So is it worth the hassle of all that paperwork, the extra few thousand for the bike itself – because let’s face it good eBikes are expensive anyway and s-pedelecs are even more expensive – just to eke out an extra 4.5mph in 20mph zones and an extra 13mph on less speed restricted roads with all the risks of competing with cars, trucks and buses?
Who knows? Maybe if I had a spare £10,000 for the Stromer ST5 and lived in the countryside I might convince myself that the hassle is well worth it. But for a complete beginner to eBikes? Not so sure!
Maybe that’s why there’s been such an upsurge in DIY ebikes on both sides of the Atlantic. Many riders are now building and converting their bikes to powerful eBikes and just not bothering to register them with the authorities. And so long as they ride them with consideration to other road users, who can blame them? But at least wear a proper eBike helmet.
Before spending a penny on an eBike kit read about the 7 Must Do Actions Before Buying ANY eBike Conversion Kit
For DIY guides on building your own eBike have a look at the eBike Conversions for Beginners series in the box below.