Makes me think of a joke: A guy parks his bike a put a note on it: _"don't steal my bike, Mike Tyson"_ When he gets back, his bike is gone and there is a note: _"I don't care, Lance Armstrong"_
funny you would say this. Because I came to this video looking for a way to better secure my eBike when I'm parking it in front of my BJJ school during class lol.
people be laughing. shits a great idea yo. seriously. i prefer a doberman for a quick throat grab takedown. rottweilers are fat and slow and are prone to hypothyroidism. in any case, send in the hounds!
Unfortunately bike theft is a scourge here in Dublin (Ireland) too. I'm lucky, I'm a soldier so I have secure bike parking in work, but I won't leave my motorbike or bicycles anywhere in the city with any confidence. Love your video's
And you shouldnt have that fear either. Its frustrating and sad. Its suck an easy crime to fix. I dont think the justice system is working anymore. Too lenient judges and sentences.... it will fall back on the citizens...we know who is stealing the stuff 99% of the time.
@@who346 Dude, the problem isn't "lenient judges" it's the material conditions making it necessary for desperate people to steal bikes. Remember, most criminals commit crimes of desperation, not malice. Don't get angry at judges for forgiving criminals, get mad at politicians for not doing more to stop the cause in the first place.
I’m from Belfast but living in the North of England at the moment and I live right in the middle of the city centre, someone left a bike outside of my flat and when I was leaving for work in the morning a few days ago, I swear I saw someone with some bolt cutters interacting with it, I get back later and it’s completely gutted, wheels stolen and everything. I’m glad that most times I’m cycling it’s just to work and I’m able to store it in our warehouse.
If you put the lock anywhere in the Triangle your frame and tire will be protected I recommend a U, cable and a chain combo. Not only will it be protected but the looks of having multiple locks will deter most thieves especially if you're in an area that's open and that has high foot traffic. I do agree with taking the batteries with you if you're going to be gone all day.
I got a motion sensor horn alarm which can be armed just like a car alarm. At least if I lock it in a crowded area and someone attempts to move my bike, the alarm will sound. They also make cheap disc brake alarms with motion censors as well. Motion sensor alarm is good for ebikes since sometimes people just end up trying to mess with your controller or screen, etc.
Great video. As someone who has e-bikes in Brooklyn, the winning formula of security+convenience is: Good U-Lock + good folding lock+motion-sensing alarm. My current setup doubles up on the alarm Abus 770A SmartX U-lock with Alarm (rear wheel+frame+rakc) + Abus Bordo Alarm Folding lock (front wheel and frame+rack) Previously, I had a non-alarm Abus U-lock with the alarm bodo, and that worked too. So far, nobody has so much as even tampered with my bike or its components so far. That can of course change, but so far, here's why I prefer it to other combos: -The alarm(s), in combination with heavy-duty locks, is a good deterrent. It won't stop a dedicated thief from going for your bike in isolation, but it will make it not worth it for opportunistic thieves to try to steal things like pedals, lights, accessories. They are very sensitive, so any slight motion will trigger a warning beep, and and few seconds of motion will cause it to go off. -The Alarm Folding lock combination with the U-Lock is super versatile. One hidden benefit is that if you remove your seatpost, you can slide the folding lock through your bike saddle's rails or cutout to secure your saddle and seatpost. The combo allows me to secure the rear wheel, front wheel, frame (twice on most racks), and saddle. Everything else gets deterred by the alarm. -I originally tried two U-locks, but it can be difficult to get the front wheel and frame with a single lock on my bike, let alone the rack or the seat/seatpost as well -A chain + alarm U-lock might be better, but that's significantly heavier for (imo) not that much more security(if a thief is willing to work through a loud alarm, a few extra seconds with a chain lock won't help that much. It also doesn't allow you to secure your saddle and seatpost. -It means I don't have to use pins, which adds a bit of convenience for repairs and adjusting saddle height.
Doesn't the alarm call your cellphone? I used to have a car alarm that would set off the remote alarm that I carried with me. Before the cellphone era.
@@algrayson8965 Watched a video of someone in New York on a busy sidewalk grinding through a lock on a bike locked to a pole and everybody is walking by as if nothing is happening and the guy walked away with the bike. Replacement insurance on a $10000.00 bike is about $500.00 a year and UP depending on where you live. New York maybe $1000.00 a year.
@@briananderson6142 seen videos like that in many cities in the UK. People dont intervene because they know the thief's mate stood next to him will be carrying a knife.
@@Debbiebabe69 $10,000.00 E-bike in Canada cost $500.00 a year to insure as a rider on your home policy. There is no lock that can be the ultimate with the new battery power grinders that can cut through ANY lock in seconds. The batteries need to be GPS trackable just like your laptop.
@@Debbiebabe69 I assume people don't intervene because if, say, they call the Police, or intervene in any other way, they will then have to act as witness when Police makes a crime report, which wastes their time without getting them anything in return. Aka. what's the benefit of intervening if it only costs you to do so. Intervening is irrational if you're just a random bystander.
I live in Toronto and have an expensive road bike (Pinarello for 20 yrs) and never turn my back on it and bring it into my home when not in use. Bike theft here for decades has been so bad that it is nearly impossible to park a bike outdoors. Here, the standard method of theft is angle grinders. I fail to see here or anywhere, a functionable anti-grinder lock. Also, it seems pretty crazy to buy a $3-6,000 bike that is lightweight and then carry around a lock which weighs a quarter of the total weight of the bike.
Some basics to keep in mind: Cafe locks make sure the valve of the tire is right next to it, this means it would break in common means to force those locks open. Make sure no matter what lock you use make sure it is away from the ground this makes using bolt cutters harder. Anything 10mm and below chain wise is not bolt cutter proof, those 6mm insert chains into the cafe lock are easily snapped, but still combine it with a good U lock layers of security matters. With that you have a cafe lock that is broken would lead to a flat tire, a small chain that could be a hindrance to some one without bolt cutters and a U lock that would require an angle grinder. Of course there are other means to open these like picking I am sure we all love our lawyer friend, but picking is not a common attack and anything that is decent will do. The spreader and nut cracker to be used against U locks and folding locks respectfully again are not to common. Most theft is rather low skill, however if you have a really nice branded E-bike they do enter a territory of targetted theft like motorbikes and cars do. This means they are stolen on order and at this point very little is going to stop that from happening, so yeah insure your bike, cause end of the day if some wants your bike, they will take it.
I have watched several videos testing bike locks. No one has actually done the tests under ALL of the following conditions. 1. Use portable grinder popular with thieves. 2. Include in the tests the time to change out blades and batteries on the portable grinders. In real life that time would add to cutting the locks. 3. Locking the bike locks in a more realistic scenario wrapping the rear wheel, frame and bike rack. 4. Additional second or third lock wrapping around front wheel, frame and bike rack. 5. Steps to take if you encounter thief while in progress.
Perhaps two different types of locks (both angle grinder resistant) used concurrently would provide the best protection. A motion alarm to initially attract attention to the thief might help as well. Sucks to have to carry the extra weight and go to all that extra trouble and expense, but it's risky enough as it is to leave one of these bikes unattended for more than a few minutes. Def take the battery/seat with you when making that delivery or grabbing your latte.
@@jatteam8615that won't help a whole lot, it's not going to prevent a theft, and police will have a hard time acting upon any information gathered from it, due to a lack of precision and reliability.
I ride a motorcycle and live in a fairly high risk area. First off, I purposely ride a bike that isn't that desirable to begin with.. a rebel250. I use two heavy kryptonite u locks and installed an alarm on the bike. It makes a lot of noise if bumped. I've had three bikes stolen in the past but so far, so good with this one.
Good vlog. I am from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. We have a lot of secured places were you can park your bike in central town. For free. So that is step one, put your bike in the safes place possible. Lock the bike to the earth I always say, so they can not simply walk away with it. Always take your Intuvia control off, always! If you travel with two people you also can lock the bike together. Abus makes good locks. Now there are so much e-bikes in my country, that steeling batteries is getting bigger. I own a seven years old Sparta e-bike with the battery in the luggage rack. With the same lock as the lock you showed us. But I do not trust that so much, with a big screwdriver you can break it out. So I made a little whole in the part where you carry the battery in our hand. Put a little small lock trew it. Only have to do that one time, when I put a full battery on and open it when I want to reload and take it off. Off course there is no way to protect your bike 100 %, but take a little care where you park your bike and how you do that.
This is solid advice, however thieves in Germany are hella motivated to steal bikes. Basically, they are getting advanced and if they can't cut through your lock, they cut whatever your bike is attached to and make off with it. Depending on the city you're in, your bike can get stolen even in broad daylight from crowded places. A colleague lost a beautiful, expensive e-mtb like that :( Insurance is the way to go if someone wants to be covered 100% :)
Lots of good ebike security here Chris, thanks. It is sad that we have to do all of this, but that's the way it is in many areas. At the end of this video, you mentioned a bike cover. On one of my large motorcycles, there is and I have, a partial cover that I put on my motorcycle when I park it in some places. This cover, hopefully, will prevent an adult from putting their small children on my motorcycle! So maybe a cover of some sort, would help here too. I have a folding ebike; wonder if there is an additional problem with securing it; maybe something else I could be doingin addition to what has been presented here? Keep the good info coming, Chris!
