When you take your bike out of the basement or garage in spring, it’s not only the perfect time for a maintenance session. You should also make sure that your bike is roadworthy. A regular bicycle or e-bike can only be used on the road if it is properly equipped.
So if you don’t feel like doing a few laps around the yard every now and then, take a look at our checklist. We will tell you what equipment a roadworthy bike needs and what else you should look out for.
Regardless of whether you ride a regular bicycle or an e-bike, the Road Traffic Regulations (in German Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung or StVO) specify the following minimum requirements depending on the time of day or night:
Tip: The front headlight and front reflector are often combined. The same applies to the rear light and the reflector.
In Austria, you can use a horn instead of a bicycle bell if you feel like it. In Germany, this is not permitted by law. In any case, it is counterproductive if your “bell” causes other cyclists to fall out of the saddle in shock.
We advise you to have proper bicycle lighting as it pays off not only at night.
On longer tours, the weather can change rapidly. If you then don’t have a good view of the road, you can endanger yourself and others. Plus, riding is no fun anymore.
Common lights for e-bikes or normal bicycles comply with the requirements of the “StVO”. However, this does not mean that they are the best choice for participating in road traffic.
Especially if you like to ride at night in poorly lit areas, standard lighting that meets legal requirements is not always sufficient.
To find the best alternative, you can use the following tips:
And don’t forget: even the best light can have the opposite effect if it is set incorrectly and thus dazzles other road users. You should be especially careful when using high beams. Regular cleaning of the headlights and checking your lights for defects before riding is also always a good idea.
Perhaps you are now asking yourself the question “What happens if my bicycle is not roadworthy?”
Well, you might face the following three consequences:
If a bicycle is not roadworthy, you will have to pay a fine if the police decide to visually inspect it. The catalogue of fines depends on the country and changes regularly.
If the police stop you and find that the brakes on your bicycle are not working properly or that the lights are defective, the consequences are limited despite the fine. However, the situation is different in case of an accident. For example, if the lighting is defective, there is a risk of high claims for damages and compensation for pain and suffering. In the worst case, you will be liable to prosecution if you cause an accident with a bicycle or e-bike that is not roadworthy.
If your bicycle or e-bike is not roadworthy (i.e. it suffers excessive wear and tear), there is a risk of accidents resulting in injuries. Other road users might also be affected. After all, the risk of injuries alone is an important reason to make sure you have: good lights, optimal tire pressure (pay attention to the recommended pressure), tightened wheel quick release levers, and functioning brake pads / brake block and brake cable (as well as well-maintained hydraulic disc brakes if you have those).
Roadworthy according to the law does not automatically mean maximum safety.
With the following measures, you can also prevent accidents and serious injuries:
A helmet is one of the things that determines whether you get away with a few bruises or suffer serious injuries in the case of an accident. That’s why it is clear to us: never ride without a helmet. But make sure to choose a robust helmet that fits you well. After all, if you feel comfortable when you wear it, you will probably wear it more often. There are also special bicycle helmets for children.
If you are riding in poor visibility, light-coloured clothing will increase your visibility. Reflective elements, such as a reflector on your clothes, can help but not replace your bike lights.
Even the best cycling equipment is of little value if you are on the road like Chuck Norris on a vendetta. Riding calmly and carefully pays off for everyone and increases your “popularity” with other road users. You should keep in mind that an e-bike can be particularly dangerous due to its higher weight and speed.
It also makes sense to have mudguards, a bike stand, a luggage rack and a chain guard. Optimal tyre pressure and tyres with a good grip prevent accidents, especially in autumn and on uneven roads.
You can find many valuable tips on choosing the right bike helmet and other e-bike equipment in our article “E-bike gadgets – These are the accessories you really need”.
Since we are already talking about safety: We would recommend to make your e-bike not only roadworthy, but also theft-proof before you go for a ride. Thieves prefer to steal expensive bikes with motors. And the truth is that a simple frame lock is not much better than no lock.
If you want to protect your e-bike efficiently from thieves and ensure that you get it back after theft, we recommend the following products:
at least one high-quality lock, preferably a U-lock or folding lock
Important note: A good lock is highly important. However, only a good GPS tracker provides security against professional bike thieves. BikeTrax by PowUnity alerts you via the associated app to any attempted theft and allows you to track a stolen bike in real time. You can read about many examples of how bike owners got their e-bike back after it was stolen and how the police arrested whole gangs of thieves in our success stories success stories.
Functioning brakes and good headlights are not a luxury that cyclists can do without. They ensure that you are safe on your bike and protect other road users.
The road traffic regulations provide a framework that you can use as a guide when making your bike roadworthy. However, it is worthwhile to do more than the law requires, for example by using a high-quality light with high beam, a good cycling helmet and additional reflectors on your clothing or bags. Proper safety equipment is extremely important, especially on long tours.
And if you have also sorted out an effective theft protection, you can have a relaxed start to the new cycling season.
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