kwackers wrote:hemo wrote:Although stupid the 15.5 mph and 250w limits were adopted from Japan where I believe the likes of Panasonic first produced in any number hub motors where from there on in Western Europe accepted and adopted them as the standard, though for many years the UK only had a legal 200w limit and was only officially brought in to line with the EU guidelines 3 or 4 years ago.
Did the 200w limit also have an associated speed limit?
My reply previously was incorrect as the assist limit was 12 mph, later 15.5 to move inline with the rest of EU and 250w officially adopted.
Ebikes are very depressing if you live in Northern Ireland.
The only UK anomaly is Northern Ireland where the dissolved government (when sitting ) hadn't ratified ebike law so they remain totally illegal there and are classed as motor vehicles. Officially they need insurance, registration and motorbike cat licence.
PSNI have unofficially told it force to treat them as bicycles and if ridden sensibly then no offence will be applied but it is purely down to the local forces discretion.
A few incidents have occurred recently in NI, a case of confiscation has happened, one chap was nicked recently for being DUI and another I believe has been warned after being caught riding that next time the bike will be taken off him and prosecution may occur for riding an unregistered motor vehicle.