"You want to tune your endurance test bike? That's not possible, it's forbidden!" The suggested topic for this story was quickly buried in the editorial conference. Unfortunately, I had already put my Ghost Hybride SL AMR X on a starvation diet and replaced various parts. Simply because that's what I always do with my bikes. "Oh, do I have one foot in jail now or what?" I wanted to know from my colleagues. They shrugged their shoulders. As an e-biker, am I really not allowed to change anything because an e-bike is not a normal bike in the eyes of the law, but a machine? You can find a lot of contradictory information on the internet, but expert Dirk Zedler, a sworn expert for electric bikes and qualified engineer, was able to quickly reassure me: As the end customer, I can do what I want with my e-bike - with the exception of motor tuning, of course!
Do's and don'ts of e-bike tuning: Dirk Zedler in an interview
EMTB: Is parts tuning on e-bikes forbidden for end customers?
DIRK ZEDLER: No, the end customer can do whatever they want with their bike! Before the law, the e-bike in the hands of the end user is a normal bike. BUT: If something goes wrong, the manufacturer raises his hands. As a result, the end customer may have to pay for all conceivable damage themselves. But it's no different with a bike without a motor.
So where does the myth come from that you can't change anything on an e-bike?
According to the law, a pedelec is a machine and requires a CE mark as a complete product with all attachments, otherwise it may not be sold in Europe. As the manufacturer of an e-bike, you must prove that everything is safe before selling it. This can be checked spontaneously by the trade supervisory authority - if changes have been made, there is a risk of a sales ban. This is why manufacturers and dealers are extremely careful.
And that changes as soon as it comes into my possession?
It's about making it available on the market - that affects everyone involved in the supply chain. That's why the dealer is not allowed to change anything, because he puts the machine into circulation. That would be like forging cheques.
As a customer, can I tune everything to my heart's content?
Engine tuning for more speed is of course prohibited and punishable by law. When it comes to safety-relevant components, for example the steering centre, you should never make any compromises. Instead, only ever install compatible handlebars and stems from the same manufacturer. This is because the most durable handlebars can break early if they are fitted with the wrong stem!
You can read about how Chris Schleker went about his tuning project, which parts were replaced and where investments in terms of weight and riding fun really pay off in EMTB 04/2020 - available from 18 August in specialist shops and in the Digital edition.
