Locking up/securing Electric bikes

camel

camel

Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Posts
127
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Location
Durham
Funster No
11,249
MH
LP Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 2011
Hi
We've just purchased 2 new electric bikes and have made the mistake of watching YouTube and seen how insecure most bikes are when they are left at cycle posts etc. I'm trying not to get too paranoid and realise that nothing will probably stop a determined thief.
I'm thinking down the lines of a high quality D lock with attached cable going through the wheels.
Is it worth carrying a bike cover to slip over the bike once locked up? I'm thinking this as the electronic display unit does not detach from the bike and makes it obvious that its an electric bike parked up. I intend taking the battery off and putting it in my backpack, but again, is this something you do or just leave it on the bike?
Thanks in advance
Paul
 
I use a steel security cable with a decent padlock, as I find it more versatile. Also be prudent where you leave them locked up.
 
If they want the they will take them.
Unfortunately the toe rags found battery grinders :rolleyes:

Best you can do is one of the lighter motorbike braided with the d locks with a rotating spindle.
 
As silver fox said, an angle grinder with a diamond blade cut through my previous D lock in less than 10 seconds. Since then I have this. It’s a weight piece of kit but it emits a 120 dB alarm as well as having physical security. I tested it out in the house and the echoes are still resonating.
 

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I paid nearly £90 for a bulldog chain, gives me peace of mind.

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If they want it, they will take it. But isn,t that what insurance is for
 
I too am very paranoid about leaving our 2 ebikes to replace them would cost 6.5k

I use a very heavy motorbike lock and chain it's a pain to carry but I put it in a back pack 10mm thick links but will not stop a battery angle grinder

I only ever leave mine in very busy areas in view of cctv cameras if possible if I am not comfortable with it I will not leave them

I have both ours on our house insurance which covers us in full if stolen away from home as they are listed on the policy as separate items it cost about an extra £80 a year but we'll worth it it my eyes
 
We really enjoy touring major European cities with our ebikes and agree with others if they are going to steel them they will but buggered if we are going to let others dictate our enjoyment. We are sensible and make sure whoever possible we leave them D locked to an immovable object in a public space. We used to piggy D lock back one bike to the other until we had confirmed by our insurance company that BOTH bikes need to individually locked to an immovable object. Not sure why and neither are they but to keep within their criteria we now also have a 1.5m length of plastic coated cable that we can thread both bikes through to a railing or whatever to cover that off.
2 other points came up whilst talking to the insurance company - 1. Even if, as ours are, locked in an alarmed garage within the motorhome they need to be locked to an ‘Immovable’ object!
2. Bikes on an external bike rack need to be locked to the part of the rack that is not discountable ie not just the support arm. When we had an external bike rack we used to thread a cable through one of the motorhome wheels (when camped up!). Anyhow that’s the info we have been given for what it’s worth.
Enjoy your bikes and just be responsible about where and how you lock them and keep within the requirements stipulated by your insurance company. Sorry last point we also take a picture with a smartphone of where we leave them so there is no doubt where they were if there was a question asked.
 
The motorbike world has discovered that locks are either very tough, which get attacked by a grinder in seconds, or very hard, which get shattered with sledgehammer in seconds.

We have a pair of Bromptons, one electric. Our solution is:
  • to park them up in plain sight
  • use a d-lock and cables on each bike
  • binding them to an immovable object AND each other so multiple locks have to be attacked to get to either bike
  • try to make the locks hard to get at and harder to attack, so keep them off the ground and add your helmets to the lock ring to add more faff
  • ... and insurance
 
We are out in Spain as I write, with 2 old/relatively cheap ebikes.
Mounted on rear Fiama carrier.
We take batteries out and apply 2 only moderate quality locks.
Fortunately the control panel detaches from the more valuable one.
We insured them using 'Yellow Jersey' for 30 days for about £36, value at £350 each.

So far Aires and campsites, no problems.

However, I did notice many French and Spanish vans with 2 very low value, disposable bikes on the back

Started thinking that it might be a good policy to have 2 sets of bikes one posh,one cheap.

