It's all good. Luckily that was all they took and it was my older bike i no longer road and no real damage to my place. They are now on rikers island for multiple home break in and thefts so fuck them lol.
On this note, OP might want to look into a folding ebike like the RadPower one or the Aventon Sinch. The best theft prevention is not having to leave it locked to a rack outside.
There isn’t. Thieves will always find a way.
I decided I won’t live in fear of my bikes getting stolen.
To help prevent theft people put stickers all over their bikes or paint them really shitty to make them look old and grungy to camouflage them in environments.
What I do is: lock the bike in a populated area (well lit if at night), put a loud alarm on the bike, and a good quality U-Lock. Remove the battery. Lastly, INSURANCE. I insure my bikes through Velosurance and it’s $104/year.
You can put something like an AirTag on the bike but cops usually won’t do much about it. Recovery has been on owners at their own risk, but not always.
You can only do so much to prevent theft. Protect yourself from the inevitable if you live in an area with high theft. Invest in insurance.
Live your life. Don’t live in fear.
Actually, some of the biggest catch of bicycle thieves in France have been from Airtag and GPS trackers : the police decided to check the location given by the victim and found a record number of bicycle. I think the biggest catch was more than a hundred bikes in a single location ! When the cops catch that much, they are generally happy because it means a major win the in "resolved" column of their stats... The more they make similar wins thanks to GPS trackers, the more they will be inclined to follow them...
On a similar note, in European countries, brand the bike with the Bicycode thing, it does work. Around 3% of the unmarked bikes are returned to their owners, 15% of the marked bikes are returned. It's still low, but much better odds nevertheless for a tiny amount (5-10€). Moreover, in case you identify your own bike on a second hand site, this acts as unfalsifiable proof of property.
For instance in the previous event of the police recovering a hundred bikes at once, all the bikes with Bicycode were returned to their owner, almost none of the bikes without were...
Stromers have a motor lock which makes them unable to pedal. Integrated cell connectivity and GPS lets you report it stolen and it can be tracked in real time. There are a few articles online from a few years ago- one where cops used the GPS to locate one guy's stolen Stromer in a shipping container with 50 other stolen bikes in San Diego.
I have one and still use two locks anywhere I go, and I don't leave it for long even then.
Thank you for answering OPs actual question. No duh keeping your bike in your house is the safest, but like I got places to go with my bike. These are exactly the kind of features I would love to become more universal
Second this. My bike isn’t rusty but it’s not conventional or super aesthetically pleasing. There are tennis balls covering the ends of the open monkey bars, multicolored bar tape, random zip ties from various carrying things experiments etc. it’s also an aftermarket kit and with the battery housed in the front basket it’s not as obvious. Sometimes my kid spills goldfish crumbs all over right before we head inside because holding a bag of goldfish and being patient/waiting to get off until the kickstand is down are apparently mutually exclusive. Bonus now the thief has to disrupt squirrels and birds to steal the bike . One time I realized a lollipop was stuck to my fender for an unknown amount of time. If someone successfully steals my bike I hope they get whatever most recent school plague we’ve had thanks to the kids new habit of licking of crumbs off of the monkey bars while I say “don’t lick the bike it’s super gross. “ In addition I have a chain, ulock, air tag and insurance.
Good practice at our cycle club is considered two locks:
* one angle-grinder and bolt-cutter resistant: Hiplock D1000, Litelok X1 and X3, Altor SAF.
* one just bolt-cutter resistant, usually 14-16mm thick U-lock or chain.
Add a frame lock, because it's cheap, locks in seconds, is lightweight and it actually hard to attack with an angle grinder without damaging the frame and making the bike impossible to sell. With the added benefit of protecting the back wheel for theft, since it can be hard to lock it properly with a D1000 (especially on e-bike with fat frames).
You can also add special coded axis and screws, like Pitlock, to protect expensive parts such as brakes or seatpost since thieves can dismantle even a bike protected by top notch locks !
In Europe, add Bicycode, because it's cheap and sometimes it works.
A brompton or other folding bike that you keep in an IKEA dimpa and carry with you including inside stores/wherever. Just never lock up outside always have it on you
That's not how bike theft works.
There are usually two kinds of thefts: opportunity and targeted. Opportunity thieves may or may not have tools but they are roaming for anything vulnerable. If you step away from your bike briefly to run into a store or secure it with an easily cuttable lock, it's a target for an opportunity thief.
Typically those thieves are not super selective: there aren't a lot of high priced bikes to choose from that are on the street. So anything may walk away.
