E Scooters

[Oneball]

It’s €14,000. You can get a Ducati for that.

 

[will-w]

It’s €14,000. You can get a Ducati for that.

That's not actually an unreasonable price for a proper full-sized electric bike..

 

[Oneball]

That's not actually an unreasonable price for a proper full-sized electric bike..

It’s not though, it’s a moped.

 

[mjheathcote]

Kid on an e-scooter passed me on a 3 lane ring road the other day, then cut straight in front of me to just make an exit.
At the exit went straight through the red light too!
With the state of the roads he was risking it just hitting a pot hole at speed with the small diameter wheels.

 

[Simon1963]

They seem to be more and more popular where I live.
They now use the promenade by the beach to whizz up and down. They're on the main roads (which offer little room to overtake as it is).
I saw a father (I assume) with his daughter (again I assume) on one, she was 7, maybe 8, whizzing down the road, in and out of traffic. Utter bell end.

On a funnier note, I did see one a few weeks ago, attempt to go up a kerb, but didn't lift the front wheel sufficiently and went straight over the handlebars onto some grass.
He wasn't hurt but his pride took a severe bashing!

I also chuckle when I see them being pushed. As they've obviously run out of 'leccy!

I saw one the other week go racing around a corner on the path straight into a black wheelie bin. Feck me I’m still chuckling about it now. Seems to be the transport of chavs around here.

 

[Nayf]

I saw one the other week go racing around a corner on the path straight into a black wheelie bin. Feck me I’m still chuckling about it now. Seems to be the transport of chavs around here.

At least it's quieter than the quad bike with no helmet and 15-year-old girlfriend on the back crew that buzz around here occasionally

 

[Corranga]

Except the registered rental schemes. And there aren't any of those within miles of where I live. So every one I see, is not used correctly. According to current legislation.

What is the legislation for the rental scheme ones?
I saw a lot in Birmingham, and almost fell over about 100 of them littered all over pavements in London the last time I was there, and couldn't help but wonder how they are allowed when privately owned ones aren't legal for road or pavement use.

 

[Corranga]

The guys in the bike shop I use, reckon to make an electric bike exceed the 15mph is very easy, but obviously it shortens the battery life substantially.

As someone with a pair of e-bikes in the house, it very much depends on the make. I have a 2nd gen Bosch one which I don't think can be modified to exceed the 16.8mph limit they have, and also either can't, or can't easily be modified to remove the need to pedal (e.g. assist mode only) beyond the permitted 4mph unassisted 'push' mode which is designed to help you move the bike along when you're walking with it. My wife has a Yamaha one that I also don't think can be modded.

I know the 1st Gen Bosch ones could be chipped to half their reported speed very easily, therefore allowing almost 34mph to be achieved, and some of the Chinese hub conversion kits probably don't even meet the required safety standards to be legal in the first place, never mind speed restrictions...

 

[CatmanV2]

What is the legislation for the rental scheme ones?
I saw a lot in Birmingham, and almost fell over about 100 of them littered all over pavements in London the last time I was there, and couldn't help but wonder how they are allowed when privately owned ones aren't legal for road or pavement use.

Limited speed, gps tracked, insured (via the rental company)
They have to go and pick them up when they are abandoned as well.

C

 

[Oneball]

What is the legislation for the rental scheme ones?
I saw a lot in Birmingham, and almost fell over about 100 of them littered all over pavements in London the last time I was there, and couldn't help but wonder how they are allowed when privately owned ones aren't legal for road or pavement use.

It’s basically the same as a hire car or one of the city car sharing schemes. They’re insured, you have to have a driving license, can’t be used on roads where the speed limit is greater than 30mph and they have to meet certain construction requirements.

 

[mjheathcote]

As someone with a pair of e-bikes in the house, it very much depends on the make. I have a 2nd gen Bosch one which I don't think can be modified to exceed the 16.8mph limit they have, and also either can't, or can't easily be modified to remove the need to pedal (e.g. assist mode only) beyond the permitted 4mph unassisted 'push' mode which is designed to help you move the bike along when you're walking with it. My wife has a Yamaha one that I also don't think can be modded.

I know the 1st Gen Bosch ones could be chipped to half their reported speed very easily, therefore allowing almost 34mph to be achieved, and some of the Chinese hub conversion kits probably don't even meet the required safety standards to be legal in the first place, never mind speed restrictions...

My Dad has a pair of e-bikes.
Both can be riden assist only without pedalling.
Purchased before the legislation changed.
Not sure on max top speed, seemed fast enough to me what ever it was!

 

[Delmonte]

Driving in central Paris recently was utterly ridiculous due to the crazy scooters ("les trottinettes") not to mention mopeds, bikes and the mad Parisien drivers.... 10 times worse than London

I believe that in France, they're legislated up now. You have to have insurance for them, but you can actually get that, and use them legally, unlike here