Good tips. When locking downtown Detroit, I use two heavier duty Abus locks that use different keys - or 1 that is combination lock and 1 that is a key. One will secure frame and rear wheel and the other will secure frame. I try to make sure both are off the ground so as to not provide a leverage point. Then I cable the front wheel and seatpost to one of the Abus locks. I need to explore the locking thru-axles as well as Hexlock or similar for my stem and controller mounts.
I have a ringlock on the back and use a chainlock through my frontwheel, frame and a bikerack. I wrap the chain around the seatpost so it doesnt rattle. All in all takes about 30 seconds to park. Very informative vid! :)
Could we see some actual grinder tests on protection products? Duration resistance time. How fast will a grinder cut these products or not at all? I've heard hardened steel one need a torch. I'd be interested to see how fast grinders eat into all the products you have demonstrated here thank you.
Thanks to modern tech there's nothing - nothing - a modern grinder can't cut in a couple of minutes - max. Sad but true. Better try combinations with passive e-protection, however thieves have already found a way around this as they will put the stolen bikes in a "cooling box" - think an off-path shed or backyard - for a couple of days to see if anyone "pops up" to retrieve their stolen bikes. If you are lucky and quick you may be able to find and collect the bike yourself. In Denmark a pro thief showed off his skills on TV one day. If the lock is too difficult to cut at once (due to placement) they just cut up whatever its locked to instead!
@@meibing4912 Not true, the Altor SAF ulock is so thick and hardened, it takes over 30 minutes and multiple grinder plates to cut. It's as fullproof a lock as one can get these days. Bug it's MASSIVE and costs $300.
Good vid. Never heard of hex locks before, but sounds secure. I use a steel pvc pipe clamp for my quick -release front wheel; fastens down the clamp to the fork. Abus U-locks are excellent in Dallas, and helped me keep my Diamond Back MTB for 6 years. So far so good.
I like the lock with built in alarm. I have an alarm tied on the bike, works the same. Bike moves the alarm goes off like a car alarm. Always always use a Ulock combined with a steel cable or chain around the tires, quick release tires are a dumb idea on a commuter bike imo. Best part of ebikes is lock weight is not much an issue unless its on your back.
I retrofitted my R&M Supercharger with a Abus 5750L frame lock and a chain that fits in this lock. All mounted on the special mounting bracket from R&M for this specific bike. This way I have the same key for all of my bike; for the batteries, for the existing Bordo 6000 folding lock and the new 5750L. It feels super luxurious to have the same key for everything.
This is a great way to go! We generally recommend people do something similar on their bike. It’s a simple setup that offers pretty good security. Happy riding!
Totally agree that if one buys a very expensive R&M Supercharger GX etc, you shouldn't skimp on a cheap lock, i have pitlocked all the wheels and post on my own bike, and do have some slight reservations with my come with the bike Abus Bordo lock which is medium risk , so like i use it for out and about town use, but when touring abroad i use a Litelok gold standard Boaflexicor strap
LockPickingLawyer and Bosnian Bill have some great videos where they review the security of bike locks. Many of the Abus models are highly reviewed by them.
Most people doesn't have the skills like The lock picking lawyer and the one's who do are usually not bike thief's and that's Good but yes no Lock's are secure, you should use a combination of locks etc and not be away that many minutes.take your Bike inside and lock it next to your bed (Yes i actually do that)
@@chewsir this is not just a bike, but a bike which costs over $8000, which makes it more tempting than a usual bike, and LPL also does bike chains and locks angle grinding.
Great concept, great video, great details. I use a link lock, U-lock, cafe lock and cable. Don't live in a really high crime area. The biggest issue for me is that when I ride with my friends who own acoustic bikes, they do not lock at all. So when we stop for coffee, they have usually ordered and finished by the time I get my bike secured! 😀
@@whazzat8015 when you get a U-lock that is at least 18mm thick like the Kryptonite fahgettaboudit mini, this lock cannot be removed with a bolt cutter, but the other most important thing is an alarm that can TEXT you when the bike is disturbed so that you can get to it before anything can happen, time is the most critical factor!
@@richardlistwon4758 I'm interested as well. I've got a normal alarm that's saved it at least once and always use two heavy U locks. Denver has been getting BAD recently tho.
this is very helpful, but I am still not parking a $5000 bike on the street. even if they can't steal it, there are chances they'll do some damage to it.
Steal parts off of it. Or vandalize it out of frustration. Put gentian violet inside your tubes so that if some vandal slashes your tire or twists a valve stem off, it will blow the gentian violet on them. A bike cover made of bulletproof vest Kevlar cloth.
Yes, also possible. 2 big hits and it will cost you a lot of money. A 5000 dollar bike, park it in a secure place. Not for 10 minutes, but longer, not go with a expensive bicycle.
One of the nice things about having an ebike is that while the extra expense makes you more wary of it being stolen, the fact it’s an ebike means you don’t have to worry about the extra weight of heavy duty chains as much. My biggest issue is probably going to be where to put for convenient access where it won’t rattle as much. XD Last time I tossed the chain on top of a jumper in the top of a back pannier which fixed the rattle problem, not sure if that’s a workable long term solution but maybe, since I’ll be taking off and unrolling the pannier top when I stop anyway. I got a front basket and back panniers because I liked the look of the baskets even if panniers were more practical for me so I bought one of the original three baskets, but in retrospect I’m thinking a small front bag for convenient chain storage, since I have a step through bike so attaching anything to the frame in the middle is limited. Also got to figure out the water bottle holder at some point but currently my commute is short enough to not need quick access to one and I’m currently trying to get myself comfortable with water bladders in general so I’m using that instead, as I’ve never been able to put my faith in them on bushwalks ever since I saw my Dad’s leak, so riding in town is a good way to practice confidence and get familiar with my own water bladder backpack, since in town I don’t have to worry so much about potentially getting stuck in the middle of no-where in the stinking hot heat with no water in sight if something goes wrong like I would on a bushwalk. (I think I saw his water bladder leaking at home and he fixed it so he was fine but I’ve never trusted water bladders since.)
I travel with a U lock and sometimes a heavy chain (both the yellow New York kryptonite locks) when I know I’m going to be locking for a long time. I’d like to point out the fact that during a single trip you might have segments where you do a quick lock job, and other segments of the same trip where you do a more detailed lock job with two or more locks. You do need to consider the fact that in those quick lock situations, one or more of your other locks that you have with you could get stolen, so you want to guard against that by securing the other locks to the bike somehow when transporting them. Lots of little aspects to think about when carrying multiple locks.
It’s interesting because a chain might be a more attractive thing for someone to steal than a U Lock, since the chain could be repurposed with a new shackle but the u lock is pretty much useless to steal without the key.
Great video on bike security, You covered all the basics like everyone, and then you added a dozen other little details like battery, handlebar, fork, hex locks, quick release wheels, etc. Myself I am most interested in battery security, as many of the really good batteries (52 volt, 21 amp hour or higher) for sale in CA and NY have zero security. They just sit in a triangle frame bag or held on the downtube with magnets, and can cost almost $1000. Easy targets for thieves. So perhaps an idea in the future is to make a video on ways to secure those types of batteries on DIY builds and conversions.
even worse, batteries are the easiest bits to resell, just open them up with a hack saw and remove the cells, when people buy cells off ebay there is no way of knowing where they came from - there are plenty of legit people who buy masses of scrap electronics for the batteries (when I say masses im not exaggerating... there is one vid out there of a guy who buys THREE PALLETS of scrap laptop computers just to salvage the cells!)
Great review. It is really disappoint to have people stealing bikes, posts, accessory, wheels etc. Lots of solutions shown there and I guess there are other ways for protecting high investment products like e-bikes - this could include dealing with thieves in a more appropriate way e.g. harsher sentencing, fines, paying people back etc.
Totally agree, Harsher sentencing, fines, and citizens reproach*either physically or civilly.....if they are missing a arm, it would cleary send a MESSAGE...dont do that crap.
I know someone whose seat post was stolen. I never realized even the seat post could be targeted by thieves, but apparently a lot of bikes have seats you can easily pull up and remove. I looked mine up and it's the same. So I'm like, great. Supervised bike valets or bust for me.
I really appreciate your information.I am purchasing a 2500 Ebike expensive for me. I planned on getting a lock, but didn't know anything about the best types. At home I have a garage, but I wanted to go to the markets.
i like to stick old inner tube over the ulock.. it provides a little scratch and dent cutioning and also hides what is underneetch. I would also cover up any displays of company names of locks by some black tape.. Or even could create confusing by putting a different lock name or logo on the lock than what it is.. but i prefer to just camaflauge the bicke as much as possible.. there are some good techniques on doing that in a book on urban cycling.. it is called urban camaflauge.. using the dark greys adn black.. non shiny surface.. could even use dark olive green colors.. cover the bike. cover the shiny parts with non shiny tape etc etc etc. and for the seat post you can use a cable trhouth seat that winds down to the frame with a lock.. and also can put a discrete non shiny seat cover over seat and wrap duct tape around the hex lock or quick release. It may liook kind of crummy.. but will reduce the threate of attention from thieves.
I got a Brompton folding ebike specifically so I could take it with me instead of having to lock it up somewhere. It’s a little heavy to lug around but it’s doable.
I'm not sure this would work quite as well, the chainsaw has joints rotating parts that make contact with the fibers that can actually jam. Whereas a grinder is just a spinning wheel that only makes contact on the outside where no vital components are that would stop the grinder from functioning. Seems the investment in adding this protection to a lock wouldn't even be worth the added security nor would it be very helpful. Mind you this is just my speculation.
