How on earth does he get away with this?

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,213
30,613
The top speed of a pedelec in similar conditions is as fast as the rider can go before getting scared or, in France, 90 kph which ever comes first.
Indeed, the same as a bicycle, which in the UK isn't subject to any road speed limits since they are motor vehicle law.

The low recumbent bikes and trikes are capable of 75 mph downhill, that's 120 kph! :eek:
.
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
5,048
www.kudoscycles.com
Really interested about why you believe this to be true. With a couple of minor modifications, I'm pretty sure that Stealth could make it legal for the EU market if they wanted to.
I was very careful with my words...the Stealth Bomber can never be a pedelec, because it's whole form or function is not intended to work at 250 watts power. I suppose it is possible that it could be registered as an electric motorbike,but that negates it being a pedelec.
As flecc pointed out earlier you guys are interpreting any bike that has electric power as a pedelec,but the definition of a pedelec is a bicycle with power assist,that is,after all,the name of this forum.
Just out of interest is there not a forum devoted to the electric motorbike?
One of the problems of electric motorbikes is the range,as Ronnie mentioned in one of those videos,the power only lasts about 45 minutes.
I have a friend who rides a Ducati,often down to the south of France,he reckons to stop 5 times on that trip for fuel,if he was using an electric motorbike he would have to stop maybe 12 times to recharge,stopping at almost every service area for a few hours.
Petrol is a much more convenient energy source.
KudosDave
 

danielrlee

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 27, 2012
1,394
723
Westbury, Wiltshire
torquetech.co.uk
I was very careful with my words...the Stealth Bomber can never be a pedelec, because it's whole form or function is not intended to work at 250 watts power.
That is arguable point about the form of the bike, but it doesn't have to be limited to 250W of actual power, just have a motor with a 250W 'rating', which we all now know is kind of meaningless. If the motor was rated accordingly, the speed capped at 15.5mph and the throttle swapped for a crank sensor, it would technically be legal.

I think I'm repeating myself now, so will call it a day. As flecc said though, it's an interesting debate.
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
5,048
www.kudoscycles.com
I am enjoying this thread,coming back to the guy who posted the video of his Stealth Bomber,I haven't seen him do anything that a legal pedelec cannot also perform,relative to Ronnie's it's all a bit of a damp squib but I'll watch with interest the boxed set,especially the finale when he stands in front of the beak charged with 7 motoring offences,that's an automatic ban surely,tell him not to forget his Go-Pro.
Which also surprises how open he is,the location must be easy to identify,he foolishly tells us he goes out every Sunday and his own Facebook gives all the evidence needed,it only needs an ambitious plod to view it.
I can only think that he places no value on his licence,it just seems a stupid way of losing it.
Andy Warhol once said that everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame,as Irene Kara said 'Fame costs',hehe.
KudosDabe
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
5,048
www.kudoscycles.com
That is arguable point about the form of the bike, but it doesn't have to be limited to 250W of actual power, just have a motor with a 250W 'rating', which we all now know is kind of meaningless. If the motor was rated accordingly, the speed capped at 15.5mph and the throttle swapped for a crank sensor, it would technically be legal.

I think I'm repeating myself now, so will call it a day. As flecc said though, it's an interesting debate.
Woukd you walk one into the police station and try to argue that it is a bicycle?
That I've got to see,hehe.
KudosDave
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,919
6,516
done it but no one was there so tried main 1 and all gone as well even went pissed as well looking for a chase lol :)
 

danielrlee

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 27, 2012
1,394
723
Westbury, Wiltshire
torquetech.co.uk
Woukd you walk one into the police station and try to argue that it is a bicycle?
That I've got to see,hehe.
KudosDave
I wouldn't walk into a cop shop if I could avoid it, but I genuinely believe that if it were to meet all legal obligations as described, it would be arguable. I don't understand why you think it wouldn't.
 

EddiePJ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 7, 2013
4,632
4,013
Crowborough, East Sussex
www.facebook.com
.


craiggor, is that the poor mans version of Lee Pierce's Volz eTrail. http://voltz-bikes.com/bike/ A bike that I believe Lee designed and built, after being so pissed off with build quality and reliability of his own Stealth Bomber.




