Just got my ebike, went to the mall for the first time, too paranoid, didnt last 5 minutes

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Large-Ad5239@reddit

The only locker i use .

i could go more than 1 hour if its not parked on sun place .
locker i use need water .

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They look about 20 years old so I'd say committed. Source, I look pretty similar.

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EnemyOfEloquence@reddit

This is the coolest picture I've ever seen

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Open-Ant-8781@reddit

I can't help but notice you appear to be a white man with dreadlocks.

I have a very serious question for you....

idsnowghost@reddit

I'd find a new place to lock it up where you can place a lock through the bike's triangle. What is the U lock on the front tire even doing?

Also the handlebar attachments are probably the easiest target to get messed with.

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

gotta learn how to remove those, also its my first time locking and my bike is pretty huge, gonna practice a little more before going out again

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dyxoncox@reddit

Please, please, please, go look up some videos on how to lock up a bike for maximum security.

My advice, however, if you want to take it:

The largest lock should go around a frame tube, and around a pole or something. This should ideally be the seat tube between the top tube and the down tube, or the top tube, between the head tube and the seat tube.

Then, take the cable, and loop it around the front wheel (. Take one end, and pass it through the eyelet at the other end of the cable. You'll have one free end, and one that tightens down on your rim/tire when you pull it. Weave the free end through the frame from the front to back.

Then, take the thinner lock you have, and if you can, put the shakle (the u part), around the rim on your rear wheel, and one of your frame tubes (the seat tube, or a chain stay/seat stay. Then, take the free end of the cable, and put the shackle through the eyelet on the free end. Then lock that lock.

That locking strategy is about as thorough as you can get, and will deter the most thieves. Do not lock around, or through, your fork, as your front wheel can nearly always be removed.

Hope that helps bring you some peace of mind!

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jjmoreta@reddit

Are there any photos or videos showing this method?

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

its a bit hard to follow since im new with bikes overall, but I'll screenshot this and have it useful

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LordEmrich@reddit

The way you have it locked is fine, by the way. You want to lock the wheels so they can't just roll off with the bike. Locking the frame to something (assuming you don't lock either wheel) means they can just cut whatever it's locked to and roll off with a free bike.

Also, get some trackers. I have a Tile Pro and a Pebblebee tracker on all my bikes. I also have a LandSeaAir GPS tracker on one bike. It requires a yearly subscription but provides satellite updates so you don't have to hope someone's mobile phone is nearby like with the trackers (Airtag, Tile, Pebblebee and so on). I'll be switching to Tracki Pro once this current LandSeaAir sub ends cause it's a little cheaper and seems to have better reviews.

Oh and get a headlight and taillight, please. You should have a flashing light on at all times, day or night.

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mister_magic@reddit

Yeah my insurance would not cover a bike locked up like this. Gold rated kryptonite and direct on the frame. Not a cable around the tyres.

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ThrifToWin@reddit

Bigger lock is on the back.

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Double-Detective3782@reddit

Looks like it locks the wheel to a cable looped through the frame, securing the front wheel.

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An airtag isn't particularly useful. Assuming it actually works, it's unlikely a judge would issue a warrant unless there is compelling video evidence of the theft that positively IDs the subject

The movement alarm isn't particularly useful. Bystanders have a tendency to do nothing when someone else is in trouble. They just watch dumbly and maybe call the police.

this must be some regional thing. Mine covers 100% from the first EUR. Theft, civil liability, medical bills, no difference.

The only catch is 3-6 months you have to wait for paperwork from the Police stating that they give up. It's funny since bike theft is very low priority and in most cases they don't even try to do anything.

Hey, tell me if you get some interesting one! My bank (Montepio) has told me about one from Lusitania, I think it has connections with AXA, isn't it?

I currently use one called Lemonade, and they have been fantastic so far.

You’re able to customize different categories to fit your needs, for example I have $50,000 of personal property insurance (covers things like jewelry, art, bikes, instruments, furniture), an extra $5,000 for portable electronics (laptops, tablets, phones, Nintendo Switch/Steam Deck), $100,000 in personal liability (covers you if someone is injured on your property and decides to sue. Landlord would most likely be the one actually responsible, but I decided to get the extra coverage just in case), $15,000 in loss of use insurance (covers you in case of flood, fire, or other things that would make your home uninhabitable. Again landlord is most likely responsible, depending on the situation, but great to have a little extra peace of mind). For all of that, I pay about $22 per month, and then I opted to pay another $1.67/month so that my fiancée and all of her belongings are covered under the same plan, so just under $24 per month in total.

