It is not always obvious from the appearance of an e-MTB that it has been fitted with an aftermarket module or modified software. This is precisely where the project comes in: According to EMEC prototyping The new test bench is designed to detect tampering using AI and analyse the results directly at the inspection site. The system is intended to fit into an emergency vehicle and be set up within a few minutes. In addition to standard pedelecs, the company cites S-pedelecs, cargo bikes and e-scooters as planned areas of application.
What can the test bench already demonstrate?
So far, this is primarily a development promise. EMEC has not published any publicly available measurement results, nor has it provided details on how the system distinguishes between different drive systems and potential forms of tampering. Furthermore, the new device has not yet been subjected to independent testing. Our article on the Measures taken by the cycling industry to combat e-bike tuning.
However, mobile checks are not necessarily a distant prospect. The Hamburg Police Since June 2025, it has been trialling another mobile speed-testing unit, the ‘E-Speed-Control’ from the Swiss manufacturer Wenger. According to the police, any irregularities can be documented on the spot using this device; if further suspicion arises, vehicles can be impounded or experts called in. The Hamburg-based device is not the system announced by EMEC. However, its trial demonstrates that the concept of mobile speed checks is not a new one.
EMEC has stated that the system is scheduled to be available in the summer of 2027. It remains to be seen whether the test bench will then be used in day-to-day police work and how reliably it will detect various forms of tampering. According to the company, the project is funded by the Free State of Saxony and co-financed by the EU.
Why is a speed of more than 25 km/h not proof of tuning?
Although a legal pedelec is permitted to travel faster than 25 km/h – for example, when going downhill or under its own power – the decisive factor is whether the motor continues to provide assistance above this limit. For the purposes of a technical assessment during a roadside check, the vehicle’s speed alone is therefore not sufficient.
If the assistance limit is tampered with, the cycle may no longer meet the requirements for legal classification as a bicycle. However, a modified pedelec is not automatically a registered S-pedelec. Depending on the circumstances, a vehicle registration certificate, a driving licence and motor vehicle third-party liability insurance may be required. Anyone riding a suitably modified bike on public roads without the necessary registration risks a fine; if the required insurance or driving licence is missing, criminal proceedings may also follow. Following an accident, claims for damages may also arise, whilst personal liability insurance for cyclists does not replace the required motor vehicle insurance. Which The legal and financial implications of e-bike tuning We have already categorised in detail the ways in which this can occur.
Not interested in tuning? Have you fitted a secret chip and ride at 45 km/h at night? What’s your experience of e-bike tuning?
Marc Strucken
Editor
