Electric Bike Security

Mandy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 23, 2007
512
0
Would anyone be interested in a motion sensor alarm?

Regards David
I might be David :D
Drop me a line with how much?
This thread has opened my eye's.

Wisper Wisper Wisper (you will find this cos I want one :D )

Regards
Mandy
 

Orraman

Pedelecer
May 4, 2008
226
1
I got a Plastic Lock from Aldi yesterday for £3.99.
1.2m plastic covered 2mm stainless cable, 4 digit resettable combination.
Stores itself neatly under the saddle when looped through the saddle springs and the frame.

Dave
 

Tiberius

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 9, 2007
919
1
Somerset
Would anyone be interested in a motion sensor alarm?

Regards David
I designed my own automatic motion sensor alarm. It activates shortly after I remove the key and de-activates when I turn the bike back on. I was at an outdoor party last weekend and it went off. Some kids had knocked the bike with a football. The sound engineers were looking worried for a while, though.

It would be quite possible to build such a thing in as a factory option.

Nick
 

nikon201

Pedelecer
Jul 24, 2008
33
0
58
Kent
Bike security should come as standard

I am currently considering buying an electric bike, but security is a concern for me. I would have expected that, on a bike costing £1000 or more, security for it should come as standard. After all, you wouldn't buy a new car without locks would you?

How about bikes with locking wheel nuts, a steering lock, built in (and quality) locks for both wheels, and a fitted quality lock to secure your bike to a cycle rack. All could then be operated via a single key that also operates the battery.

And in reading this thread, an alarm might be useful too, as some have mentioned. But personally I would prefer that bike companies supply quality physical security for their bikes as standard.
 

Haku

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 20, 2007
339
4
Gloucestershire
my point is that as soon as an awareness of E-Bikes becomes general, the Thieves will be out in more force..So security will become a big issue, with saddles costing £25 being targets, batterys at £250 will be unsaveable..
By the time ebike theft becomes more prevailant, GPS data logging devices that 'phone home' should be fairly affordable, the top of the battery pack would be an ideal place to store one, especially as you wouldn't have to worry about powering it :D

Looking at that vid makes me a little more worried about my bike being stolen, over the years I've had a few bikes stolen, all from sheds - but now my ebike is in a shed I've taken a new precaution, as well as the lock on the outside (not the best because I don't want a big shiny expensive lock to advertise something expensive is inside) I've had a welded/bolted frame installed inside that's bigger than the doorway, it's physically impossible to take it out without dismantling it or the shed - so I lock my bike to that.

I really like the idea of the siren locks, just wondering how they'd cope when it gets very windy and the shed shakes.

The Kryptonite bike lock I use has outlasted four bikes! One was sold and the other three stolen, the last bike that was stolen - a temporary one I bought for when I was waiting for my ebike - they stole it and another absolute heap of junk bike that I was deciding how to get shot of, but took the lock off the bike (it wasn't locked) and left it behind...! (they also stole two of 4 identical lava lamps, gits)
 

lectureral

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 30, 2007
397
60
Suva, Fiji
Cameron

Slightly off topic - but did anyone else revise downward their opinion of the Conservative party leader when they read that he had his bike stolen after fixing it to a two foot high bollard, apparently not being able to work out that the bike and lock could simply be lifted off - maybe he is a bit dim!
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,196
30,602
Slightly off topic - but did anyone else revise downward their opinion of the Conservative party leader when they read that he had his bike stolen after fixing it to a two foot high bollard, apparently not being able to work out that the bike and lock could simply be lifted off - maybe he is a bit dim!
Seems to be a Conservative problem. London mayor Boris claims to have had 6 Bromptons stolen to date.
.
 

frank9755

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 19, 2007
1,228
2
London
I read that too and was similarly amazed that he'd chained it to a 2 foot bollard. What surprised me was that he'd had the bike for 6 years! If he takes that little care how he secures it, you wouldn't think it would last more than 6 days!
 

lectureral

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 30, 2007
397
60
Suva, Fiji
Yes - and apparently with the aid of a Mr Theophile who runs a "social business" selling electric-powered bikes - not the true identity of our own Flecc is it? :)
 

Wisper Bikes

Trade Member
Apr 11, 2007
6,282
2,252
69
Sevenoaks Kent
Motion Sensor

Hi Mussels

We are currently looking into the possibility of factory fitting a motion sensor alarm and if successful it be installed on the 2009 range.