You can also add things like insurance for tenant pet damages, pet health insurance, etc.

They made it super easy to customize, and while I probably have much higher coverage than I actually need, the peace of mind for less than 25 bucks a month is totally worth it for me.

I’ve only had to file one claim so far, my neighbor destroyed some of my fiancée’s decorations that had been in a shared storage space on the property. Lemonade was super easy to work with, and we were fully reimbursed quickly for the damages, without raising the monthly cost.

I have used other renter’s insurance companies in the past, such as Jerry (another online company similar to Lemonade) and Millennial Specialty Insurance (horrible but the property I lived in at the time required that specific insurance) and the pricing was comparable. I believe Liberty Mutual and other large insurance companies used to have renter’s insurance options too, not sure if that’s still the case.

"ok sir have a good day"

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Ashl3y95@reddit

The insurance people will send their own people to investigate and hunt the bike down actually.

Grjones1020@reddit

Likely if you assert yourself to get your property back and are sure of your ability, you’ll get the chance to protect your life. That scumbag will threaten you and blammo. Room temperature challenge award 🥇

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Melodic-Matter4685@reddit

Does it work in US?

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Melodic-Matter4685@reddit

That is so much better than an AirTag.

(Looks for wallet)

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Ashl3y95@reddit

BikeTrax Powunity

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BIRDD79@reddit

And the whole not caring is the part im seeking. Otherwise my anxiety will be thru the roof everytime i lock it up

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Ill_Cheetah_1991@reddit

Yes - insurance is the answer

but be careful - I originally had specific bike insurnace and the details of what they required in terms of locks was silly

Not in the fact that they demanded "sold Secure Gold" lock - that is OK

but having insisted on that I was worried about how to claim and show that it had been locked up properly using that lock

Was I supposed to have a picture of it every time I left it??

and if I locked it up on something they cut through or otherwise broke - would they argue

I checked with my Home Insurance and they just said "yes its covered - just lock it up and your OK"

Technical_Pie667@reddit

I never leave my ebike locked up outside anywhere. I always walk it inside with me i really dont care. And if they have a problem then tell.the security your leaving it with them and dont take no for an answer (they won't say no if you dont have any locks on you). I wouldn't leave that bike locked up anywhere outside. It looks nice and if I was a junky I can see myself definitely wanting this bike. Also airtags are easy for someone who is an experienced thief and know that there are apps that can detect them to easily remove.

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

im probably going to insure it anyways, but yeah I decided im not leaving it locked up anywhere except my buildings garage (it wont fit in my one room apartment) and while down there, I parked it in front of a camera, 4 locks, airtag and my horn alarm active.

Im lucky in Madrid there's hundreds of restaurants, cafes and bars that have sitting outside right on the sidewalk to eat or drink, also tons of parks, stuff like that where I can just sit outside next to my bike never leaving it unattended, which is what im going to be doing and have done a few times already.

My only issue is groceries, I need the bike to haul groceries but I cant keep an eye on it while buying, gotta figure that one out

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LadderNo6948@reddit

When you buy an AirTag or some other gps tracker it is important to disguise it. They sell AirTag disguisers.

Felis_igneus726@reddit

I just got my first ebike and I feel you so much. I have a decent folding lock, U-lock, steel cable, and motion alarm, and fortunately I live in a relatively quiet, low-crime suburb so that setup should be plenty for most stops, but I'm still super paranoid it will get taken. I've been avoiding leaving it anywhere, but I had to lock it up for the first time a few days ago and I was so nervous the whole time, lol. It's "only" a $1200 Aventon, so not that high-end, but still. For me, that's a small fortune.

I'm still planning to get an Airtag or some other tracker (I already have a bell that has a spot inside to hide one) and a frame lock, but I expect what's going to ease my mind the most is just time and also getting some good wear and tear on the bike so it doesn't look all shiny and new. I'm liking the suggestions about stickers, too, although I really don't feel right about sticking anything semi-permanent to it just yet and messing it up ... Even though that's exactly the point 😅 But if I can find a nice bumper sticker or something that's not TOO much of an eyesore, I'll give it a go

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

im a huge metalhead so im covering it with band stickers asap lol

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tacticalwanking@reddit

How tall are you?

