Looking to Start Building and Selling Ebikes in My Area

[craiggor]

Off road motorcycles are not legal to use on the road.Unless they go through the MSVA.And there is all sorts of restrictions on road legal motorcycle power and licencing 50 cc 125 cc.33 bhp for people who choose or are not old enough to go the for the full motorcycle test.It is up every individual to know the laws of the land.what I was trying to say is I think it is up to the individual if they want to brake the law or not.

 

[flecc]

I think it is up to the individual if they want to brake the law or not.

I agree, but the traceability is an important factor, impossible with pedelecs and their riders.

I've often thought it might be better if pedelecs were registered with a mini number plate. VED (road tax) is free on electric vehicles anyway. Then with traceability only the assist speed limit would be necessary, the motor power up to a more practical limit like 1000 watts could be left to the e-bike designer to specify what was needed.
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[craiggor]

A tour de france rider can put out 1100w for a short distance.They give Free road tax for historic vehicles as well.They need to do something,because I have built what I thought was a road legal bike.But i'am beginning to think it might not be.E.A.P.C.S.V.A at a M.OT station.They have shut down a lot of the S.V.A test centre's.

 

[flecc]

They need to do something,because I have built what I thought was a road legal bike.

I very much doubt anything will change.

Most of the current pedelec law in the UK has been in force since 1983 and 1988, and the EU law has been in force since 1999.

With such long established law and nearly all of Europe happy with it at present, there's no likelyhood of change.
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[craiggor]

What will change is the number of illegal bikes.

 

[flecc]

What will change is the number of illegal bikes.

Possibly, though since about 2005 they've always been around in large numbers in the UK, just not talked about so much so not apparent. In mid 2006 when many of us were riding illegally fast e-bikes, this forum didn't exist.

Illegal e-bikes are largely only a UK thing for various reasons, in mainland Europe almost all are entirely legal pedelecs.
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[KTM Bike Industries UK]

The comparison to motorbikes is not really relevant for a number of reasons.

Mainly that it's possible to use non road legal motorbikes at a host of venues and events around the UK.

It's not possible to use illegally powerful eBikes anywhere currently in the UK.

Having spoken to a number of our motorbike shops about this, they have provided us a response that can be summarised with a very simple statement.

"Our customers generally aren't stupid enough to buy these and use them on the road or in public parks and forests"

People who buy Offroad motorbikes know where they can use them and generally abide by the law

People who buy illegal eBikes generally don't understand the law and operate on the "I'll never get caught" principle.

The fact that even this eBay seller uses the "Offroad button" statement shows that he or she has no idea of the actual law and is therefore putting their customers at risk of prosecution or liability simply to make a quick buck. It's either ignorance or very bad selling practice neither of which is want to see from someone I'm spending money with.

 

[Andy_H]

The fact that even this eBay seller uses the "Offroad button" statement shows that he or she has no idea of the actual law.

There is this statement, quote - "Accuracy of interpretation: We endeavour to ensure that our interpretation of the law is up to date and accurate. However we cannot accept liability for any information that may be inaccurate."

So effectively he / she is saying if its wrong - then tough

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

Only problem is that as a business you have to abide by the law. If you don't, the "I didn't know" line won't stand up in court.

So if one of this guys customers is involved in an accident in the forest somewhere, he could find himself in a whole world of trouble that a one line statement on eBay will not get him out of.

 

[anotherkiwi]

If you read through it all it is just false advertising and downright lies...

And he has 1000 happy customers...

 

[Cathal]

Yep that's what I'm thinking, he's successful but deliberately misleading his customers

 

[Cathal]

I'm maybe thinking of perhaps installing 250W Bafangs to peoples own bikes in my area? Of course I will ensure the bike is safe and suitable before installation. I can get all the components for approximately £580. So could maybe offer a legal bicycle to ebike upgrade for £750. Where would I stand in terms of liability in this case would anyone know?

 

[trex]

don't worry about liability, you can get insurance for that but you need to know a lot more about e-bike technology before considering getting into the business of converting bikes. That may take the form of building better and better bikes. So build one, sell it then build another better than the last one. Don't worry too much about how much your bikes will sell for. If you are good, people will pay good money for your bikes. But you will need to familiarize yourself at least with DD kits, front and rear hub kits and CD kits. Until you can build better bikes than the likes of Kudos and Woosh bikes, don't leave your day time job yet.

 

[Alan Quay]

I agree, but the traceability is an important factor, impossible with pedelecs and their riders.

I've often thought it might be better if pedelecs were registered with a mini number plate. VED (road tax) is free on electric vehicles anyway. Then with traceability only the assist speed limit would be necessary, the motor power up to a more practical limit like 1000 watts could be left to the e-bike designer to specify what was needed.
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I'm with you Flecc. Ultimately, the power restriction has a disproportionate effect upon those of us that are larger (and most often older).

This gives a better power/weight advantage to the young (14 for a pedelec, 16 for a moped, 17 for a 125)

Even I was about 10 stone soaking wet when I was 17.

I'd trade my anonymity for a legal 1000w limit any day.

 

[Cathal]

don't worry about liability, you can get insurance for that but you need to know a lot more about e-bike technology before considering getting into the business of converting bikes. That may take the form of building better and better bikes. So build one, sell it then build another better than the last one. Don't worry too much about how much your bikes will sell for. If you are good, people will pay good money for your bikes. But you will need to familiarize yourself at least with DD kits, front and rear hub kits and CD kits. Until you can build better bikes than the likes of Kudos and Woosh bikes, don't leave your day time job yet.

Yes, this is what I am considering. Need to get a hands on look at everything first and build my own bike initially to see how feasible the premise is. Its at least an idea for some income on the side, I'll keep my day job but I think if I do this on the side,do it well and legally it could have the potential to be a nice small business for me to run on my evenings.

 

[soundwave]

if ur going to brake the law do it big time

http://www.goldenmotor.com/eMotorcycle/frame-emotor.htm?gclid=CjwKEAiAws20BRCs-P-ssLbSlg4SJABbVcDpmCURosa3ex4qUf3ISe546PZSOiekHlZ6ZXIRRR5TDRoCsSHw_wcB

20kw you be going 140mph

 

[Cathal]

if ur going to brake the law do it big time

http://www.goldenmotor.com/eMotorcycle/frame-emotor.htm?gclid=CjwKEAiAws20BRCs-P-ssLbSlg4SJABbVcDpmCURosa3ex4qUf3ISe546PZSOiekHlZ6ZXIRRR5TDRoCsSHw_wcB

20kw you be going 140mph

That doesn't appeal to me to be honest. I'll stick with eBikes

 

[soundwave]

when im a oap in a mobility scooter ill have 2 20kw in mine.

no speed limit in tesco lol

 

[Aethelweard]

you can build and sell 250W e-bikes. There is currently a gap in the market, well finished bikes for less than £1,000.
Mainstream Chinese bikes importers can't get their bikes finished to German standard and nobody in the UK builds e-bikes to German standard either.

I believe that now the Volt 'Infinity' is a UK eBike that is up to German standards with a comparable price. Hybrid bike with suspension fork, rear rack & Shimano steps crank drive.

http://www.voltbikes.co.uk/infinity-hybrid-e-bike.php

I neither own an eBike nor sell them (I am looking to buy) and have recently found the Volt Infinity and am very pleased that finally we have a UK bike up to this standard. Let's trumpet the fact!

 

[anotherkiwi]

Nice design! My only quibble is the seat post, a NCX would be better and not affect the price too much.