Great video Chris. Very informative and glad you covered so many options. I would suggest try to think like a thief whose focus will be crime of opportunity. Of course, if a thief wants your bike then an axle grinder will get the job done quickly but the options and locks you featured will make your bike less appealing. Especially if you can lock your bike in a more secure area while at work, i.e. parking garage, and indoors at night. 😁
I was attacked twice by thieves. 2 men on motorcycle came at me, pulled me off my ebike. I didn't have time to pull out any tools or activate alarm or lock. Best device I found was pick, when I'm away from bike it auto locks without need to press a button so if I'm thrown off bike, thief is cycling he's fall right off. The lock can easily be cut, it's a surprise defence mechanism
problem is, thieves arnt after the frame. Your frame will probably end up in a river or drain. Its the forks, derailleurs, cranks, wheels, suspension, and for ebikes - electronics and batteries, that the thief wants. Indeed thieves have been known to beat 'angle grinder proof' locks by angle grinding a gap into the frame and feeding the lock(s) through the gap.....
Very well said, Roey! The only reason I still have all my bicycles through the years is that I've never left them outside! And, when visiting friends, I insist on bringing them either to the apartment or to a secure, out of sight spot, in their inner yard.
I was watching someone do a bike lock test and among them was a folding lock, part of why he liked it is because it was a pain to cut because it kept moving and he couldn't hold it steady.
I use a Ulock, since my front tire is quick release I wrap a steel cable around it and through the ulock. If Im in my city downtown core I'll also use a steel chain. I also have a alarm set off by vibration to attract attention. Even somebody minding their business locking their own bike to the same rack will set it off, its quite sensitive.
Very informative & helpful points on bike security. I’ve often thought of getting a tiny go’s tracking device that utilizes a SIM card. You brought up a good point about the fact that police might not be able to help you even if you’re standing in front of someone’s closed garage and saying “my GPS security device shows that my bike is in there.” Never thought the police wouldn’t be able to help. Also almost for laughs I’ve been hiding a “Tile” on board my e-bike. Of course one depends on other persons utilizing tiles to passively report the location. But now with Apple’s version I would think since many many millions of persons everywhere use IPhone that their new “airbags” might be quite a bit more effective. Just a thought.
Unfortunately, because of Apple’s anti-stalking design, a tile is actually less likely to be detected by the crook. I understand why they did it, but it makes it so much less useful as a theft recovery tool.
@@amigajoe There's already a huge black market for AirTags that have been modified to make no sound, but that won't matter if the thief carries an iPhone and gets notified that there's an AirTag following them.
@@amigajoe Also, Tiles (and other Bluetooth-based tracking devices) can now tap into Apple's Find My network, granting them the same locational accuracy as AirTags.
Try Altar SAF U-locks! I use em all the time for my Yamaha urban rush pedal assist E-bike and it works! They have attempted on cutting one but unfortunately for them. They couldn't cut the damn thing all the way and i have two of em to protect my investment Lol! This U-lock is an angle grinder resistant type U-lock just in case you're wondering..
@@Propelbikes My urban rush isn't even that thick to fit two of em. And besides, I think they're not meant to be bringing back home because of their sheer weight. I leave two of mines in my locker at work. There's no way am bringing two at home with that much bulk and weight in em lol
easy to beat, just angle grind away the section of frame that is welded to the post. Thieves dont care about the frame, it just gets thrown in a ditch. Its the hardware, and for ebikes the electronics and batteries, that the thief wants.
In areas where bikes are most commonly tied up at, there is usually a look out close by looking for anything worth stealing. They will check the bike out, then take a picture and then give their buddies a call, explaining what bike locks they are using.. This all happens with in a span of a few mins, and I have seen cases and witnessed it myself where they will even cut what ever your bike is locked to, having a car or a van near by they will carry the bike fast to their vehicle and your with out a bike... This can happen with in the time your walking into a coffee shop or a corner store..
Always used motorcycle locks on any motorbikes and bicycles I've owned. A nice solid D-lock usually is good in ok areas of the UK, but when living in London, have always used a really good chain and a D-lock even on a heavy motorbike especially when visiting shady areas of the uk. For bike jackers, they have had a different experience but I won't go into them details ;)
Get a MOTION ALARM!!! small motion sensor alarms are cheap and easy to use. I got one for 18$US off everyone's favorite etailer, it is about 3 inches by 1.5inches, you can zip tie it on the frame, has a keyfob remote, arm it whenever the bike is parked and any jiggle of the bike will set off the alarm, it has prevented one theft for me so far. Uses 2 AA batteries, lasts for a few months.
i use an alarm and a kryptonite lock, but at the end of the day nothing beats an angle grinder. A more expensive one might take longer but it’ll be cut down. I just try to lock as close to the door and if possible I have to be able to see the bike through the door.
Attach your wheels to your frame and your frame an immovable object. that way the wheels can't be detached from the frame and if the frame lock is broken then the thief can't ride the bike because the wheels are locked to the frame.
Just get a small folding bike and take it wherever you need to go. If not, make sure you can watch it from a window. Having bike security will alert you if someone is tampering with your bike.
To slow down a thief trying to take my seat and post, I ran a 6-32 Socket Head Cap Screw through the frame and into the post. Clearance hole in the frame and tapped into the post. The screw head is black to match the frame. It is easy for me to unscrew because I know where it is.
THIS is one reason a Ebikes weight is my primary concern. If I can take my ride with why carry a large often heavy lock with me? Again security being a concern as well as climbing a long flight of stairs weight comes into play when storing my EBike over night. I do get a parking space in my apartments small parking lot but there’s no provision to secure a bike in that parking lot. When I’m going say grocery shopping if I can fold up an Ebike and put it into a shopping cart again weight being a key factor as well as size. So again it’s all about the weight. Suppose it doesn’t help that I’m 60 either:) Not as strong as I once was. Speed is actually last on my list as if I’m going faster than walking I figure I’m ahead of the game. Hill climbing ability is likely next on my list after that range. 16 miles round trip would be cool as in the next town over are some relatives I’d like to occasionally visit. The rest of my imagined trips are all local and only a few miles max.
My advice is get a long chain and thread it through one of the tires and frame. I know a guy who would just lock his frame with a Ulock and a thief used an angle grinder to cut through the guard rail pole he locked it too. At least with a chain lock, it will be flopping around and its harder to cut with an angle grinder. Also threading it through a wheel means they can't just cut though what ever you're locked too.
I take my bike in every were ! My e bike costs $7000 plus ! Drs office work shopping comes with me ! No locks are rated to be not cut ! They only take more or less time to cut off ! All locks are breakable ! And they can use a cordless grinder 30 seconds ! If they dont steel they break out of jealousy ! HUMANITY AT ITS BEST ! NO LOCKS ARE SAFE !
Eh, that's what insurance is for... I use Kryptonite's bulkiest chain and bulkiest U-lock and I bring it into my apartment at night so I feel your paranoia, but $150/year is definitely worth the peace of mind to leave it outside at a doctor's appointment to me.
I really like to lock the wheel in the frame together that's why you lots of best for me, it would be the same if I had a electric bike because of it being rear wheel drive. Now when you get into the fat bikes you have to use a chain or a folding lock because the wheel is so thick. Maybe with the plus size like 29 inch tires.
When I bought my GSD from REI, I really wanted to get an ABUS chain that was keyed to my battery. After the local REI staff spent a lot of time on the phone with ABUS, I was told that if I wanted an ABUS chain keyed to the bike, I would need to buy new lock cores for my battery mounts. I decided to go to a locksmith and buy the heavy duty-est padlock that could be keyed to my house key and paired it with a big ass motorcycle chain. I also took the cafe lock off. It is key retaining, and that's just a pain in the ass. My intention has been to get a set of hexlocks and a replacement skewer for the front wheel. Are you selling hexlocks through your website?
Hey! your friendly neighbor hood bike thief here. Just wanted to thank you for giving me a heads up on the newest up and coming locking mechanisms so I can really progress my career to the next level. jk
A "U-lock" is fairly easy to cut trough. Abus is not a bad drand, but even the motorcycle one will only last 30 seconds against the right battery powered power-tool. You mentioned angle grinders... Chainlocks with welded connections are the right way to go, the thicker the better (motorcycle "style"). They keep moving if someone tries to use a power-tool. I've never had trouble parking my multi-thousand Euro scooters in a beggar and drug-user infested enviroment with one of these locks trough the rear wheel and one trough the front wheel - while at least one of the chains being aroud a lamp post. Two of these locks cost around half a years insurance. I've never paid insurance (beyond legally required insurance).
If you have the cafe lock in place, and intend to use a chain, just pass the chain into the center of the frame and out into the front wheel, securing it all. That chain that plugs into the cafe lock really do not help in this regard. Great video.
any lock can be cut off within seconds with a portable grinder. but i've got a fool proof lock that is guaranteed to never let your bike get stolen. it involves welding a claymore to a ULock that has a a silent alarm and a GPS with cellular capability for easy use. just make sure you're not in a 10 block radius.
Chris, have you considered about someone using 5 LOCKS or even 10 LOCKS? It might sound ridiculous. But if you use enough locks all over the bike, a thief might just move on to another bike that isn't locked up so much. What do you think?
