More ebike misinformation

[Chargeride]

So its just become the thing to call all illegal bikes fatbikes.

Amsterdam prepares to ‘ban the fatbikes’ amid rise in serious accidents

Experts say souped-up e-bikes pose big risk for children aged from 12 to 15, who account for many A&E cases

www.theguardian.com

 

[Old-tool-guy]

What is their definition of a fat bike?

 

[RunForTheHills]

It's not a definition. If you read the article, it seems that "fat bike" is a nickname used in the Netherlands for souped up e-bikes. It's not inaccurate. Most of the problem riders are on e-bikes that look more like a motorcycle with pedals than a bicycle. That doesn't mean that every rider on one of these bikes is a problem, though.

 

[Chargeride]

Yes I know its just a nickname, but using it demonises legal fatbikes, which is the exact problem we have with calling surron ebikes

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes I know its just a nickname, but using it demonises legal fatbikes, which is the exact problem we have with calling surron ebikes

No Charge, fat-bikes you can buy in the EU are all the illegal Chinese scrap metal.
Your legal Haibike FatSix has not been made for years now.

Both UK and Poland, illegal electric fat-bikes are mostly ridden by food couriers, always on the throttle.

Food couriers here form gangs. I have reports of friends who had accidents with fat e-bike food couriers (bodily or equipment harm); the gang was always protecting their members against any responsibility. I was personally verbally attacked by a food courier who was high and stacked his fat e-bike on the train the way it was scratching a nice bike of someone else. The owner of that nice bike suggested I calmed down: "To stop that man, you need to hit him. If you do, the police will be involved". Necessary to say, the offender was Polish, on drugs.

 

[Chargeride]

There are loads of legal fatbikes, the 20inch versions, in fact they show that type in the article.
Yes its probably illegal, but Im never going to ride my Haibike in the neverlands...theyve blown their chance, I aint budging.

 

[mschwett]

Yes I know its just a nickname, but using it demonises legal fatbikes, which is the exact problem we have with calling surron ebikes

nah, it demonises the particular type of bicycle that the term describes IN THE NETHERLANDS which is the powerful motor, beefy frame, the buddy seat (from which little pedaling could ever be done), and yes, fat tires.

the dutch are a precise people, and they are allowed to coin or adopt terms in their own country. i'm quite certain they don't give a flying dutchman about the tire size of a responsibly ridden bike an ocean or channel away!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There are loads of legal fatbikes, the 20inch versions, in fact they show that type in the article.

Where?!
Charge, you are a pretty lucky person to get a legal fat e-bike made in Germany. All major European and American brands stopped making fat e-bikes. For obvious reasons.

P.S. Ever wondered why Specialized only sells its Globe Haul in the U.S. but it is Turbo Porto for Europe?

 

[spokewrench]

The proposal is to ban them in a certain park. A man who uses one for transportation says the problem is juvenile operators.

I've owned and depended on a Radrunner, which I guess would be called a fatbike. It was transportation. With an aftermarket controller, I could get up to 24 mph, which I found dangerous on that bike. Even at low speeds, I found the design treacherous compared to two e-bikes I have now (live and learn). Fatbikes were designed for snow and desert sand. On snow, sand, or mud, it was the worst bike I ever had.

I'm sure some fatbikes are much better. The Radrunner was designed to lure kids as it lured me.

I think the man should be able to use his fatbike on public streets. Like him, I'm sympathetic to restricting their use by kids and in some parks.

 

[Base]

For these "fatbikes" they are cheap non-conpliant e-mopeds which are used by schoolkids who really do not have a clue what the risks are riding how they do. It's not just Amsterdam, in the east there are a few citys who banned all e-bikes from the city center due to these "fatbikes". So there are a few legal fatbikes riding around (which are way more expensive than these china-schrott versions) and these are ok as they are compliant, the problem bikes are these cheap "fatbikes", these cost less than a proper e-bike battery and they have a to powerfull motor and a throttle. Also these are a danger to use in public, two years ago a young kid with his friend on the back ran into a mother and toddler (who where riding a Giant e-bike with a bobike seat), the Giant had a broken front wheel, the "fatbike" was in 3 pieces (frame snapped) and both kids needed to go to the hospital, mother and toddler where just brushed and could walk away.

For these "fatbikes", they are more e-mopeds and if they where on a licenceplate the rider would have to be older than 16 and have insurance, licencse, helmet etc. Since they are bought online and with a simple button combination are unlocked there are kids from the age of 8 riding these things.

 

[Chargeride]

Just pointing out there are thousands of illegally modified normal bikes using cheap direct drive motors, they can easily reach 40mph, most fatbikes top out at 30 because the geared fatbike hub simply runs out of revs, especially on 20 inch wheels, without fancy high voltage batteries or field limiting

 

[Base]

Just pointing out there are thousands of illegally modified normal bikes using cheap direct drive motors, they can easily reach 40mph, most fatbikes top out at 30 because the geared fatbike hub simply runs out of revs, especially on 20 inch wheels, without fancy high voltage batteries or field limiting

Correct, we do see a few of these bikes here. Thats why the police are now focussing on testbench tests for all e-bikes, to filter out the elegal ones. Just like they did in the past for the traditional mopeds.

Problem with the "fatbikes" is besides the crappy bike itself, the max speed with throttle And riders which are way to young to understand what they are doing with their riding style cause dangers to them selves and their surroundings

 

[Chargeride]

Illegal scooters seem to be escaping scrutiny, they are the most dangerous in my book because riders are often heavy middle aged people tearing along sidewalks.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There was a sad but otherwise legally interesting incident a couple months ago. While my close friend was approaching a bike path crossing, he was run into by a rider of an illegal upright e-scooter approaching from my friend's right side. Even if the collision was violent, no equipment (especially the expensive photo gear the scooterist had on him) was damaged, and while my friend's hand was somewhat hurt, the scooterist came out from the crash with his face covered in blood.

The police decided my friend was guilty because he should give way to a vehicle approaching from his right side. You might argue that:

• The scooterist was riding on the wrong side of the bike path
• The scooterist was riding an illegal e-scooter
• The scooterist rode at the excessive speed.

While the last argument was of some value (but it couldn't be proven), I was explained the two first facts would be ignored by the court! (That is the law we unfortunately have in Poland). Luckily, no court case. A criminal case would be taken if any of the two riders were hospitalized for more than 7 days. The civil case would be actual if a serious damage to the equipment took place. All good for my friend.

A war against illegal e-bikes and e-scooters should be declared!