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Bicycle engines and Darwin awards

  • 19-04-2017 6:08pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭


    What's the story with these things , are they legal? They look happy anyway... it will end in tears though, not happy ones!

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,203 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    They have no helmets and hi-vis?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    It's motorised so you need insurance and a licence to use it on a public road. No company in Ireland will insure you for such a vehicle effectively making them illegal on public roads.

    The only use it could have in Ireland is on private land.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    They have no helmets and hi-vis?

    they passed me out at 35 kph ... :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,203 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    jon1981 wrote: »
    they passed me out at 35 kph ... :)

    Ha! Just joking..

    Where's the Gards when you need them, would have taken the bike off these 2 little scrotes and booted both of them down the road..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    Ha! Just joking..

    Where's the Gards when you need them, would have taken the bike off these 2 little scrotes and booted both of them down the road..

    haha I was wonder how long it would take for the helmet question to arise !


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,860 ✭✭✭NickNickleby


    It definitely WILL end in tears. One night I was driving into town via Ballybough, and as I drove up the hill to the canal/railway bridge, they came over it from the town side of the canal, flying, smack in the middle of the road with no lights.
    That was probably about 3 weeks ago. Another day, I saw an older guy on either this one or one very like it. Cant remember where it was, but I immediately thought he looked dodgy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Little feckers are too cute to be caught!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,079 ✭✭✭seefin


    Met one in Limerick on a footpath last week !! Didn't even slow down when pedestrians, unbelievable !


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    seefin wrote: »
    Met one in Limerick on a footpath last week !! Didn't even slow down when pedestrians, unbelievable !

    Damn motorists.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,002 ✭✭✭dev100


    If you don't see them you'll hear them bloody noisy things altogether


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    dev100 wrote: »
    If you don't see them you'll hear them bloody noisy things altogether

    You won't be using one as a gettaway bike when you rob the local bookie, thats for sure!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Probably collecting KOMs all over the place on Strava...feckers


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,312 ✭✭✭koutoubia


    Often see one on the agency guys on work on one. Mad looking yoke and it really tips along.
    But as noted ...ninja style it aint!
    Be great as a training scooter to sit in behind -which of course would be illegal if such a ve-hi-cul had insurance which it doesnt so its not illeg....ok I should stop typing now!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,125 ✭✭✭daragh_


    I regularly meet a chap on my commute riding one of these. We have a chat at the lights now and then. The bike he's got it fitted to isn't great but he's obviously spent a lot of time working on it - it's all spotless. Pretty slow to start and it tops out at around 40-45kph. Don't ask me how I know this ;-)

    I wouldn't like to see him make an emergency stop as he's just got standard brakes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Hah, was just talking to someone in work about this today.

    Not only illegal but incredibly dangerous. I've never seen it installed on anything but an old beat up mountain bike with cantilevers and knobbly tyres.

    At least if it was a well specced MTB with proper front suspension and hydraulic discs you'd stand a chance.

    The guys who install them of course claim it's perfectly safe and legal. But they'll be nowhere to be found when you end up in St James's


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,031 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Any yet, when you go to France every 16 year old and every 60 year has a little pedal bike with an engine. (Or a little engine bike with pedals if you like)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Any yet, when you go to France every 16 year old and every 60 year has a little pedal bike with an engine. (Or a little engine bike with pedals if you like)

    Would love to see a 60 yr old getting a handlebar


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,593 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Any yet, when you go to France every 16 year old and every 60 year has a little pedal bike with an engine. (Or a little engine bike with pedals if you like)

    ....but the brakes on those are built for the mass and power of the pedal/motor cycle. These retro fitted engines are on cheap cycles with brakes /wheels and frames that are not rated/certified for the power generated by a motor.

    Somebody was selling them in Kimmage. Said they are legal to sell, don't need to be taxed or insured. Unfortunately that claim, may be technically correct, but that does not make them legal for use on public roads...and the seller knows this!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,312 ✭✭✭koutoubia


    daragh_ wrote: »

    I wouldn't like to see him make an emergency stop as he's just got standard brakes.