They suffer on a bike carrier as well

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We use 3 locks; a chain, a cable and a D-lock. Its a bit of a fiiddle but the thief will have to be well prepared with some spare time.
Our bikes were targetted whilst on the aire at Graveline last summer. He had removed the cover and undone all the straps (despite us sleeping at the back of the van) but something disturbed me and he ran off when I came out.
 
brynric said:
We use 3 locks; a chain, a cable and a D-lock. Its a bit of a fiiddle but the thief will have to be well prepared with some spare time.
Our bikes were targetted whilst on the aire at Graveline last summer. He had removed the cover and undone all the straps (despite us sleeping at the back of the van) but something disturbed me and he ran off when I came out.
Click to expand...
Advantage of Bromptons. Our van is only 5.4m and we store them inside, in the garage.
 
We have one Abus lock that was about 80 quid & a heavy Squire chain lock, & a big cable through the wheels always take the displays off but can't be bothered with the batteries, too heavy to lug about. I could take the peddles off but don't normally bother. I fitted detachable peddles as makes it so much easier puting the bikes in the van.
Looking at getting a couple of Liteloks.
 
Cycled to Versailles on Friday ...no real cycle parking there ..so we parked at Hotel de Ville....where there were bike stands ...locked our electric bikes up with two chains, two D locks, an Abus cable lock , and an Abus cable. Yes they were still there after 8 miles of walking. (y)
 
We use Hiplok-Gold-chains to secure our two e-bikes. They aren't cheap at £90 each, but I see little point in using cheap crap on expensive bikes.
As the name alludes to, when they are not in use they can be worn around your waist whilst riding the bike, but it is quite substantial and heavy kit as might be expected.
The 10mm chains are protected in a strong woven sleeve and the padlocks are very good - security industry Gold standard.
We can recommend them for peace of mind. You can't really do much better to deter a thief.
We also take a photo of the bikes locked in situ every time we leave them somewhere. (More for the insurance claim than anything else) (y)
 
I'd have thought chains and locks would be made of hard metal that's grinder resistant.

I tried to cut some stainless steel the other week with my mains grinder... Took ages. Perhaps my blade is crap :ROFLMAO:
 
We use Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Minis. Sold secure Gold and rated 10/10 - you can register for their anti-theft protection of up to £3000. The bikes are also insured on the house policy. The locks are not cheap but a very small percentage of the value of the bikes (they also weigh a ton!). I also use the Abus cafe lock on the rear wheel and thread a cable through the front wheel just for extra faff factor.

The bikes are also registered on the Bike Register (National Cycle Database) and have been UV security marked (y)

https://www.bikeregister.com
 
I use an Oxford revolver motorbike lock.
1.8mtrs loops through rear wheel and rear frame (Dutch bike so no cross bar), battery carry handle, front wheel and immovable object.
To carry it loops, figure 8 style, round seat post and rear carrier a couple of times and is out of the way.

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Had ebikes for approx 8 years and they are insured with a bike speciaist insurer and it is stipulated that we had to use at least 2 rated locks one of which is a D lock. If leaving them in exposed stituation I also remove the pedals, as they are easy to carry and sometimes the batteries. it may not deter the determined but it puts the oppotunist off usually.
 
I guess it’s like everything else you try to make it less appealing and that they will pinch someone else’s instead.
 
If worried about theft, get insurance.
Then ask the underwriter what precautions are required.
 
No ebike thefts in Norfolk as they don't have leccy yet to charge them. In Wells at the moment:cycle:
Joking
 
Can anyone recommend a decent bike insurer for my ebike please.
Value at £3k+ is more than my home insurance will cover.
Don’t need things like competition/race cover for obvious reasons but third party/accident cover is a must, just in case I mow down some old lady. :(

It seems that many companies require security that would put Fort Knox to shame and mean that they don’t take any risk. I do use a top quality lock but how on Earth are you supposed to lock a bike to an ‘immovable object’ when locked in a MoHo garage as one Funster has to?

Richard.
 
The problem with booby traps... How many times have you set the alarm off yourself while faffing about trying to disarm it... I was trying to get the disc lock off the scoot the other day with the wrong key :ROFLMAO:
 
@Clarky , We're insured with Yellow Jersey. I think it cost somewhere in excess of £300 to insure both bikes. They have three different levels of cover, so you can choose the one most appropriate to you. We had to go for a higher level because of the length of time we spend abroad. Some companies would not insure for lengthy periods away.
I don't think there's a cheap way of doing it, but our bikes are brand new. As they get older, I hope we'll be able to find something less expensive :unsure:. If you look at their web site, you can run a quote.

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