Although the goal is to be more trouble to steal than it's worth, ten locks might be overkill. Plus, are you really going to use ten locks consistently? The best locking strategy is the one that you'll actually use.
HarryLovesRuth - well, only if it actually works, too! I think I could carry and use at least FIVE if I thought they would really work! I’ve had 2 bikes stolen over the years.
even 10 locks is not enough to defeat the thieves latest tactics, that dosnt even require an angle grinder - they just wait till the owner comes and unlocks the bike, then ride up to them on a moped and steal the bike at knife point.
Hexlox is a very expensive solution to a simple problem. Most been bolts can be replaced with security hex types pretty easy, including QR skewers. Hot glue in a bolt head is easier still, but relies entirely on the thief not having seen that before. Pinhead and similar are the nuclear option, same price as hexlox but harder to defeat. Just make sure you can adequately torque everything, especially wheels with disc brakes!
You're watching this because you want an electric bike but are scared to get one because you think it will get stolen so you searched this up seeking comfort from other riders that securely lock up their bikes.
Eh, depends on where you are. In Switzerland, with just a framelock you're fine, even with an expensive ebike. But, thing is; a framelock, given the pick resistance is high enough, in combination with a chain, should be more than enough for any insurance claim. It's screwed to your frame, locked in a position where you can't pull it out in any way without cutting it at least in 2 places. Combined with the chain, fixing it to something, anyone that breaks that would also be able to break any other lock.
I do U-lock/cable and Chain lock with the Kryptonite New U Extended U-lock and the Evo 4 for my E-Fatbike. It would take some time for a thief to get through a 16 and 10mm lock infact if they managed to get through that much security they deserve the bike because I obviously parked in a dumb area like an alley way.
A strong set of detachable pedals goes a long way to being a theft deterrent. They can still ride, but its extremely difficult. No, it doesn't prevent a theft, but it causes many of the simpler minded thieves to move onto the next bike. I have detachable pedals, plus a U Lock and chain lock (I had those for a long time). I just put a dutch lock on the front, which locks the front wheel only. That one is not so much about when I park and lock the bike. That's when I ride the bus. Being in Los Angeles. our buses have bike racks. On a busy commute day, a swift thief loves to walk off the bus and snatch the bike from the rack before you can stop them. The drivers can't always remember which bike belongs to whom. So by the time the driver realizes it, the bike is already gone and the thief is riding off. I've seen it happen to other riders, especially old people who ask for help putting their bike on and off the rack. The Dutch prevents them from riding off with my bike, yet I can still load and offload the bike while its locked, without wasting the bus driver's time.
While law enforcement don’t like to follow one’s personal GPS tracker, once apon a time they were equipped and were willing to follow LoJack. There are so many garbage gps trackers pushed on social media it would be nice to see another reliable option pan out. Agree 100% with the insurance. Many bikes could be covered by your homeowners or rental insurance (well, at least once). Be sure to register your high-priced e-bike to your insurance agent!
Nice video on all the different types locks available, however they are all defeatable with the angle grinders and tools that thieves now carry with them. They are not afraid to do it in front of dozens of pedestrians walking by in broad daylight, they have no shame.
Best solution is to get a mountaineering style back pack the bike can clip onto so you can carry it around with you once you have arrived at your destination.
Abus measures in centimeters because they are europeean..... yeah well. The US is the only country in the world exept from Liberia using the old British imperial system. There are quite a amount of hilarious videos on TH-cam about that. I love this channel and would be super happy if u could include metric measures for all the viewers outside the US. Keep on the good work. 👍
There's a company in NYC (I believe it's based in Brooklyn) that has these bike "garages"... I believe I learned about it from one of your videos. I even contacted the company through their website asking if they had any plans to expand to Boston. I can't for the life of me remember who that company is or what their website address is. Could you refresh my memory? Thanks!
I think more U-locks and chains should come with an integrated alarm. A cheap alarm costs say $15. A $115 U-lock with an integrated alarm would be better than a separate $100 U-lock and $15 alarm, because if they're separate, the thief has options - they can first cut the U-lock, then throw away the alarm as they're already getting away with the bike. Or they can first get rid of the alarm, before it even goes full blast. Or they can even try cutting the U-lock/chain without moving the bike, so as not to set off the alarm (after all, the alarm may not be set to the highest sensitivity, as that would result in many false positives). Although now that I think about it, buying a few extra alarms and attaching one to each U-lock/chain would not be super expensive, wouldn't add all that much extra weight, and with 3+ alarms going on at the same time, the thief would have to spend a lot of extra time before they could make a 'quiet' escape. (my assumption is, thieves may not mind making a lot of noise while cutting the locks, as random people won't react to the theft anyway, and the only purpose of the alarm at that point is to alert the bike owner. However, thieves will want their escape with the bike to be quiet, because a loud escape would make it easier to follow them)
As for securing the seat, my strategy - when going somewhere where you have to lock the bike outside, just use a cheap seat not worth stealing. Only use the nice, expensive, comfy seat when you can lock the bike indoors at the end of the ride 😆
The best bicycle lock I think is the Japanese elevator underground bicycle parking system, but it has a high initial cost. A couple keys to solving the bicycle lock/theft problem 1. You want to cover the bike. For ex. a Box - so the thief won't able to tell what type of bike is inside the box and the thieves will move on to other easier target 2. provide multiple levels of protection, the box has a keyhole-less\phone app\bluetooth\NFC\...type of lock and then plus the owner U-lock 3. alarm systems. It's best to provide by the municipals/city
I sometimes rent road bikes in Cape Town, they always tell me “you dont need a bike lock here, you just need to take the bike with you everywhere you go”
Replacement insurance in 2019 on my R&M Delite Mountain $9,500.00 will cost you about $500.00. My cheaper Cube Nutrail Hybrid E-bike $5600.00 cost me $250.00 a year through belairdirect Canada This is full payout insurance so you can buy a new one.
Every bike shop should also offer free registration of the frame serial # with the national online bike registries, so if a stolen bike is ever recovered or suspected, its frame # can be looked up. I dont know why bike stores dont do this. I have bought many bikes and none of them do this, and looked confused when I asked them about it. Yet most of their customers are going to get their bikes stolen at some point.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
martial arts
Lol! Love this!
Does bikeregistry^com help reduce theft or at least increase recovery by deterring police from auction profiteering?
a hidden gps in the frame, and a gang of buddies to hunt down the thieves.
Makes me think of a joke:
A guy parks his bike a put a note on it: _"don't steal my bike, Mike Tyson"_
When he gets back, his bike is gone and there is a note: _"I don't care, Lance Armstrong"_
funny you would say this. Because I came to this video looking for a way to better secure my eBike when I'm parking it in front of my BJJ school during class lol.
Use a chain. Attach one end to the bike, and the other to a Rottweiler.
Easiest way to any mean dogs heart is their appetite. Imagine some good meat will win them over.
@@pugmalley 😂
😂
Modern thieves carry spray to deal with dogs. You need to be thinking tiger.
people be laughing. shits a great idea yo. seriously. i prefer a doberman for a quick throat grab takedown. rottweilers are fat and slow and are prone to hypothyroidism. in any case, send in the hounds!
Unfortunately bike theft is a scourge here in Dublin (Ireland) too. I'm lucky, I'm a soldier so I have secure bike parking in work, but I won't leave my motorbike or bicycles anywhere in the city with any confidence. Love your video's
Yupa also a cyclist in dublin
@@chrisprice5895 yes, lot of them
And you shouldnt have that fear either. Its frustrating and sad. Its suck an easy crime to fix. I dont think the justice system is working anymore. Too lenient judges and sentences....
it will fall back on the citizens...we know who is stealing the stuff 99% of the time.
@@who346 Dude, the problem isn't "lenient judges" it's the material conditions making it necessary for desperate people to steal bikes. Remember, most criminals commit crimes of desperation, not malice. Don't get angry at judges for forgiving criminals, get mad at politicians for not doing more to stop the cause in the first place.
I’m from Belfast but living in the North of England at the moment and I live right in the middle of the city centre, someone left a bike outside of my flat and when I was leaving for work in the morning a few days ago, I swear I saw someone with some bolt cutters interacting with it, I get back later and it’s completely gutted, wheels stolen and everything. I’m glad that most times I’m cycling it’s just to work and I’m able to store it in our warehouse.
Chain. Wheel and frame to a solid and unmovable object. That first shot of just locking the frame, gave me the creepers.
If you put the lock anywhere in the Triangle your frame and tire will be protected I recommend a U, cable and a chain combo.
Not only will it be protected but the looks of having multiple locks will deter most thieves especially if you're in an area that's open and that has high foot traffic.
I do agree with taking the batteries with you if you're going to be gone all day.
I got a motion sensor horn alarm which can be armed just like a car alarm. At least if I lock it in a crowded area and someone attempts to move my bike, the alarm will sound. They also make cheap disc brake alarms with motion censors as well. Motion sensor alarm is good for ebikes since sometimes people just end up trying to mess with your controller or screen, etc.
Great video. As someone who has e-bikes in Brooklyn, the winning formula of security+convenience is:
Good U-Lock + good folding lock+motion-sensing alarm. My current setup doubles up on the alarm
Abus 770A SmartX U-lock with Alarm (rear wheel+frame+rakc)
+
Abus Bordo Alarm Folding lock (front wheel and frame+rack)
Previously, I had a non-alarm Abus U-lock with the alarm bodo, and that worked too. So far, nobody has so much as even tampered with my bike or its components so far. That can of course change, but so far, here's why I prefer it to other combos:
-The alarm(s), in combination with heavy-duty locks, is a good deterrent. It won't stop a dedicated thief from going for your bike in isolation, but it will make it not worth it for opportunistic thieves to try to steal things like pedals, lights, accessories. They are very sensitive, so any slight motion will trigger a warning beep, and and few seconds of motion will cause it to go off.