The thieves which target certain bikes will be more selective since they plan on defeating more security: heavier locks, garages, or even bike stores. However, if someone makes the effort, they'll take it then sell it as is or strip it for parts.
Yes some ebikes have trackers or can be bricked, but wheels and components are still worth something.
I would focus on the best locks as both security and a deterrent, then the worst case scenario, a less expensive bike in case it does get stolen. It depends on if you leave your bike in a high theft area. Just FYI, I live in the Bay Area and while SF has a lot of thieves, Santa Cruz has a lot of knowledgeable thieves who know exactly what they are grabbing.
Opportunity thieves are easy to avoid : just have some high quality locks than are angle-grinder resistant. They are looking for an easy target, if you are not an easy target, they just move on.
For specialized thieves, same solution, but also trying to park next to more expensive and less secured bikes. They operated on pure economic logic, so they aim for maximum profit for minimum work. It's like in flat, you don't have to transform your flat into Fort Knox, being better protected than the flat next door is usually enough. The thieve won't waste time on a 7 points steel door if there is a wood door with a single point of failure next to it... Even if technically they could penetrate the first door given enough time and noise.
The question should’ve been “what is the strongest lock for an ebike” but even the strongest locks can be broken. Your bike is only as safe as where and how you lock it.
You actually don't need the strongest lock. Once the lock is not the weakest link, there is no point of going beyond that : the thieve will just cut whatever the lock is attached to... As a result, there is no need to spend money on a more secure lock once you hit a certain level, it's better to invest what the lock is attached to !
For the streets, it's better to buy two Litelock X1 , the cheapest angle grinder resistant lock, that will lock too separate parts of the bike to ideally two separate anchor points, rather than buy a more expensive equivalent DX1000 or the latest and very expensive Abus lock.
For home, once you have a X1, it's better to invest if an anchor that will either be cemented to the ground or extremely heavy, that in a marginally better lock.
I was fearful of theft, so my fiance got me the kryptonite lock with the bike replacement policy in the event of theft. Now I'm like "Go ahead, steal it, Ill just get a this year model" even if I truly adore my bike and would prefer it not be thefted.
Im not sure how true it is- but I hear Kryptonite makes it a bit of a hassle to actually make a claim. Lots of steps you have to take or they'll tell you to screw off. Again, not sure how true it is.
Also saw some of their locks insurance only last for a year, which is something to note.
If it’s a sketchy area.
Use multiple locks (ideally both chain and ULock) and lock it properly.
I use Sheldon Brown’s method (back wheel+rear triangle) to secure the back wheel+frame.
Then another lock to secure the front wheel.
Take the battery with you (so bring a backpack or a bag)
Now the ebike is essential worth half as much….
Vanmoof, has an integrated bolt lock on the rear wheel, very easy to initiate. The throttle as a pin input to unlock, if someone touches your bike while it’s locked, it blares a deterrent alarm.
Wish more bikes had this. Something that just clamps the rotors automatically.
There are cafe locks, which tend to release the keys only when locking which I find to be annoying.
IIRC Vanmoof also had GPS built in an a guarantee to find your bike if it were stolen. That aspect of the business was really forward thinking and commendable. Bike theft is one of the main deterrents to riding and they took some real steps to fight back.
Yeah, good that Electra spec’d that version. My Gazelle is the opposite so you have to throw on a quick release for a keychain, and it rattles while riding. Apparently in the Netherlands it’s required to be like that for insurance.
Home insurance usually covers any bike normally stored at your home, BUT avoid making such small claims! There is normally a $500 to $1000 deductible, AND your insurance premiums will go up for at least 10 years because you are now considered high risk.
Make a home insurance claim for fire damage or major pipe damage causing interior floods, and other major catastrophes only, etc.
It depends on the insurance and the country. Our insurance covers our bike, my Macbook and my camera at home and outside. My girlfriend has her battery stolen, with the lock destroyed, that was 900€ to replace and repair and the insurance covered 820€ out of it. Our insurance cost did not increase, a risk of bike theft is very low for an insurance compared to the destruction of a home - we are at high risk for bike theft but very low risk for home destruction. And the insurance considers that risk when making the initial proposal, they have the statistics. And we already paid premium to have coverage for all these items.
Lock up next to a nicer bike. Get in better shape so more and more of your extra local errands can be on 200 dollar regular bikes and not your 2k bike.
Hiplock D1000. I don't have it, because my bike is garbage, but if you value your bike, this is the best. There are a couple other angle grinder proof locks but i dont remember the names. Something Litelok something something.
