Posts by Joe Wylie
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Hard News: Up with the Pacer: embracing…, in reply to BenWilson,
Yes, that's the law, but I think proving an e-bike was over 300 watts would be quite difficult for an officer on the side of the road.
Definitely. I've seen a home built lithium ion bike of around 500 watts hyped on TradeMe as being good to go without rego, because the seller claimed that an off duty cop had assured them that the law routinely turned a blind eye to such things. The one high-powered e-bike tragedy that I'm aware of doesn't seem to have prompted any suggestion of a real crackdown.
Mopeds are literally the petrol analog to e-bikes. Putting a little petrol engine on is something that's been done for as long as there have been motorbikes....Police have basically no tolerance for anyone they see riding one of these, even though at the low end they are effectively the same as e-bikes, just noisier, and with effectively unlimited range, since you can buy the $5 of petrol to fill them up at a servo.
Perhaps the annoying noise factor of some of those conversions has something to do with the law taking an interest. Getting around on a mountain bike with a rowdy Chinese engine probably fits the profile of someone who's lost their license.
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Hard News: Up with the Pacer: embracing…, in reply to linger,
With e-bikes now allowing travel at higher (and, as noted above, more dangerous) speeds, and having a higher monetary value, are we likely to see any regulatory changes to introduce user licensing and/or vehicle registration regimes for e-bikes similar to those for other powered vehicles? And would such moves be desirable?
Currently e-bikes don't require registering if they're rated at 300 watts or less. If you wanted to go faster you'd need a more powerful bike which, at over 300 watts, would be subject to the same registration rules as a motorcycle. I know of at least one e-bike sale where not having to register a second vehicle made it a more attractive choice than a scooter.
As for "higher monetary values", i.e. lifestyle bikes, influencing law changes, nah. Sounds like socialising the risks of a private benefit. Gentrification may have its upsides, but if you're spending up large you can presumably afford insurance, or move to a gated community.
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Hard News: Up with the Pacer: embracing…, in reply to Moz,
The dedicated ebikes with a battery slot behind the seat are heavier and harder to ride without power.
Are you sure it's battery size or placement? IMHE it's direct drive motors, easily identified by their large diameter, that "are heavier and harder to ride without power". Bloody near impossible in the case of my current bike, but I can live with that.
The smaller internally geared motors don't have that resistance, though they're marginally noisier. Because their internal planetary gears are usually made of plastic to reduce noise they wear out over time, whereas direct drive hubs are almost maintenance free.
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Hard News: Up with the Pacer: embracing…, in reply to Sam F,
...some of the Pedego range,,,
A little discussion here, with specific reference to Pedego.
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Hard News: Up with the Pacer: embracing…, in reply to Russell Brown,
But it's too heavy to take out on the road?
Definitely motorcycle gear. It means an extra key to carry, but the convenience of it being always there and ready has worked out well for me. Most motorcycle dealers seem to stock them.
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I've fitted a steel ring into the porch to lock up both bikes at home, but I don't think I'm going to be really comfortable about leaving the Pacer locked up out in the world until I shell out for a good-quality D-lock rather than a combination lock.
After having my first e-bike stolen from the porch (minus its battery) I've had the mid-sized version of this permanently looped through the steel verandah railing. Threaded through a sprocket hole and around the bottom bracket it seems to be an effective deterrent. 18 months later I reckon it's great value and hard to fault the quality. I've spent more on the d-lock I carry around in a pannier bag.
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Hard News: The next four years, in reply to WH,
this is good too.
Mr South providing distinctive guitar for Aretha.
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Hard News: The next four years, in reply to Tom Semmens,
I strongly supported section 59, to point I almost got into a fight at the beach with a bunch of asshats collecting signatures for the CIR and strained several close relationships. But I bitterly resent being made to fight the battle at all, and all by someone who was too fucking arrogant and too fucking lazy to be bothered to build a decent army first.
Full-on faux socialist channels the orange guy. Given that you've been posting Pauline Hanson's talking points here for years now, I'm not surprised.
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Hard News: The next four years, in reply to WH,
Michael Moore (of Flint, Michigan) made an eerily accurate prediction along similar lines.
Moore made much the same prediction for "President" Romney. Spooky.
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Southerly: A Tale of Two Iceblocks: Part…, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
** are there Harptoseconds, Chico and Grouchtoseconds?
– Life = Marx Time©They certainly had a way with numbers:
Rufus T. Firefly: Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you: he really is an idiot. I implore you, send him back to his father and brothers, who are waiting for him with open arms in the penitentiary. I suggest that we give him ten years in Leavenworth, or eleven years in Twelveworth.
Chicolini: I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll take five and ten in Woolworth.
Duck Soup, 1933.