In France and several other European countries such as the UK, electric bikes are now limited to 25 km/h on our roads. If we can argue that this speed is often more than enough, especially in town, some are not of this opinion and have recently turned to a solution as old as the world (or at least since the appearance of vehicles in all gender): jailbreaking.
In fact, if there are now kits capable of transforming any bicycle into an electric bicycle, there are also kits capable of transforming them into a small rocket on wheels. However, this practice is completely illegal. Any cyclist engaging in jailbreaking now faces a one-year prison sentence and a fine of €30,000. That being said, this does not prevent Amazon from marketing its kits and even, in some cases, highlighting them on its site.
Buying an illegal jailbreak kit on Amazon couldn’t be easier
As our colleagues from the Times have spotted, this is particularly the case with an unclamping kit intended for Bosch bicycles, presented as one of the current best sellers in the United Kingdom. For 150 pounds sterling, or about 170 euros, this kit allows you to increase the maximum speed of your two-wheeler to 45 km/h. On the product page, the seller nevertheless specifies that this practice may be illegal in certain regions of the world.
Related — Electric Bike: GM Introduces the Hummer AWD, a Powerful Two-Wheel Drive ATV
“The immediate availability of illegal jailbreak kits online is concerning”worries Roger Geffen, director of policy for Cycling UK. “While buyers need to do their research, online sellers also need to take responsibility for ensuring they do their due diligence and only sell legal equipment. »
For its part, Amazon clears itself of all responsibility, explaining that these are third-party sellers and not its own products. “Third-party sellers are independent businesses and are required to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and Amazon policies when listing items for sale in our store”the company said in a statement.
Source: The Times