Greyp: bicycle when you want it, a motorcycle when you need it
greyp-bikes.com
greyp-bikes.com
If it manages to get actual demand around the world, they are probably to face regulatory nightmares regarding speed. F.ex. in Poland 65 km/h disqualifies it from the moped category (< 45 km/h), and the mopeds themselves aren't allowed on bike lanes anyway, so it'd be just a less comfortable less powerful electric scooter.
Nothing to see here.
Did you read this bit from the site?
Driving modes - Most EU countries consider two-wheeled electric vehicles as motorcycles if they can reach a speed in excess of 25 km/h and have more than 250 W of power. The G-12 has a special mode to comply with the regulations for road vehicles – which limits the speed and power. Still, the top-speed is just a tap on the touch-screen away when you need it.
Doesn't that place it under the "bicycle" category? Or are they skirting the issue and the authorities will not likely deem it that way regardless what "mode" you put it?
In Belgium they throw money and campaings at getting people not to drive cars under influence. I wouldn't say "take your bike" is the official stance, but certainly the most popular alternative.
I've never heard of anyone being stopped to check alcohol levels on their bike.
Well, Belgium, heh, we are a bit different when it comes to bike infrastructure and roads in general. A lot of traffic goes through local roads, small towns and villages often lack means of transport in the evening, and people drink a lot - figure out the rest. A drunk biker can be a danger to himself and the drivers, but there are enough laws to punish somebody for behaving dangerously on the road, no need to get nazi on everybody who's been for a few in a pub. Well, it's ridiculous.
Which often get replaced by teenagers, with the consequence of loosing the allowance of the bike/moped and a hefty fine if it gets spotted.
The police even picks them randomly out for checks more often because of this.
Bicycles with electric boosters are allowed up to 25km/h and 250W.
Everything above that needs a driver license in the EU - Class M if I'm not mistaken. And of course has to have a numberplate from your insurance.
But most electric bicycles here in germany are limited to 20km/h, so that the rider isn't forced to wear a helmet by German law.
(All km/h are meant without human power.)
Same with the danger of using this sort of 'bike' on bike paths or crowded urban areas. I think their promo video is demonstrating that they are just asking for trouble.
Hopefully greyp, figures out the damage they could be doing to their brand and goes the commuter route.
I think the market for a powerful/fast power assisted commuter bike is big enough. Why go after the small urban rider and lazy ignorant downhiller markets?
I'd love to see someone try to get that thing moving from a standstill using just the pedals.
For those in California, in street mode this would be classified as a "motorized bicycle" if it went under 20mph. If it went over 20 and below 30 ( as it does in speed mode) it would require registration and a "M2" Moped Motorcycle license. Over 30 would equal a "motor driven cycle" and would essentially be a small motorcycle and would require plating, registration and an M1.
http://www.myronsmopeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Laws-...
Option 1: "Gr-II-P" .. gripe. Yeah, I ride my gripe around.
Option 2: "Gr-AY-p" .. yeah, I'm gonna just get on the grape.
Option 3: "Gr-EE-p" .. just gonna 'greep' (creep) around the streets, yo..
Option 4: "Gr-E-p" .. okay, this might just work for me. ;)
Option 5: "Grey-P" .. My pee is grey, my pee is grey!
Seriously, greyp-bikes folks, please re-consider your awful, awful brand statement.
Edit: In all seriousness, that video was a complete disgrace.