Bike theft
Posted by Born-Echo2444@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 44 comments
I just bought an very expensive ($3000) E bike and am very worried about getting stolen. I live in Kitchener,On. Of course I will never leave it unlocked with great locks but I might have to leave It for a couple hours on day time. The bike has a anti theft technology that no one can ride it off on her, theft would only be possible if someone grab the bike and put it in a pickup truck or something like it.
Am I gonna get robbed?
Festuspapyrus@reddit
I rarely pick my bike; I leave a clip speaker sitting there. No theft after 4500 miles. I won’t say it can’t happen, especially if you are parked in a secluded area, but in general, there are no thriving hordes; folks are mostly good.
Born-Echo2444@reddit (OP)
Where you from, if you don't mind me asking?
Festuspapyrus@reddit
I was born in Canada and live in Gainesville, Florida.
Dry_Management8143@reddit
Hahaha are you serious? If you left 3k in cash on the ground would someone steal it? Why do you think a bike is any different
terminashunator@reddit
Someone can pocket $3000, can't pocket a bicycle. Opportunity.
Easier to fence $3000 in cash than a locked bicycle.
Quite a few differences between the two.
Dry_Management8143@reddit
You can literally just put it in a ute tray, thieves don't care
Have you ever left a bike unattended before?
terminashunator@reddit
From my experience, the people with utes and the majority of bike thieves are not the same. When my bike was stolen, the thief left his beater bike behind.
Dry_Management8143@reddit
People use angle grinders to steal them man, try leaving a 3k bike lying around, it will be stolen within the hour
I can't actually believe people are trying to argue the point, actual insanity
Born-Echo2444@reddit (OP)
Because the bike has 2 massive locks, an alarm and a GPS tracker. Of course it can still be stolen, but...
Dry_Management8143@reddit
HAHAHAHAHA try it man, it will be gone in a day
Jaterkin@reddit
You are weird
Dry_Management8143@reddit
How so
Imkindaalrightiguess@reddit
That level of security is sold because bike security is an arms race
People run with angle grinders and bolt cutters in the city I live in.
Flipping bikes is money in California and the bike thief's are more professional than you'd expect.
Even with that level of security attempts will probably be made on your bike
Downtown1932@reddit
Kryptonite New Yorks hydraulic bolt cutters can’t cut them them cordless grinder you’ll need like 3 battery’s at least and a good 45 mins straight grinding
sanjuro_kurosawa@reddit
If you really care, I'd look into the crime stats of your area, then seek out locations which thieves may not go.
For example, on a local street with a huge amount of petty crime, I lock my bike in a basement garage inside a secure cage with a 24 hour attendant. One time I visited a bar in an even worst adjacent neighborhood, and not only made nice with the doorman so he knew it was my bicycle next to the entrance, I tipped him $5 and I checked my bike every 15 minutes.
There is no way to prevent someone from doing something bad to your bike. If you want all your fear allayed, then don't use it commuting. But if you are willing to be careful, you should be fine.
QUEENSNYLAWYER@reddit
Put a tracking tag in it.
StarredGremlin@reddit
I bought an expensive to me full suspension ebike about 2 years ago for €3500.
Then I was left with the dilemma of what lock I would use for leaving it in the city while grabbing lunch for an hour or two.
So I bought the Hiplok D1000 + X CHAIN at the time it was around €450, but I would have the peace of mind that it would still be there when I came back.
I'm lucky I store my bike in my house when it's not in use.
I did look at the Litelok at the time, but the reviews were better on the Hiplok D1000 so I went with that.
If I were to buy it again, I would buy the DX1000 instead as it is larger as I find the D1000 to be a bit small and limiting for locking an ebike and having to use the X chain is a bit of a nuisance.
Just note these locks do weigh quite a bit more than the average bike locks, but that's what you pay to have the piece of mind.
Best of luck with your new bike.
slacknsurf420@reddit
it's very possible a lock gets cut in the wee hours of the night shit happens all the time
you know storing bikes outdoors is shitty anyway unless you're in AZ or alike
w2best@reddit
If you have a great lock AND a theft protection feature I think you should look at therapy & meditation instead of more gear ;)
Born-Echo2444@reddit (OP)
Lol hahahahahahhahahahahha. But man, people are saying i am STILL gonna get robbed
w2best@reddit
Ok I guess the last piece of peace would be a good insurance for the bike! :) A specific bike insurance I mean :)
DarkVoid42@reddit
yes duct tape is your friend. make it look shit.
