Pedals and crank arms

[mrelectro]

I recently purchased an (used) electric bike that came without pedals. I wonder what crank arms that are to be used, as I suspect that regular bicycle ones would be too long and might hit the ground if leaning a bit when making a turn. Also, where to find them? In a regular bicycle shop?

(the picture attached is a bike that is very similar to mine... but obviously has got pedals)

Thanks

 

[flecc]

The pedals on these Chinese bike/scooters don't do much, only helping at very low speeds, and are as much to do with satisfying the law as anything else.

You could get cranks and pedals from a cycle shop, those for children's bikes being shorter and sometimes suitable, depending on the fixing.

Most modern cranks are a square taper fit onto the shaft, but some cheap Chinese products still use the old cotter pin system. A cycle dealer can sort that out for you though.

If you hit any problems with that, check out discounters like Cycle King (Southern) and Hawk Cycles (Northern). They sell kids bikes at rock bottom prices and often have damaged stock even cheaper, and one of those could be a source of a suitable crank and pedal set. The online prices look high, but in their shops they often have sale stuff.

CycleKing.co.uk
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[Jeremy]

It might be worth checking the legality of this scooter, as I seem to remember that there was recently a ruling on them with regard to their legality.

As I recall, there was a vendor, on the South coast I believe, who had a customer that sought guidance on their legality. The ruling (which may just have been a local interpretation) was that these machines could not be pedalled effectively, did not meet the regulations and were not electrically assisted pedal cycles but motor cycles.

One outcome of this is that, at least locally, such machines need to go through MSVA, be registered, taxed and insured, before they can be used on the road (tax is free, I believe).

This tale was told to me by a friend in the Hampshire constabulary who had been briefed on the particular vendor, so may or may not be a general interpretation of the law. I believe that the ruling hereabouts was instigated after a Trading Standards investigation.

As the law on electric bikes isn't clearly understood, or enforced, across much of the country you may get away with riding it on the road. The critical issue would be if you were involved in an accident, and then if it was ruled that you were riding a motor vehicle. This could easily bankrupt you as a result of an injuries claim from a third party, as the law would expect you to be insured.

Jeremy