Police seize customised bike 'capable of 28mph'

A customised bicycle was seized by police in Nottinghamshire after officers discovered it could reach speeds of almost 30mph (48km/h).

Officers from Kirkby-in-Ashfield stopped the vehicle on Tuesday and found the bike had a scooter motor roughly wired to a battery held on by tape. The rear wheel had also been replaced with a smaller solid wheel.

Current legislation states any bike powered beyond 15.5mph (25km/h) counts as a motor vehicle and requirements such as a driving licence and insurance can apply.

A spokesperson said: "If your bicycle has more wiring than the average police car and does nearly 30mph, it might be worth checking the law before taking it for a spin."

The post described the find as an "interesting piece of DIY engineering".

It continued: "A closer inspection revealed a scooter motor, plenty of wiring and enough tape to keep the local DIY shop in business.

"The creation was capable of reaching around 28mph. Unfortunately for its rider, adding pedals doesn't automatically make something a legal electric bicycle.

"To qualify as an electrically assisted pedal cycle, the electrical assistance must cut off at 15.5mph, alongside meeting the other legal requirements.

"Once a vehicle falls outside those requirements, it may be treated as a motor vehicle and requirements such as a driving licence and insurance can apply."

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