That can be a concern for fully comprehensive insurance, but in terms of third party liability for injuries\damage the insurer is obliged to pay, even if the insured vehicle is 'illegal' or the driver is due to alchol, drugs or plain incompetance.
UK - legality of thumb-throttles in DIY conversions
- Thread starter vulcanears
- Start date
Some pics of bike and control panel.
It has only 3 buttons. One for on off.
One for + and also turns on front light if hold.
One for - and walk mode (which doesn't seem to do anything)
Cheers man. Your really helpful.
Attachments
I can't see a throttle on that bike.
Instructions in this listing. P09 is throttle mode:
Electric Bicycle Mountain Bike Scooter LCD DISPLAY Instrument EN06+USB+Controller 24V36V48V250W350W SKATEBORD Part Accessory - AliExpress 18
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com
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Fook me I need to have a degree to set that up. The throttle is on right hand side. On my regular bike it's grip shift. Like in pic.I can't see a throttle on that bike.
Instructions in this listing. P09 is throttle mode:
Electric Bicycle Mountain Bike Scooter LCD DISPLAY Instrument EN06+USB+Controller 24V36V48V250W350W SKATEBORD Part Accessory - AliExpress 18
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Attachments
That's a gear shifter, not a throttle! It's the same as the one on the bike in the photor. I hope you didn't disconnect that, thinking that it was illegal.
It's not difficult. Press two buttons to get settings. press one button 9 times to get to P09. Set P09 to 1. Press one button to advanve to P10. Set P10 to 2. Press two buttons to exit. The whole thing takes about 10 seconds.
P08 is the speed limit and P02 changes the display from KM/h to mph. P14 gives you the chance to increase the power for better hill-climbing. Don't go higher than 18, which is 38% more power than what you presently have. P12 is how much kick you get from the motor at start up. You can turn it down a bit if you feel uncomfortable with the initial kick.
I didn't know to press the 2 buttons till I did a video search. Remember this first time I've had one and no instructions. Even pic you sent me didn't tell me to press both buttons.
I’m well confused reading all this.
i have a Yosepower Kit and went for the 250w front wheel model in an attempt to be road legal when i fitted it to my trike myself, but from what I’ve read it not legal as the thumb throttle can power the motor to 15mph without pedalling.
Having read the instructions and watched endless videos the throttle speed on my kit can’t be adjusted only turned on or off.
(I only use the thumb throttle for hill starts So a 4 mph limit would be OK for me)
Some say the throttle requirement only applies to manufactures and importers selling an EAPC and:
1. Does not apply to bikes (or trikes) where an e-bike kit has been installed by the owner/rider of the bike/trike.
or
2. The bike/trike was manufactured before 2016…..or does that apply to the e-bike kit, or both the e-bike kit and bike/trike combined.
Somewhat confused Bob.
i have a Yosepower Kit and went for the 250w front wheel model in an attempt to be road legal when i fitted it to my trike myself, but from what I’ve read it not legal as the thumb throttle can power the motor to 15mph without pedalling.
Having read the instructions and watched endless videos the throttle speed on my kit can’t be adjusted only turned on or off.
(I only use the thumb throttle for hill starts So a 4 mph limit would be OK for me)
Some say the throttle requirement only applies to manufactures and importers selling an EAPC and:
1. Does not apply to bikes (or trikes) where an e-bike kit has been installed by the owner/rider of the bike/trike.
or
2. The bike/trike was manufactured before 2016…..or does that apply to the e-bike kit, or both the e-bike kit and bike/trike combined.
Somewhat confused Bob.
Technically your throttle is illegal, but also so is your trike. Best way to make your trike and throttle legal is to go through single vehicle approval process. Cost of £55 as far as I remember.
Pedelec Law - The Details
I think many of you will be aware of what a complex subject electric assist bicycle law is and pitfalls in trying to second guess it. As a result, and with my knowledge of it since joining the trade 70 years ago, I'm often called upon in here to give answers on the subject. But of course I...
www.pedelecs.co.uk
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For your twist and go throttle to be legal on a home build it needs registering and licencing, if one wants a walk assist or pedal first throttle which isn't a fully active twist and go then one has to convert the system to a KT which has this option to do.
The home build is grey area and as such isn't covered in the EAPC regs , however as Flecc say's they are accepted as long as they follow the EAPC regs , so 250w motor , 15.5mph cut off and pedal assisted.
The KT pedal first option is just that , one can't operate the throttle on it's own so if plod came along and said that's illegal one just shows it is in opperable so it can't be illegal.
Having a throttle in it self fitted doesn't make it illegal , it is how is can be used and how it it is operated. Walk assist throttle 6kmh , tick . Pedal first option setting for throttle , tick.
As far as we know no one has been prosecuted for a throttle operated EAPC , likely confications may have ocuured but if one can demonstrate/ prove it is operated within the spirit of the law of no 15.5mph stand still twist and go then they need to jog on.