-The Alarm Folding lock combination with the U-Lock is super versatile. One hidden benefit is that if you remove your seatpost, you can slide the folding lock through your bike saddle's rails or cutout to secure your saddle and seatpost. The combo allows me to secure the rear wheel, front wheel, frame (twice on most racks), and saddle. Everything else gets deterred by the alarm.
-I originally tried two U-locks, but it can be difficult to get the front wheel and frame with a single lock on my bike, let alone the rack or the seat/seatpost as well
-A chain + alarm U-lock might be better, but that's significantly heavier for (imo) not that much more security(if a thief is willing to work through a loud alarm, a few extra seconds with a chain lock won't help that much. It also doesn't allow you to secure your saddle and seatpost.
-It means I don't have to use pins, which adds a bit of convenience for repairs and adjusting saddle height.
Doesn't the alarm call your cellphone? I used to have a car alarm that would set off the remote alarm that I carried with me. Before the cellphone era.
@@algrayson8965 Watched a video of someone in New York on a busy sidewalk grinding through a lock on a bike locked to a pole and everybody is walking by as if nothing is happening and the guy walked away with the bike. Replacement insurance on a $10000.00 bike is about $500.00 a year and UP depending on where you live. New York maybe $1000.00 a year.
@@briananderson6142 seen videos like that in many cities in the UK. People dont intervene because they know the thief's mate stood next to him will be carrying a knife.
@@Debbiebabe69 $10,000.00 E-bike in Canada cost $500.00 a year to insure as a rider on your home policy. There is no lock that can be the ultimate with the new battery power grinders that can cut through ANY lock in seconds. The batteries need to be GPS trackable just like your laptop.
@@Debbiebabe69 I assume people don't intervene because if, say, they call the Police, or intervene in any other way, they will then have to act as witness when Police makes a crime report, which wastes their time without getting them anything in return. Aka. what's the benefit of intervening if it only costs you to do so. Intervening is irrational if you're just a random bystander.
I live in Toronto and have an expensive road bike (Pinarello for 20 yrs) and never turn my back on it and bring it into my home when not in use. Bike theft here for decades has been so bad that it is nearly impossible to park a bike outdoors. Here, the standard method of theft is angle grinders. I fail to see here or anywhere, a functionable anti-grinder lock. Also, it seems pretty crazy to buy a $3-6,000 bike that is lightweight and then carry around a lock which weighs a quarter of the total weight of the bike.
Some basics to keep in mind:
Cafe locks make sure the valve of the tire is right next to it, this means it would break in common means to force those locks open.
Make sure no matter what lock you use make sure it is away from the ground this makes using bolt cutters harder.
Anything 10mm and below chain wise is not bolt cutter proof, those 6mm insert chains into the cafe lock are easily snapped, but still combine it with a good U lock layers of security matters.
With that you have a cafe lock that is broken would lead to a flat tire, a small chain that could be a hindrance to some one without bolt cutters and a U lock that would require an angle grinder. Of course there are other means to open these like picking I am sure we all love our lawyer friend, but picking is not a common attack and anything that is decent will do. The spreader and nut cracker to be used against U locks and folding locks respectfully again are not to common. Most theft is rather low skill, however if you have a really nice branded E-bike they do enter a territory of targetted theft like motorbikes and cars do. This means they are stolen on order and at this point very little is going to stop that from happening, so yeah insure your bike, cause end of the day if some wants your bike, they will take it.
Great “Propel How To” format: thorough explanation; excellent close ups; just the right duration. And lots of top tips. Cheers!
This was very helpful. Sad we live in a society where we have to constantly be concerned about things like this.
Thief is the 2nd oldest profession.
I have watched several videos testing bike locks. No one has actually done the tests under ALL of the following conditions. 1. Use portable grinder popular with thieves. 2. Include in the tests the time to change out blades and batteries on the portable grinders. In real life that time would add to cutting the locks. 3. Locking the bike locks in a more realistic scenario wrapping the rear wheel, frame and bike rack. 4. Additional second or third lock wrapping around front wheel, frame and bike rack. 5. Steps to take if you encounter thief while in progress.
Perhaps two different types of locks (both angle grinder resistant) used concurrently would provide the best protection. A motion alarm to initially attract attention to the thief might help as well. Sucks to have to carry the extra weight and go to all that extra trouble and expense, but it's risky enough as it is to leave one of these bikes unattended for more than a few minutes. Def take the battery/seat with you when making that delivery or grabbing your latte.
I think although annoying this is a good strategy for sure. I just hope we eventually get better bike parking.
Add a tracker like the Apple gadget. Easily concealed.
@@jatteam8615that won't help a whole lot, it's not going to prevent a theft, and police will have a hard time acting upon any information gathered from it, due to a lack of precision and reliability.
Or use Pinheads for the removable stuff (seat, etc.)
I ride a motorcycle and live in a fairly high risk area. First off, I purposely ride a bike that isn't that desirable to begin with.. a rebel250. I use two heavy kryptonite u locks and installed an alarm on the bike. It makes a lot of noise if bumped. I've had three bikes stolen in the past but so far, so good with this one.
Good vlog. I am from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. We have a lot of secured places were you can park your bike in central town. For free. So that is step one, put your bike in the safes place possible. Lock the bike to the earth I always say, so they can not simply walk away with it. Always take your Intuvia control off, always! If you travel with two people you also can lock the bike together. Abus makes good locks. Now there are so much e-bikes in my country, that steeling batteries is getting bigger. I own a seven years old Sparta e-bike with the battery in the luggage rack. With the same lock as the lock you showed us. But I do not trust that so much, with a big screwdriver you can break it out. So I made a little whole in the part where you carry the battery in our hand. Put a little small lock trew it. Only have to do that one time, when I put a full battery on and open it when I want to reload and take it off.
Off course there is no way to protect your bike 100 %, but take a little care where you park your bike and how you do that.
This is solid advice, however thieves in Germany are hella motivated to steal bikes. Basically, they are getting advanced and if they can't cut through your lock, they cut whatever your bike is attached to and make off with it.
Depending on the city you're in, your bike can get stolen even in broad daylight from crowded places. A colleague lost a beautiful, expensive e-mtb like that :(
Insurance is the way to go if someone wants to be covered 100% :)
@@myohmymads i wanted to own an ebike because of no insurance....fck
Lots of good ebike security here Chris, thanks. It is sad that we have to do all of this, but that's the way it is in many areas. At the end of this video, you mentioned a bike cover. On one of my large motorcycles, there is and I have, a partial cover that I put on my motorcycle when I park it in some places. This cover, hopefully, will prevent an adult from putting their small children on my motorcycle! So maybe a cover of some sort, would help here too. I have a folding ebike; wonder if there is an additional problem with securing it; maybe something else I could be doingin addition to what has been presented here? Keep the good info coming, Chris!
Your suggestion of a cover is very smart. Even a tarp would work. Out of sight is out of reach.
Good tips. When locking downtown Detroit, I use two heavier duty Abus locks that use different keys - or 1 that is combination lock and 1 that is a key. One will secure frame and rear wheel and the other will secure frame. I try to make sure both are off the ground so as to not provide a leverage point. Then I cable the front wheel and seatpost to one of the Abus locks. I need to explore the locking thru-axles as well as Hexlock or similar for my stem and controller mounts.
I have a ringlock on the back and use a chainlock through my frontwheel, frame and a bikerack. I wrap the chain around the seatpost so it doesnt rattle. All in all takes about 30 seconds to park. Very informative vid! :)
Could we see some actual grinder tests on protection products? Duration resistance time. How fast will a grinder cut these products or not at all? I've heard hardened steel one need a torch. I'd be interested to see how fast grinders eat into all the products you have demonstrated here thank you.
That’s an interesting request. I’m going to look into seeing if we can accommodate that. I definitely think it would make for interesting video
Just search for the videos. Trust me-you'll find them.
I think LPL had some Abuse locks angle grinded
Thanks to modern tech there's nothing - nothing - a modern grinder can't cut in a couple of minutes - max. Sad but true. Better try combinations with passive e-protection, however thieves have already found a way around this as they will put the stolen bikes in a "cooling box" - think an off-path shed or backyard - for a couple of days to see if anyone "pops up" to retrieve their stolen bikes. If you are lucky and quick you may be able to find and collect the bike yourself. In Denmark a pro thief showed off his skills on TV one day. If the lock is too difficult to cut at once (due to placement) they just cut up whatever its locked to instead!
@@meibing4912 Not true, the Altor SAF ulock is so thick and hardened, it takes over 30 minutes and multiple grinder plates to cut.
It's as fullproof a lock as one can get these days.
Bug it's MASSIVE and costs $300.
In the past we used Pinhead for wheels and saddle post instead of quick release. They require a spacial key to open. The hexlock sounds great!
Good vid. Never heard of hex locks before, but sounds secure. I use a steel pvc pipe clamp for my quick -release front wheel; fastens down the clamp to the fork. Abus U-locks are excellent in Dallas, and helped me keep my Diamond Back MTB for 6 years. So far so good.
