March 8, 201412 yr Hello there, Have you seen this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000W-48V-Powerboard-Black-C9316/dp/B00FOUK056/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1RCBJ1ZV8DZ1RPN5FQT8 It may be a good alternative to the brompton as it can be really compact. It would fit under any desk and should be easily hidden inside a bag if I take public transport. The only issue is to carry a passenger... I'm not sure how that would handle. Looks like I should be able to carry a passenger if I remove the seat? www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TtsCcyqN_I#t=116 What do you think? Does that worth a try? Edited March 8, 201412 yr by cwah
March 8, 201412 yr You couldn't legally carry a passenger without seats for both of you, and there's nowhere near enough room on it for that. And 1000 watts without pedal assistance is marginal to carry two people.
March 8, 201412 yr Author Is licensing, tax and insurance expensive? I can easily overvolt the motor to increase power if required.. 2 people standing on the scooter should be cool isn't it?
March 8, 201412 yr I think insurance is about £100 per annum but you can't insure it until you have a number plate, which requires type approval. Now can you licence it as a 50cc scooter? somebody needs to approach DVLA. ..wait, thinking about it, how about e-converting a petrol scooter?
March 8, 201412 yr Author The problem is that I'm living in a small flat in central london. So there is no way I can bring up a full size scooter inside the flat. I could potentially leave it on the street... but I'd have problems charging it as well as parking it..
March 8, 201412 yr You did notice the scooter weighs 48kg so lifting it is going to be fun, plus the weight will reduce its power, I suspect it will have trouble with decent hills even one up.
March 8, 201412 yr One thing that would really put me off aside from the legalities and practicalities of this machine is the little 12" wheels, all too easily swallowed by some of the potholes in London and elsewhere in the UK.
March 8, 201412 yr 2 people standing on the scooter should be cool isn't it? Cool enough to end up in court. The law specifies that there must be seats for each person carried, and both will have to be wearing motorcycle-approved crash helmets. As Geebee observed, there's nowhere near enough power for two and barely enough for one.
March 8, 201412 yr Author My daily commute is around 3.5 miles each way. So 7 miles... The idea of getting this scooter was cool
March 8, 201412 yr Author cycling or walking is still 3.5 miles each way. I can't see myself walking 1 hour every day to go to work
March 8, 201412 yr I thought it was a joke at first what's the elevation profile like on these 3.5 miles? if pretty flat isn't that a doddle on any bike, I'm guessing there's busy traffic too?
March 8, 201412 yr In Barcelona, these SEL are legal and do not require even a license, assuming power is less than 1kW and max speed ia 25km/h. Many tourists rent them.
March 8, 201412 yr Author yes it's flat and busy traffic. There isn't much hill in central london... That's why a small scooter would have make sense
March 8, 201412 yr A skip bike then, especially if you have to leave locked up on the street somewhere.
March 8, 201412 yr A quick look here http://www.atob.org.uk/folding-bikes/folding-bikes-price-guide-uk/ shows many good quality non powered folders for well under the purchase price of that electric scooter. The average cyclist with average fitness should be able pedal one for 3.5 miles over relatively flat terrain without busting a gut in well under half an hour and still have energy left to be able to carry a relatively lightweight folder up 1 or 2 flights of stairs. Am I bonkers saying this on the forum? Yes probablyo_O:eek:
March 8, 201412 yr cycling or walking is still 3.5 miles each way. I can't see myself walking 1 hour every day to go to work Some commuting into London on flat routes use roller skates for such distances. Have you ever used them? Much quicker than walking, they're a good compromise for a short journey, and you can use pavements or road edges. Your companion could have their own pair.
March 8, 201412 yr Sorry I don't see any advantage of that scooter over the Brompton....you have to register it,tax,insurance. It is very heavy etc etc. 3.5 miles on the flat is perfect Brompton journey. If you want power there are many 20" wheeled folders that will prove cheaper to buy. We are on our third batch of Kudos Secret bikes,so over 400 are in use,doing just the sort of journey you are doing,the all up weight is about 18 KGs. KudosDave
March 8, 201412 yr Author Some commuting into London on flat routes use roller skates for such distances. Have you ever used them? Much quicker than walking, they're a good compromise for a short journey, and you can use pavements or road edges. Your companion could have their own pair. I went to university with roller skate. I won't do that again, I'll sweat and it's against my philosophy..
March 8, 201412 yr Author Guys, I already had an electric brompton (stolen) and now I'm using my electric dahon jetstream: I really love this bike. But I'd like to be able to carry a passenger from time to time. And also more torque. Hence the scooter.
March 8, 201412 yr Guys, I already had an electric brompton (stolen) and now I'm using my electric dahon jetstream: I really love this bike. But I'd like to be able to carry a passenger from time to time. And also more torque. Hence the scooter. But you can't carry a passenger on the scooter, it isn't built to do so and it would be illegal too. If you actually did succeed in modifying the scooter and you did manage to carry a passenger, the sight would be so hideously hysterical that it would draw the attention of every copper in London. They wouldn't even need to know any Ebike law / regulations whatsoever to realise that what you were doing was just plain wrong. I reckon you'd travel about 50 metres from your front door before you were pulled over.
March 8, 201412 yr But I'd like to be able to carry a passenger from time to time. Your partner could wear the skates then you could pull them on your eDahon! :-D
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