The doctored e-bike that burns out at 50 mph
A fake pedal-assist bike does 31 mph and its Chinese motor burns out after three kilometres. The wattage proves it was an illegal moped.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The scene takes place on the flat roads around Burgos, Spain. A cyclist is riding at 24 mph when a man in his fifties overtakes him without pedalling. He trinc the wheel: the contraption, a supposed pedal-assist bike weighing 30 kilos with a Chinese motor, holds 31 mph for three kilometres and then burns out. The rival is left stranded, and the question hangs in the air: is this a bicycle or an illegal moped?
The physics leaves no room for doubt. Holding 31 mph on the flat takes 580 watts for an 80-kilo rider, and 91% of that energy goes into pushing air. That's professional-level performance at peak fitness. Drafting behind another wheel lowers the demand to 396 watts, still an absurd figure. Not even the fittest 50-year-old amateur produces that without a motor. But Chinese motors can't either: designed for 250 watts and 15.5 mph, working at 31 mph they overheat and burn out.
The legal vacuum that creates the monster
European regulations are clear: a pedal-assist e-bike must not exceed 15.5 mph and must not assist without pedalling. Above that, it's a moped, with its licence, insurance and helmet. The reality is that these kits are sold without any control and enforcement is almost non-existent. The result is an army of unregistered "e-bikes" riding at 31 mph among genuine cyclists, with users who often don't know they are piloting a motor vehicle.
Responsible consumption: the price trap
The average buyer thinks they're getting a healthy, eco-friendly bike. What they get is a cheap motorbike, without adequate brakes, with toy suspension and a motor that immolates itself the moment it's asked to deliver what was promised. When it burns out, the repair costs more than the contraption itself. And the seller has already been paid. There can be no responsible consumption if the product breaks the law and the authorities fail to remove it from the market. In Cercedilla, Rascafría or the Fuenfría pass, these contraptions overtake real cyclists on the climbs, and the tension between the two worlds keeps growing.
The telling fact: the watts don't lie, and neither does the Chinese motor. It always burns out.
The physics leaves no room for doubt. Holding 31 mph on the flat takes 580 watts for an 80-kilo rider, and 91% of that energy goes into pushing air. That's professional-level performance at peak fitness. Drafting behind another wheel lowers the demand to 396 watts, still an absurd figure. Not even the fittest 50-year-old amateur produces that without a motor. But Chinese motors can't either: designed for 250 watts and 15.5 mph, working at 31 mph they overheat and burn out.
The legal vacuum that creates the monster
European regulations are clear: a pedal-assist e-bike must not exceed 15.5 mph and must not assist without pedalling. Above that, it's a moped, with its licence, insurance and helmet. The reality is that these kits are sold without any control and enforcement is almost non-existent. The result is an army of unregistered "e-bikes" riding at 31 mph among genuine cyclists, with users who often don't know they are piloting a motor vehicle.
Responsible consumption: the price trap
The average buyer thinks they're getting a healthy, eco-friendly bike. What they get is a cheap motorbike, without adequate brakes, with toy suspension and a motor that immolates itself the moment it's asked to deliver what was promised. When it burns out, the repair costs more than the contraption itself. And the seller has already been paid. There can be no responsible consumption if the product breaks the law and the authorities fail to remove it from the market. In Cercedilla, Rascafría or the Fuenfría pass, these contraptions overtake real cyclists on the climbs, and the tension between the two worlds keeps growing.
The telling fact: the watts don't lie, and neither does the Chinese motor. It always burns out.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (84 replies).
More summaries
-
Milanuncios drops phone number, forces chat and shipping on its site
Milanuncios removes phone contacts, mandates registration to message, and integrates shipping. Sellers report a sharp drop in buyer inquiries.
-
Car registered in wife's name: the telltale sign of a disguised dealer
A Volvo 945 with 100,000 km and 25 years old, registered to his wife but negotiated by him: the classic pattern of the fake private seller. How to spot the scam before…
-
Mercadona quality under scrutiny: what's wrong with Hacendado
Mercadona's quality myth is wobbling: supplier changes, less variety and rising prices. What's left of Hacendado's lead in Spain's supermarket wars?
-
Is my pizza with €2 artisan bakery dough genius or too much?
A Burbuja.info forum user makes a pizza with €2 artisan bakery dough and sparks 75 replies: too many toppings or pure genius? The debate over corn, savings and more.
-
Anyone here familiar with Limpias, Cantabria, in northern Spain?
Limpias, Cantabria: a haven of tranquility or a damp trap? We look at a forum debate about moving to northern Spain to escape the Mediterranean sun.
-
Backing up your movies: watch them without streaming platforms or viruses
Playdede is gone, illegal streaming has fragmented and viruses lurk. How to watch your Blu-rays without subscriptions or malware, according to the debate stirring up users.