"Abus measures their locks in centimeters..." @04:18
not only Abus, the whole world do ;-)
Do it really?
People in the USA converting to microfurlongs
@@h.s.levine2932 Yes, it do 🤷🏼♀️
Not really
You are not well traveled
Thanks for your video. Not cycled for a while because I'm concerned about bike theft in London. But feel more confident now.
I like the lock with built in alarm. I have an alarm tied on the bike, works the same. Bike moves the alarm goes off like a car alarm. Always always use a Ulock combined with a steel cable or chain around the tires, quick release tires are a dumb idea on a commuter bike imo. Best part of ebikes is lock weight is not much an issue unless its on your back.
I retrofitted my R&M Supercharger with a Abus 5750L frame lock and a chain that fits in this lock. All mounted on the special mounting bracket from R&M for this specific bike. This way I have the same key for all of my bike; for the batteries, for the existing Bordo 6000 folding lock and the new 5750L. It feels super luxurious to have the same key for everything.
This is a great way to go! We generally recommend people do something similar on their bike. It’s a simple setup that offers pretty good security. Happy riding!
Totally agree that if one buys a very expensive R&M Supercharger GX etc, you shouldn't skimp on a cheap lock, i have pitlocked all the wheels and post on my own bike, and do have some slight reservations with my come with the bike Abus Bordo lock which is medium risk , so like i use it for out and about town use, but when touring abroad i use a Litelok gold standard Boaflexicor strap
LockPickingLawyer and Bosnian Bill have some great videos where they review the security of bike locks. Many of the Abus models are highly reviewed by them.
yep, large wiper insert and a click out of 1 and 5 seconds later its open
Most people doesn't have the skills like The lock picking lawyer and the one's who do are usually not bike thief's and that's Good but yes no Lock's are secure, you should use a combination of locks etc and not be away that many minutes.take your Bike inside and lock it next to your bed (Yes i actually do that)
The LPL videos are entertaining, but that's about it. The vast majority of locked, stolen bikes are those that were cut through with a tool-by a tool.
@@chewsir this is not just a bike, but a bike which costs over $8000,
which makes it more tempting than a usual bike, and LPL also does bike chains and locks angle grinding.
I love that channel! fortunately his skills are rare.
Great concept, great video, great details. I use a link lock, U-lock, cafe lock and cable. Don't live in a really high crime area. The biggest issue for me is that when I ride with my friends who own acoustic bikes, they do not lock at all. So when we stop for coffee, they have usually ordered and finished by the time I get my bike secured! 😀
I think the best kind of security is an alarm that texts you and a thick U-lock
@@whazzat8015 when you get a U-lock that is at least 18mm thick like the Kryptonite fahgettaboudit mini, this lock cannot be removed with a bolt cutter, but the other most important thing is an alarm that can TEXT you when the bike is disturbed so that you can get to it before anything can happen, time is the most critical
factor!
Where can I get the alarm that texts you? Many lowlifes around here too !
@@richardlistwon4758 I'm interested as well. I've got a normal alarm that's saved it at least once and always use two heavy U locks. Denver has been getting BAD recently tho.
I feel like getting a text after my bike has been stolen is less than helpful.
@@SeekerGoldstone The bike should not be stolen if you have an 18mm
U-lock plus the alarm protecting it!
I wont feel safe until force field tech is perfected.
this is very helpful, but I am still not parking a $5000 bike on the street.
even if they can't steal it, there are chances they'll do some damage to it.
Steal parts off of it. Or vandalize it out of frustration.
Put gentian violet inside your tubes so that if some vandal slashes your tire or twists a valve stem off, it will blow the gentian violet on them.
A bike cover made of bulletproof vest Kevlar cloth.
🤦♂️
Yes, also possible. 2 big hits and it will cost you a lot of money. A 5000 dollar bike, park it in a secure place. Not for 10 minutes, but longer, not go with a expensive bicycle.
Get insurance if it’s a 5000 dollar bike.
Why get a bike if you can’t park it on the street
Very good! Just purchased two EBikes and have been exploring security options. Well done.
One of the nice things about having an ebike is that while the extra expense makes you more wary of it being stolen, the fact it’s an ebike means you don’t have to worry about the extra weight of heavy duty chains as much. My biggest issue is probably going to be where to put for convenient access where it won’t rattle as much. XD
Last time I tossed the chain on top of a jumper in the top of a back pannier which fixed the rattle problem, not sure if that’s a workable long term solution but maybe, since I’ll be taking off and unrolling the pannier top when I stop anyway.
I got a front basket and back panniers because I liked the look of the baskets even if panniers were more practical for me so I bought one of the original three baskets, but in retrospect I’m thinking a small front bag for convenient chain storage, since I have a step through bike so attaching anything to the frame in the middle is limited. Also got to figure out the water bottle holder at some point but currently my commute is short enough to not need quick access to one and I’m currently trying to get myself comfortable with water bladders in general so I’m using that instead, as I’ve never been able to put my faith in them on bushwalks ever since I saw my Dad’s leak, so riding in town is a good way to practice confidence and get familiar with my own water bladder backpack, since in town I don’t have to worry so much about potentially getting stuck in the middle of no-where in the stinking hot heat with no water in sight if something goes wrong like I would on a bushwalk.
(I think I saw his water bladder leaking at home and he fixed it so he was fine but I’ve never trusted water bladders since.)
Hi guys! Just a quick thanks for the presentation of Hexlox in this video!
I travel with a U lock and sometimes a heavy chain (both the yellow New York kryptonite locks) when I know I’m going to be locking for a long time. I’d like to point out the fact that during a single trip you might have segments where you do a quick lock job, and other segments of the same trip where you do a more detailed lock job with two or more locks. You do need to consider the fact that in those quick lock situations, one or more of your other locks that you have with you could get stolen, so you want to guard against that by securing the other locks to the bike somehow when transporting them. Lots of little aspects to think about when carrying multiple locks.
It’s interesting because a chain might be a more attractive thing for someone to steal than a U Lock, since the chain could be repurposed with a new shackle but the u lock is pretty much useless to steal without the key.
Great video on bike security, You covered all the basics like everyone, and then you added a dozen other little details like battery, handlebar, fork, hex locks, quick release wheels, etc. Myself I am most interested in battery security, as many of the really good batteries (52 volt, 21 amp hour or higher) for sale in CA and NY have zero security. They just sit in a triangle frame bag or held on the downtube with magnets, and can cost almost $1000. Easy targets for thieves. So perhaps an idea in the future is to make a video on ways to secure those types of batteries on DIY builds and conversions.
I personally plan to remove my battery whenever I go into a shop. I'd think ebikes would be less desirable to steal without the battery
even worse, batteries are the easiest bits to resell, just open them up with a hack saw and remove the cells, when people buy cells off ebay there is no way of knowing where they came from - there are plenty of legit people who buy masses of scrap electronics for the batteries (when I say masses im not exaggerating... there is one vid out there of a guy who buys THREE PALLETS of scrap laptop computers just to salvage the cells!)
Great review. It is really disappoint to have people stealing bikes, posts, accessory, wheels etc. Lots of solutions shown there and I guess there are other ways for protecting high investment products like e-bikes - this could include dealing with thieves in a more appropriate way e.g. harsher sentencing, fines, paying people back etc.
Totally agree, Harsher sentencing, fines, and citizens reproach*either physically or civilly.....if they are missing a arm, it would cleary send a MESSAGE...dont do that crap.
I know someone whose seat post was stolen. I never realized even the seat post could be targeted by thieves, but apparently a lot of bikes have seats you can easily pull up and remove. I looked mine up and it's the same. So I'm like, great. Supervised bike valets or bust for me.
I really appreciate your information.I am purchasing a
2500 Ebike expensive for me. I planned on getting a lock, but didn't know anything about the best types. At home I have a garage, but I wanted to go to the markets.
i like to stick old inner tube over the ulock.. it provides a little scratch and dent cutioning and also hides what is underneetch. I would also cover up any displays of company names of locks by some black tape.. Or even could create confusing by putting a different lock name or logo on the lock than what it is.. but i prefer to just camaflauge the bicke as much as possible.. there are some good techniques on doing that in a book on urban cycling.. it is called urban camaflauge.. using the dark greys adn black.. non shiny surface.. could even use dark olive green colors.. cover the bike. cover the shiny parts with non shiny tape etc etc etc. and for the seat post you can use a cable trhouth seat that winds down to the frame with a lock.. and also can put a discrete non shiny seat cover over seat and wrap duct tape around the hex lock or quick release. It may liook kind of crummy.. but will reduce the threate of attention from thieves.
I got a Brompton folding ebike specifically so I could take it with me instead of having to lock it up somewhere. It’s a little heavy to lug around but it’s doable.
What if they used the same material as chainsaw chaps, where the bar is covered in fibers that tangle up and jam up the grinder?
I'm not sure this would work quite as well, the chainsaw has joints rotating parts that make contact with the fibers that can actually jam. Whereas a grinder is just a spinning wheel that only makes contact on the outside where no vital components are that would stop the grinder from functioning. Seems the investment in adding this protection to a lock wouldn't even be worth the added security nor would it be very helpful.
Mind you this is just my speculation.
just bought 400 dollars worth of locks and chains to protect my $20 Walmart bike. thanks 👍 bro
Links to hex lock parts would be helpful
Good stuff again, Chris. A thorough explanation of bike security and locks.
