MTB engines on ebay

"Martin Dann" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As seen on uk.legal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOUNTAIN-BIKE-BICYCLE-ENGINE-KIT-ELECTRIC-MOTORIZED-MTB_W0QQitemZ150218923199QQihZ005QQcategoryZ33503QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Someone is selling two stroke petrol engines for MTBs, and MTBs with
engines on ebay. From the feed back, the seller appears to have sold at
least a few dozen, many of which are to people who appear to be in this
country.
I wonder how many of the purchasers who put one of these on a MTB will
make the bike fully road legal, and register it etc.

Selling them to UK purchasers doesn't necessarily mean that thay have found
their way onto a bike never mind the UK highway.

The vendor neatly skirts the UK legislation which renders both of the
illustrated bikes illegal if used on UK roads. Both bikes are dangerous with
an unguarded chain waiting to amputate unguarded limbs.

There's a considerable amount of work to do to make a road legal version
which probably includes:
fitting non battery powered lights
fitting brake lights actuated from the brake levers
fitting chain guards
fitting an electric horn

It's cheaper and a lot less hassle to buy a s/h moped.

Quoted message said:

On a similar note, I have noticed a lot of electric bikes[1] in Bristol
lately, at least four of which I regularly see used, or locked up in
various places.

[1] Which should be road legal.

vernon said:

"Martin Dann" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As seen on uk.legal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOUNTAIN-BIKE-BICYCLE-ENGINE-KIT-ELECTRIC-MOTORIZED-MTB_W0QQitemZ150218923199QQihZ005QQcategoryZ33503QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Someone is selling two stroke petrol engines for MTBs, and MTBs with
engines on ebay. From the feed back, the seller appears to have sold
at least a few dozen, many of which are to people who appear to be
in this country.
I wonder how many of the purchasers who put one of these on a MTB
will make the bike fully road legal, and register it etc.

None.
Only the most dedicated home vehicle builder could get a bicycle with petrol
motor through the SVA regulations.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Selling them to UK purchasers doesn't necessarily mean that thay have
found their way onto a bike never mind the UK highway.

The vendor neatly skirts the UK legislation which renders both of the
illustrated bikes illegal if used on UK roads. Both bikes are
dangerous with an unguarded chain waiting to amputate unguarded limbs.

There's a considerable amount of work to do to make a road legal
version which probably includes:
fitting non battery powered lights
fitting brake lights actuated from the brake levers
fitting chain guards
fitting an electric horn

One starts by reading this lot, and its associated references:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/regulationsforpoweredtwoandt4564

Absence of E-markings on lots of parts will make compliance very expensive.

Quoted message said:

It's cheaper and a lot less hassle to buy a s/h moped.

Quite.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On a similar note, I have noticed a lot of electric bikes[1] in
Bristol lately, at least four of which I regularly see used, or
locked up in various places.

[1] Which should be road legal.

I've seen a lots of legal electrically assisted bicycles and a few illegal
electric powered mopeds without plates and helmets (ie. not electric assist
bicycles).

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

In article <[email hidden]>, vernon
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

The vendor neatly skirts the UK legislation which renders both of the
illustrated bikes illegal if used on UK roads. Both bikes are dangerous with
an unguarded chain waiting to amputate unguarded limbs.

Definitely.

Quoted message said:

There's a considerable amount of work to do to make a road legal version
which probably includes:
fitting non battery powered lights

No need as long as you don't use it on the road when lights would be
required.

Quoted message said:

fitting brake lights actuated from the brake levers

Not necessarily actuated by the levers, it just has to come on when the
brakes are applied - a microswitch on the brake arm would be easy to
rig.

Quoted message said:

fitting chain guards
fitting an electric horn

I think a bulb horn will satisfy legal requirements.

Quoted message said:

It's cheaper and a lot less hassle to buy a s/h moped.

Indeed. Except that modern 'mopeds' aren't designed to be pedalled -
you generally need one of pre-1970s vintage for that.