Four fatbike manufacturers have launched a campaign to improve the sector’s image and say they will boycott dealers which sell bikes that have been tinkered with to go faster.

The bikes, known for their heavy black frames and wide tyres, should travel no faster than 25 kph but some have been souped up to do 50 kph. In particular youngsters driving faster fatbikes on cycle paths and not wearing helmets are causing problems. Riders found to be using a souped up bike face a fine of €290.

The government has plans to ban the use of special apparatus to make the bikes go faster and some councils have called for the bikes to be fitted with licence plates.

Fatbikes are currently categorised as electric bicycles which means they can travel at up to 25 kph and use cycle lanes. But government officials favour categorising them as mopeds because of the high speeds they can reach. In that case, users would need a helmet, number plate, licence and insurance.

Manufacturers Brekr, Phatfour, Doppio and Knaap went public with their plans on Tuesday. They say the government should focus on all electric bikes, not just fatbikes.

“Otherwise the problem will shift to the e-bikes with narrow tyres, which is already happening,” said Niels Willems, one of the founders of Brekr.

Last year 43 local authority chiefs signed a letter to infrastructure minister Mark Harbers calling for action on fast and souped-up e-bikes, particularly the fatbike variant.

“The people riding souped-up e-bikes, parents on electric cargo bikes, young adults and the elderly on their fast e-bikes, are a danger on the cycle paths,” the letter to the minister states.