Friend in Canada looking for advice on choosing an e-bike. Is this make /model a good choice?
https://www.redbike.ca/product/pedego-ridge-rider-48v-14ah-1129.htm
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Anyone know about the e-bike?
(11 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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Lot of dollars. Quite high spec and battery seems good. Combination of pedalling and throttle makes it more sensitive but also maybe more to go wrong
Aside from price it also appears to have the motor in the rear wheel? Most modern bikes I have seen the motor moved to the cranks/pedals and this is reported as feeling more stable and helps make attending to p word issues easier.
Ride before you buy
Posted 5 years ago # -
Check if it's legal to ride in Canada. This is what we would call a speed-pedelec in the UK (not a e-bike).
A 500W motor and 20mph max speed would be illegal in the UK unless registered with the DVLA & insured, and even then, not legal on cyclepaths.
250W max motor and 15.5mph max speed is what's required in the UK for it to be considered a bike.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Worth noting that there is of course currently zero prospect of enforcement against a non-conforming e-bike.
Posted 5 years ago # -
zero prospect of enforcement against a non-conforming e-bike
Unless you get in a crash. In which case...
Boom... 6 points on your driving licence & a fine for driving without insurance
Posted 5 years ago # -
Are UK e-bikes allowed any throttle control? I had assumed that they are restricted to power-assisted pedalling only. I forgot to report that I spotted somebody 'cycling' west up Dalry Road on an e-bike on Sunday evening without any pretence at pedalling. They were also cycling one-handed, using their other hand to keep a sombrero on their head.
Posted 5 years ago # -
If bought before January 2016 and came with a throttle can still be used. If sold after that date throttle can only work up to 3.7 mph.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/electric-bikes-uk-law-234973Posted 5 years ago # -
A large proportion of race-replica motorcycles on the road aren't fully legal because MoT and insurance are invalidated by after-market exhaust and ECU systems. Never, ever heard of anyone getting done for that after a crash.
Posted 5 years ago # -
zero prospect of enforcement against a non-conforming e-bike
Being in a crash in a bike that isn't street legal didn't go well for Charlie Alliston. I suspect that it is only a matter of time before there is a media frenzy over some incident involving an ebike.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@IWRATS: MoT is not needed until the vehicle is three years old. For older bikes, a lot of bikers swap the OEM exhaust back on just for the MoT. AFAIK ECU remaps are not (yet) covered by the MoT.
Insurance is not invalidated if the modification has been declared to the insurer and they've agreed to cover it. Even if it hasn't, AIUI it would only be an issue if it could reasonably be argued to have been a contributory factor in the incident. (I believe insurers are not allowed to decline cover on the basis on an undeclared modification which was not relevant to the incident being claimed for.)
So in insurance terms you might get away with a loud exhaust (wouldn't pass MoT) which doesn't increase power, but an undeclared remap of the ECU (which currently would pass MoT, but likely won't at some point in the not-to-distant) would very likely be a problem if the incident was speed related, but not for a theft claim (and how would they know anyway?)
I reckon neddie has it right, though. A pedelec with a 500W motor and throttle would be illegal to ride on the road without putting it through the Individual Vehicle Approval process, which would likely require it to have things like regulation-spec mudguards at the very least. It would also require a minimum of third party insurance for a motor vehicle (because it's not a bicycle - I doubt any of the regular bicycle insurers would want to have anything to do with the bike, or any claim involving it). So in the event of an incident you could certainly be done for not having insurance, and you might find yourself with a hefty personal injury costs bill too (though that would probably end up being covered by the uninsured losses scheme, because motor vehicles).
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Ed1: If sold after that date throttle can only work up to 3.7 mph.
Hadn't thought of it before, but presumably the walk mode on my Bosch-motored eMTB must be limited to that, since you don't have to pedal to get it to work. I'm unlikely ever to check its top speed, largely because I can never remember how to engage it!
Posted 5 years ago #
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