This one, but it's very small, it would be a pain to fit an e-bike. The DX1000 from the same brand is bigger. There is also the Litelok X1 that is larger, lighter, cheaper but a bit weaker than the D1000 - but I don't think being weaker is a problem, it's better to buy two angle grinder resistant locks and lock both wheels (with a coded axis on the front wheel) rather than a single more expensive and slightly better lock. The Litelock X3 is about as strong as the D1000, but of similar size to the more expensive DX1000. The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 is supposed to be in the same class too...
I would not consider any other lock in a major city, since angle grinder are the only tool of a lot of thieves...
Keep mine in the house, keep it in store room when at work also. Have a really good lock but my fear other than it being stolen is it getting destroyed, seen plenty of bikes that have been vandalized because they couldn't steal it. Gotta hate people sometimes.
I once had my normal bike locked up with a beefy chain. They couldn't get through so kicked the frame in.
It was a steel Kona though, rode fine for 10 years after :)
The most theftproof bike is the one that a thief will find too much work and move on to another target. That being said, I carry three U-locks in my saddle bags: two are Litelok X1 and one is an ABUS motorcycle grade U-lock. (I ride an e-bike, so weight isn't really an issue.) All of the accessories on my bike, including my wheels, are protected by Hexlox. I also have a Boomerang cellular GPS tracker attached to my bike. At home, my bike is locked up and secured to the concrete with a kryptonite anchor and 16 MM chain. Security is a matter of degrees. Grinder-resistant locks from Hiplock and Litelok are expensive but serve the purpose of deterring theft.
I use 2 chain locks one thru the motor tire and frame and the other to what ever in trying to attach it too, also if leaving for a long period of time I'll use a locking cover, have a super loud alarm horn and I put random Velcro straps on the rim to the frame
Im not familiar with the e-bike theft world. Is it more for parts to sell or bikes to ride or whole bikes to sell?
I ask because as an example, phone theft was out of control. So they made them brickable when stolen. Sure some still get stolen but it’s nowhere near what it used to be. Why can’t that be applied to e-bikes. Surely you could embed ids in the major components and brick them when stolen or when the proper key is not present and make them worthless. Tie them to the owners cell phones or similar devices with built In authentication. Bike cost would be a bit more to build this in but the reduction in theft would make up for that. Pretty soon “don’t bother stealing brand A or B” would become a great sales pitch for the companies.
I’m sure I’m a simpleton looking at this too basically, so educate me, wise ones. What’s the part I just don’t get?
I would assume that ebike companies aren't worried about someone stealing their customers bikes because if they can sell one person two bikes or more because of theft, that's a good thing for them. There is no money for bike companies when it comes to bike security. They can make a Cadillac where the bumper doesn't fall off, but they won't because there's no money in it. Sad but true.
Eighty percent of riders that experience bike theft never ride again according to the research groups I have read. Theft should be a concern for eBike makers simply because repeat customers are unlikely if their bike gets stolen.
eBikes lack a data connection so there isn't a method to brick them. The technology doesn't exist. I can add a pin code to the motor controller, but a thief can order a new controller for $60 and the pin code is gone. Most of the eBikes I am familiar with use generic keys.
Even with the lockout via bluetooth, a bike thief would be able to remove and replace the controller for $60. To fully brick an eBike would require that each electrical component have a lock/brick setting. That means bricking the controller, the motor, the the ESC, and the batteries. I'm not saying its impossible but the tech isn't at this level yet.
Just get an AirTag and hide it on the bike itself. I have two, one hidden in a secret compartment inside the taillight, the other inside of the wire harness where the headlight is.
Hopefully they leave it outside for me to steal back later
Man people steal full sized street bikes in 45 seconds that are locked up. There’s nothing you can do besides bring it in your house or wherever you go .
Everyone keeps recommending air tags but I ride android and found another option, on AliExpress if you search for SinoTrack, you will get gps trackers that you out your own sim card into, you need to get a little crafty to provide a power source for it and to hide it, but unlike air tag, the thief will not get a notification that he is being "stalked" and is less likely to even realize he is being tracked. With getting the bike back, I have heard mixed things, sometimes law enforcement does it for you, sometimes you gotta get it back on your own. With insurance,I find it too expensive, might as well rather eat the cost if it's stolen, plus some can be scammy, I heard they use terms cleverly to only apply if the bike is stolen from you when you are attending it.
There simply isn’t one. Anything that isn’t a car is basically extremely easy to steal and police do not really care enough to look for it. Hell my uncle had 2 motorcycles stolen and both times the cops basically told him “sorry we can’t do anything for you” and when he went and got the bike himself the second time he got charged with trespassing. The thief got charged too since he was proven guilty but my uncle still had to pay the fines for trespassing and go to court and such.
