What are important things to consider when leaving your ebike somewhere?
Posted by Opening_Total7711@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I've been intrigued by the idea of getting an E bike to cover some of the medium distances (too far to comfortably walk but close enough that I can ditch the car). But I wonder what the process is of leaving your bike somewhere? These E bikes seem way fancier ($1K+) and they have batteries and whatnot. Do you bring a bag to remove your battery when you park? Have any of you had concerns about theft?
I've seen people riding e bikes but I don't know that I've ever seen an E bike chained up somewhere. I also live in Phoenix where driving is how people get around and cycling is a sport for exercise and not a means of travel.
funcentric@reddit
If the distance is that short, then consider an escooter. So many more benefits including taking it in with you and not having to worry about the theft issue. Budget ebikes at least in America start at $1,300. Definitely not fancy. They all have batteries. No, don't remove the battery. You'll expose the terminals to weathering and vandalism.
Opening_Total7711@reddit (OP)
I've seen a lot of escooters too. Are they difficult to steal because you need a key to drive them? Any limitations with the scooters?
funcentric@reddit
Limitation for standard budget ones will be the range and speed. 15-20mi and 20mph. Give or take.
No key required generally. So once they cut the lock, it’s theirs. I wouldn’t refill e locking an escooter. If you have to lock it, then ebike.
Hot_Block_9675@reddit
Phoenix? Shirley you jest. It was 105F on March 19, 2026.
You'll be able to use it from November to April. That's it. If you're lucky...
BTW, ebike batteries get hammered in extreme heat or cold. Count on 50% of capacity.
Opening_Total7711@reddit (OP)
That was a heat wave. Not common in March. I'm comfortable into June with walking personally. So generally I get about 8 months of comfortably walking outside. But I mean i grew up in Chicago where I couldn't ride my bike and feel totally comfortable from November until like April or May as well. Not like biking was some foreign concept to Chicagoans. hell, if anything it's even harder there since when it snows you genuinely might be unable to ride whereas in Phoenix it's just a question of comfort and how much heat you can tolerate.
Hot_Block_9675@reddit
HAha, I live in Tucson which is cooler than Phoenix by a few degrees during the day. The big issue is the morning where we'll drop to 70 while Phoenix is frequently in the upper 80's and low 90's. ...and higher humidity. Brutal.
Opening_Total7711@reddit (OP)
Yeah unfortunately we here in Phoenix, in our infinite wisdom, decided to build more architectural marvels known as surface parking lots. Luckily we're steadily getting rid of more and more of them but it'll take decades before we tackle a large proportion of them. Tucson is just a very small city so you guys don't have this issue luckily.
Sufficient_Wheel9321@reddit
I live in Scottsdale and it’s about the same for me. About 8 months of riding.
MesugakiBratTamer@reddit
• Don't leave a bike unattended for extended periods of time in hoods. (Even with good locks). It's also possible they'll lock your own bike with their lock and/or tag your bike with an airtag.
• If you can't find a post lock the bike into and only have 1 lock, lock the rear wheel
• If stores allow it, (In my area, they do) take the bike inside the store with you as you shop
Katitat678@reddit
Omg them locking your bike with their lock is diabolical
Schtweetz@reddit
Register it on BikeIndex.org! Many bikes have been recovered because the owner took a moment to do this.
Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit
I live in Croatia in Village... Here people don't have a clue about e bikes... When I go to buy something in store, I never lock my bike,nobody does... For now, I have Luck and every man watch his own bussiness...👍
ShutYourDumbUglyFace@reddit
I got a U-lock that is axle grinder resistant. My battery requires a key to remove. I try not to leave it anywhere super public that seems subject to theft and I try not to leave it out locked up for too long (like a quick dash into the grocery is ok, but a full shopping trip would make me nervous).
My transit system has bike lockers and bike shelters (bike lockers are rented to individuals and have a key, bike shelters have a key card entry that anyone can get - but they are under surveillance and it just adds an extra level of security). My office has indoor bike storage. I haven't left the bike at a bike shelter yet, but I'm working up to it, I think. The one I'd use is at a stop that has a pretty constant bus presence and is near to some apartments and shops, so I feel like it's too "public" and would be too protected for a thief to take the risk of trying to get it.
I am most concerned about the theft of the controller dealie, which is not removable on my bike.
At some point, though, if I'm afraid to use the bike, what's the point of having the bike?
nobullshitebrewing@reddit
write down your com, after 17 beers I sometimes forget what it is
Deeznutseus2012@reddit
Lots of people here have good suggestions, but I'll throw a couple in.
First, you can always get a good folding e-bike that can be moved and stored easily, which can be taken wherever you go.
The second is to recommend you get on youtube and look up some testing and review videos on grinder-proof locks.
The best of them not only resist cutting with a grinder, but will in fact destroy the cutting wheel when it is attempted.
