Electric Bikes - register -plate-insurance ebike

So i have the Motorino Hth (www.e-ride.ca)
it is classified as a Motor Assisted Cycle (MAC) here in Vancouver.
It is considered same as a standard (pedal) bike - no licence, insurance required.

(check the e-ride site - has video clips of my bike towing a jeep grand cherokee and climbing a
very steep hill)

So last week i went on a quest to see if it is possible to register it and legally ride with no pedals
I was successful in this quest - first i got my motorcycle learners permit(drivers license)
then i got ICBC to issue me a BC assigned VIN (vehicle Identification Number)
Once i got that installed i went to an ICBC broker and registered-insured.

So now it is legally ok to ride with no pedals - (there are some over zealous cops here that like to give $700 tickets if u take the pedals off)

Now i am looking into ways of increasing the speed...32kph gets annoying..its ok in rush hour downtown traffic as i am able to easily keep up with cars..would love to get it to cruise at the speed limit of
50kph.

Here's a dumb question, if you take the pedals off, where do you put your feet when riding? So with pedals, no insurance, no license but without pedals > insurance required, license ,etc. So you take the pedals off? What's up wit dat? If you want to go fast check out Lowell's Widowmaker special.

So i have the Motorino Hth (www.eride.ca)
i
Now i am looking into ways of increasing the speed...32kph gets annoying..its ok in rush hour downtown traffic as i am able to easily keep up with cars..would love to get it to cruise at the speed limit of
50kph.

HTh has an BLDC side-mounted motor with a fixed gear which is designed for high torque and low speed.
Its stated max speed is 28km/h.
How to increase its max speed to 50km/h?

The Motorino HTh looks just like a regular scooter. Feet never went on the pedals even when they were on..they just got in the way. Feet go on the platform like you would on any other scooter.
Yes according to some police - if you take the pedals off the scooter becomes a LSM(low speed motorcycle)
and you need to have it licensed and insured.

As for speeding it up...so far not too much i can do as you said it has the fixed gear..but there a new motor coming out early next year that is reported to speed things up quite a bit and is also tweekable for more speed. I actually rode the proto-type test model Hth and that thing just zooms.
The other option i was considering if i cant speed up is to just sell Hth early next year. Then i would look to get a new model, either an electric or 49cc motor type. These would be classified as an LSM
Max speed 70kph but i would just be happy to get 50kph and if the new motor can do that i would go that way.

The other option i was considering if i cant speed up is to just sell Hth early next year. Then i would look to get a new model, either an electric or 49cc motor type. These would be classified as an LSM
Max speed 70kph but i would just be happy to get 50kph and if the new motor can do that i would go that way.

Seems that you are on the right track!!
Is it expensive to register your LSM?

Seems that you are on the right track!!
Is it expensive to register your LSM?

Around $200/yr here in Vancouver.

Here's a dumb question, if you take the pedals off, where do you put your feet when riding? So with pedals, no insurance, no license but without pedals > insurance required, license ,etc. So you take the pedals off? What's up wit dat? If you want to go fast check out Lowell's Widowmaker special.

http://e-ride.ca/Electric_Scooters/Motorino_HTh.html

Where do you think you'd put your feet? In your mouth?

The cost was not too bad - no more than if i had a "real" LSM

lets see - cost to take tests for drivers license $10
After i passed it was $35 for the license (combo car and motorcycle learners permit)

Then apply to ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) for a BC assigned VIN
$25

The VIN is couriered to an ICBC approved garage of my choice and they install VIN plate
$40

go to an ICBC broker - they confirm VIN - do all the paper work to register and insure
and give me license plate - $241 for 1 year (or $20 per month - but i just paid for the year)

now i am legal to ride with out pedals - tho one more small niggly to pass - technically i am supposed to be riding in the company of a "supervisor" (licensed Class6-motorcycle- 25yr old +) until i pass the skills test - have to wait 30days B4 i can take the test
But ICBC said that it shud be ok as long as i do not modify the motor or increase the speed as it still basically a MAC -

i do hope i can bump max speed to 50kph - this bike would be perfect- i really like the electric
those 49cc bikes are so noisy but maybe the 4stroke versions are quieter?
going to take a few of them for a test ride in a month (after i pass skills test)

http://e-ride.ca/Electric_Scooters/Motorino_HTh.html

Where do you think you'd put your feet? In your mouth?

For a canadian troll you talk tough. Another internet tough guy. I'm so impressed. Go ride your Darwin-award winning cycle, trollboy.

For a canadian troll you talk tough. Another internet tough guy. I'm so impressed. Go ride your Darwin-award winning cycle, trollboy.

What does Canadian or American have to do with anything?