I was very careful with my words...the Stealth Bomber can never be a pedelec, because it's whole form or function is not intended to work at 250 watts power. I suppose it is possible that it could be registered as an electric motorbike,but that negates it being a pedelec.
As flecc pointed out earlier you guys are interpreting any bike that has electric power as a pedelec,but the definition of a pedelec is a bicycle with power assist,that is,after all,the name of this forum.
Just out of interest is there not a forum devoted to the electric motorbike?
One of the problems of electric motorbikes is the range,as Ronnie mentioned in one of those videos,the power only lasts about 45 minutes.
I have a friend who rides a Ducati,often down to the south of France,he reckons to stop 5 times on that trip for fuel,if he was using an electric motorbike he would have to stop maybe 12 times to recharge,stopping at almost every service area for a few hours.
Petrol is a much more convenient energy source.
KudosDave
Sorry to go off topic.


Motorcycles, or more specifically off road motorcycles is an interesting one.
KTM, GasGas, Scorpa and Oset are all getting in at the early stages of the game, and in the case of Oset, what a great success that they are having within the youth trials market. They are also great value for money when compared with say the Stealth Bomber. It does seem that 45 -60 mins of use is the norm, and hopefully this aspect will improve over time.
One thing that did make me laugh, and not so much in a good way, is the negative comments that petrol engined trials riders have written in respect of people buying and using electric motorcycles. The comments read read in the same way that pedal mtb riders slate e-mtb riders. What's that all about!
As I see it, electric off road bikes have broadened the whole market appeal, and opened up significant possibilities for new venue's of use, closer to urban area, with non of the anti social noise. I look back to my childhood with embarrassment, for of tearing around public woodland etc on a Maico and CZ motocross bike, I must have had some very tolerant neighbours. Not sure that I would have been so tolerant. :)
 
Last edited:

danielrlee

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 27, 2012
1,394
723
Westbury, Wiltshire
torquetech.co.uk
its a bicycle.
What is that monstrosity? It's hideous!

I think that many people have a hard time looking past the form of any bike that isn't from the traditional school of design. The bomber frame is a very effective way of holding a substantial number of watt-hours of power. The fact that it resembles a motocross bike would be wholly irelevent it were to conform to all UK pedelec requirements.
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,919
6,516
so say the bomber had a 15mph limit there is no way you could go any faster than that with peddling its just to heavy.
 

craiggor

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 9, 2015
498
171
It's the Italian bomber clone.found it on you tube.Fai Da Te Bicicletta electtrica parts 1/3.
 

Alan Quay

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 4, 2012
2,351
1,076
Devon
.
Motorcycles, or more specifically off road motorcycles is an interesting one.
KTM, GasGas, Scorpa and Oset are all getting in at the early stages of the game, and in the case of Oset, what a great success that they are having within the youth trials market. They are also great value for money when compared with say the Stealth Bomber. It does seem that 45 -60 mins of use is the norm, and hopefully this aspect will improve over time.
One thing that did make me laugh, and not so much in a good way, is the negative comments that petrol engined trials riders have written in respect of people buying and using electric motorcycles. The comments read read in the same way that pedal mtb riders slate e-mtb riders. What's that all about!
As I see it, electric off road bikes have broadened the whole market appeal, and opened up significant possibilities for new venue's of use, closer to urban area, with non of the anti social noise. I look back to my childhood with embarrassment, for of tearing around public woodland etc on a Maico and CZ motocross bike, I must have had some very tolerant neighbours. Not sure that I would have been so tolerant. :)
It is interesting about those being negative. The idea of very low noise scramblers is something I've been pondering for a while.

I too had a Maico for a while, and used it on farmland and derelict land when I was a teenager. I like the thought of kids buzzing around at organised/regulated events on electric motocross bikes, annoying no-one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EddiePJ

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,919
6,516
what for 10k?

still be cheaper to get a pedelec and 4 500w batts :)
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
5,048
www.kudoscycles.com
Would posters on this section find it attractive to have a separate section headed 'ELECTRIC MOTORBIKES',there seems to be a lot of interest in these bikes and that would avoid all the discussions of them being pedelecs.
Russell may find it possible to include.
What do members think?
KudosDave
 
  • Like
Reactions: D C

Advertisers