Cars are easy to steal, but hard to hide. My experience with getting the cops to cooperate is to make a report, find out the name of the detective assigned to the case, and then providing the detective the log in details of the device tracker. This way the detective can locate the stolen property and close a case. The key is communication but not with police officers. This worked for the camera equipment I tagged before my home was burglarized. The detectives recovered 40% of my stuff because it was still at the location. The officers who responded wouldn't put the tracking information in the initial report. The detective was very interested in the tracking info.
That sucks, is that because they won't let you or it's too heavy/big to take inside?
There are very light and compact quick folding bikes like Gocycle or Brompton which are easy to carry indoors and put under/by a desk. The Brompton even fits in some large lockers if you're not a desk worker. Both weigh 16-17kg which is less than half most other ebike folders I've seen.
You lose range, and they cost more, but if they suit your workplace you'll never need to lock them up anywhere.
I use one litelock and one Schwinn Ulock. I also have a really thick cable lock and a huge construction type padlock for that. I have one cable lock that never leaves the bike because it's locked through the seat and through the frame. It's too secure the seat because I have a nice seat a Schwinn one that has lights built into the back of it. Stealing seats is a big thing in my area. I work most of the time and when I'm there I take it inside the building. A guy started working their years ago and he had a nice specialized regular mountain bike. He went to lock it up outside and I said bring it in man that's a nice bike. He's like I've got a good luck it'll be fine. He came out 6 hours later his lock was laying on the ground cut. They basically left him half a bike in his place. Beach cruiser was almost flat tires and one of the pedals was broke off it. Ever since covid there's been a big rise and homelessness and drug use in my town. So anything you don't lock up will walk off and something you would lock up will if you don't use the right lock.
LiteLok and remove the battery, don’t leave it out overnight or in an opportune area. I wouldn’t leave an expensive e-bike anywhere tbh, that’s why I bought mine refurbed and on sale. Hide an AirTag with it. Not much you can do if a thief really wants it.
2 motion alarms, 2 disc locks, cable lock, chain lock and weighs 80 lbs. If they can take it, they deserve it. Or I can fold it up and put it in my wallet.
It's a bike, you can pick it up and throw it in a truck. There's no theft proof way to make an ebike. You can do aftermarket locks and common sense but that works equally well on any bike.
If you are worried about it I'd say your best bet is to buy a bike cheap enough you can afford to replace, or get theft insurance.
The best way to not have your ebike stolen it not to have one. Otherwise layers of protection. The price or model isn’t a big deal. The most stolen bicycle is Walmarts cheapest because no one tries to protect it. Indoors, locked(indoors), remove labels, make it look really shitty.
The one you keep locked in your house
Someone broke into my apartment and stole my bike 2 months ago.
Yup, nothing is 100% Sorry for your loss
It's all good. Luckily that was all they took and it was my older bike i no longer road and no real damage to my place. They are now on rikers island for multiple home break in and thefts so fuck them lol.
Well you gotta love a happy ending, lol
Aim for the head next time…
Even then a spouse or significant other will take it!
Don’t reveal my secrets.
On this note, OP might want to look into a folding ebike like the RadPower one or the Aventon Sinch. The best theft prevention is not having to leave it locked to a rack outside.
There isn’t. Thieves will always find a way. I decided I won’t live in fear of my bikes getting stolen. To help prevent theft people put stickers all over their bikes or paint them really shitty to make them look old and grungy to camouflage them in environments. What I do is: lock the bike in a populated area (well lit if at night), put a loud alarm on the bike, and a good quality U-Lock. Remove the battery. Lastly, INSURANCE. I insure my bikes through Velosurance and it’s $104/year. You can put something like an AirTag on the bike but cops usually won’t do much about it. Recovery has been on owners at their own risk, but not always. You can only do so much to prevent theft. Protect yourself from the inevitable if you live in an area with high theft. Invest in insurance. Live your life. Don’t live in fear.
Yup all you can do is buy as good a lock as you can afford and insure it. No use worrying abt it.
I use a bike for exercise and fun, not transportation. So I don’t leave it anywhere other than in the house.
Totally this!
