What's the point?

tgotb

Over the last few weeks I've been trying to understand the point of those motorbikes with two front wheels. I still haven't figured this out, but I now have a new mystery to solve. Riding over Putney Bridge this morning, I passed one of those electric bikes. Being a bit of a closet engineer, I was having a look at all the extra bits: big battery, big front hub, presumably with motor inside (hmmm, I wonder why they didn't put that at the back; maybe it has hub gears), dynamo lights...

Am I missing something here? Why does an electrically-propelled vehicle need dynamo-powered lights? Weird.....

el_presidente

two front wheels = twice as much grip and braking power at the front

woodyonthebeach

you only a car license to ride/drive them

Maxticate

Those 'scooters' with two wheels at the front are like that so you can't lose the front end even in wet and slippy conditions. Lock up the front and they won't go down like a normal scooter.

But they are meant to retain the benefits of cutting through traffic and maneuvrebility.

alan_sherman

Electric bikes will get more and more popular IMHO (my mum has one and it give her mobility which she would use a car for otherwise due to poor health). However use of a dynamo does seem a bit strange - unless it is is there for when the battery goes flat so you aren't stuck without lights. Bid idea there I think.

Jamey

Also on those two-front-wheeled scooters you don't have to put your feet down when you stop at lights.

prawny

Jamey wrote:

Also on those two-front-wheeled scooters you don't have to put your feet down when you stop at lights.

That's the best reason by far.

i think leccy bikes need dynamo lights because the battries don't last very long - about 20 miles between 7 hour charges. :?

Clever Pun

woodyonthebeach wrote:

you only a car license to ride/drive them

really?? are they in the same class as a robin reliant then?

woodyonthebeach

Clever Pun wrote:

woodyonthebeach wrote:

you only a car license to ride/drive them

really?? are they in the same class as a robin reliant then?

The local motor bike that sells them advertises that they can be ridden on a normal driving license. So I would assume yes but who knows.

prawny

Clever Pun wrote:

woodyonthebeach wrote:

you only a car license to ride/drive them

really?? are they in the same class as a robin reliant then?

Only some of them, Aprilla were going to widen the track of the MP3 so you could driver the bigger ones on a car licence, I don't know if they have yet or not, probably best doing some research if you were going to buy one.

Mrs Prawny still classes them as Motorbikes so I can't have one.

Clever Pun

prawny wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

woodyonthebeach wrote:

you only a car license to ride/drive them

really?? are they in the same class as a robin reliant then?

Only some of them, Aprilla were going to widen the track of the MP3 so you could driver the bigger ones on a car licence, I don't know if they have yet or not, probably best doing some research if you were going to buy one.

Mrs Prawny still classes them as Motorbikes so I can't have one.

Aww

the missus is looking to get a full motorbike licence and one of those mean she could skip that part... I think I'd prefer her to get the full licence though as the training is very useful.

I'm allowed a motorbike no problems if I have the money after doing the floors, bathroom etc in the house... ie never

Eau Rouge

<cycling interest>
They've use them as the motorbikes in the Giro for the past two years.
</cycling interest>

symo

The scooter is Piaggio MP3, and by all accounts are a great idea, highly stable in the wet, have an innovative steering system and are dead simple to use. Gives considerably more grip in less favourable conditions which is where the majority of learners make their mistakes.

TommyEss

But if they don't make mistakes how will they learn?!

Jamey

Well I think we can safely say we've answered the opening question that started this thread now, anyway