Help Going Legal

[warriorwoman]

I have a Stromer ST1 with the 500W motor. Its a lovely bike but it's not legal and I would like it to be.
I thought it would be a relatively easy job to register it but it actually seems to be a minefield.

I think I need a Motor Cycle Single Vehicle approval but looking at the guidance it seems to suggest I'd have to start making modifications to the bike like adding dipped headlights etc. It sounds like serious overkill for something I thought was just going to be an expensive admin task.

I wondered if anyone has experience of successfully getting their powerful ebike, type approved and then registered and insured?

 

[trex]

I don't think you can register a bike that is outside the EN1594 specifications in the UK at the moment.

 

[craiggor]

Plenty of people pass the MSVA ,With homebuilt motorcycle frames.I don't know where the EN 1594 comes in to it.how do you get EN1594.Do all the hand built cycle frame manufacturers have it.

 

[trex]

I assume that her ST1 is the s-pedelec variant, otherwise she would not need to register.
https://www.stromerbike.com/en/int/technology/st1-technology
you still can't register s-pedelecs in the UK at the moment.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Do you have an address on the continent? If so register it and insure it there. I can not see the police prosecuting you for riding an EU registered vehicle in the UK as long as you have the mirror on the correct side.

Dipping headlight: you would have to ask Stromer to mount the new Supernova M99.

PS I love the Stromer design, I am going to model my next build after it.

 

[warriorwoman]

Yes it is an s-pedelec. It would be odd that it could be sold in the UK if it can't be registered and made legal. Not that being odd is a great test of what can and can't be done....

 

[anotherkiwi]

Of course the other easier option is to ask your Stromer dealer to swap the rear wheel for a "250 W" version everything else is the same.

 

[flecc]

I have a Stromer ST1 with the 500W motor. Its a lovely bike but it's not legal and I would like it to be.
I thought it would be a relatively easy job to register it but it actually seems to be a minefield.

I think I need a Motor Cycle Single Vehicle approval but looking at the guidance it seems to suggest I'd have to start making modifications to the bike like adding dipped headlights etc. It sounds like serious overkill for something I thought was just going to be an expensive admin task.

I wondered if anyone has experience of successfully getting their powerful ebike, type approved and then registered and insured?

I only know of two people who have ever achieved type approval and registration, and in both cases that needed extensive modification. Such things as motorcycle rated tyres and a moped headlight for example. One said afterwards that with all the trouble of doing this it wasn't worth it in the end. In addition, the registration is as a low powered moped which is limited to 15.5 mph, the same as e-bikes, but a motorcycle helmet hasd to be worn at all times and a moped driving licence is necessary.

An S class fast bike is even more impossible, none of them are anywhere near meeting the requirements, since they are classified as full mopeds if type approved.

As for the S class being sold here in the UK, the sellers don't care that you cannot register them. It's not illegal to sell them.
.

 

[the_killjoy]

What is the legal position on riding a bike registered in Europe but not conforming to a UK vehicle class?

 

[VictoryV]

As for the S class being sold here in the UK, the sellers don't care that you cannot register them. It's not illegal to sell them.
.

For example is this an S class? Top speed 45kph. Nothing in website about legality or otherwise
http://www.wearea2b.com/uk/e-bike-collection/shima

 

[anotherkiwi]

What is the legal position on riding a bike registered in Europe but not conforming to a UK vehicle class?

We talked about this with flecc in another thread - tolerated was the conclusion. It fits in a EU class so in theory can be legally ridden on all EU roads. For the UK you need the mirror on the right hand side and a motorbike helmet.

Here the point of law is that you have to have a residence on the continent to be able to register it, get a number plate in that country of residence and insurance cover for all of the EU.

 

[flecc]

For example is this an S class? Top speed 45kph. Nothing in website about legality or otherwise
http://www.wearea2b.com/uk/e-bike-collection/shima

Yes, also the high speed Kalkhoffs. They can have up to 500 watts where the S class is legal and fall into the full moped class, 45kph/28mph, currently being renamed class L1e-B.

