David Schembri
Refitted bicycles exceed legal engine capacity
These bicycles kitted out with a motor are readily available in Malta and online.
Bicycles are being kitted out with engines and transformed into small motorbikes that exceed the capacity limit imposed by the transport authorities.
Engine kits are easily available online and a quick scan through shopping magazines and classifieds websites revealed a number of motorised bicycles and engine kits for sale.
The capacity of such engines exceeds 50cc, which is the legal limit of what is considered to be a low-powered cycle, such as the transformed bicycles. Engines as big as 80cc were being sold and fitted to bicycles; the once ubiquitous Honda C70 motorcycle (Tal-Fardal) had a 70cc engine.
The engine kits - costing as little as €200 - can be installed by owners, rendering their bikes potentially unsafe due to possible faults.
A dealer, who specialises in retrofitting engines on bicycles, said he encountered no problem registering the imported engines, including those exceeding the 50cc limit, with the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), insisting he was doing everything above board.
The law lays down that anyone over 16, provided they pass the driving theory test, can drive the low-powered cycles.
However, there can be an anomaly in that, although the ADT is giving the clearance to such engines, once the motor-ised bicycles hit the road they surpass the legal engine capacity limit.
When asked about this situation, the ADT failed to reply and questions sent last week remained unanswered.
The dealer in question said he imported the engines from China, fitted them on normal bicycles in his garage and sold them.
While these bicycles are similar to motorbikes when it comes to the engine, they are not sold with mirrors or lights, as motorcycles are. The law clearly states that low-powered bikes on the road need to have a front headlamp, rear lights and reflectors.
What might also give rise to concern is that the power-to-weight ratio would be larger than that of a normal motorcycle or scooter due to the lighter build of the bicycles.
Motoring expert Hugh Arnett said when contacted that legislation should be introduced to prevent people from fitting engines on bikes without inspection by the authorities.
However, he saw no problem with people just having to pass the theory test in order to be able to drive one of the motorised bikes, pointing out that normal bicycles could go quite fast. Crash helmets should be worn, however, rather than simple bicycle helmets, he warned.
Provided the bikes' engines is small and the speed limited does not exceed 50kph, the engine is mounted on a proper frame and the tyres are more than 2.5 inches wide, Mr Arnett conceded they were not much different from a normal bike.
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M.Scicluna
Mar 24th 2011, 13:04
I suggest that a lot of them can be collected as they are very noisy in the streets, and another thing under 18 not be allowed to use them. Nowadays nothing is nothing.
F. Galea
Jan 10th 2010, 14:57
In my opinion, road tax and insurance should not be paid for motorcycles/scooters under 50cc as in these bicycles. When using a motorcycle instead of a car, the money you'll save will be paid to the government and insurer. I do not own a scooter for this reason. Motorcycles and scooters are much more economical than cars when carrying up to 2 passengers and people must be motivated to use them more than cars and also to reduce traffic jams.
James Wightman
Jan 2nd 2010, 10:43
Why not properly manufactured mopeds, it would boost motorcycle sales. I ride a tal-fardal and it's unfair having to pay insurance and road tax when these guys don't. What happens when one of these guys has an accident (there's a whole lot more hardware & weight involved).
Its the inertia thats the issue, these bikes are quick no matter the terrain, take longer to stop and aren't as flickable as a bicycle.
I learnt to ride a moped at 16 in the UK, before they had riding courses. It was learning the hard way, kids died of ignorrance. I don't think a theory course cuts the mustard. At 16 it fills a vital mobility gap for young people. But it was understood that they were dangerous and there was a lot of development to make them safer, better handling, brakes, lighting etc...
Don't get me wrong I'm a cyclist too and 2 wheels fix a lot of space and traffic problems but why are we reinventing something technically worse than something already in production (and ADT allowing it) yet people were banned from using toy electric scooters to go to the shops?
Joseph Sammut
Jan 2nd 2010, 06:47
To dan or not to ban. I own and ride motorcycles (for the past 37 years). I do not ride bicycles because of a bad back (the narrow hard seat has an adverse affect on my lower back). So I must make it clear that in principle I do not have anything against motorised bicycles: one of the large motorcycle companies has been selling an electric motored bicycle for years now. What I object to is the usual mayham, free for all, uncontrolled way of doing things and this is where and why ADT (in this case) is being hammered and with reason. Someone said that a bicycle and a motorcycle are one and the same thing - sorry, one is as strong as your legs permit and the other is motorised. In an accident, your legs don't keep pedalling or pushing the vehicle forward! To say that these contraptions are safe is ignoring the millions spent in R&D by motorcycle companies. Compare these contraptions with a basic 50cc motorcycle: you would be amazed with the difference. And any motorised vehicle should be registered and insured. ADT, please act now before it is too late.
Lee de marco
Jan 1st 2010, 18:29
i agree that one should wear protektive gear,and have lights on ther bikes. but why ban them?if your a concerned parent,just dont let your kid buy one. with the same argument you could ban ordinery motor bikes,cars,and any other dangerous vehicle. to anyone who has any doubt on the brakes,i can asure you,the bike's pads are enuogh without an engine on in a long downhill in mellieha reached over 70k/ph,the brackes stoped the bike just as easy. Thay are economic,and ideal for short distances.it is up to the owner,to drive responsibly and the duty of a warden/police officer,to correct an indivigual in the case of irrisponsible use. and as for the owner of the bike in the picture!
Romano Cassar
Jan 1st 2010, 14:34
With all due respect to the author of this article, the bike in the photo does not look anything like a normal bicycle, motorised or non-motorised. Below are some images of what these bicycles look like. The bike in the Times' article gives a wrong impression.
http://www.diygokarts.com/bike-engine/420w/bike-and-engine-420.jpg
http://www.bikemotor.com/images/SIMPLE%20SIMON%20BICYCLE%20ENGINE%20BASIC%20BIKE.JPG
As Mr Arnett says, so long as these motorised bicycles are within the legal limit, they are not much different from a normal non-motorised bicycle.
Darby Allen
Jan 1st 2010, 13:36
The bike shown does not have a chainguard over the chain between the engine and the rear wheel; this is illegal in many countries because if the chain breaks it can cause serious injury to the rider.
I don't know if it is illegal or not here, but it certainly is unsafe!
C Cassar
Jan 1st 2010, 12:25
These death traps should be banned once and for all. Just look at the one in the photo, it has rubber block brakes, liek a normal bicycle.
Additionally, the eceltric scooters that are now being used on pavements.
The riders of these motorised bikes & scooters are not insured, pay no road tax and don't wear any kind of protective gear. Ban these immediately before a family loses their son or daughter under a lorry or bus.
matthew azzopardi
Jan 1st 2010, 09:57
,"" the ADT failed to reply and questions sent last week remained unanswered.""
nothing new!!
we are used to the ADT ignoring our mails.......
customer servive..... my foot!!
happy new year
P. Montebello
Jan 1st 2010, 09:47
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to 2010 and about time too to notice this and the dangers related with the transformation.
What about the braking system: is it also taken care of?