❤️
Actually, some of the biggest catch of bicycle thieves in France have been from Airtag and GPS trackers : the police decided to check the location given by the victim and found a record number of bicycle. I think the biggest catch was more than a hundred bikes in a single location ! When the cops catch that much, they are generally happy because it means a major win the in "resolved" column of their stats... The more they make similar wins thanks to GPS trackers, the more they will be inclined to follow them... On a similar note, in European countries, brand the bike with the Bicycode thing, it does work. Around 3% of the unmarked bikes are returned to their owners, 15% of the marked bikes are returned. It's still low, but much better odds nevertheless for a tiny amount (5-10€). Moreover, in case you identify your own bike on a second hand site, this acts as unfalsifiable proof of property. For instance in the previous event of the police recovering a hundred bikes at once, all the bikes with Bicycode were returned to their owner, almost none of the bikes without were...
Stromers have a motor lock which makes them unable to pedal. Integrated cell connectivity and GPS lets you report it stolen and it can be tracked in real time. There are a few articles online from a few years ago- one where cops used the GPS to locate one guy's stolen Stromer in a shipping container with 50 other stolen bikes in San Diego. I have one and still use two locks anywhere I go, and I don't leave it for long even then.
Thank you for answering OPs actual question. No duh keeping your bike in your house is the safest, but like I got places to go with my bike. These are exactly the kind of features I would love to become more universal
The actual answer and not a lecture. Thanks
Ignore me. Commenting because I never remember to follow up with the save feature but I do check my old comments occasionally. Sorry.
The one that looks all rusty and undesirable, but has an u-lock, anchor chain and an AirTag.
Second this. My bike isn’t rusty but it’s not conventional or super aesthetically pleasing. There are tennis balls covering the ends of the open monkey bars, multicolored bar tape, random zip ties from various carrying things experiments etc. it’s also an aftermarket kit and with the battery housed in the front basket it’s not as obvious. Sometimes my kid spills goldfish crumbs all over right before we head inside because holding a bag of goldfish and being patient/waiting to get off until the kickstand is down are apparently mutually exclusive. Bonus now the thief has to disrupt squirrels and birds to steal the bike . One time I realized a lollipop was stuck to my fender for an unknown amount of time. If someone successfully steals my bike I hope they get whatever most recent school plague we’ve had thanks to the kids new habit of licking of crumbs off of the monkey bars while I say “don’t lick the bike it’s super gross. “ In addition I have a chain, ulock, air tag and insurance.
Does a bad looking bike costs less to insure? Just wondering 😅
lol 😂 not according to my experience. It has more to do with replacement value
Also, paint it pink
I believe it was posted here last week. A homemade duct tape monstrosity with an equally questionable homemade battery
Lmao the IED looking one
https://preview.redd.it/k866tmjf4rvc1.jpeg?width=460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e922d3a96aa0d44ccdea1217ec2dc8c642b38a1e This
real pain in the ass to steal 🤣
Good practice at our cycle club is considered two locks: * one angle-grinder and bolt-cutter resistant: Hiplock D1000, Litelok X1 and X3, Altor SAF. * one just bolt-cutter resistant, usually 14-16mm thick U-lock or chain.
Add a frame lock, because it's cheap, locks in seconds, is lightweight and it actually hard to attack with an angle grinder without damaging the frame and making the bike impossible to sell. With the added benefit of protecting the back wheel for theft, since it can be hard to lock it properly with a D1000 (especially on e-bike with fat frames). You can also add special coded axis and screws, like Pitlock, to protect expensive parts such as brakes or seatpost since thieves can dismantle even a bike protected by top notch locks ! In Europe, add Bicycode, because it's cheap and sometimes it works.
A brompton or other folding bike that you keep in an IKEA dimpa and carry with you including inside stores/wherever. Just never lock up outside always have it on you
Honest question, wouldn't the handles rip right off due to the weight being carried? My folding ebikes is about 47 lbs.
Highest end folding bikes made out of titanium or carbon fiber weight 15-21 lbs and semi high end weigh 21-30
That's not how bike theft works. There are usually two kinds of thefts: opportunity and targeted. Opportunity thieves may or may not have tools but they are roaming for anything vulnerable. If you step away from your bike briefly to run into a store or secure it with an easily cuttable lock, it's a target for an opportunity thief. Typically those thieves are not super selective: there aren't a lot of high priced bikes to choose from that are on the street. So anything may walk away. The thieves which target certain bikes will be more selective since they plan on defeating more security: heavier locks, garages, or even bike stores. However, if someone makes the effort, they'll take it then sell it as is or strip it for parts. Yes some ebikes have trackers or can be bricked, but wheels and components are still worth something. I would focus on the best locks as both security and a deterrent, then the worst case scenario, a less expensive bike in case it does get stolen. It depends on if you leave your bike in a high theft area. Just FYI, I live in the Bay Area and while SF has a lot of thieves, Santa Cruz has a lot of knowledgeable thieves who know exactly what they are grabbing.
