Can the MET police take your ebike away if you have insurance on it

[CustomPayload]

Hello, I own a sur ron for a couple of weeks and I had a talk with this guy about ebikes and the legality of it and he told me that if you have insurance on the bike they cant take your bike away, I was wondering if this was true.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Why would they take your bike anyway?

TT

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

If they're like most cops, they'll do whatever they want regardless, and let the courts sort it out.

 

[McCorby]

I do not believe Sur Ron makes “ebikes”. They make electric off road motocross bikes….no pedals. So if you are riding it on public streets or bike paths then maybe they can, or at the very least ticket you.
……and I don’t think having insurance matters if you are riding it illegally.

 

[PedalUma]

Motorcycles do not have pedals and off road motorcycles cannot go on public roads. So yes, as a matter of public safety these outlaws require impounding when found in public spaces such as on a bike path, public park, street or in a bicycle lane. With the loss of a driver's license, accompanied by fines and driver education classes to have a provisional driver's license temporarily reinstated. EBR is for bicycles. Ask a dirt motorcycle club and they will tell you. Or go the your state's department of motor vehicles to ask about motorcycle laws.

 

[jabberwocky]

Your issue is that a Sur Ron is not a legal e-bike. To ride it legally on the roads, it needs to be registered as a motorcycle (and meet the legal requirements for one). As for the police confiscating it, probably varies a lot by department, but generally if the police stop you for riding a vehicle that can't be legally ridden in the roadway, they probably aren't going to let you ride off on it after writing a ticket.

 

[Dadam]

If it's registered as a moped, with a numberplate, and taxed and insured, and if you have that category on your driving licence, and you have passed the CBT for a moped, you're fine. No to any of those and if they stop you they WILL confiscate it and will probably give you a fine and points on your driving licence too.

 

[tomjasz]

I do not believe Sur Ron makes “ebikes”. They make electric off road motocross bikes….no pedals. So if you are riding it on public streets or bike paths then maybe they can, or at the very least ticket you.
……and I don’t think having insurance matters if you are riding it illegally.

They sell pedal kits...
sur-ron-pedal-system

Everything you need to switch your Sur-Ron MX to a working pedal system. A simple install that takes around an hour, this kit includes crank arms, pedals, chain, and bottom bracket with 28T chainring.

For documentation and installation see this page

"NOTE: The Pedal System also works with 42T, 48T, 54T & 60T sprocket but you will need a chain extension that is not included! This kit is not made for any serious off-roading, it's purpose is to turn this bike into a street pedal bike. Bearings are not sealed so lube is required."

 

[m@Robertson]

I think we need to remember the OP is in the UK. As such, what @Dadam said governs. A class of moped also needs an MOT certificate or are they exempt from that, or is that where 'taxed' comes in?

 

[Dadam]

@m@Robertson
MOT is an annual roadworthiness and safety test for motor vehicles over 3 years old. So yes, possibly that too. 'Taxed' means vehicle excise duty has been paid but this would actually be zero rated for an electric vehicle so I was wrong on that point.

 

[Handlebars]

If they're like most cops, they'll do whatever they want regardless, and let the courts sort it out.

They harass this guy and his wife daily