I had a chat with a lady that owns the flower stall next to Sevenoaks station where there has been a recent spate of cycle thefts. Most of the bikes that were stolen were taken from the railings immediately in front of her shop. As her shop does not have a front and is no more than 10 yards from the railings, she has had a stream of aggrieved cyclists telling her she MUST have seen something. She hadn't. If the bikes had been fitted with an alarm she would certainly have seen what was going on, and the youths involved, I am pretty certain would have "done a runner".

I believe that the use of a physical immobiliser (a chain or similar) is imperative but I also think that added use of an alarm would improve security dramatically.

All the best David
 
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sopht

Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2008
65
0
Hi, I don't have an ebike as yet, but currently keeping my bike safe with three locks: a Trelock frame lock (or horseshoe lock as previously mentioned by oldosc); the cable that fits to that; and a separate kryptonite D lock.

Works well as I don't have to carry the frame lock or remember key and very fast if popping in somewhere. The cable added is good enough for most stops, and I use the D lock as well if I'm leaving it anywhere for any length/somewhere dodgy.

Has so far survived 3 years in London, including 4 attempts at stealing! (had to replace the battered but still locked frame lock once)

What is the going rate for insurance?
 

oriteroom

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 13, 2008
297
110
Beware combination locks and Insurance query

I got a Plastic Lock from Aldi yesterday for £3.99.
1.2m plastic covered 2mm stainless cable, 4 digit resettable combination.
Stores itself neatly under the saddle when looped through the saddle springs and the frame.

Dave
Be very careful using any form of budget locks - especially combination varieties. A simple wallop with a hammer busts them open as I found on a £25 allegedly "quality" one from Halfords on a motorscooter. Insurance companies insist on GOLD standard locks (for which there a no combination varieties even at bronze level) capable of withstanding drilling, bolt croppers and more than 5 minutes determined 'attention' for quality/expensive cycles. Also insurance companies insist that cycles are locked to cemented immovable objects even when at 'home'. My wife and I have just invested in two Kalkoff Pro COnnects and also significant locks. One problem is that these locks etc. are not light!. I doubt the integral wheel lock fitted on the Kalkoff Agattu is anywhere near adequate the the breed of thieves we have in the UK:( . Clearly morality is somewhat different in Germany.

As an aside - Looking at insurance I'd be interested to know anyone's experience re costs of additions to House contents policies versus specific insurance from a specialist company just for the bikes.

Regards.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,196
30,602
I doubt the integral wheel lock fitted on the Kalkoff Agattu is anywhere near adequate the the breed of thieves we have in the UK:( . Clearly morality is somewhat different in Germany.
Wheel locks are popular throughout the low countries and are in fact quite effective in the UK, simply because they are rare here and thieves aren't used to them. They aren't vulnerable to cutting in the way chains or D locks are since there's no access to do that without wrecking the bike at the same time. The best wheel lock is the AXA for which there's a heavy steel armoured cable which can be looped around street furniture or a bike stand and latch into the wheel lock.

The one on the Kalkhoffs needs to be supplemented with a D lock or similar to attach to something static, and with that double locking they should be quite secure.
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oriteroom

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 13, 2008
297
110
. The best wheel lock is the AXA for which there's a heavy steel armoured cable which can be looped around street furniture or a bike stand and latch into the wheel lock.

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Thanks for the comment flecc. Are these easily fitted - as I said we've bought Pro Connects (one diamond frame one step thru') which don't come with wheel lock and our existing lock/chain/cable options are so heavy!
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,196
30,602
Thanks for the comment flecc. Are these easily fitted - as I said we've bought Pro Connects (one diamond frame one step thru') which don't come with wheel lock and our existing lock/chain/cable options are so heavy!
Someone has posted that the plates mount onto the existing brake stubs, but there is a mounting kit with frame loops. I saw about that security vulnerability quite some while ago but carried on using the AXA on a Lafree I had without trouble.

However, as I posted above, it's always best to have a second lock like a D lock to make sure, especially if leaving the bike for a long time. The lock on the Kalkhoff doesn't have that security issue.
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Mussels

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 17, 2008
3,207
8
Crowborough
What is the going rate for insurance?
As an aside - Looking at insurance I'd be interested to know anyone's experience re costs of additions to House contents policies versus specific insurance from a specialist company just for the bikes.
I just got some quotes for a £1200 bike near London:
1st random quote - £150
LCC quote - £120
House insurance - £83