E-Bike cop proof?

[bigbore]

Here is what I read in the FAQ:

""""""""""""
How Fast ?
According to the law in ONTARIO, CANADA ! , an electric assist bicycle should not propel you over 20 mph ( 32 km/h ).

But, depending on your location, your needs, your situation, and good common sense, speeds of up to 40 mph + ( 65 Km/h ) can be achieved !
""""""""""""

In my location e-bikes must go lower 25km/h (15,5mph) when assisted by the motor and the driver must pedal if he wants to be assisted by the motor or in other words the motor must assist the driver only if he is pedaling and must stop the assistance at the speed of 25km/h.

That said I would like to know if anybody had realized a dual mode e-bike.
A standard mode running within laws in case you are catched by the cops and a "turbo" mode with a speed of 65 Km/h. The standard mode must be switched very quickly and not to be reversed in case you are got by the cops while running a "little fast".

 

[itchynackers]

I can't say I'm doing this (because it would be illegal), but there are people out there who have a 3 speed switch (maybe hidden) that switches from mode 1 (20mph legal limit), to mode 2 (42mph), and mode 3 (48mph). Not that I would do that, but someone could.

 

[John in CR]

My programmable controllers from Lyen all have 3 speed switch capability. All I would need to do is hide that 3-way switch. Then you can have grandma speed, normal turbo, and super turbo. The super turbo would be for outrunning the cops.

 

[wasp]

Damn the secrets out...

 

[bigbore]

My programmable controllers from Lyen all have 3 speed switch capability. All I would need to do is hide that 3-way switch. Then you can have grandma speed, normal turbo, and super turbo. The super turbo would be for outrunning the cops.

That could be good but instead of a switch I would prefer a jumper that you can unplug and put in your pocket.
The programmable controller from Lyen could be programmed to drive the motor only if the rider is pedaling (in standard mode)?

 

[Lessss]

This is an attitude I've never understood. If you want an electric motor bike just register it as one.

 

[John in CR]

My programmable controllers from Lyen all have 3 speed switch capability. All I would need to do is hide that 3-way switch. Then you can have grandma speed, normal turbo, and super turbo. The super turbo would be for outrunning the cops.

That could be good but instead of a switch I would prefer a jumper that you can unplug and put in your pocket.
The programmable controller from Lyen could be programmed to drive the motor only if the rider is pedaling (in standard mode)?

No problem. You'd just give up the third option. Setting #2 is the default for when there is no switch, so you program that to grandma speed, and your jumper makes the connection to 1 or 3 for which you program to full. I'd just program 1 AND 3 to full, so whatever connection I made with my jumper would be correct. Pull it and it reverts to default.

The better option would be to just move to Costa Rica, which has no rules yet. It's legally a bicycle and the limit is the posted speed limit.

 

[bigbore]

This is an attitude I've never understood. If you want an electric motor bike just register it as one.

To register a vehicle here in Italy you have to spend a mint and the limitations are very high.
Here is an example:
I have a registered mini e-scooter and the company that made it had to chose the tires with the measure 2.50-4 instead of an unregistered Chinese e-scooter that uses 3.00-4 tires.

 

[bigbore]

My programmable controllers from Lyen all have 3 speed switch capability. All I would need to do is hide that 3-way switch. Then you can have grandma speed, normal turbo, and super turbo. The super turbo would be for outrunning the cops.

That could be good but instead of a switch I would prefer a jumper that you can unplug and put in your pocket.
The programmable controller from Lyen could be programmed to drive the motor only if the rider is pedaling (in standard mode)?

No problem. You'd just give up the third option. Setting #2 is the default for when there is no switch, so you program that to grandma speed, and your jumper makes the connection to 1 or 3 for which you program to full. I'd just program 1 AND 3 to full, so whatever connection I made with my jumper would be correct. Pull it and it reverts to default.

The better option would be to just move to Costa Rica, which has no rules yet. It's legally a bicycle and the limit is the posted speed limit.