The fact is that you posted a stupid comment without knowing what you're talking about, and I called you out on it. It's ok though, next time all you have to do is click the link before you spout off.

http://www.e-ride.ca/Electric_Scooters/index.html
Just in case you missed it the first two times.

i do hope i can bump max speed to 50kph - this bike would be perfect- i really like the electric
those 49cc bikes are so noisy but maybe the 4stroke versions are quieter?
going to take a few of them for a test ride in a month (after i pass skills test)

If you're at 48v right now, upgrading to 72v would be a good first step. You need to know if you have 55v or 100v MOSFETs inside the speed controller though. You could probably get some amazing performance out of that motor with forced air cooling:

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=6571&#6571

Fechter is pushing 60v and up to 90 amps through the "600W" motor with forced air cooling. 60v @ 23 amps continuous and no significant extra heat in the motor.

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=109

72v eh? - will try to find out more about the controller next week - from the website it says this about the HTh

"MOTORINO™ HTh is designed for Greenwit Technologies with unique high speed brushless motor with built-in Dynatech™ torque converter, a revolutionary new concept. It is the latest generation geared motor with high starting and climbing torque and low power consumption. With efficiency more than 90% this motor is capable to generate a torque equivalent to 800W non geared motor while only 20 Amps current is drawn from the battery."
and the battery is "Battery – 48V/22AH SLAVR, 1056Wh capacity"

They have told me that because of the gears i am stuck - no way to boost it - but i am not sure - there has to be a way to tweek the controller a bit. I can feel the motor cut out once it hits the preprogrammed speed limit. If i could just get like an extra quarter turn out of the accellerator i think that would do it.
even if i only can boost it to 40kph it be better than the rated 28kph..maybe i just do not understand how the gears come into play and why it is limited me in the upgrade path?

looking thru the parts list on the site http://www.e-ride.ca/Electric_VehicleParts/index.htm
i see one 48v 500w controller that must be mine. the other ones are for bikes with regen braking.
I also notice a 48v 800w 30a controller..wonder if i could install that one and would it do anything for me? It says that controller is for a motorcycle conversion..there is also a 800w motor\wheel.

I'm not sure about the HTh, but the XP's are easily modded to get rid of the 32km/h speed limiter.

If you feel the speed limiter kick in, that means you probably have some useful motor RPM left, even at 48v. Do you know what your battery voltage sag is under load? Another interesting option would be the 30 amp controller, and change your gearing. This will creat extra heat in the motor though, and I would only do this if higher voltage is not feasible.

72v eh? -
"MOTORINO™ HTh
It is the latest generation geared motor with high starting and climbing torque and low power consumption.

It is non-hub motor with a fixed gear.
If the gear ratio is 10 and the wheel rpm at 28 km/h is 400 rpm,
then the motor speed would be 4000 rpm.

If the road speed is inceased to 40 km/h, then the motor speed would be 5700 rpm and may exceed the safety limit of the motor and its bearings.

The7 - thank you for that info...i think i understand the limitations now and why they say i cannot do much
Wonder if there is a way to adjust the gear ratio?
and lose a bit of torque to gain a few more kph? just to tide me over until the new motor is available.

I rode the proto-type test model HTh and that thing was atleast 2x as fast as mine. I really noticed a diff from a standing start and going up hills...Still have to confirm how much top end i can tweek out tho...that is main thing i want...and the determining factor in what i do next spring....sell the HTh and get a real LSM (either a 49cc scooter or 1500w electric) I want minimum 35kph with 50kph the ideal.

Eride says these new motors will be available around Feb08 and i could swap for one of those(not for free i assume :) )

How much clearance is there for a taller rear tire?

Is the gear reduction done via sprockets and chain?

if you go here http://www.e-ride.ca/Electric_Scooters/Motorino_HTh.html#
you can click on the pic to get a close look at the rear tire\motor
looks like a tight space so i assume there is no chain involved and just gears..i do know that there is oil in there and it has to be checked\changed every so often.

sent an email to E-ride to talk about what my options are...

Looks like everything is integrated, including the brake. Changing wheel size looks difficult, as does fitting a direct drive hub motor. You could gain a slight amount of gearing by fitting a taller tire if available.

another route i am looking at is putting a 2nd hub motor on the front wheel and extra battery pack.
When i was there on the weekend they had done just that to one of the XPi models. That thing was a rocket. I could set it so the rear runs per normal and when it cuts out at its programmed speed the front still pulls. When the rear motor stops it just freewheels so it would not cause drag on the front motor.
That modded XPi is not street legal MAC thats for sure :)
but i will be ok since i am now registered and insured.

heh..just thot of something..be kind of cool to have the front motor set up as a kind of turbo booster :)
have a switch that i can flick to give me some burst speed when i need it but other wise it is off and i run as per normal with rear motor :) the extra battery is a 48v 14ah....do not think i would want to turn this on tho while the bike is moving..i imagine it could cause stability problems.

most of the time i do not mind its current speed..but since i cant always ride on a quiet sunday afternoon with sparse traffic..people tend to get erked being stuck behind a max28kph bike :)
then again..some car drivers around here seem to want to pass you no matter how fast you are going...
Those that know Vancouver-Stanleypark- back side of prospect point road... it is a long steady somewhat steep down hill. I know i was going posted speed limit if not more and there were still dufusses wanting to pass me.