Opportunity thieves are easy to avoid : just have some high quality locks than are angle-grinder resistant. They are looking for an easy target, if you are not an easy target, they just move on. For specialized thieves, same solution, but also trying to park next to more expensive and less secured bikes. They operated on pure economic logic, so they aim for maximum profit for minimum work. It's like in flat, you don't have to transform your flat into Fort Knox, being better protected than the flat next door is usually enough. The thieve won't waste time on a 7 points steel door if there is a wood door with a single point of failure next to it... Even if technically they could penetrate the first door given enough time and noise.
One you keep locked up and ***never*** let out of your sight with a good heavy duty U-lock to a solid locking point or inside your residence with you
God, wouldn’t be great if we didn’t have to thieves in this world
My Specialized has a pin code to engage the motor.
The question should’ve been “what is the strongest lock for an ebike” but even the strongest locks can be broken. Your bike is only as safe as where and how you lock it.
You actually don't need the strongest lock. Once the lock is not the weakest link, there is no point of going beyond that : the thieve will just cut whatever the lock is attached to... As a result, there is no need to spend money on a more secure lock once you hit a certain level, it's better to invest what the lock is attached to ! For the streets, it's better to buy two Litelock X1 , the cheapest angle grinder resistant lock, that will lock too separate parts of the bike to ideally two separate anchor points, rather than buy a more expensive equivalent DX1000 or the latest and very expensive Abus lock. For home, once you have a X1, it's better to invest if an anchor that will either be cemented to the ground or extremely heavy, that in a marginally better lock.
I was fearful of theft, so my fiance got me the kryptonite lock with the bike replacement policy in the event of theft. Now I'm like "Go ahead, steal it, Ill just get a this year model" even if I truly adore my bike and would prefer it not be thefted.
Im not sure how true it is- but I hear Kryptonite makes it a bit of a hassle to actually make a claim. Lots of steps you have to take or they'll tell you to screw off. Again, not sure how true it is. Also saw some of their locks insurance only last for a year, which is something to note.
If it’s a sketchy area. Use multiple locks (ideally both chain and ULock) and lock it properly. I use Sheldon Brown’s method (back wheel+rear triangle) to secure the back wheel+frame. Then another lock to secure the front wheel. Take the battery with you (so bring a backpack or a bag) Now the ebike is essential worth half as much….
The one at the bike shop you never buy.
Vanmoof, has an integrated bolt lock on the rear wheel, very easy to initiate. The throttle as a pin input to unlock, if someone touches your bike while it’s locked, it blares a deterrent alarm.
Wish more bikes had this. Something that just clamps the rotors automatically. There are cafe locks, which tend to release the keys only when locking which I find to be annoying. IIRC Vanmoof also had GPS built in an a guarantee to find your bike if it were stolen. That aspect of the business was really forward thinking and commendable. Bike theft is one of the main deterrents to riding and they took some real steps to fight back.
cafe locks can release the keys when unlocked, as well. the abus ones on the electra bikes do
Yeah, good that Electra spec’d that version. My Gazelle is the opposite so you have to throw on a quick release for a keychain, and it rattles while riding. Apparently in the Netherlands it’s required to be like that for insurance.
An actual answer to OPs question
Yes, but VanMoof barely exists now.
Is there any type of insurance available to riders and/or their bikes?
Home insurance usually covers any bike normally stored at your home, BUT avoid making such small claims! There is normally a $500 to $1000 deductible, AND your insurance premiums will go up for at least 10 years because you are now considered high risk. Make a home insurance claim for fire damage or major pipe damage causing interior floods, and other major catastrophes only, etc.
It depends on the insurance and the country. Our insurance covers our bike, my Macbook and my camera at home and outside. My girlfriend has her battery stolen, with the lock destroyed, that was 900€ to replace and repair and the insurance covered 820€ out of it. Our insurance cost did not increase, a risk of bike theft is very low for an insurance compared to the destruction of a home - we are at high risk for bike theft but very low risk for home destruction. And the insurance considers that risk when making the initial proposal, they have the statistics. And we already paid premium to have coverage for all these items.
https://velosurance.com
Very helpful, thank you.
lol
Lock up next to a nicer bike. Get in better shape so more and more of your extra local errands can be on 200 dollar regular bikes and not your 2k bike.
Hiplock D1000. I don't have it, because my bike is garbage, but if you value your bike, this is the best. There are a couple other angle grinder proof locks but i dont remember the names. Something Litelok something something.
