Ashley, please could you review our illegal bicycle?

Quite an unusual bike review, but I don't want you to waste your hard and money on something that would be illegal to use on UK roads.

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[TigerFris]

Hello Engwe? Ive just injured someone
Engwe: according to the experience of some of our users; providing you hide the body when the police come around, you'll be ok.
Thanks Engwe!

[ianmason.]

On the weight limit: The weight limits were imposed by paragraph 4(a) of The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983. That paragraph was removed completely by paragraph 2 (4)(a) of The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Amendment) Regulations 2015 so _there are now _*_no_*_ weight limits_ for EAPCs.

[anto]

"When driving your car and you encounter the police, just slow down to the speed limit. After that point you can speed up" - Erin in their next role as a Driving Instructor

[ollieflj]

I think some people believe "off road use" means the pavement

[PalladinPoker]

I can't believe an actual company recommended acting differently around the police as a solution to an illegal use of their product.

The company could get in criminal trouble for that.

[OldSkoolLover]

That they suggest you turn the electric mode off, so you won't get in trouble with the police 'where the police are present' is a disgrace. Good on you for keeping yourself and your license safe! Cheers

[ZOIDGARTH]

Wow. They're actually brazenly ignoring the regulations and they seem proud about it. They also seem a bit stupid admitting it in emails.
Just to add, if they're willing to ignore one set of regulations, you can be sure they'll be willing to ignore others. The bike could be a deathtrap.

[danch]

As well as the "slapped on" look of the sticker itself, it also has misspellings and the company contact email is a gmail account. Those would be warning signs to me. Indicators to the manufacturers attitude toward level of quality, regulations, safety requirements, etc.

[stuartjohnston]

Technically I don't think you can even push this about the streets. As you correctly state, outside the assisted pedal cycle regulations, this becomes a moped. On a public street, even if not being driven, it would require tax, mot and insurance.

[gordonpullan]

Brilliant review, well done. From my completely unscientific observation the majority of ebikes on public roads are illegal (high power, no speed limiter, throttle), but there is no action from the authorities to do anything about it.

[ModProjects]

My new hero. Well done Ashley. Sadly Engwe doesn’t give a monkeys. Snapped frames, injuries galore … not one recall. Engwe are proof that you can’t die of embarrassment … furthermore for a Chinese smash and grab business model you should try their customer support. It’s abysmal at best.

Thank you for giving me back the faith that some people aren’t in this for the free bikes and a few sheckles.

[JasperDaniels-wf]

As a kid, I used to push my dirt bike a short distance along the road/pavement to the field where I rode it. I got cautioned by the police for having an unregistered, uninsured motor vehicle on the public highway once, but was told that if I disconnected the spark plug It would be okay. I assume Ashley must have disconnected the battery in this instance.

[lordbungle]

I wasn't shocked by their reply (shocker), It's the same with the electric scooters, They are illegal for road use (With the exception of the trials going on in various areas and even then Privately owned ones are illegal) Yet you can buy them all over the place. When questioned the reply will be "We sell them expecting you to check to see if they are legal in your jurisdiction." Or "We sell them for use on private land." meanwhile your bank account is down a large amount of money and you have an item that you probably won't be able to use.

[susiejones]

That email reply from them was a bit of a shocker! 😮

[garryk]

Ashley, the regulations as written are complex but the headline requirements are simple. The ones that don't understand them are the ones that don't want to. That's not an electrically assisted legal cycle. In law, that's a motor cycle. Absolutely crazy that they asked you to review it!

[ddturnerphd]

Insightful and thoroughly in keeping with this top-notch channel's area of expertise. Thank you.

[SIX]

Thanks for making me aware of this. Although I don’t cycle, I have family members who do and may be interested in this.
Also, that email response was alarming and would most likely have been better off not responding at all.

[chrisfranklification]

Ashley, you're an absolute legend mate. I've been watching your videos for a while now and they've made me think a lot about how I drive and made me approach things differently - both on bike and in car. Great to see you taking such a clear line on this deathtrap!

[Matmamtmamtmamtmamtm]

"Can you confirm the top speed of the bike?"

"Yeah, it's illegal, l00l"

[chrisdevine]

Just to mention that there is one existing exemption re throttles, in that if you bought you Ebike in the early days (pre 2010—ish), the throttle can take you all the way up to 15.5.

I've still got mine... And in spite of the battery being probably half the capacity it was new, still my favourite bike to ride.