The 25kph/15.5mph up to 1000 watt Low Powered Mopeds are becoming class L1e-A now.

In the UK both fall under moped/motorcycle law with all that entails, registration, number plate, insurance, CBT, driving licence, m/c helmet, drink-drive law etc.
.

 

[warriorwoman]

Oh dear, that all does sound very painful. I have just asked the dealer what the cost of swapping out the motor would be. Oh what a sad day that would be though. I could keep the fun motor in the hopes that the law might one day change I suppose.

 

[flecc]

Oh dear, that all does sound very painful. I have just asked the dealer what the cost of swapping out the motor would be. Oh what a sad day that would be though. I could keep the fun motor in the hopes that the law might one day change I suppose.

There's no chance that the ordinary pedelec law will change anywhere in the UK or EU, it's becoming a world standard with other countries adopting it.

But there is a slim chance that one day the DfT might allow the S class in the UK, which would make your Stromer legal here. At present they are opposed to the idea, but it is spreading. Once only in Germany within the EU, the Netherlands has adopted it now and France is going to next January.

However, S class bikes do have to be registered, have a number plate and insurance and cannot be used on cyclepaths or shared paths.
.

 

[flecc]

We talked about this with flecc in another thread - tolerated was the conclusion. It fits in a EU class so in theory can be legally ridden on all EU roads. For the UK you need the mirror on the right hand side and a motorbike helmet.

Here the point of law is that you have to have a residence on the continent to be able to register it, get a number plate in that country of residence and insurance cover for all of the EU.

Not quite that easy I'm afraid, the catch being that the S class bikes are registered and number plated.

Under UK law that means the other country registered vehicle can only be used for a maximum of six months in any twelve month period. All the rules which also apply to the S class are on this link
.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Oh dear, that all does sound very painful. I have just asked the dealer what the cost of swapping out the motor would be. Oh what a sad day that would be though. I could keep the fun motor in the hopes that the law might one day change I suppose.

Warriorwoman....we have to be realistic and say that,for the foreseable future,our government dont want S-class bikes in the UK....they want bicycles to stay as bicycles and not approach motorbikes in performance....the motoscycle lobby is also very anti.
Why did you buy an S-class,did your dealer not tell you that they are illegal as bicycles?
I must say that some of these dealers are very naughty,the small print says that you have to register them,but they know that there is no simple way of registering them in the UK.
KudosDave

 

[anotherkiwi]

Not quite that easy I'm afraid, the catch being that the S class bikes are registered and number plated.

Under UK law that means the other country registered vehicle can only be used for a maximum of six months in any twelve month period. All the rules which also apply to the S class are on this link
.

My thought was that if you have an address on the continent you spend some time there - with your bike of course. But of course HMG has thought of all that. The French are more laxiste, I knew a couple in the Gers who had been driving on UK plates for several years...

 

[JohnCade]

My thought was that if you have an address on the continent you spend some time there - with your bike of course. But of course HMG has thought of all that. The French are more laxiste, I knew a couple in the Gers who had been driving on UK plates for several years...

Used to be able to do it here too. A friend always had his cars registered at his holiday cottage in Brittany, and never paid any road tax in the UK. The law was changed though.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The guy on the Stromer stand and last London Cycle Show told me that Stromer E bikes are type approved, and you can buy them with registration. It should therefore be possible to register a Stromer.

The guy was from Tomos GB, who are the importers of Stromer. I suggest you contact them about it.

https://tomosgb.com/contact-us

 

[Kudoscycles]

The guy on the Stromer stand and last London Cycle Show told me that Stromer E bikes are type approved, and you can buy them with registration. It should therefore be possible to register a Stromer.

The guy was from Tomos GB, who are the importers of Stromer. I suggest you contact them about it.

https://tomosgb.com/contact-us

Hi Dave...I think the Kalkhoff S-class are also type approved...if it was that easy surely 50 cycles would have offered them with registration.
We come back to the age old problem,what classification do you register them under in the UK?
KudosDave