Waikato police say bicycles being fitted with petrol-powered engines are "very impressive, but very illegal", and urged the public to report any they saw.
In a post online, Morrinsville police initially wanted to highlight the dangers of bikes which had been fitted with petrol-powered engines, and were therefore illegal on New Zealand's roads.
After the post was put up, Acting Sergeant Ryan McKenzie from the Matamata-Piako Strategic Traffic Unit told 1News the creators had been identified as teens who hold a flair for engineering, but the bikes had not been seized yet.
"If the young men were to take these bikes into an engineering firm to show what they could build, they’d get hired quite quickly," he said.
McKenzie said he "respects the ingenuity from the teenage mechanics, but not at the cost of people’s safety".
"The bikes are very impressive, but very illegal," he added.
These modifications could significantly alter the performance and handling of a bicycle and may mean the vehicle no longer meets the legal requirements to be used on public roads.
Modified bicycles could also travel at higher speeds than a conventional bicycle and may not have the braking, steering, or other safety equipment required for that level of performance.
Police said officers would seize these bikes if they witness or receive reports of dangerous driving, including riding on footpaths and not wearing helmets.
In this case, McKenzie said police were giving the teens "a small grace period to dismantle the bikes back to their original state and cease using them".
"We also want to thank the members of public for helping us identify these bikes, because it's made the streets safer."
Anyone with information regarding modified bicycles is encouraged to call 105.
Under New Zealand law, you need to have a valid driver licence if the e-bike's motor exceeds 300 watts, if the bike is capable of speeds over 50km/h or if it doesn't have pedals.
In most cases, the bike also needed to be registered and have a warrant of fitness.
Across the ditch police were describing high-powered electric bikes as a "major problem", and the Australian government has recently introduced powers to crush the bikes if seized.
SHARE ME