John in CR you are my hero!!!!
Could you tell me where I can have a look at this controllers from Lyen? ..... Link?

 

[neptronix]

Here's my idea.

+ Fab up a rear rack that has some rear dropouts on it for a small rear geared motor.
+ Drive the rear wheel via a chain.
+ Stick it on a skinny tired 700c bike.
+ Put panniers on the rear to cover the chain and motor so that nobody can see it.
+ Find yourself the smallest throttle and.. enjoy.

This could work because people expect such bikes to be fast in the first place.
I plan on doing this soon, both for the efficiency factor and for a backup just in case my state starts cracking down on eBikes.

 

[liveforphysics]

This is an attitude I've never understood. If you want an electric motor bike just register it as one.

Who would want to have the freedom to use bike paths and trails and parks and short-cuts and non-DOT approved parts/equipment?

When you could sacrifice all those qualities, pay registration, pay insurance, go through inspections, and be illegal if you modify something without re-registering/inspection?


That way you can combine all the disadvantages of a motorcycle with the performance disadvantages of a bicycle, but none of the unique freedoms and advantages of either.

Who wouldn't want that?

 

[electr0n]

There's waaaay too many laws and rules. I'm not worried about police here in Ontario, at least not right now. I felt far more threatened by police when I was driving my car. On my bicycle I have no license plate and I don't have to carry ID on me if I don't want to. If I did get pulled over I could tell them I'm john doe how are they gonna know. How are they going to know if your motor is capable of going a certain speed either. There are people on regular road bikes that can push 50 to 60kph anyway.

It seems like they are mostly concerned with hassling cars and trucks. I just pedal with the motor even if I'm not contributing much. I find most people don't even realize my bike has a motor on it. I can get up to about 40 to 45kph and use discretion when going full throttle on bike paths and sidewalks for example. I try to be considerate and keep a low profile.

Anyway if a cop does pull you over for speeding what are the chances that they will know anything about ebikes or the laws applicable to them anyway. When I say ebikes I'm referring to the conversion kits out there not the scooter style bikes. I'd rather avoid those scooter type ebikes because I imagine they are more prone to being hassled because they look more like a scooter or motorcycle than a regular bicycle with a motor kit installed.

 

[MadRhino]

Here, I follow the traffic speed, cops don't care as long as you don't slalom through the traffic.

 

[Dave Sloan]

I just set my GPS to MPH and then claim that I thought it was KMH. Hats off to the USA keeping the British system - wait - I guess we were not as loyal as a Loyalist should be... Oh well as long as you do not light that stealth rocket on the back of the bike :lol:

 

[neptronix]

This is an attitude I've never understood. If you want an electric motor bike just register it as one.

Who would want to have the freedom to use bike paths and trails and parks and short-cuts and non-DOT approved parts/equipment?

When you could sacrifice all those qualities, pay registration, pay insurance, go through inspections, and be illegal if you modify something without re-registering/inspection?


That way you can combine all the disadvantages of a motorcycle with the performance disadvantages of a bicycle, but none of the unique freedoms and advantages of either.

Who wouldn't want that?

EXACTLY. The reasons i love eBikes is the freedom they allow. Although you may be limited to certain speeds, you have access to pretty much everything on one.

 

[John in CR]

Here, I follow the traffic speed, cops don't care as long as you don't slalom through the traffic.

I get to slalom too, ride the centerline of a two lane road with traffic in both, take the shoulder past all the cars up to the front at red lights, proceeding through a red if there's no traffic... pretty much whatever I want. That's how the motos ride anyway. Traffic cops are pretty few and far between anyway, manning typical spots, mostly just looking for up to date registration and inspection on the cars, some random stops at night looking for drunk drivers, plus the very rare speed traps. I just keep it sane, aggressive but not overly so, with a keen eye for all cars. I don't go fast relative to cars like the Russian guy in another thread, so it's really quite a bit safer than most would think.