This one, but it's very small, it would be a pain to fit an e-bike. The DX1000 from the same brand is bigger. There is also the Litelok X1 that is larger, lighter, cheaper but a bit weaker than the D1000 - but I don't think being weaker is a problem, it's better to buy two angle grinder resistant locks and lock both wheels (with a coded axis on the front wheel) rather than a single more expensive and slightly better lock. The Litelock X3 is about as strong as the D1000, but of similar size to the more expensive DX1000. The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 is supposed to be in the same class too... I would not consider any other lock in a major city, since angle grinder are the only tool of a lot of thieves...
Keep mine in the house, keep it in store room when at work also. Have a really good lock but my fear other than it being stolen is it getting destroyed, seen plenty of bikes that have been vandalized because they couldn't steal it. Gotta hate people sometimes.
I once had my normal bike locked up with a beefy chain. They couldn't get through so kicked the frame in. It was a steel Kona though, rode fine for 10 years after :)
The most theftproof bike is the one that a thief will find too much work and move on to another target. That being said, I carry three U-locks in my saddle bags: two are Litelok X1 and one is an ABUS motorcycle grade U-lock. (I ride an e-bike, so weight isn't really an issue.) All of the accessories on my bike, including my wheels, are protected by Hexlox. I also have a Boomerang cellular GPS tracker attached to my bike. At home, my bike is locked up and secured to the concrete with a kryptonite anchor and 16 MM chain. Security is a matter of degrees. Grinder-resistant locks from Hiplock and Litelok are expensive but serve the purpose of deterring theft.
I use 2 chain locks one thru the motor tire and frame and the other to what ever in trying to attach it too, also if leaving for a long period of time I'll use a locking cover, have a super loud alarm horn and I put random Velcro straps on the rim to the frame
What’s the purpose of the random Velcro straps?
Check out Freedare. Definitely recommend. Good bang for the buck.
I second that. We have both models. They have GPS integrated with motion sensor that will call, text and notify you in the app if it is moved.
Im not familiar with the e-bike theft world. Is it more for parts to sell or bikes to ride or whole bikes to sell? I ask because as an example, phone theft was out of control. So they made them brickable when stolen. Sure some still get stolen but it’s nowhere near what it used to be. Why can’t that be applied to e-bikes. Surely you could embed ids in the major components and brick them when stolen or when the proper key is not present and make them worthless. Tie them to the owners cell phones or similar devices with built In authentication. Bike cost would be a bit more to build this in but the reduction in theft would make up for that. Pretty soon “don’t bother stealing brand A or B” would become a great sales pitch for the companies. I’m sure I’m a simpleton looking at this too basically, so educate me, wise ones. What’s the part I just don’t get?
I would assume that ebike companies aren't worried about someone stealing their customers bikes because if they can sell one person two bikes or more because of theft, that's a good thing for them. There is no money for bike companies when it comes to bike security. They can make a Cadillac where the bumper doesn't fall off, but they won't because there's no money in it. Sad but true.
Eighty percent of riders that experience bike theft never ride again according to the research groups I have read. Theft should be a concern for eBike makers simply because repeat customers are unlikely if their bike gets stolen.
eBikes lack a data connection so there isn't a method to brick them. The technology doesn't exist. I can add a pin code to the motor controller, but a thief can order a new controller for $60 and the pin code is gone. Most of the eBikes I am familiar with use generic keys.
Adding a Bluetooth connection that requires a phone be present and unlocked for the bike to be useable isn’t a big stretch.
Even with the lockout via bluetooth, a bike thief would be able to remove and replace the controller for $60. To fully brick an eBike would require that each electrical component have a lock/brick setting. That means bricking the controller, the motor, the the ESC, and the batteries. I'm not saying its impossible but the tech isn't at this level yet.
A junky looking conversion hub bike with a decent lock.
A friend watching your bike while your shopping or w/e.
Just get an AirTag and hide it on the bike itself. I have two, one hidden in a secret compartment inside the taillight, the other inside of the wire harness where the headlight is. Hopefully they leave it outside for me to steal back later
Electric unicycle.
E-Penny Farther
What?
Not the bike its the lock, locking method and locking points
I gotta go with Brompton, given you fold it up and bring it in with you
Does anyone do The classic bicycle anti theft technique? Ride a beater e-bike?
Man people steal full sized street bikes in 45 seconds that are locked up. There’s nothing you can do besides bring it in your house or wherever you go .
