Accidentally purchased illegal ebikes?

[Lollum2020]

I kind of messed up and purchased two Lankeleisi XF4000 1000w ebikes from an online retailer in the UK. The retailer did not mention about the 250w rule and i was unaware when ordering. I tried to return the bikes but apparently as they are not in the "sealed original packaging" i can not return them..

I'm now stuck with £2700 of ebikes, £3000 including the accessories which i have absolutely no clue what to do with or how or where i can use them without getting them seized.

Should i use them on popular hiking/biking trails in Wales and Scotland, would i be committing a criminal offence?

Honestly any advice would be appreciated. I've read that i can install some sort of switch to limit the top speed but I'm not sure how viable this is,

FYI: asked this question on another ebike forum and got banned for even considering using my £3000 of purchases on woodland trails. I hope the response here will be more understanding!

Many thanks

 

[Plummet]

If you dont like it cut your losses and sell it. Sell it as it is, an unrestricted 1000w e bike. Someone will buy it. Obviously not at full price, maybe yourl get £2000. That is the price you pay for not doing enough research before buying.

Chalk it up to experience, Go into a brinks and motor bike shop and but an e bike that meets regulations.

 

[cozzy]

You can't use them anywhere in the UK, unless on private land with the landowners permission.

 

[Oxon]

Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law

When you do and do not have to offer a refund, repair or replacement, unconditional refunds for online purchases, and penalties for deceiving customers

www.gov.uk

If it’s within 14 days you have a right to return them for a refund.

 

[Lollum2020]

Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law

When you do and do not have to offer a refund, repair or replacement, unconditional refunds for online purchases, and penalties for deceiving customers

www.gov.uk

If it’s within 14 days you have a right to return them for a refund.

Even when they say this in the terms and conditions on their website? Admittedly this was not presented to me on the order page. Just hidden in a Refund Terms page at the footer of the website.

1. Returns can not be accepted if the bike is not still in its sealed retail packaging
2. Returns can not be accepted if the bike is or has been assembled

The bikes was only purchased 3 days ago!

 

[Lollum2020]

You can't use them anywhere in the UK, unless on private land with the landowners permission.

And if i do use them offroad in the UK will i still be hit with the not insured, not registered motor vehicle charges:? Even though its not actually on a road?

If i can return them, believe me i far would prefer to do so!

 

[Oxon]

Even when they say this in the terms and conditions on their website?

It’s illegal to display any notice that deliberately misleads consumers or deceives them about their rights, for example a sign that says you do not accept returns or offer refunds.

This is taken from the page I linked to.

Contact Citizen’s Advice tomorrow and see what they say. I’d make a point of mentioning that the bikes aren’t road legal in the UK and see what they say.

Consumer rights

Consumer protection and rights for goods and services - returning faulty goods, consumer credit, credit and store cards, refunds.

www.gov.uk

 

[Doomanic]

I would try the mis-sold approach. If there's no indication anywhere that they aren't electric bicycles as defined by law you should be able to get a satisfactory resolution.

 

[Doomanic]

If you paid on a credit card there may be some protection under Section 75.

Section 75 refunds

Section 75 protects your purchases over £100 if you use a credit card. This MoneySavingExpert guide tells you how to reclaim if something goes wrong.

www.moneysavingexpert.com

 

[Doomanic]

Where did you buy them?

 

[#lazy]

Even when they say this in the terms and conditions on their website? Admittedly this was not presented to me on the order page. Just hidden in a Refund Terms page at the footer of the website.

1. Returns can not be accepted if the bike is not still in its sealed retail packaging
2. Returns can not be accepted if the bike is or has been assembled

The bikes was only purchased 3 days ago!

These terms aren’t law so don’t mean shit , you should get a refund !

 

[robbydobs]

Definitely keep trying to return them. Possibly opening up a small claims case?

If you end up keeping them I doubt anyone would notice it's 1000w if you restrict the speed.
How do you even know it's 1000 watts??? I'm not sure I'd trust the marketing.

