We warn against manipulating the vehicles
. And with that, a warm welcome
to Zur Sache Baden-Württemberg. Every 3rd sporty e-bike could be
souped up on the streets, much faster than allowed. Because they
actually have a speed of 25. But
such tuning kits are ordered in bulk on the Internet, so you can
easily double the speed. And what are the police doing against
this dangerous tuning trend? Jürgen Rose on e-bikes
in the fast lane. The e-bike boom
and its downside. The number of accidents involving electric bicycles has been increasing
dramatically for years.
That's because there are more and
more of them on the way. Another reason could also
be: they are getting faster and faster. In this Internet video,
an electric cyclist brags that he
overtakes cars on the country road at 80 km/h. This is no trivial offense. You make yourself punishable. If someone
rides a tuned bike, it's a criminal offence. I'm driving too fast, I need a driver's license
or another type of driver's license. And I need a number plate,
the vehicle must be insured so that
someone will take over the damage in the event of damage.
Officials set up a control point on the Pforzheimer Enztalradweg this week. They no longer want to
stand by and watch e-bikes get
faster and faster.
For the officials,
the subject of tuning is brand new. There have already been a few training courses,
but they are finding it difficult to uncover the manipulations. Again and again on the on-board computers:
very high maximum speeds. They're going fast, 62
max speed. Respect! With the control, the police want to
increase the pressure on e-bikers not to screw on their
bikes. We carry out an
e-bike inspection. Can we have a look at the bike? However, they themselves are aware that they can only uncover very conspicuous
manipulations during a roadside check. 78.9 top speed. I climbed on the wheel
stand. Is something tuned to it? no Some things don't sound quite
so convincing, but without real suspicion, the
police officers have to let the e-bikers go, not without warning them
on the way.
This creates
an insane risk of accidents. This is to be avoided. Therefore, we can only warn against ordering and using something like this on the Internet
. Full throttle through forest and field. Technology freaks, some of whom are only
of school age, show how it's done. Such tuning films are
clicked millions of times online. But not all tuning attempts
are successful. Regular e-bike tuning shops
have sprung up on the internet.
There is a solution for almost every model here. Reputable bicycle suppliers have also entered
this big business. Double the speed
for less than 100 euros. The sale of the tuning technology
is legal, say the
bike pros in Ravensburg, you just can't use it
on the road. Do customers really only use it
to drive up and down their own parking lot? No, I'm that realistic. The sale is
still legal so far. Its use
involves some risks.
That's why the bike pros don't want to help with the installation. Out of concern that the tuning could bring
technical, but also criminal
problems. A dual strategy
without a guilty conscience? That's the way it is in retail.
If there is a market for a certain
product, the product is offered and can be sold
legally, then as a retailer you strike and
try to make the sales. And it's also a business for you? It's a business, of course. Dirk Zedler from the Ludwigsburg Institute
for Bicycle Technology knows the consequences of converting a bicycle into a projectile. He thinks tuning e-bikes
is extremely dangerous. The load on the handlebars, stem and
fork is significantly greater. On all parts that
are heavily loaded. Then frames,
forks and handlebars can break. The nasty thing about it is
that it happens abruptly. You don't notice that beforehand. It doesn't let up
like a car clutch, but suddenly
the handlebar breaks off. Then I lie down. What happens when bikes
don't stand up to the strain? Dirk Zedler has many
examples of this in his workshop.
We have everything here, from
broken pedals to broken saddles. There's nothing that
can't break if mishandled
or improperly constructed. We had
paraplegia, fatalities. People who were then bedridden for life
. You have to say, if
nothing happens to you, you can celebrate your second birthday. Does this driver know about all this? He proudly presents
his descent into hell online. With over 60 things through
a closed town.
Always in the fast lane with the bike until one day it breaks down..