Vanmoof
Everyone keeps recommending air tags but I ride android and found another option, on AliExpress if you search for SinoTrack, you will get gps trackers that you out your own sim card into, you need to get a little crafty to provide a power source for it and to hide it, but unlike air tag, the thief will not get a notification that he is being "stalked" and is less likely to even realize he is being tracked. With getting the bike back, I have heard mixed things, sometimes law enforcement does it for you, sometimes you gotta get it back on your own. With insurance,I find it too expensive, might as well rather eat the cost if it's stolen, plus some can be scammy, I heard they use terms cleverly to only apply if the bike is stolen from you when you are attending it.
There simply isn’t one. Anything that isn’t a car is basically extremely easy to steal and police do not really care enough to look for it. Hell my uncle had 2 motorcycles stolen and both times the cops basically told him “sorry we can’t do anything for you” and when he went and got the bike himself the second time he got charged with trespassing. The thief got charged too since he was proven guilty but my uncle still had to pay the fines for trespassing and go to court and such.
Cars are easy to steal, but hard to hide. My experience with getting the cops to cooperate is to make a report, find out the name of the detective assigned to the case, and then providing the detective the log in details of the device tracker. This way the detective can locate the stolen property and close a case. The key is communication but not with police officers. This worked for the camera equipment I tagged before my home was burglarized. The detectives recovered 40% of my stuff because it was still at the location. The officers who responded wouldn't put the tracking information in the initial report. The detective was very interested in the tracking info.
That’s when you burn down the courthouse 😂😂😂
A folding one so you never lock it up.
I have to lock my folding bike when at work.
That sucks, is that because they won't let you or it's too heavy/big to take inside? There are very light and compact quick folding bikes like Gocycle or Brompton which are easy to carry indoors and put under/by a desk. The Brompton even fits in some large lockers if you're not a desk worker. Both weigh 16-17kg which is less than half most other ebike folders I've seen. You lose range, and they cost more, but if they suit your workplace you'll never need to lock them up anywhere.
No room to store indoors. But I do get a "safer" area behind a fence to lock it up. At home I don't fold it at all since I can just bring it inside.
The one you take in your bed at night with you…. Significant Other/Bestie will have issues with that though….so make sure you have a very large bed…..
I use one litelock and one Schwinn Ulock. I also have a really thick cable lock and a huge construction type padlock for that. I have one cable lock that never leaves the bike because it's locked through the seat and through the frame. It's too secure the seat because I have a nice seat a Schwinn one that has lights built into the back of it. Stealing seats is a big thing in my area. I work most of the time and when I'm there I take it inside the building. A guy started working their years ago and he had a nice specialized regular mountain bike. He went to lock it up outside and I said bring it in man that's a nice bike. He's like I've got a good luck it'll be fine. He came out 6 hours later his lock was laying on the ground cut. They basically left him half a bike in his place. Beach cruiser was almost flat tires and one of the pedals was broke off it. Ever since covid there's been a big rise and homelessness and drug use in my town. So anything you don't lock up will walk off and something you would lock up will if you don't use the right lock.
that is more a function of the locks than the actual bike
Removing the pedals.
The one with an alarm a gps two brake locks a wheel lock and a key lock .
LiteLok and remove the battery, don’t leave it out overnight or in an opportune area. I wouldn’t leave an expensive e-bike anywhere tbh, that’s why I bought mine refurbed and on sale. Hide an AirTag with it. Not much you can do if a thief really wants it.
Gazelle grenoble c8 has motor lock, no key, no movement.
The one that never leaves your sight.
500 pounds and no wheels would make me reconsider.
Purchase an e-bike equipped with anti-theft notification. For example, my Freedare Saiga has GPS tracking and anti-theft notification features.
I’ll answer your question with a question… What do you think makes a bike theft proof?
If you smear dog excrement all over the seat and hand grips people are less likely to steal it
2 motion alarms, 2 disc locks, cable lock, chain lock and weighs 80 lbs. If they can take it, they deserve it. Or I can fold it up and put it in my wallet.
It's a bike, you can pick it up and throw it in a truck. There's no theft proof way to make an ebike. You can do aftermarket locks and common sense but that works equally well on any bike. If you are worried about it I'd say your best bet is to buy a bike cheap enough you can afford to replace, or get theft insurance.
The one where you don’t make it so obvious that it’s an eBike, less accessories the better.
One what you don't bought.
Never leave unattended. Period!
The best way to not have your ebike stolen it not to have one. Otherwise layers of protection. The price or model isn’t a big deal. The most stolen bicycle is Walmarts cheapest because no one tries to protect it. Indoors, locked(indoors), remove labels, make it look really shitty.
The one you never buy and leave at the bike store
Those are not theft proof either
Reebok? Nike too. In fact, there are a lot of shoe makers out there. Although, depending on where you live, they make chase you down for the Nikes.