I rode one of their dual motor creations and was quite impressed with it. The top speed still wasn't great, but that could be fixed...

I don't think I've ever seen anyone adhere to the 30km/h speed limit on that road, not even the pedal only crowd. Even on my pedal only mountain bikes, 35km/h is no problem on the flats.

For a canadian troll you talk tough. Another internet tough guy. I'm so impressed. Go ride your Darwin-award winning cycle, trollboy.


for the record, the OP puts his feet on a approximately 10" x 14" platform, just like on a regular gas scooter. There is no safety issues.

for the record, the OP puts his feet on a approximately 10" x 14" platform, just like on a regular gas scooter. There is no safety issues.

Good to see that most people can read before hitting the reply button. Krushnoi take note.

Skyway6: Is your HTh black? I've seen a black one w/ black helmeted rider near the ebikes.ca store on Main street a few times now. Definitely needs more speed :)

Hi there Lowell.... yes that could have quite possibly have been me.. bike black. black motorcycle helmet
with face shield... and either dressed in all black or if it was rainy had my black/red rain jacket on

But..alas.. the HTh is no more...atleast no more with me...i have since sold it to someone else
and have been seduced to go the the dark side :)

yes..on Aug04 i got a shiney new black scooter...with a 49cc motor.. a Piaggio Fly 50
gorgeeeous bike :) and it was only 200 more than what i paid for the HTh..
(well to be fair it was 1000 more :) have to include all the extras like PDI, Freight, Tax)
the actual price of the bike before all that was 1995 (hth are now 1799+tax)
do not have to be concerned about speed any more :) bike is plenty fast for me now

really happy now..just love it...shud have gone this route in the first place..but oh well..how does that saying go about fools and money? :)

Good choice on the 50cc scooter. Maybe you can try electrics again when the technology is ready, but for now I bet you'll be a lot more satisfied with the Piaggio.

yes..on Aug04 i got a shiney new black scooter...with a 49cc motor.. a Piaggio Fly 50


What is the top speed on flat?

What is the top speed on flat?

for now its at 55kph...just for the break in period..at 1000km it goes in for 1st service and then
the speed will be 70-80kph

but even at 55 i am happy..for around downtown area thats plenty fast.
i am very happy with it..now i can keep up with traffic..i am traffic :)
instead of being a hinderence to traffic like i was on the Motorino

a few observations..not a complaint just a few things i noticed comparing the electric to 49cc
electric nice and quiet - tho Fly50 is a 4 stroke so its fairly quiet
electric runs nice and cool--the under seat storage area on the Fly gets very warm..would not want
to carry and frozen foods(groceries) home in there...but i guess it be great spot for keeping take out warm :)

If i had a choice btwn the electric and 49cc --if performance was equal.
(electric needs to go top speed 70khp and have range of 200km+ per charge)
i would go with electric. You can get that now with electric but the price is 2x what
the 49cc cost.

being limited to 28kph and ~60km range on motorino was driving me crazy.
glad i switched.

but even at 55 i am happy..for around downtown area thats plenty fast.
i am very happy with it..now i can keep up with traffic..i am traffic :)
instead of being a hinderence to traffic like i was on the Motorino.

Not only being a hinderence to traffic but also feeling very unsafe when buses and cars passing me all the time when riding my e-bike on roads.
That is why I have to ride it like an normal bike on sidewalks at some area.

If i had a choice btwn the electric and 49cc --if performance was equal.
(electric needs to go top speed 70khp and have range of 200km+ per charge)
i would go with electric. You can get that now with electric but the price is 2x what
the 49cc cost..

I did a test ride the Fly 50 this afternoon and would concur with.

It seems that you passed your motor cycle test!

heh. yes... i took the MST (skills test) on Aug17 and passed :)

so i am now free to ride the scooter now with minor restrictions (no passengers-no alcohol-dawn to dusk only) after 1yr i can take road test. That will remove all restrictions -no booze of course :)
after road test i become a novice and have to display the green N..that goes for 2yrs then i can road test for the full class 6