Electrically-assisted bikes

[Chris71]

I know these sort of defeat the object of cycling, but has anyone here tried one of the current crop of electrically assisted bikes? Curious toi find out what the range is like and how they cope with hills?

(I'm assuming you don't need a CBT or anything to ride them?)

[Mr Gear]

I have ridden a few electrically assisted bikes. If they have a maximum assisted speed of under 15mph (most of them do), then you are not required to have any test, insurance, registration etc.... they are just seen as normal cycles by the law.

Anything faster and they become mopeds.

I think they have their uses, especially for people who are injured, elderly or live in hilly areas. Or just people who don't want to sweat too much on the way to work. Assisted range is often quoted at over 50 miles, but this will depend on the bike and how you ride it. The feeling of assistance is wonderful! It's like always having a strong tailwind behind you!.

[HundredthIdiot]

From what I've seen, they're good on hills and crap on the flat.

As soon as you're out of the assistance zone they just become a heavy hybrid.

I wouldn't mind a de-restricted one. There are lots of kits out there, illegal obviously though I'm not sure how you'd get caught unless you plowed into some pedestrians at 50kph.

[Mr Gear]

Some companies will make a "off road" version that is quicker. Try this lot in Winchester: http://www.cytronex.com/

Great looking machines too...

[ewenm]

There's a PHer who sells/markets/promotes them. A search should bring up one of his threads.

[peterperkins]

They are very good, but the legal 15mph maximum is a bit low and 20mph would be more sensible for practical use. As people have said you can get off road kits that go very well. If you don't take the P1ss out of it and blat along at 30mph with your feet in the air you are unlikely to get stopped when ridding at say ~20mph IMHO.

I got a legal conversion kit from http://www.alienbikes.co.uk/

It drives be 19 stone at the legal max pretty easily, with a lightweight on it probably do nearer the 20mph mark.