Great video Chris. Very informative and glad you covered so many options. I would suggest try to think like a thief whose focus will be crime of opportunity. Of course, if a thief wants your bike then an axle grinder will get the job done quickly but the options and locks you featured will make your bike less appealing. Especially if you can lock your bike in a more secure area while at work, i.e. parking garage, and indoors at night. 😁
@edwong3 - A U lock that is too big for a bolt cutter less than a 48" giant one to get its jaws on is good.
What if you lost all of your keys? You will have a busy days to get all of the locks opened! Cheers! Good video. Thanks!
They have key coverage so if you lost your keys they can send new ones and there is also 2 keys included so have one of them in home.
Good to go over all types for e bikers, as there are so many choices. Great Propel video as always.
I was attacked twice by thieves. 2 men on motorcycle came at me, pulled me off my ebike. I didn't have time to pull out any tools or activate alarm or lock. Best device I found was pick, when I'm away from bike it auto locks without need to press a button so if I'm thrown off bike, thief is cycling he's fall right off. The lock can easily be cut, it's a surprise defence mechanism
I’ve welded “number plates “ complete with with postcode, region and date. I’ve also engraved the postcode on the frame, too.
You keep saying this, no one is going to run a plate check on those plates. They're silly and pointless. BTW A1200 rocks.
problem is, thieves arnt after the frame. Your frame will probably end up in a river or drain. Its the forks, derailleurs, cranks, wheels, suspension, and for ebikes - electronics and batteries, that the thief wants. Indeed thieves have been known to beat 'angle grinder proof' locks by angle grinding a gap into the frame and feeding the lock(s) through the gap.....
Expensive ebikes are not meant to stay out on public eye. Always store them inside your house. Hide it or lose it as obnoxious as it sounds.
Very well said, Roey!
The only reason I still have all my bicycles through the years is that I've never left them outside! And, when visiting friends, I insist on bringing them either to the apartment or to a secure, out of sight spot, in their inner yard.
I was watching someone do a bike lock test and among them was a folding lock, part of why he liked it is because it was a pain to cut because it kept moving and he couldn't hold it steady.
I use a Ulock, since my front tire is quick release I wrap a steel cable around it and through the ulock. If Im in my city downtown core I'll also use a steel chain. I also have a alarm set off by vibration to attract attention. Even somebody minding their business locking their own bike to the same rack will set it off, its quite sensitive.
Have you looked into the 529 Garage bike registry sheilds? That's a huge help with proving theft and getting the bike back after theft.
Very informative & helpful points on bike security. I’ve often thought of getting a tiny go’s tracking device that utilizes a SIM card. You brought up a good point about the fact that police might not be able to help you even if you’re standing in front of someone’s closed garage and saying “my GPS security device shows that my bike is in there.” Never thought the police wouldn’t be able to help. Also almost for laughs I’ve been hiding a “Tile” on board my e-bike. Of course one depends on other persons utilizing tiles to passively report the location. But now with Apple’s version I would think since many many millions of persons everywhere use IPhone that their new “airbags” might be quite a bit more effective. Just a thought.
Unfortunately, because of Apple’s anti-stalking design, a tile is actually less likely to be detected by the crook. I understand why they did it, but it makes it so much less useful as a theft recovery tool.
@@amigajoe There's already a huge black market for AirTags that have been modified to make no sound, but that won't matter if the thief carries an iPhone and gets notified that there's an AirTag following them.
@@amigajoe Also, Tiles (and other Bluetooth-based tracking devices) can now tap into Apple's Find My network, granting them the same locational accuracy as AirTags.
Try Altar SAF U-locks! I use em all the time for my Yamaha urban rush pedal assist E-bike and it works! They have attempted on cutting one but unfortunately for them. They couldn't cut the damn thing all the way and i have two of em to protect my investment Lol! This U-lock is an angle grinder resistant type U-lock just in case you're wondering..
They look pretty cool, but I’m not sure how practical they are given the limited amount of room in the lock opening.
@@Propelbikes My urban rush isn't even that thick to fit two of em. And besides, I think they're not meant to be bringing back home because of their sheer weight. I leave two of mines in my locker at work. There's no way am bringing two at home with that much bulk and weight in em lol
I carry an arc welder with me everywhere I go and weld the frame to posts.
easy to beat, just angle grind away the section of frame that is welded to the post. Thieves dont care about the frame, it just gets thrown in a ditch. Its the hardware, and for ebikes the electronics and batteries, that the thief wants.
In areas where bikes are most commonly tied up at, there is usually a look out close by looking for anything worth stealing. They will check the bike out, then take a picture and then give their buddies a call, explaining what bike locks they are using.. This all happens with in a span of a few mins, and I have seen cases and witnessed it myself where they will even cut what ever your bike is locked to, having a car or a van near by they will carry the bike fast to their vehicle and your with out a bike... This can happen with in the time your walking into a coffee shop or a corner store..
This is really unfortunate and the real pros will find a way to steal just as they can rob a bank. The best bet is good locks and insurance.
I loved it...Well spoken, clear and concise...Keep going....
Thank you for your support!
Always used motorcycle locks on any motorbikes and bicycles I've owned. A nice solid D-lock usually is good in ok areas of the UK, but when living in London, have always used a really good chain and a D-lock even on a heavy motorbike especially when visiting shady areas of the uk. For bike jackers, they have had a different experience but I won't go into them details ;)
I would like to see alarm system if circuit is broken when u-lock is cut by any means.
Get a MOTION ALARM!!! small motion sensor alarms are cheap and easy to use. I got one for 18$US off everyone's favorite etailer, it is about 3 inches by 1.5inches, you can zip tie it on the frame, has a keyfob remote, arm it whenever the bike is parked and any jiggle of the bike will set off the alarm, it has prevented one theft for me so far. Uses 2 AA batteries, lasts for a few months.
i use an alarm and a kryptonite lock, but at the end of the day nothing beats an angle grinder. A more expensive one might take longer but it’ll be cut down. I just try to lock as close to the door and if possible I have to be able to see the bike through the door.
Attach your wheels to your frame and your frame an immovable object. that way the wheels can't be detached from the frame and if the frame lock is broken then the thief can't ride the bike because the wheels are locked to the frame.
In my home town I didn't lock my brand new 700€ bike, and by now I've had this bike for 6 years.
Just get a small folding bike and take it wherever you need to go. If not, make sure you can watch it from a window. Having bike security will alert you if someone is tampering with your bike.
To slow down a thief trying to take my seat and post, I ran a 6-32 Socket Head Cap Screw through the frame and into the post. Clearance hole in the frame and tapped into the post. The screw head is black to match the frame. It is easy for me to unscrew because I know where it is.
THIS is one reason a Ebikes weight is my primary concern. If I can take my ride with why carry a large often heavy lock with me? Again security being a concern as well as climbing a long flight of stairs weight comes into play when storing my EBike over night. I do get a parking space in my apartments small parking lot but there’s no provision to secure a bike in that parking lot. When I’m going say grocery shopping if I can fold up an Ebike and put it into a shopping cart again weight being a key factor as well as size. So again it’s all about the weight. Suppose it doesn’t help that I’m 60 either:) Not as strong as I once was. Speed is actually last on my list as if I’m going faster than walking I figure I’m ahead of the game. Hill climbing ability is likely next on my list after that range. 16 miles round trip would be cool as in the next town over are some relatives I’d like to occasionally visit. The rest of my imagined trips are all local and only a few miles max.
Very good information Chris, thank you.
My advice is get a long chain and thread it through one of the tires and frame. I know a guy who would just lock his frame with a Ulock and a thief used an angle grinder to cut through the guard rail pole he locked it too. At least with a chain lock, it will be flopping around and its harder to cut with an angle grinder. Also threading it through a wheel means they can't just cut though what ever you're locked too.
I take my bike in every were ! My e bike costs $7000 plus ! Drs office work shopping comes with me ! No locks are rated to be not cut ! They only take more or less time to cut off ! All locks are breakable ! And they can use a cordless grinder 30 seconds ! If they dont steel they break out of jealousy ! HUMANITY AT ITS BEST ! NO LOCKS ARE SAFE !
Eh, that's what insurance is for... I use Kryptonite's bulkiest chain and bulkiest U-lock and I bring it into my apartment at night so I feel your paranoia, but $150/year is definitely worth the peace of mind to leave it outside at a doctor's appointment to me.
@@emma70707- Don't hang it up either. Put your bike under your bed.
Just like those jagweeds who go around scratching Tesla's out of jealousy! I hate people sometimes
I really like to lock the wheel in the frame together that's why you lots of best for me, it would be the same if I had a electric bike because of it being rear wheel drive. Now when you get into the fat bikes you have to use a chain or a folding lock because the wheel is so thick. Maybe with the plus size like 29 inch tires.
If your worried about theft get yourself a D1000 lock, best lock you can buy and its the only one advertised as angle grinder proof
Great advice for bike owners and thieves lol.Thank you.
When I bought my GSD from REI, I really wanted to get an ABUS chain that was keyed to my battery. After the local REI staff spent a lot of time on the phone with ABUS, I was told that if I wanted an ABUS chain keyed to the bike, I would need to buy new lock cores for my battery mounts. I decided to go to a locksmith and buy the heavy duty-est padlock that could be keyed to my house key and paired it with a big ass motorcycle chain.
