Aussie 200 Watt Limit Thread

Hopefully you guys will have a better mentality at tackling this issue than most of us appear to have in the US. Too many (don't do anythings) so we can pretend that it won't (change for the worse). Let's not bring anything out, so they won't see just what we are doing, so they won't regulate us more. Our approach should be... bend everyones ear from letter writing to public displays of e-bikes and e-bikers. Go to dept of transportation meetings and have a voice. For that matter, all sorts of city planning meetings. You'll find sometimes the lycra crowd is asked for input, but usually does not provide a voice for our group, in fact it usually makes it harder for us but is accepted by (the government) as the bikers holy grail. Its just a given... you ALWAYS have to fight for what you truly want... If it isn't worth your time, you get to complain about what changed for the worst, and by then its harder to change it for the better. I personally find it (very hard) to find time for a cause but we are the very people that have to stand and fight for our rightsand freedoms. This should not be a (privilage) but a "Right" and we need to be seen and heard. P.S. Often times, what policy is enacted by one country, is used as a model, and is also adopted by other countries of the world.
 
Wouldn't now be a good time for national legislation to override the states, with the federal election in 4 weeks?
I saw PM Gillard had something to offer about solar power, be good if they gave EV's a shot in the arm starting with the most prolific of all transportation methods, I can't see why the US 750w example can't be adopted to make e-bike transport practical for everybody, regardless of weight or hills.
 
Yea, and alot of us in the U.S. are riding 1000 watt models that we want to be road legal as bikes also. So go for 1000 watt, and when you get it, we can point to you mates and tell our government we want what you've got!
 
oldhaq said:
Wouldn't now be a good time for national legislation to override the states, with the federal election in 4 weeks?
I saw PM Gillard had something to offer about solar power, be good if they gave EV's a shot in the arm starting with the most prolific of all transportation methods, I can't see why the US 750w example can't be adopted to make e-bike transport practical for everybody, regardless of weight or hills.
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As I understand it, the current system is very close to this - the Australian Road Rules are a 'national' document, i.e. the rules are actually determined federally, but the Australian Road Rules is not actual legislation per se. but is passed into law by the state parliments. However, IANAL, so if someone knows better, feel free to correct me.

And yes, a good time for letters to local papers, letters to MPs, and good-publicity / awareness-raising activism in general. Must get off my but and write in myself, as I haven't really done that yet :oops:...
 
anyone know where the govt is up to with new power limit in australia, they still discussing it over their lattes' or has something been done, is it still 130watts continuous ( 200watts peak)?
 
Who knows... its been very quiet lately on this front, I think I will keep being 'sticker limited' for the time being :)
 
A couple of month ago I did a training course and one of the others attendees is a manager from Bicycling Victoria. During lunch I asked him re: his thoughts on ebikes. The guy admitted riding a few, even said they are fantastic, but the bottom line was: "we (BV on behalf of other cyclists of Melbourne) don't want them (in our bikelanes and cyclopaths), they should be restricted to pedal assist only (no throttle)" This is the guy who's got more weight in decision making than all of us here put together.

Sadly, I'd expect BV to follow EU regulations (250W, PAS only, no assist over 25kph) rather than the US ones.
 
heathyoung said:
Who knows... its been very quiet lately on this front, I think I will keep being 'sticker limited' for the time being :)
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speaking of these stick on power limiters, does anyone have one to spare? I can always get some from a sticker company, but that ususally ends up being $10 or more, which is allot when all you want to do is limit your motor to 200w... :twisted:
 
I got a few from Hyena, stuck one on the motor but it didn't reduce the power
At all, thinking Jay might have sent me a defective 200 watt sticker, I applied a second to my amazement the bike still did 75km/hr :-| and maxed out at 8000Watts :-| i'm quite put put by this blatant supply of defective 200watt limiting stickers and would appreciate some working stickers, so if you end up getting some printed please put me down for half a dozen :p

KiM
 
Ha Ha AJ

I'm looking for power upgrading stickers. One MegaWatt would look nice on my frocks, and if they are working I'm willing to pay the extra buck. :mrgreen:
 
GreenKnight said:
Does any have an idea of the typical horsepower of the 50cc motors? I always used an estimate of 10cc per horsepower.
So 50cc is roughly 5 horsepower or 4000Watts.
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A good 50cc engine can do over 10bhp.
 