MonzellRS@reddit
Should spend at least $300 (20%) on security
My e-bike was $1,200, and I’ve spent $600~ on mine, but will probably have something more expensive in the future
longstaff55@reddit
Get bike insurance, it's dirt cheap and get whatever lock grade the insurance states you must have, then if it gets knicked you get a free brand new bike, yay
NagromYargTrebloc@reddit
We never, ever leave our E-bikes out of sight. It's not just the whole bike, it's all of the accessories that could be stolen too.
Low-Drive-768@reddit
Lot's of great advice here already. I'll just add to register your bike on project529.com.
My theft anxiety has faded a bit after 3 years, but still there.
Buscabulla33@reddit
I wouldnt leave my $500 bike for “hours” unattended.
JonboatJohn@reddit
It’s going to get stolen. Put multiple locks on it if you must leave it.
Ur-in-a-tor@reddit
Zip tie a motion alarm sensor on the bike, also consider locks that can resist angle grinders (Litelok, Hiplok)
Born-Echo2444@reddit (OP)
It does already come with an alarm actually. I will look about these locks.
rigrug3@reddit
I've used a Hiplok for a while and it's great. It's a bit pricey but if you can afford a 3000 dollar bike you can afford that lock.
whoopdedoo0@reddit
This is the price you pay for pay for expensive bikes, unfortunately, literally and figuratively.
There is always a little anxiety about it getting stolen, or breaking a part that’s hard or expensive to fix, or it breaking down in the middle of nowhere, where it could to heavy or far away from anywhere to get it home, but it’s too expensive to leave and try to come back for it.
You can prepare with as much as possible, tools, with spares and locks, but the feeling is always kind of there. You’re always just a little concerned about it, even if it’s in your subconscious.
You’ll notice there can actually be a sort of mental freedom with cheaper bikes. Each type of bike has it’s pros and cons.
If you have a cheap and an expensive bike, you just have to strategically alternate them and decide which is better to bring to certain places.
Odd_Introduction_280@reddit
just dont tell anyone its 3k bucks bike and make it ugly, you already said gps and lock systems, you can simply make a system that once bicycle moves will get you notified.
Born-Echo2444@reddit (OP)
It does already notify me if moved.
Odd_Introduction_280@reddit
If you still worried about maybe use multiple gps to track down if they find or already broke down parts you can still track with higher knowledge
Odd_Introduction_280@reddit
Like one is on seat another one is on frame etc.
Severe_Ad_8475@reddit
Use a unlock and lock your bike up threw the frame and hub motor wheel if there is on. Also lock any quick release wheel
If you park it daily at a GO station or the same spot that's predictable the odds go up. To stop in shopping and such the odds are low if it's locked. If it's a mid drive I have had a roommate leave his bike locked at a GO station for days and it was a 6k bike. I ride my ebike to doctor appointments,grocery shopping and the mall regularly for 3 years now. I use a Ulock and I've been fine
Born-Echo2444@reddit (OP)
Where you live tho? In Waterloo region every one is telling me it will get stolen
Ok-Neat-4113@reddit
Apart from locus etc has anyone tried spray painting part their bike a bright colour like orange or green?
Billy_Rizzle@reddit
You could invest an angle grinder resistant U-lock (or two if you are that concerned). More locks are more likely to deter a thief.
HipLok (D1000 & D1000X), LiteLok (X1 & X3), Kyrptonite (New York Diamond Standard) makes decent angle grinder resistant U-locks. The X1 is the cheapest and the Kyrptonite is the strongest (the first batch was faulty).
Best method to secure your bike:
Going through the rear frame and wheel uses most of the lock space whilst securing multiple valuable parts of your bike.
Ur-in-a-tor@reddit
That is the best way to lock, but it is a good idea to put the lock's keyhole to the bike's side instead 🙂
809213408@reddit
Yes
Antheral@reddit
Your coordinates have been uploaded to the bike thief illuminati, its already stolen and you just dont know it yet.
Jaterkin@reddit
There are a lot of things you can do to help reduce the chances of theft, but nothing is ever theft-proof. Invest in a really good lock (do your research here, this is the most important part). Bike anti-theft technology more or less works, but don't rely on it. Does it have an easily removable battery? If yes, and you can take it with you, you should probably take the battery out as another deterrent. Where you lock the bike up is also a big factor. Is it on a rack with other bikes? Is it by itself? Is the place you're locking it to secure? If your lock is really good, a lot of thieves will opt to just saw through whatever you locked it to.
Your goal is to make your bike as annoying to steal as humanly possible so that thieves will avoid it and go to easier prey.