Saving on Tax and Insurance costs

[croyde]

There are now so many electric bicycles slash motorbikes on my route in and around London that I'm wondering why I spent £400 on tax/insurance for my Bonneville the other day.

I only use it for commuting so something with no plates or yearly costs might suit me better

Two sat in front of me at some lights the other day. Quite bulky thus looked comfortable and both had posh adventure top boxes fitted.

No worries about speed cameras, driving through resident only areas, parking, using non motorbike bus lanes, having lights, helmets etc

True old school freedom.

Why am I wasting my money. If you can't beat them......

(Mustn't lose control and wipe out a bus queue though)

[Donbot]

croyde said:

(Mustn't lose control and wipe out a bus queue though)

Well this^

If you have money and assets you will be sued into oblivion.

The illegal ebike is probably the only thing of value the scrotes own, so they won't give a toss.

[carinaman]

I looked at a job advert for a job the other side of town. I don't fancy pedal cycling it, but an E-Bike would make the distance and inclines less of an issue plus at least a third of it being on cycle ways so I'd not have to deal with traffic and traffic lights for the entire route. One potential route involves a road that's one way only for bicycles and buses, I checked the signage to check whether I could use a motorcycle along that road.

A motorcycling colleague has done over 10,000 miles on their E-bike using that instead of the motorcycle to get to and from work.

Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 29th October 12:01

[NITO]

Having just come back from Sorrento a couple of weeks back, Italy is littered with these e bicycle things with chunk tyres. Whizzing along with no helmets etc.

It really does make you wonder why bother with all licensing, insurance, tax, fuel etc, the only people seemingly making progress on the roads are these cyclists, and they are definitely not restricted to 15kmh or whatever it is supposed to be, must have been doing at least 25-30 mph, and they had those e-scooters there also.

All seems a bit lawless.

[OutInTheShed]

NITO said:

Having just come back from Sorrento a couple of weeks back, Italy is littered with these e bicycle things with chunk tyres. Whizzing along with no helmets etc.

It really does make you wonder why bother with all licensing, insurance, tax, fuel etc, the only people seemingly making progress on the roads are these cyclists, and they are definitely not restricted to 15kmh or whatever it is supposed to be, must have been doing at least 25-30 mph, and they had those e-scooters there also.

All seems a bit lawless.

Italy always seemed to be like that, except it used to be Vespa and Lambretta.

[spikeyhead]

Having just come back from Naples, there's plenty of little Piaggios being ridden by Dad, with Mum behind and a kid squidged between them, all with no lids.

Of particular note was the rider with a cat sat on the handlebars as the rider weaved through traffic.

[TurboHatchback]

I commute most days on an e-bike (legal 25kph pedal assist model), it's fantastic. I did about 3000 miles last year, total running costs for the year were a chain, a cassette, an inner tube and maybe about £5 in electricity for a total of < £100. I think it's probably quicker than the motorbike by the time I've geared up, got it unchained and out the garage and done the reverse at the other end, on the bicycle it's just roll it out the front door and set off.

[P675]

I had to pay an eye watering amount this year but I love riding and fear getting pulled over and then have to get the dumbass £15k insurance to drive a car.

[garypotter]

A thought - can these ebikes be used by rider/drivers who are currently on a driving ban?? as no mot/tax or insurance required??

[bogie]

garypotter said:

A thought - can these ebikes be used by rider/drivers who are currently on a driving ban?? as no mot/tax or insurance required??

Yep anyone can ride a (road legal) e-bike, no licence required. Its a push bike with a motor and battery, and limited to 15mph ish ....which is ok for around town. You can pedal faster if you wish.