I have a Radwagon with a 750w hub motor and it feels like it has far less power than the "250w" Shimano E8000 in my emtb (which I think is actually 500w). I think more recent legal motors are actually putting out up to 600w and seem to do so indefinitely.
I'm not quite sure how all this is legal as there seems to be no concrete legal definition of what 250w means other than to say it's a "nominal" wattage.

 

[Mikerb]

If the bike was sold as a cycle I reckon you have a cast iron case for being mis sold............because a cycle ( in the UK) is either an analogue bike or a pedelec ( 250w motor/restrcited to pedal assist/no throttle, max assisted speed 25kph). Even if it was described a s a BIKE, that is a much used used descriptor but has no standing in the Traffic Acts. It is either a cycle, a moped or a motorcycle ( electric or ICE). Legally in the UK the bikes you bought are probably mopeds which require tax and insurance and type approval before they can be registered with the DVLA........ and are restricted to public highways.

 

[Mikerb]

Definitely keep trying to return them. Possibly opening up a small claims case?

If you end up keeping them I doubt anyone would notice it's 1000w if you restrict the speed.
How do you even know it's 1000 watts??? I'm not sure I'd trust the marketing.

I have a Radwagon with a 750w hub motor and it feels like it has far less power than the "250w" Shimano E8000 in my emtb (which I think is actually 500w). I think more recent legal motors are actually putting out up to 600w and seem to do so indefinitely.
I'm not quite sure how all this is legal as there seems to be no concrete legal definition of what 250w means other than to say it's a "nominal" wattage.

The nominal rating of an electric motor is the maximum output it can sustain over a short period of time without overheating and destroying itself. Yes 250w motors can peak at c 540w but only for a very short period of time.....ie seconds.

 

[maynard]

It's a criminal offence to not ride those bikes . Live a little .

 

[KenX]

Has anyone on here EVER been stopped and checked? Not that I'm condoning riding a non-legal bike, but a friend has one and so long as you don't ride at 40mph on the roads past a police car it's unlikely?

 

[KenX]

To be fair to the OP, on the website there is no mention of the bike being illegal, so I should think it's a slam-dunk of miss-sold, not everyone knows the law regarding e-bikes, so should be in the description!

LANKELEISI XF4000 Fat Tire Electric Bike

lankeleisi.co.uk

 

[Winger]

Living in a big city,what I am currently witnessing when it comes to electric bicycles of any discribtion is totally chaos,from not only sales but enforcement as well even seen an advert on the side of the road advising that there’s no need to insure when using on the highway,and there is always going to be a temptation to buy because their cheap and the legal stuff here in the UK is anything but.

I see folk riding home from work more than able to stand their ground in the night time traffic,no number plate so what happens in the event of an accident?????

 

[Mikerb]

I wish people...especially the media........would stop using the term "E Bike". It has no legal definition and could mean anything from a pedelec/EPAC to a motorbike. Very often media reports of lithium battery fires or tragic accidents merely refer to the vehicle involved as an E Bike when it is in fact a moped or a motorbike.......or would be if properly type approved and registered.........otherwise it is merely an illegal two wheeled vehicle. The entire sector of electrically powered forms of transport really needs to be reviewed by the Government .............probably never happen though!!

 

[TommyC]

Just ride the damn things. No one bats an eyelid. Go into your local town and watch all the deliveroo guys riding around without pedalling. Just act sensibly and you’ll be fine

 

[Lollum2020]

Definitely keep trying to return them. Possibly opening up a small claims case?

If you end up keeping them I doubt anyone would notice it's 1000w if you restrict the speed.
How do you even know it's 1000 watts??? I'm not sure I'd trust the marketing.

I have a Radwagon with a 750w hub motor and it feels like it has far less power than the "250w" Shimano E8000 in my emtb (which I think is actually 500w). I think more recent legal motors are actually putting out up to 600w and seem to do so indefinitely.
I'm not quite sure how all this is legal as there seems to be no concrete legal definition of what 250w means other than to say it's a "nominal" wattage.

I guess I only have two options really. Start a small claims case and be without bikes for god knows how long or keep them!