I also took the cafe lock off. It is key retaining, and that's just a pain in the ass. My intention has been to get a set of hexlocks and a replacement skewer for the front wheel. Are you selling hexlocks through your website?
House key keyed locks are easy to pick IF lock picking thieves infest your area. Most thieves around here are smash-grab-run types.
I hope you will keep feel safe, just don't ever go to LPL channel to see any padlock in existence picked from 5 seconds to 1 minute time.
@@plantpowered269 And you can watch him pick an Abus lock in two minutes. What is your point, exactly?
@@HarryLovesRuth that leaving $8000 bike on the streets is not advisable regardless of a lock
@@plantpowered269 So I should never use my bike for transportation because someone might steal it.
Sounds like a plan.
Hey! your friendly neighbor hood bike thief here. Just wanted to thank you for giving me a heads up on the newest up and coming locking mechanisms so I can really progress my career to the next level.
jk
Thanks for the great video! Would you recommend a disc brake lock?
A "U-lock" is fairly easy to cut trough. Abus is not a bad drand, but even the motorcycle one will only last 30 seconds against the right battery powered power-tool. You mentioned angle grinders... Chainlocks with welded connections are the right way to go, the thicker the better (motorcycle "style"). They keep moving if someone tries to use a power-tool.
I've never had trouble parking my multi-thousand Euro scooters in a beggar and drug-user infested enviroment with one of these locks trough the rear wheel and one trough the front wheel - while at least one of the chains being aroud a lamp post. Two of these locks cost around half a years insurance. I've never paid insurance (beyond legally required insurance).
If you have the cafe lock in place, and intend to use a chain, just pass the chain into the center of the frame and out into the front wheel, securing it all. That chain that plugs into the cafe lock really do not help in this regard. Great video.
any lock can be cut off within seconds with a portable grinder. but i've got a fool proof lock that is guaranteed to never let your bike get stolen. it involves welding a claymore to a ULock that has a a silent alarm and a GPS with cellular capability for easy use. just make sure you're not in a 10 block radius.
Excellent. Comprehensive. Very useful.
Thanks!
This info is terrific BUT...what does a senior do that is planning on buying a $3K eTRIKE?
I'm not sure I understood. Were you saying that attaching a chain into a cafe lock still isn't very secure or did I misunderstand?
Chris, have you considered about someone using 5 LOCKS or even 10 LOCKS? It might sound ridiculous. But if you use enough locks all over the bike, a thief might just move on to another bike that isn't locked up so much. What do you think?
flyshacker definitely in London you need at least 3 descent locks to stand a chance of keeping you bike thefts are rifts with kids and angle grinders
Although the goal is to be more trouble to steal than it's worth, ten locks might be overkill. Plus, are you really going to use ten locks consistently? The best locking strategy is the one that you'll actually use.
HarryLovesRuth - well, only if it actually works, too! I think I could carry and use at least FIVE if I thought they would really work! I’ve had 2 bikes stolen over the years.
even 10 locks is not enough to defeat the thieves latest tactics, that dosnt even require an angle grinder - they just wait till the owner comes and unlocks the bike, then ride up to them on a moped and steal the bike at knife point.
@@Debbiebabe69 - then perhaps it pays to be armed!
Hexlox is a very expensive solution to a simple problem.
Most been bolts can be replaced with security hex types pretty easy, including QR skewers.
Hot glue in a bolt head is easier still, but relies entirely on the thief not having seen that before.
Pinhead and similar are the nuclear option, same price as hexlox but harder to defeat. Just make sure you can adequately torque everything, especially wheels with disc brakes!
You're watching this because you want an electric bike but are scared to get one because you think it will get stolen so you searched this up seeking comfort from other riders that securely lock up their bikes.
Eh, depends on where you are. In Switzerland, with just a framelock you're fine, even with an expensive ebike.
But, thing is; a framelock, given the pick resistance is high enough, in combination with a chain, should be more than enough for any insurance claim.
It's screwed to your frame, locked in a position where you can't pull it out in any way without cutting it at least in 2 places. Combined with the chain, fixing it to something, anyone that breaks that would also be able to break any other lock.
I do U-lock/cable and Chain lock with the Kryptonite New U Extended U-lock and the Evo 4 for my E-Fatbike. It would take some time for a thief to get through a 16 and 10mm lock infact if they managed to get through that much security they deserve the bike because I obviously parked in a dumb area like an alley way.
A strong set of detachable pedals goes a long way to being a theft deterrent. They can still ride, but its extremely difficult. No, it doesn't prevent a theft, but it causes many of the simpler minded thieves to move onto the next bike. I have detachable pedals, plus a U Lock and chain lock (I had those for a long time). I just put a dutch lock on the front, which locks the front wheel only. That one is not so much about when I park and lock the bike. That's when I ride the bus. Being in Los Angeles. our buses have bike racks. On a busy commute day, a swift thief loves to walk off the bus and snatch the bike from the rack before you can stop them. The drivers can't always remember which bike belongs to whom. So by the time the driver realizes it, the bike is already gone and the thief is riding off. I've seen it happen to other riders, especially old people who ask for help putting their bike on and off the rack. The Dutch prevents them from riding off with my bike, yet I can still load and offload the bike while its locked, without wasting the bus driver's time.
While law enforcement don’t like to follow one’s personal GPS tracker, once apon a time they were equipped and were willing to follow LoJack. There are so many garbage gps trackers pushed on social media it would be nice to see another reliable option pan out.
Agree 100% with the insurance. Many bikes could be covered by your homeowners or rental insurance (well, at least once). Be sure to register your high-priced e-bike to your insurance agent!
Great point Bobex63! Thanks for mentioning this! :)
Police would be interested in arresting ebike thieves, but your leftist politicians are busy bailing them out of jail and decriminalizing theft.
Nice video on all the different types locks available, however they are all defeatable with the angle grinders and tools that thieves now carry with them. They are not afraid to do it in front of dozens of pedestrians walking by in broad daylight, they have no shame.
Best solution is to get a mountaineering style back pack the bike can clip onto so you can carry it around with you once you have arrived at your destination.
Clever you, ima carry my 23kg e-bike on my back everywhere I go, from now on
Abus measures in centimeters because they are europeean..... yeah well. The US is the only country in the world exept from Liberia using the old British imperial system. There are quite a amount of hilarious videos on TH-cam about that. I love this channel and would be super happy if u could include metric measures for all the viewers outside the US. Keep on the good work. 👍
There's a company in NYC (I believe it's based in Brooklyn) that has these bike "garages"... I believe I learned about it from one of your videos. I even contacted the company through their website asking if they had any plans to expand to Boston. I can't for the life of me remember who that company is or what their website address is. Could you refresh my memory? Thanks!
I think more U-locks and chains should come with an integrated alarm. A cheap alarm costs say $15. A $115 U-lock with an integrated alarm would be better than a separate $100 U-lock and $15 alarm, because if they're separate, the thief has options - they can first cut the U-lock, then throw away the alarm as they're already getting away with the bike. Or they can first get rid of the alarm, before it even goes full blast. Or they can even try cutting the U-lock/chain without moving the bike, so as not to set off the alarm (after all, the alarm may not be set to the highest sensitivity, as that would result in many false positives).
Although now that I think about it, buying a few extra alarms and attaching one to each U-lock/chain would not be super expensive, wouldn't add all that much extra weight, and with 3+ alarms going on at the same time, the thief would have to spend a lot of extra time before they could make a 'quiet' escape.
(my assumption is, thieves may not mind making a lot of noise while cutting the locks, as random people won't react to the theft anyway, and the only purpose of the alarm at that point is to alert the bike owner. However, thieves will want their escape with the bike to be quiet, because a loud escape would make it easier to follow them)
As for securing the seat, my strategy - when going somewhere where you have to lock the bike outside, just use a cheap seat not worth stealing. Only use the nice, expensive, comfy seat when you can lock the bike indoors at the end of the ride 😆
The best bicycle lock I think is the Japanese elevator underground bicycle parking system, but it has a high initial cost. A couple keys to solving the bicycle lock/theft problem 1. You want to cover the bike. For ex. a Box - so the thief won't able to tell what type of bike is inside the box and the thieves will move on to other easier target 2. provide multiple levels of protection, the box has a keyhole-less\phone app\bluetooth\NFC\...type of lock and then plus the owner U-lock 3. alarm systems. It's best to provide by the municipals/city
I sometimes rent road bikes in Cape Town, they always tell me “you dont need a bike lock here, you just need to take the bike with you everywhere you go”
Litelok x1 or x3 or foldy lock forever has gold or diamond rating. The highest you can get. And are easy to carry!
Replacement insurance in 2019 on my R&M Delite Mountain $9,500.00 will cost you about $500.00. My cheaper Cube Nutrail Hybrid E-bike $5600.00 cost me $250.00 a year through belairdirect Canada
This is full payout insurance so you can buy a new one.
Yeah great job thanks for all the knowledge
Thank you Chris! Glad you enjoyed!
Every bike shop should also offer free registration of the frame serial # with the national online bike registries, so if a stolen bike is ever recovered or suspected, its frame # can be looked up. I dont know why bike stores dont do this. I have bought many bikes and none of them do this, and looked confused when I asked them about it. Yet most of their customers are going to get their bikes stolen at some point.
Ive got a single speed. Beautiful bike! Got it for next to nothing. No one will even bother steal it. Thank u e-bikes!!