flagrantly ignore or hide the legality of their products. For example Halfords sell lots of e-scooters that are clearly illegal (for use on UK roads or on cycle paths etc). There may be some small print about legality somewhere on their web site, I think it very doubtful a salesman will make you aware of this if you are in the shop buying. Others sellers (eg on ebay) explicitly claim UK legality when it is not true.

I think the law should considerably increase the responsibilities and liability of sellers in cases like this. It should not make illegal the selling of items the use of which is likely to be illegal. It is quite legal to use a 1000w ebike on private land with landowner's permission and where there is no general public access. However, a typical buyer will be buying for use on road and maybe cycle paths and bridleways. The seller should be responsible for making the buyer aware that such use is illegal (without insurance, etc etc as above), both in large letters in any advertising, and in person in shops.

 

[StuartsProjects]

I think the law should considerably increase the responsibilities and liability of sellers in cases like this.

I would agree, why could there be an objection ?

No hiding behind the small print that most everybody deliberately does not read, but make the seller responsible for obtaining a signed\dated and very clear (with a specified font size) document that the buyer is aware that the use of the eBike is not permitted on the public highway etc.

However, I suspect the big sellers, would no-doubt apply 'influence' to their mates in politics to prevent it.

 

[Bobatka]

I would agree, why could there be an objection ?

No hiding behind the small print that most everybody deliberately does not read, but make the seller responsible for obtaining a signed\dated and very clear (with a specified font size) document that the buyer is aware that the use of the eBike is not permitted on the public highway etc.
Sonic exe is a game about a green hedgehog
However, I suspect the big sellers, would no-doubt apply 'influence' to their mates in politics to prevent it.

Try "influence"!