Aggressive_Boat675@reddit

Often theifs are too broke to buy a new battery and it is harderer to sell a ebike without a battery.

A GPS tracking sticker? How's that supposed to work

It's like locks, it keeps honest people honest and might convince the amateur crooks to look for an easier target...

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Deep_Mood_7668@reddit

Yeah someone explained it to me already. I was thinking they were talking about a sticker with actual GPS capabilities

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KingRamaXI@reddit

I checked Ali express and it’s literally a sticker that warns of GPS tracking. Not sure if it’s better or worse than not letting thieves know

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Deep_Mood_7668@reddit

Ooh that's what they meant lol

While I have heard stories of thieves breaking out the grinder in very crowded places to steal bikes (sometimes throwing on a hi vis vest and acting like they’re supposed to be doing what they are doing), I think this might be limited to NYC where culturally no one is paying attention to what anyone else is doing—this isn’t happening at a suburban mall with private security and cameras everywhere.

In two decades of locking bikes in Chicago, biking everywhere, being a bike mechanic, and having everyone I know rely primarily on bikes for transportation, I have never had a bicycle stolen and have actually never heard a story of a properly locked bicycle being stolen aside from overnight or late night lockups in industrial areas.

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

you sound like you have greay expertise in all pf this and im just starting now, any good tips on locking my bike I should know? thank you!

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No-Negotiation-6929@reddit

1) Use a high quality hardened lock to secure the frame to a solid locking object (not a tree, sign, or bit of fence). If locking for longer periods or in shady districts, using one of the grinder resistant locks is a good idea (hiplok/litelok). In most situations, any lock that requires a grinder to remove (can’t be stolen with hand tools) is honestly sufficient. Things that can be quickly stolen with hand tools are a crime of opportunity for crackheads under all circumstances. 2) Secure any valuable components. This usually means putting a cable through each wheel and locking the saddle (particularly if you have a QR seatpost). On an e-bike, the battery should be locked or removed. 3) Avoid overnight lockups or lockups in shady or isolated districts to the greatest extent possible.

That’s really it. If you do everything right, you have nothing much to worry about.

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textandstage@reddit

If you can’t afford to replace it, you can’t really afford it to begin with.

Just get some insurance if you’re gonna be this paranoid.

Fun-Description-9985@reddit

I know someone who uses "security paste" on the saddle to deter thieves, but whether you feel comfortable using your own (or someone else's) excrement on your bike is another matter

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

lmao what

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rochrider@reddit

I hate that type of bike rack!

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

its the fucking worst lol

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mellomike5@reddit

In perfectly ideal conditions with a mains powered angle grinder, a vise, and high quality discs, you can cut through even the X3 in 5 minutes. However in practical applications, thieves will be using battery powered grinders, cheap discs, and will be fumbling trying to change discs. Most won’t even have another disc or try to change it while committing a crime in broad daylight.

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Few-Presentation2488@reddit

People are unlikely to get involved even if they see a dirtbag with 4 foot bolt cutters. Just lock it and have insurance. I have a video of a known criminal taking a bike, yet police do nothing. Must have insurance it's the only way to enjoy your bike while knowing it can be stolen at any time.

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Few-Presentation2488@reddit

Worldly-News3438@reddit

It is, but it's worth it!

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Prestigious-Mine-513@reddit

No-Conversation-8287@reddit

Buy a good certified cable lock. And dont mount it to such a thin bike rack. Which is easy to cut.

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ggezboye@reddit

Apart from trusted locks I learned that making your ebike look like shit is the best way to make it less desirable. I have dirty panniers, I just clean the drivetrain and the spots that contacts my body and it works. Though the fact that it's also a converted ebike also helps since it doesn't look as neat as premade ebikes. I also live in Asia, there's still trust in our society though you could still lose an ebike if you keep it unlocked outside overnight.

Also don't park in an empty rack. Park in a crowded rack as much as possible. You're hiding your ebike by placing it near bicycles that have poor locks. They will steal the easily broken locks first.

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

great advice, thank you!

