Ebike security locks

[flecc]

Would it be effective without an earth Ian?

I know spark plug testers can be if connected through a chain of bodies, the more the better, but not sure of electric fences. I've used them, but never without an earth.
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[Ian]

I thought of using the bike frame as the earth since an unsuspecting thief would be likely to touch the frame and lock together. Of course the the whole idea was only proposed in jest as in reality the bicycle owner would be prosecuted for hurting the poor little blighter who was only trying to steal a bike.

 

[flecc]

I wouldn't be concerned about that Ian.

No way, those who go thieving get what's coming to them when an opportunity presents itself.

My only concern with this is the youngster who might touch the bike in the course of innocently just looking at it, always possible. A warning notice might work, but with the kids in our local schools being taught in 67 languages, it might not.
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[JohnInStockie]

Maybe if we carried traffic cones, and placed the traffic cones and tape around the said electrified bike, that would warn them in any language

 

[Ian]

Good idea John, the tape could be electrified as well, but with a lower "warning" voltage

 

[coops]

Thanks for the electrified suggestion Ian but seriously...

Do you think that my idea is plausible & sound?:

if at least one of the locks (say, a 'simple' heavy duty cable & padlock type) is used in such a way that the 'lock' part is inaccessible without moving the bike (e.g. wrapped in chain &/or facing bike frame) & hence triggering the alarm, and the chain is hard to cut, then that seems quite secure even by itself from tampering & theft?

- The idea being to try to prevent chain-cutting/lockpicking by limiting access to the chain/lock (by binding the chain quite tightly around bike frame, padlock and object being locked to), and deter any tampering/vandalism at all by motion-sense alarm... would that make a good security combination do you think?

or can you see a drawback? I was thinking to get a good quality chain & padlock, used in this way, in conjunction with my D-lock, an alarm similar to yours and maybe a bike cover too... or is that OTT ?

Also, any suggestions for 'combinations' of lock types for multi-lock setups, e.g. what might be a good padlock type to work in combination with a circular/axial type D-lock...?

Your thoughts/ideas would be appreciated.

Stuart.

 

[JohnInStockie]

I can think of one problem Stuart, How would you unlock it if you cant get to the lock?

 

[flecc]

The circuit kind of alarm commonly used would be light and effective.

A simple electrical wire passed through the wheel(s) and bike stand and lock connected in circuit. If cut, off goes a very loud alarm.

If it also triggered a November 5th rocket, hidden in a tube, that shot skywards and went off with a big bang, that would create what the Americans call Shock and Awe.
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[JohnInStockie]

Seriously though, I think more than one lock is all one can do, along with some common sense about where to leave the bike (i.e. not out of sight, and chained to something that cant be moved)

 

[Ian]

I do a similar thing Stuart, I try to lock the bike in such a way that a thief needs to move the bike to gain access to the lock, hopefully triggering the movement alarm in the process.

I don't think any number of locks and alarms are OTT, almost every day I hear first hand accounts of break-ins and thefts, fortunately most involve commercial premises and not bicycles but they serve as a constant reminder that we should always be on guard.

As for what type of locks are most secure in combination I'm not really sure. I use a D lock and chain lock but that's purely because I bought the D lock for an earlier bike, at the time believing it to be the most secure type, and then got the HD chain with the Torq. They're probably a good combination as they would need different tools to cut, although maybe 2 different pens would defeat them, say a Bic and a Biro.

I did have the idea, inspired by the Axa lock, of putting a large chain shackle round one of the rims to make the bike unusable, the large screw would need to be replaced by something more secure such as an allen socket head screw, it being unlikely that a thief would be carrying large allen keys. Not infallible, but if enough obstacles are in the way hopefully thieves will move on to easier pickings.

 

[coops]

If it also triggered a November 5th rocket, hidden in a tube, that shot skywards and went off with a big bang, that would create what the Americans call Shock and Awe.

...Especially if the would-be thief has an undiagnosed heart condition...

I still like the motion sensor type alarm, since it might deter tampering with the bike aswell as attempted theft.

John: Point taken but the idea is that the lock is only inaccessible without causing a slight movement of the bike frame, triggering the motion alarm. That might help deter anyone from trying to pick the lock.

Stuart.

 

[Ian]

If it also triggered a November 5th rocket, hidden in a tube, that shot skywards and went off with a big bang, that would create what the Americans call Shock and Awe.
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Why not use the seat post to conceal the rocket and build a delay into the firing circuit.... to give the thief time to mount

 

[flecc]

Even better!
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[coops]

Built-in ejector seat, anyone?

Thanks Ian

Yes, I like the idea of deterring lockpicking (however unlikely) by combining lock method with the motion alarm, so I'll try to get the necessary bits - whats good to look for in a chain & padlock, would you say? - is HD 'high density'? (I haven't even seen the Torq chain lock you & flecc refer to! Did you buy it as an extra, or was it included?)

I'm also now considering an AXA (or AXA-style) rim lock on the Torq front wheel, as flecc suggested, as an extra level of protection - like you & flecc have both said, I think - enough obstacles & of different, preferably unusual, types, and the would-be thief will hopefully move on. Do you think the AXA defender might be a suitable candidate to fit on the front wheel? I suppose just shackling the wheel rim, even without it being fixed to the frame, might deter theft, though I'd worry a little that someone might maliciously attempt to just remove the wheel...

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

The AXA SL7 definitely fits, I've tried it offered up to the Torq, so the Defender or an Abus should fit as well. I'd make the choice on weight, since these are heavy locks and you won't want to add too much on the already heavy Torq front. The Abus without an optional cable looks the lightest, but that's only a guess. The standard mounting hooks would need to be reshaped or replaced, the Torq fork tubes too long fore and aft for the standard hook profile.
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[coops]

Thanks flecc

I didn't realise they were heavy locks, good point about the unwelcome extra weight on the Torq's front too.... maybe I'll just try shackling a wheel with a removeable length of chainlock, not attached to the frame, instead .

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

I can't remember the weight when I checked it, but had a shock when I removed the SL7 from the Twist to check it against the Torq's forks, much heavier than I expected. The solid steel shaft and steel casing inside the outer plastic, plus the lock, really add up.

I decided against for that reason, and a simple cable or sheathed chain is probably better.
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[frank9755]

The Defender is not too heavy. I didn't weigh it but I remember thinking it was a bit lighter than my D-lock

I found the supplied brackets very fiddly and put the lock in a position which clashed with my battery. The horseshoe shaped 'universal fitting bracket' is not avaialble anywhere so I ended up using an Abus bracket to fit the lock to the brake mountings behind the rear forks and underneath my carrier.

Frank

 

[coops]

Thanks Frank, though for me, any extra weight at all at the Torq front forks is unwanted - I hadn't thought that bit through at all!

Are combination locks of any security benefit, compared to key-based systems? Just a thought, but if they're useful a 'keyless' system might have its advantages (no keys to forget/misplace) - combination lock plus the keyless bike alarm.... just have to remember those codes... .

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

On many of the cycle combination locks I've come across, the release detents can be "felt" and the lock undone, so I don't consider most of those to be much use.

Of course it takes a short while to do that, but it's still more risky than a good key system, unless very well made with no slack in the rotary parts.
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