Bigbore,
Look in the for sale section of the forum for Lyen's stuff. Pick yourself up one of his ebike testers while you're at it, a great and cheap tool that greatly simplifies trouble shooting that can test motor, halls, controller, and throttle.

 

[kold kanuck]

I agree that getting pulled over on a converted bike really should not be a concern and probably wouldn't even happen. But all it takes is one idiot doing something stupid and one idiot reporter(hello fox news :wink: ) to sensationalize the event to ruin everyones fun. After all it's the governments/insurance companies job to protect us from ourselves. Unwanted attention is only a sound bite away, so i understand the concern for wanting a legal switch for when it is needed.

just me 2 cents

Just found this thread http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26769
looks like it might already be happening.

 

[999zip999]

O.K. 48v 30amp. and let me ride ...

 

[Green Machine]

A hidden three way switch would insinuate a cop would pull you over then take your bike on a test ride just to see how powerful it is.

Has anyone had that happened? That would be a hilarious story if it has.

I noticed someone here on the sphere selling "250 watt" stickers and i bought a sheet of em and put them on all my hub motors just in case. It was like 5 bucks for sheet of them and i considered it good insurance.

I can say "look its only 250 watts im just in great bicycle shape and I pedal assist ALOT"

My rational is a cop is not going to waste his time beyond just looking over the bike to see if it looks legal or not.

 

[geetarboy]

I try to stay off busy streets as much as possible and do the speed limit, stop at stop signs, and be courteous to other traffic & pedestrians. I have seen lot's of cops during my rides and they seem to ignore me - I hope it stays that way 8) Oh, I forgot - "I always wear a bike helmet"

 

[MadRhino]

Has anyone been pulled over on their ebike and questioned?

Yep, a cop on a bicycle asked me about my bike being electric, found it interesing and said he wished that they'd supply them cycling police with bikes like that. He asked about the speed that I could go, I said "about the same speed as my other bikes, only with lesser effort"

 

[Green Machine]

The other trick i forgot to mention is whenever you are going 30+ miles per hour dont forget to pedal like hell for effect. Its good for your heart and makes "outsiders" including cops think your just an underdressed (no lycra) lance armstrong. Everyone seems to respect hard core cyclists...simply pose as a hard core cyclist without the spandex and cops will just love you.

And i really enjoy riding a stealthy bike...both in looks and noise level. I figure if i dont look like a motor vehicle, nor sound like a motor vehicle...no body will every figure out im a motor vehicle as long as i pedal like hell and keep under 35mph....I will stay under the cop radar by being super stealth.

 

[PowerStranger]

Is anyone here in Canada?

I am in Ontario..and I was looking forward to convert my bike until I saw this: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml#a21
It sucks to have so many rules..and I have to get the manufacturer to put this label somewhere on the bike.

THIS VEHICLE IS A POWER
ASSISTED BICYCLE AND
MEETS ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS UNDER
SECTION 2(1) OF THE
CANADA MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY REGULATIONS.

CE VÉHICULE EST UNE BICYCLETTE
ASSISTÉE ET RECONTRE LA NORME 2(1)
DU RÈGLEMENT SUR LA SÉCURITÉ
DES VÉHICULES AUTOMOBILES DU CANADA.

 

[recumbent]

We have cyclist police where i live in BC Canada, and they just complement my bike and keep moving on. But when i ride fast, and see a cop, i pedal.

However i did purchase one of Lyens three speed switchs, just haven't connected it yet.

 

[Evoforce]

In parts of Arizona the cops can be a real pain (big egos). I was just talking to a guy tonight on a gasser that I passed while riding my motorcycle. He told me that he has been stopped in Mesa 4 or five times and told that he had to register it as a moped and they threatened to give him big fines and confiscate his bike. I personally have been paced by the police but have not yet been pulled over(fingers crossed). I will be linking up with this guy again. I told him to get a copy of the federal law and keep it with him. Maybe that would help....but maybe not!