AussieJester said:
I got a few from Hyena, stuck one on the motor but it didn't reduce the power
At all, thinking Jay might have sent me a defective 200 watt sticker, I applied a second to my amazement the bike still did 75km/hr :-| and maxed out at 8000Watts :-| i'm quite put put by this blatant supply of defective 200watt limiting stickers and would appreciate some working stickers, so if you end up getting some printed please put me down for half a dozen :p

KiM
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bugger, i was hoping to buy some 100kw and 50ah stickers for my motor and batteries... did jay give you a prompt refund and a heart-warming apology?

I just emailed jay to see if he has any left, but if not ill prob get some printed. So all you ausies that want one of these magic 200w stickers that actually WORK :wink: let me know and ill print some for you too. Ill prob get them done fairly small, so I can fit 5 or more on each single bumper sticker. Cost therefore should be pretty cheap. about $4 for the first to cover post and my time then $1.5 each after that. Show of hands how many'd be in?

Design wise i'd be applying KISS, likely some fairly plain looking font with 'Hx200 - 200w eMotor' as the text. Might even use some simplified Chinese to make it more 'genuine' :lol:

edit
for you aj it'll have to be like $10 each, taiming 6000w requires allot of vinyl :p .
 
AussieJester said:
Seriously, i'm 100% in, ill take half a dozen for future and present use cheers...

KiM

p.s do they come with a money back guarantee? :mrgreen: :p
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ha no probs aj. I promise these stickers are guaranteed to limit your motor to 200w so long as you promise to never ever test the claim. be warned too, 200W feels allot like 6kw these days. Cosmic gamma rays and John travolta's toupee are creating extra magnetic flux :shock: :shock: .
 
So, regarding a 200 watt limiting AJ, I am under the impression that a simple pot between a hall effect throttle and the servo tester will do a job of limiting it should you ever feel the need, saves having to clean the motor and stick something on.

It leaves a rather large dead band when the power is wound down, but if you just need to switch it on when the fun busters come sniffing and have it tucked away for the rest of the ride it shouldn't be a problem. I'm under the impression that unless they can prove you were using more than 200 watts onroad, or breaking some speed/helmet/whatever law they can only waggle their fingers, not that I recommend trying this by any means. Simply going up a steep hill without pedalling at 50 clicks won't hold up in court as using more than 200 watts.


On another note, if I ever get busted I fully intend on pointing to the gears, the size of the motor and the "170" printed on it, and then troll them to the ground by being a noob thinking it couldn't make much power as its small, has many gears for efficiency and the 170 means the power. Either that or jump in the concrete highways (storm drains) and pin it out of sight, but you don't want to have them keeping an eye out for ebikes.
 
Really the general consensus (from other's experience) and from my own limited encounters with cops is that so long as your not riding like a maniac they wont bother you. I recently rode past 3 cops on push bikes, none of em even looked 2ice. not that cops on pushies would stand a chance of catching me anyway :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
 
sn0wchyld said:
AussieJester said:
Seriously, i'm 100% in, ill take half a dozen for future and present use cheers...

