When Does A Bicycle Become Classed As A Motorcycle?

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It is classed as a motor vehicle (bike) if it is powered by one of the following:
Gas
Oil
Petrol
Electric
Diesel
Steam

Just think GOPEDS

Ah, the good old GOPEDS acronym!

I wonder when (or even if they already have) rewritten that reg to get Hydrogen in the mix...
 

MarkF

Guru
Location
Yorkshire
I like the below, they are copies of the read USA deal from the 50's, forgotten the name of them but they fetch £2/3k on Ebay.

Bicycle_motor007_B.jpg
 

jugglingphil

Senior Member
Location
Nottingham
Whatever it was it was illegal. It looks like a bolt on conversion kit available off eBay. It would have to be subjected to an MOT test and I doubt that it would pass because there is a large expanse of unprotected transmission chain amongst other failings.

There were legal version from the 1950's with the engines perched on the fork, built into the wheel and if not direct drive, transmitted the engine power via rollers onto a thick treaded tyre.

Velosolex were once very popular. I came across three of them ridden in a group by some French pesioners on Eurovelo Six last year. The bikes were from the 1960's

velosolex_5000.jpg
My Grandparents in Switzerland both had similar bikes all their life. They never had a car, used these for short journeys, and the train for anything longer.
 
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