After all regardless of what case I pose to the company if they refuse then they refuse. I believe the small claims case is one of my only options which with how long they take now isn't really a viable option.

 

[Lollum2020]

I wish people...especially the media........would stop using the term "E Bike". It has no legal definition and could mean anything from a pedelec/EPAC to a motorbike. Very often media reports of lithium battery fires or tragic accidents merely refer to the vehicle involved as an E Bike when it is in fact a moped or a motorbike.......or would be if properly type approved and registered.........otherwise it is merely an illegal two wheeled vehicle. The entire sector of electrically powered forms of transport really needs to be reviewed by the Government .............probably never happen though!!

Honestly the entire law needs rewriting in my opinion. Calling an ebike that struggles to do 28mph a motorcycle is just absurd. An average cyclist can attain that with nothing more than a decent unassisted road bike and leg work!

 

[Lollum2020]

Living in a big city,what I am currently witnessing when it comes to electric bicycles of any discribtion is totally chaos,from not only sales but enforcement as well even seen an advert on the side of the road advising that there’s no need to insure when using on the highway,and there is always going to be a temptation to buy because their cheap and the legal stuff here in the UK is anything but.

I see folk riding home from work more than able to stand their ground in the night time traffic,no number plate so what happens in the event of an accident?????

I completely understand your point. Though just to confirm I'm not one of these idiots zipping around a busy town centre on a 1kw bike with no clue how to ride.

I intended to use the bikes off road on public hiking and biking trails. Forest paths, mud paths ect. Yes that may have originally Included some light country lane cycling.

I wouldn't be anymore likely to get into an accident than anyone else riding a non assisted bike. In fact probably far less likely being on secluded hiking trails in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Lollum2020]

To be fair to the OP, on the website there is no mention of the bike being illegal, so I should think it's a slam-dunk of miss-sold, not everyone knows the law regarding e-bikes, so should be in the description!

LANKELEISI XF4000 Fat Tire Electric Bike

lankeleisi.co.uk

Yeah, I honestly had no idea about the whole 250w rule when ordering!!

 

[Lollum2020]

Being honest here guys. How many of you are putting overpowered bikes on your car rack and driving them to hiking/bike trails to use? I hear plenty of cases of people using them in city centres (deliveroo)

I'd like to know how many of you are doing this and if any of you have actually been caught?

Plus I'd like to know what generally happens if you are caught off road on biking trails. Is it still treated as a criminal offence even off road? Are you able to get the bike back?

Seen a very disturbing video on YouTube of Birmingham police crushing a bunch of ebikes. Very sad!

 

[TommyC]

Being honest here guys. How many of you are putting overpowered bikes on your car rack and driving them to hiking/bike trails to use? I hear plenty of cases of people using them in city centres (deliveroo)

I'd like to know how many of you are doing this and if any of you have actually been caught?

Plus I'd like to know what generally happens if you are caught off road on biking trails. Is it still treated as a criminal offence even off road? Are you able to get the bike back?

Seen a very disturbing video on YouTube of Birmingham police crushing a bunch of ebikes. Very sad!

Not exactly the same but I’ve put a motor on my 8yo sons orbea. Technically illegal as minimum age is 12 I think. I take him everywhere and anywhere and don’t see any ‘ebike police’ anywhere!

 

[Bummers]

How did you pay for them? If you used card I'd begin a chargeback transaction against them, you definitely have enough evidence to pursue it.

 

[Hardtail]

Legal age is 14yrs for ebike in UK…
My girls have been riding hub driven with throttle ebikes since they where 5…

 

[Lollum2020]

How did you pay for them? If you used card I'd begin a chargeback transaction against them, you definitely have enough evidence to pursue it.

I used a Monzo MasterCard debit card. I thought I did not have that protection without a credit card?

Stupidly don't know why I didn't put them on the credit card. I even put my entire wedding on a credit card then paid it straight off just for the protection.

 

[KenX]

FYI: asked this question on another ebike forum and got banned for even considering using my £3000 of purchases on woodland trails. I hope the response here will be more understanding!

Many thanks

Surely there is no other ebike forum