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No-Conversation-8287@reddit

Lol buy a good lock like the ABUS Iven Chain 8210

Also required for the insurance.

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joefclarin@reddit

Put the gear to the lowest or highest settings.

Add a motion alarm.

I saw someone with quick-release pedals and seat then brought it with them.

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RabiAbonour@reddit

Insurance, absolutely. The bike does you little good if you're too scared to use it.

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chessset5@reddit

Yeah the air tag can be a bit unreliable. It gets the position of the nearest pingable ios device and uses it as it’s position. When left out at university I once had my bike ping that it was 2 blocks away from where it actually was cause I could see it from my class. Scared the shit out of me. I guess someone 2 blocks away had their iphone out and was the only apple device in range for my airtag to ping.

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Droid3T@reddit

If you have any type of home owners insurance they might cover it being stolen.. this is what I heard.

Wsdcam 113dB Bike Alarm Wireless... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0734QN8KR?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

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Mortys__Grandpa@reddit

Thank you!

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Sk1rm1sh@reddit

Yeah, looks like the weakest part in that setup is probably the rack your bike is locked up to.

Quit being a lil Pussycat bro, if they really wanna steal it they will steal it, you just look like a lunatic. If you live in that bad of an area maybe you should move.

Do you chain your cars axle to the light post, but a steering wheel lock on and a boot on the tire when you park it too?

JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

yeah I hate those racks, I'm looking for a post next time

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Gatorpatch@reddit

The paranoia is super valid tho, especially since that bike looks flashy and clearly an e-bike. I've basically sticker-bombed my bike to avoid it looking like an e-bike.

I got all my housemates bikes in college (just helped them choose good bikes of Facebook marketplace since I've been riding for a while) and they all slowly got stolen after they started riding, which is when I started making sure people I set up to ride knew to use ulocks, cables through both wheels, lock next to other bikes if possible, always through the frame, and another lock never hurts.

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

sad to hear how common bike theft is, I'm sticker bombing it asap, I know that helps a bunch, and maybe not leaving it alone for a long period of time (except locked on my buildings garage) and I think it should be mostly safe, maybe even get a locking cover too

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Gatorpatch@reddit

Tbf most of my housemates used cable locks, which I warned them about.

I use a gps and insurance that’s tied to it.

As other said, insurance is the way. I pay about 100$ more per year on home insurance for 8.5k cad worth of two bikes.

That's not how you lock a bike.

Can’t blame you. Even with my rusting bike Im using till I get an E-Bike, I get paranoid thats it’s gonna get stolen.

Though thats when I go up to a restaurant to go pick up some food and theres no good spot to lock up the bike so I just leave it sitting near the door. If I can actually lock it up then I don’t worry because even though my city does have a problem with bike theft, I know someone isn’t down bad enough to get caught trying to break open a lock to go steal a rusting bike in daylight hours.

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truthwatchr@reddit

Troubleindc2@reddit

Absolutely—keeping things in perspective is key! An e-bike is a fantastic tool, but like any tool, it shines in certain scenarios and isn’t always the best fit for others. If the destination is a social hangout where securing your bike is tricky, considering alternatives like Uber, Lime, or even a onewheel or electric skateboard you can carry around might be the smarter move. And when social events involve alcohol, a rideshare is the safest bet.

For pure recreational riding, choosing routes that allow you to keep an eye on your bike is crucial. Exploring new areas with this in mind can lead to unexpected gems—like great food spots! It’s a smart way to ensure you’re enjoying your ride while keeping your bike secure.

It may sounds like a lot of thought to put into this approach but it will help you discover some great places along the way. Malls are near or at the bottom of my list.

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JJsNotOkay@reddit (OP)

agreed, I'm not going to the mall with my bike again, unless I can walk it in with me or I find a good secure structure to lock it to

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BIG_SCIENCE@reddit

That bike looks brand new and expensive. It will catch the eye of a pro bike thief in 7 seconds.

Safe-Spot-4757@reddit

Don’t put that u lock on your wheel and then use a cable to attach it. Dont use the weakest point of your system to secure your bike. Ideally put the u lock somewhere through the frame and then thread the cable through to the wheel. With a newyork krytopinite lock no one is stealing your shit UNLESS YOU DONT LOCK IT PROPERLY

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