KiM

p.s do they come with a money back guarantee? :mrgreen: :p
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ha no probs aj. I promise these stickers are guaranteed to limit your motor to 200w so long as you promise to never ever test the claim. be warned too, 200W feels allot like 6kw these days. Cosmic gamma rays and John travolta's toupee are creating extra magnetic flux :shock: :shock: .
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I like that warranty SOLD! Let me know when and where to send the cash
:D its also pleasing to hear the similarities between 200 & 6000watt!!
thankfully my bike will be 100% legal! And with little noticeable loss in performance!!

u is Da'MaN :mrgreen: :p

KiM
 
I see your problem AJ, you put 2 stickers on, instantly doubling your power to a very illegal 400w. Silly boy :roll:

I can speak to the fellow I bumped into in a back alley and see if he has any more of these stickers :p but fiddling around collecting payment and then addressing envelopes is hardly worth the effort for a $2-3 sticker. Maybe a 4 pack for $10 delivered ? If a few people are interested I'll get another run done. Errr, I mean I'll let this guy in the alley know and get him to send them to you :p

Disclaimer: these stickers are only for sale to those with genuine 200w motors who's original stickers have been torn off from the blazing acceleration.

And yes as covered extensively - it's all about common sense and attitude - ride like an idiot and the cops will hassle you - cruise past minding your own business on a 2kw ebike and they won't look twice. I frequently see lycras with no motors riding in a fashion that puts themselves and pedestrians at more risk.

As I've commented on a number of times before (probably earlier in this actual thread) I got a flat tyre one hot summers day and used a bit of throttle to pull the bike up a steep hill so I didn't have to lug it all the way. It was pulling over 200w with me walking along side it. So that's how rediculous the laws are.
 
HAHAA @ 400watt from 2 stickers... mate, seeing you have bigger things to worry about at present, if you get the stickers done send them all too me i'll happily post them out to anyone wanting them and paypal you the dollars
as they roll in, save you the trouble, i got nothing but time as you know, retired and happy at 42 :p ...

KiM
 
nice to get a laugh off esforum, I suspect your stickers attract cosmic rays which maybe the mystery of how they limit power.
anyhow.....a recent experience with the boys in blue.....
riding very slowly ( fortunately) not pedalling, boys in blue ( cops) tail me in an unmarked car ( my top speed might have been 15km/hr up very slight incline, I didn't know they were behind me. They flash their lights etc. The rather agressive officer asks me some 'leading' questions namely: 'can this bike go uphill by itself?' he was wanting some excuse to get me over the 200watt limit, he went to the back of his car and pulled out a huge folder, all about ebikes, lots of different bits of info, seems they might have been doing some training on how to catch us damn criminals. After about 20minutes of back and forth on the side of the road, he gave up. HIs partner noticed I didn't have a rear reflector but let me off ( what a nice guy).
On departing the crime scene, the agro officer suggested I keep pedalling and there would be no problems.
So my advice if you get pulled over is exaggerate how poor the power is, that the motor is hopeless and can hardly push you along, that you need to pedal ALL the time.
These guys certainly had been doing some sort of research or training on how to catch ebikers.
Oh the other thing they mentioned was : that I was being filmed, I guess video evidence of an ebiker not pedalling up a hill might be enough evidence to get you in court ( was just the in car camera they have in cop cars these days).
So keep those legs moving even if they are doing nothing.
 
@whatever,

The reason I was asking was that, as far as I've been able to find out, there is no requirement for pedaling in the national part of the road rules. It appears NSW has added some extra bits in the form of VSI 27. I've clipped some bits to clarify.

Power-assisted pedal cycle
A power-assisted pedal cycle is a cycle that:
• Is designed to be propelled primarily by human power; and
• Has one or more auxiliary propulsion motors attached that have a combined output of no more than
200 watts.
This means that the rider must be able to pedal the cycle; the motor is for assistance only.

and this extra bit from RTA web site:

Motor assisted pedal cycles with electric or petrol engines are exempt from registration, provided the maximum engine output power does not exceed 200 watts. These vehicles must have been designed as a bicycle - that is, to be propelled by human power, with the motor attached as a supplementary aid only. Riders must follow the same road rules as for pedal cycles without motors, including wearing a helmet.

Things are much simpler in Qld. :D

Just keep pedaling, buddy.
 
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