Crushing reality of illegal e-bikes

E-BIKE riders have been issued the following warning: if an illegal e-bike is located and confiscated by NSW Police, it won’t be going back onto the street.

Last week the first batch of 23 illegal e-bikes seized under new NSW Government laws was crushed, in a graphic demonstration of the state’s crackdown.

The bikes were turned into scrap metal at a wrecking yard in Blacktown following a joint operation conducted by NSW Police and Transport for NSW on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in mid-September.

“As we’ve seen, illegal e-bikes pose a serious risk to riders, pedestrians and everyone else using our roads and shared paths, so we’re taking firm action to get them out of our communities,” said NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison.

“We made a commitment to crack down on dangerous and illegal e-bike activity, and [this] shows how we’re delivering on that commitment.”

Of the 36 illegal e-bikes seized in the operation, applications for the return of 13 bikes are still being assessed by NSW Police.

The e-bikes crushed include an e-bike capable of speeds of more than 90km/h seized from a 14-year-old, well-known brands that had been ‘tampered with’ to override speed restriction settings, and a food-delivery bike.

The seizures follow new laws introduced by the NSW Government (Road Transport Amendment Non-registrable Motor Vehicles Act 2026) to give Police and Transport the powers to confiscate and dispose of illegal e-bikes.

E-bike batteries were removed for safe disposal and recycling ahead of crushing.

To be compliant and avoid the NSW Government’s crusher, e-bikes should have:

• A maximum speed of 6 km/h while not pedalling,
• Power assistance that cuts out when the bike reaches 25 km/h, and
• Maximum continuous power of 250 watts (500 watt will be tolerated until March 1 2029).

If purchasing an e-bike, check that it meets the EN 15194 e-bike standard. These bikes are legal to use on-road now and into the future.

“This is a graphic warning to anyone riding or buying an e-bike: if you don’t want it turned into shrapnel, make sure it’s legal,” said the NSW Minister for Transport John Graham.

“We’ve all seen the videos of hordes of teenagers riding illegal e-bikes on the Harbour Bridge and on golf courses. We want that to stop, and the crusher is here to help.”