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Electric motor assisted Bicycles (E-bikes)

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History of the Electric Bicycle: Originally Invented in 1895(!)

Long time followers who watched as I assembled my own electric bicycle bit by bit may have wondered along the way: Exactly how recent an…
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www.electricbike.com

Electric Bike History, patents from the 1800’s

I was looking at patents recently, because they show the internal workings of recent drives that have been introduced. This way, I can find out more about how they work, and the details are somethi…
www.electricbike.com
 
I'm not sure if this needs to be a new thread now.
eBike kits - I'm seriously looking at adding an electric kit to my bike. Complete ebikes are very expensive and we haven't space for yet another bike in the garage so adding electric power to my hybrid bike looks a good option.
I enjoy riding my bike but strangely, the hills seem to have got steeper round here
in the last few years. Has anyone had experience of these kits? I know the rule is maximum 250w and 15.5 mph which I intend to adhere to.
I don't understand why so many are for rear wheel drive when replacing the front wheel with a motorised one is so much simpler as it doesn't involve the gears.
There are a lot of these on offer on Amazon and eBay etc. , most of them would be illegal in the UK.
 
To be legal in the UK power should only be fed to the motors when peddling and limited to and 15.5 mph whereas the power shut off. So the electric unit would have to go on the back wheel to be compliant. The reason why care of choice for home made kits are problems when charging resulting in fires from the batteries, several homes have been burnt down.
 
Yes but you have a sensor (Pedal Assist. Sensor) either on the chain wheel or pedal spindle which triggers the motor for either front or rear wheel drive. Either one needs the sensor as I understand it, to be legal. Their seems to be less suppliers offering the front wheel motor which I find curious. One of the few UK based suppliers of front wheel motors (Scotland) also offers a handlebar 'throttle' if your pedal spindle is unsuitable but as you say, this would be illegal in the UK I believe. I'm sure all to the components are of Chinese origin but they do the assembly and back up in
Scotland.Screenshot_20260820_202651_Chrome.jpg
 
Thanks very much for the link, that looks like a good option and similarly priced to the one I was looking at, Cyclotricity. I'll study it further.
I've pondered over this electric bike idea for some time now, I'm not known for making quick decisions. I have several things on the go at present including fitting a second shower and I've had some lino waiting to be put down for months. At least I have now replaced the wall mounted tv in the kitchen. How did I ever have time to go to work?
 
Be careful where you leave your e-bikes overnight, folks. My next door neighbour a few years ago had his in the entrance corridor of his flat when the battery erupted into flames. I had to call the emergency services for him and firefighters sorted it out, though he had to move out for a few weeks while the place was refurbished. I suspect he'd installed a poor quality battery.
 
AlanM said:
Thanks very much for the link, that looks like a good option and similarly priced to the one I was looking at, Cyclotricity. I'll study it further.
I've pondered over this electric bike idea for some time now, I'm not known for making quick decisions. I have several things on the go at present including fitting a second shower and I've had some lino waiting to be put down for months. At least I have now replaced the wall mounted tv in the kitchen. How did I ever have time to go to work?
Click to expand...
I do have an eBike and in all fairness I am still impressed with it 5 years down the line. However that option I think is one of the better alternatives and I imagine safe too
 
I was surprised at the price of e-bikes and also their ultimate speed: 15.5 mph and they do not need to be taxed or insured. It seems that some imported and illegal versions are those which are mainly those which cause fires in addition those legal versions which are not stored correctly or use faulty chargers are also considered a fire hazard.
This compares to a mobility scooter, the type that can do up to 8 mph but does have to be registered with the DVLA but carries a tax free duty and has similar prices ranges. The DVLA issues a registration plate which you can fix to the scooter but is not mandatory. You are not requited to insure the scooter but a sensible thing is to do so.
My personal view is that e-bikes should have more legislation, especially in large towns or cities where the are more people walking about.
It is often not realized but damage to other peoples property or an injury to someone can result in a hefty court case and fine. This, of course equally applies to e-bikes as well as mobility scooters.
My personal view is that e-bikes should have more legislation, especially in large towns or cities where the are more people walking about.
 
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