[Thieves prevention] Spray the bike?

[cwah]

Hello there,

I'm thinking about re-painting my bike in order to prevent any thieve to be tempted. I need to park my brompton many times a week outside, for few hours.

I have a Kryptonite lock but I still don't feel completely safe.

I'm thinking about spraying my bike like this:

Paint my bike all white, it's actually quite artistic and nice to see. And it should be a good deterrent for thieve as it won't have any re-sale value.

Good idea?

 

[TobyAnscombe]

Erm, you do know why the bikes are white dont you?

Its to remember a cyclist who has been knocked down and killed...

While it might stop someone taking your bike there is a slight chance that you would be lynched when you unlocked it and rode it away...

Just a though!

 

[flecc]

In the Netherlands it's not unknown for someone buying a new bike to immediately make it filthy and unkempt looking or even hand paint it very badly to make it look a wreck. That's because they too have a theft problem and these are effective ways to make a bike look unattractive for a thief.

 

[cwah]

Maybe not full white then, something like this maybe?

 

[flecc]

Our member Norry (Neil) has the best anti-theft answer cwah, he sometimes commutes on a unicycle.

I bet no-one will try to steal that!

Neil and his Unicycle

 

[cwah]

This unicycle is cool flecc!

Has he tried to put a motor on it? That would be the only bike that's more compact than the brompton

 

[flecc]

He hasn't tried, but I understand it has been done. I think the motor control would be very difficult on a unicycle though, probably best with just a low power motor.

 

[cwah]

There is this one:

[video=youtube;Dev5NYzjRvk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dev5NYzjRvk&feature=player_embedded[/video]

But overpriced at 1795$ and can't peddal. Can't replace a Brompton but good to use when doing groceries at low speed

 

[cwah]

That rusty colour is nice:

It's part of a trend called "rats bike": Blog de RATBIKEFRANCE - Page 5 - MCP3KANAR INFORMAL BLACKBLOC FRANCE. VEHICULES NOMADS SANS GARANTIES DU GOUVERNEMENT. NEWAGE... - Skyrock.com

Anyone knows where I can find a spray for that? I don't intend to let my bike to rust lol

 

[GaRRy]

That rusty colour is nice:
It's part of a trend called "rats bike": Blog de RATBIKEFRANCE - Page 5 - MCP3KANAR INFORMAL BLACKBLOC FRANCE. VEHICULES NOMADS SANS GARANTIES DU GOUVERNEMENT. NEWAGE... - Skyrock.com

Anyone knows where I can find a spray for that? I don't intend to let my bike to rust lol

Rat bikes have been around for at least 30 years. Its also cool these days to have a rat car (rusty panels, loads of vinyl tape etc.)

 

[wurly]

We have Rat Rods, Rat VW's, Rat bikes, Now Rat Ebikes lol. Can't see it catching on tbh

If you want your bike to look like that, eg Austin Allegro 5hit Brown (you are probably too young to know what they were)

You need to spray some red oxide primer and then some patchy flat black, that will give the desired 'effect'.
Or ride around some farmyards in Somerset and never clean the bike again.

 

[mike killay]

Just out of interest, I heard that in the USA, holes etc in cars are patched with Duct tape.
They call it 'Alabama Chrome.'

 

[GaRRy]

Just out of interest, I heard that in the USA, holes etc in cars are patched with Duct tape.
They call it 'Alabama Chrome.'

Don't mention Duct tape

 

[johnc461165]

Rat bikes have been around for at least 30 years. Its also cool these days to have a rat car (rusty panels, loads of vinyl tape etc.)

Hey, that's my normal transport you are talking about, no tape though, hope it still qualifies.
All my friends ???? say my bike is worth 5 times more than my car !!!!!!!!!!

 

[cwah]

haha, thanks guys, you convinced me! Red oxide primer for a rat bike!! That's nice!

No one will suspect that's a thousand pounds e-brompton

People think I'm crazy to cycle rather than take the tube, but actually I'm faster than them with my bike. Plus it's free


So red oxide primer seems good for me, and it has excellent anti-corrosion property
1x 500 ML Simoniz Acrylic Spray Paint Red Oxide Primer | eBay

I found this flat black spray:
400ml FLORIST & CRAFT OASIS SPRAY PAINT *FLAT BLACK* | eBay

How does that work with the red oxide primer to have the rusty effect?

 

[wurly]

That red oxide will be ok. You only need to spray a very light coating of black. It called a guide coat or a 'dust coat', (look for a smaller/cheaper can). It will darken the primer. With time, the muck/grime and the weather will discolour the 'new' paint so the bike looks old. Hot rodders call it 'patina' (actually fake patina).
If you do it nice the bike will look 'well kool', but then, thieves might want to nick it again.
Are you sure you want to do this?
Oh yes, mask off the tyres at least, because paint on tyres looks crap.

 

[cwah]

Not completely sure but seriously considering. I spent a lot of time on the bike, and the last thing I want to happen is to have it stolen.

So I use this spray?
AEROSOLS Spy Spray Guide Coat 400ml/Corcos | eBay

And I'll have a nice rusty style but waterproof bike?

 

[Mussels]

I'm not sure it's worth the effort in London, anything not locked properly will get stolen no matter what condition it's in.

 

[flecc]

I agree, and a Brompton will always be a prime target for theft.

 

[cwah]

I know, but the bike as I have it now is really grabbing a lot of attention on the street. It's an electric brompton with plenty of lights on it. People are fascinated!

Wanna un-fascinate them lol