Best security for bike?

I just ordered the Woosh Big Bear and I wondered what the best combos are to secure it when out and about.

I don't expect to really leave it out of my site but it's more for times I've gone in to Tescos for half an hour or am at a friends for a few hrs at night.

 

I have read the 'best' way to secure is a D-lock (high rating) for the frame, back wheel, immovable object.

Then a cheaper D-lock for the front (or the same) to secure the wheel to the frame (and also immovable object if possible).

Then a cable running through the wheels and seat and secured with both locks.

 

Is that excessive?

What about an alarm?

Which wheel on an e-bike is more valuable?

What about the bike computer?

What do others use?

Tie one of these to it. Bet no one nicks it

 

I tell everybody the same. You only have to defeat the casual thieves that use something like bolt croppers, hacksaws, wire cutters, etc. For that, something like the Oxford Revolver roller cable is sufficient. It's much easier to use than a D-lock because you can tie you bike to solid objects like lamp-posts, bike racks, railings, drainpipes, etc. The D-locks never quite fit.

The less desirable and more oddball the bike is less likely it is to attract thieves.

 

The bike parts on a Big Bear are cheap and cheerful, but not worth nicking.

 

It's an electric bike which will put off some thieves because they grasp the difficulty of using it after they've stolen it.

 

It ought to be safe locked outside Tesco while you do your shopping for 20 minutes.

 

I'm no sure about 'a few hours' while you socialise with your mates.

If someone wants to steal your bike then they only have to have a battery grinder in their pocket and big balls. At that stage it doesn't matter how much you've spent, it's going to be nicked.

 

As d8veh says, all you can achieve is to put off the casual 'have a go' thief and that's it sadly.

 

I have an Abus D'lock that comes with a cable as well. I D'lock to something immovable and then run the cable around the front wheel. It seems to have worked so far with both my pedelec and my £1000 Boardman.

Again to deter the casual attempt by drawing attention to their messing with the bike:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Target-Alarmed-Disc-Padlock-Motorbikes/dp/B00JEDK9HI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1425725387&sr=8-5&keywords=kabrus+alarm+padlock

Again to deter the casual attempt by drawing attention to their messing with the bike:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Target-Alarmed-Disc-Padlock-Motorbikes/dp/B00JEDK9HI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1425725387&sr=8-5&keywords=kabrus alarm padlock

I like that idea. Does that auto turn off if it stops being moved? I'd hate to be one of those annoying alarm people.

Nothing beats the determined experienced bike thief, but the combination of a D lock and a good cable lock gives good enough security against the casual thief. I don't know how easy it is to remove the Big Bear battery, but if it's very easy, take it with you into your friends place, probably not necessary outside Tescos for a short time though.

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Maybe a silly question but what do you lock the cable with?

Cable locks usually incorporate the lock in one end. Some stirrup wheel locks have ancillary cables that plug into the wheel lock.

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I like that idea. Does that auto turn off if it stops being moved? I'd hate to be one of those annoying alarm people.

You have to use the key to stop the alarm

Nothing beats the determined experienced bike thief, but the combination of a D lock and a good cable lock gives good enough security against the casual thief. I don't know how easy it is to remove the Big Bear battery, but if it's very easy, take it with you into your friends place, probably not necessary outside Tescos for a short time though.

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You can't nick the Big Bear battery even with carbide drill bits.

The locking pin is vertical, 10mm diameter in hardened steel, behind the lock body, about 5 cm inside the controller box. The locking plate is also hardened steel, perpendicular to the battery so from the side, you can't attack it. You can't remove the controller box without the key. You have to remove the seat post, demolish the controller box, then attack the lock.

Best security for the Big Bear? a set of paniers on the rear rack to cover the battery so it does not shout 'I am electric' and protects the battery from rain.

 

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/2014/wish-you-were-here/bigbear-ls.jpg

Edited March 7, 201511 yr by trex

You can't nick the Big Bear battery even with carbide drill bits.

 

Thanks for the info Trex, sounds excellent.

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Thanks Trex. I've already ordered panniers too

If I was a thief, I would be able to remove the big bear battery in less than 10 seconds with a simple bolt cutter:

 

Simply cut the 2 legs on each side (see red lines on the picture) + the one attaching to the top (top red line). 3 to 4 cut and it's gone.

 

A bolt cutter should cut it like butter unless you are telling me the battery rack is all made of hardened steel... which I doubt as most of them are made of aluminium...

you will have to also cut all the electrics before you can run away with the battery.

then demolish the controller box.

then attack the lock.

Then whom are you going to sell the battery to? the victim?

it's not like a Bosch or a Bionx battery that you can find buyers on ebay.

Edited March 8, 201511 yr by trex

Haven't been stolen many times (front light, rear light, seat post, 2 electric bikes, etc etc), I can tell you by experience that:

- Thieves don't care about cutting electric, they just want the part taken as quickly as possible. I've got my front light pulled out with wires dangling... I don't know what the thief is going to do with a light without its power... but it's thief mentality.

- He doesn't think about controller box or lock or whatever, he has just seen some weak points allowing to quickly take the battery out of the bike, he'll think about the rest later.

 

So he may end up without anything valuable, or even may end up wasting his time....

 

But at the end of the day, you are (or I am) the one without the battery and bag on the bike, pissed off, and wondering why on earth the thief wanted to do that.

Edited March 8, 201511 yr by cwah