Objective_Put_1565@reddit
I leave my $1500 fat tire ebike at work outside for 8 hours each day and it hasn't gotten stolen yet. My perfect setup would be a kryptonite chain lock with a gold rating, a Hiplock DX1000 ulock with a diamond rating and front tire chain, and a motorcycle/bicycle disc brake alarm that locks the brake from turning and sets of a super loud alarm if it sense too mant vibrations. Use the chain lock to lock the back tire and frame to the bike rack. Use the front tire chain to loop through the front tire and the bike chain and then one end of the chain through the other, take the loose end and lock it with the DX1000, the DX1000 should be locked around the frame of your bike (and tire, but this is hard on a lot of fat tire ebikes and bike racks, hence the kryptonite chain lock). This setup should cost about $600, but at this point t thieves might opt to cut the bike rack itself, or cut your bike into pieces to strip and sell. No one is defeating that setup unless they had 30+minutes of uninterrupted angle grinding with 10+ diamond saws
jim914@reddit
I always have at least the center bag from my pannier set with me and I use that to put everything that is easily removed from the bike before I lock it up. What I’ve learned from many years of riding even regular bikes is that they might not want of have the tools available to steal the actual bike but will still steal anything that can be taken off quickly. One time it was a simple frame pump that had been on my bike so long most of the paint was gone and I really didn’t know if it worked but someone thought it needed to be stolen! So all lights that are clip on or on a mount that allows removal and my tool bag, the battery for the bike and my battery for my turn signal lights go in my bag after I use a cable through the front wheel connected to the good ulock which is through the rear hub wheel and the frame. I have it locked up like that daily at work for at least 8 hours and I work at a busy target store.
Suzbhar@reddit
Insurance and lock (to something cemented in)
Cold-Committee-7719@reddit
Like others have said, park in a visible, public place. I used a heavyweight chain plus a wheel lock. I also have an alarm if anyone touches my bike. It also requires either the rf fob or a pin number to turn it on. I try not to go to high crime areas but you know, sometimes it comes to you. I just try to make it difficult.
TantasStarke@reddit
Don't leave it unattended for long. I lock my ebike up outside where I'm going and try and be in and out. Already having a mental map of where and what I'm grabbing in the grocery store, etc. Definitely don't leave locked up overnight, bring it inside every single day. If you're worried about theft get something more portable you can take with you like an electric scooter or an electric unicycle. Scooter could be folded and thrown in/under a shopping cart, and the unicycle can be trollied in with you while you shop. I hold shopping cart with my left hand, unicycle with my right hand, and push the unicycle into the cart so it's almost like I'm pushing the cart with 2 hands
MobileAware2933@reddit
Insurance policy on your bike if it’s over $1k is worth it.
Get 2 of the best locks you can, they also often come with an insurance policy.
Add accessories to the bike, not for the point of making it super attractive, but making it look custom with a sticker here, or there, etc. The scam where they try to put their like on your bike and claim it’s theirs is easier with a “plain” bike than with a bike full of custom stuff, and to that point
Take lots of selfies with you and your bike, and make sure to have a pic of its serial number (and register your bike online with the manufacturer doesn’t hurt).
Park it where you can ideally see it in front of the store or under the stores exterior surveillance camera.
Get a knogg scout or hide an AirTag someone challenging on the bike, so you can always see where it is on “find my”.
Wouldn’t hurt to bring the battery with you but it’s so damn heavy I can never make myself do this bit. I have the Globe Haul and can “lock” the battery via the app, but sounds like they’re giving up on the app so that won’t last long.
chrispark70@reddit
Get yourself 2 good U-locks and a small cable lock.
The first lock goes through the rear triangle and rim and locked to a fixed object. Take the second U-lock and run it through the front rim and a fixed object or the downtube of the bike. Take the small cable lock and run it through the rails of the seat and the top tube (to prevent theft of the seat and seat bar).
If the battery is removable, take it with you if possible.
We need to pair 19th century law with 21st century tech. Theft by hanging for stealing a bicycle, car or horse.
Dry_Device_6206@reddit
I always park my bike, double lock in clear view. Never overnight. I used to bring battery with me, backpack, but I stopped. It’s just heavy. Battery is locked so I’m not worried.
DivasDayOff@reddit
Yup. Higher value than a typical pushbike and just as easy to steal.
I remove any accessories that could easily be stolen. I put a motorcycle chain through the frame and back wheel and around a secure object and fix with a heavy disk detainer lock. I fit an alarmed motorcycle disk brake lock to the front wheel. The main battery is internal, but I secure the secondary "frog" battery through its handle with a steel cable rather than taking it with me.
And still I'm paranoid about leaving it and am never comfortable letting it out of my sight for more than a few minutes.
s0rce@reddit
If its just too far to walk a cheap normal bike might work and there is less risk of theft and its cheaper. Although you need to be cautious in certain areas.