    Disc brakes FTW


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,514 ✭✭✭OleRodrigo


    A well spent youth of frolics and adventure - feck the begrudgers


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    As my mother use to say -

    If you break your leg on that thing don't come running to me!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,125 ✭✭✭daragh_


    koutoubia wrote: »
    Disc brakes FTW

    I'll suggest it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 523 ✭✭✭Mugser


    Kaisr Sose wrote: »
    ...

    Somebody was selling them in Kimmage. ...............!

    Clickedy-Linky.....ring-de-ding-ding-ding-ding :p:p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,245 ✭✭✭check_six


    How do these contraptions work exactly? I see there is a clutch lever that attaches where the brake lever would go. Where then does the second brake lever fit?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,111 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Any yet, when you go to France every 16 year old and every 60 year has a little pedal bike with an engine. (Or a little engine bike with pedals if you like)
    They also have 50cc cars that are classed as mopeds


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    check_six wrote: »
    How do these contraptions work exactly? I see there is a clutch lever that attaches where the brake lever would go. Where then does the second brake lever fit?

    I'll review the video and see if i can figure it out :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 690 ✭✭✭dragratchet


    a lad on one of these things challenged me to a race up near stepaside a while back. beat him soundly to lambs cross. 1-0 to pedal power


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,882 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    RE: motorised bikes with pedals in France:
    They're "mopeds" though (in the original meaning of that term). The pedals are just to get the engine going, and maybe add a small bit of extra power (originally you had to run alongside motorbikes and jump on when the engine kicked in). They have proper motorbike-style brakes, and integrated lighting. They're designed to carry an engine.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭The Noble Nudge


    Seen quiet a few of these on the roads....
    I also pass a sit down scooter type like the kids push one with a seat on the back in Dublin rush hour traffic so obviously commuting to and from work on it.....

    I've been stopped twice in the car in the last week for road tax!
    One of them checkpoints was on the Sally gap cross roads of all places!


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  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭Ciaran_B


    Seen loads of these around Dublin 12. They fairly zip along and I wouldn't fancy taking a spill off one at top speed.

    Maybe a thread in Legal Discussion could clarify the legality issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    If its motorised & meant to have insurance and you get a smack of one of those i guess you can make a claim under the MIBI agreement for uninsured motor vehicles?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 650 ✭✭✭jimm




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,561 ✭✭✭Eamonnator


    jimm wrote: »

    It looks as if it has no front brake.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,633 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Instant fail is no lights or reflectors which they forgot to add.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,561 ✭✭✭Eamonnator


    Instant fail is no lights or reflectors which they forgot to add.

    and no number plates............


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  • Posts: 3,620 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    A guy near me had one of these and it got seized. He rides an ebike now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,593 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    I seen a fairly old man on one of these between Stepaside and Kilternan. They look so wrong - and dangerous.


  • Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,456 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    Kaisr Sose wrote: »
    I seen a fairly old man on one of these between Stepaside and Kilternan. They look so wrong - and dangerous.
    Ageist!


    :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,633 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Look up the likes of the NSU my dad had one back in the day.

    It was a bike and had an engine but was manufactured properly and you had to pedal to get it moving.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,593 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    Beasty wrote: »
    Ageist!


    :pac:

    A man is not "they" , Whereas "he" is not to "these"

    Nice to see lightening speed moderation though :-)

    I will be more PC in future :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,565 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    jimm wrote: »

    lol, twitter counts now as "in a statement" :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,882 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    jimm wrote: »

    The photo they put up on twitter certainly didn't seem to be on the M11!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,265 ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    Just make it illegal to sell them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,203 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    The photo they put up on twitter certainly didn't seem to be on the M11!

    Appears that they would have found the motorcyclist on the M11 and pulled him over off the motorway and onto the old N11


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,982 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    Borderfox wrote: »
    Just make it illegal to sell them

    Like everything illegal - there would always be a way around getting them from manufacturer into the country.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,265 ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    Well they are openly for sale on adverts.ie with the seller saying nothing needed to drive them except a large set of testicles.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 535 ✭✭✭elusiveguy


    There was a bright green one on the quays yesterday :/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,170 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Great way to be convicted of the motoring triple offence in one go.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,155 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    ED E wrote: »
    Great way to be convicted of the motoring triple offence in one go.

    Are we sure these are illegal at present? I thought it was a bit of a grey area, with no particular legislation that outlaws their use.


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