Thanks for the guidance. The KT controller seems to be the way to go but my controller is built into the battery housing so would to change both and the display to suit. With hindsight I should have bought the kit with the KT controller.
I also ride the trike on footpaths and in my town centre under UICHR and meet the 4mph limit on level ground requirements by using 1st gear PAS 1 and switching of the throttle which results in not being able to get it over 4.2 mph.
One security guard argued that I could make it go faster by selecting a higher PAS setting, but as I pointed out to him a person on a disability scooter could go faster by switching from tortoise mode (4mph) to rabbit mode (8mph). He let me continue commenting that had seen I was riding it a walking speed And could I had walking issues.
I’ve been stopped by the police after a resident complained I was riding a bike on a footpath and they checked out the trike and said they had no concerns as they had already seen me riding sensibly and not riding furiously.
He said it’s the ones tearing around on e scooters we’re after. An elderly chap plodding about on a trike we have no problem with as it has brakes, lights, a horn, handbrake, wing mirrors and indicators fitted.
I also ride the trike on footpaths and in my town centre under UICHR and meet the 4mph limit on level ground requirements by using 1st gear PAS 1 and switching of the throttle which results in not being able to get it over 4.2 mph.
One security guard argued that I could make it go faster by selecting a higher PAS setting, but as I pointed out to him a person on a disability scooter could go faster by switching from tortoise mode (4mph) to rabbit mode (8mph). He let me continue commenting that had seen I was riding it a walking speed And could I had walking issues.
I’ve been stopped by the police after a resident complained I was riding a bike on a footpath and they checked out the trike and said they had no concerns as they had already seen me riding sensibly and not riding furiously.
He said it’s the ones tearing around on e scooters we’re after. An elderly chap plodding about on a trike we have no problem with as it has brakes, lights, a horn, handbrake, wing mirrors and indicators fitted.
They assuredly can, and do. It is often delegated to councils, but the police still have the power to do so. Now, enforcing the law on non-pavement footpaths gets a lot more 'interesting', but that's a whole other thread.
Harking back to the original post, I went to see the TSDZ2B and CYC Photon yesterday, and neither have a UK-legal plate or marking. I believe that the Bafang does, but have not seen its marking. I have not seen Shimano's or Bosch's, either, for that matter. That is important, because it is one of the things that the policemen are likely to be instructed to check if there is a crackdown, which is not unlikely where I live. It is massively unclear whether an owner/installer is permitted to mark a motor (correctly) himself; flecc may be able to clarify.
I am going to enquire further about the Photon's legality, where there are a lot of other potential issues.
"250W" is stamped into the underside of my BBS01B's motor metal casing. It's a pity they didn't also stamp "EN15194", so I've stuck on labels at more plod friendly locations. They're in Chingrish, for authenticity.
Plod can definitely do you for riding on a path and if it’s deemed to be reckless riding you can end up in court as happened to a cyclist in London who struck and injured a pedestrian on a footpath in London.
if found guilty you can’t get points on any licences you have but you can get a ban when sentenced,
and your e-bike or e-scooter crushed if it not legal.
I recall the police coming round to me and my friends house back in the late 60’s and informing our parents we were cautioned for irresponsible riding on a footpath. We were 14 at the time. I bet my mums still got the paperwork somewhere. the copper cuffed us around the head as well,….which we deserved..
if found guilty you can’t get points on any licences you have but you can get a ban when sentenced,
and your e-bike or e-scooter crushed if it not legal.
I recall the police coming round to me and my friends house back in the late 60’s and informing our parents we were cautioned for irresponsible riding on a footpath. We were 14 at the time. I bet my mums still got the paperwork somewhere. the copper cuffed us around the head as well,….which we deserved..
Where did you get those labels? My 250 watt BBS01 has the 250 bit engraved on the bottom, but it is always massively covered in mud and cow dung. Not that I expect to get stopped. Mine is completely correct, cuts off at 15 miles an hour completely, and no throttle now, after your help in getting into the firmware . Still, having labelling in a prominent and unbesmirched place where it can be read would be useful if ever it was needed.
Here, and still in authentic Chingrish thank goodness. I covered them with a protective layer of strong transparent sticky sheet stuff, because I noticed the toner rubs off easily.
3x BAFANG 250w 48V/36v BBS02 BBS01 BBSHD Ebike Legal Silver Sticker Decal Motor | eBay
Make your Bafang mid-drive motor power follow the rules of local ebike traffic law. Fit for Bafang 350W/500W/750W/1000W mid motor. EBike Solution Team. If your motor does not identify this, one of these stickers can be used.
www.ebay.co.uk
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You may well be. For extra giggles, consider my recumbent trike; the EU regulation does not apply because of its seating height (nor does some of the UK law), so what law DOES apply?
Almost certainly the last.
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