As I was writing the previous post about car racks suitable for e-bikes, it occurred to me that I need to also talk about the best ways to secure your e-bikes when mounted on a car rack, as well as when you’re out and about. It’s a fact that e-bikes have a habit of disappearing when you’re not watching (and sometimes when you are). So what to do…
This discussion will include six recommendations, each of which will help you secure your investment, but when used in combination will require the would-be thief to be ever more determined in their quest to separate you from your e-bike(s).
Whenever we talk about security, we have to separate potential thieves into two categories. The first category is the ‘opportunistic thief’. This is the person(s) who see an unlocked/unattended e-bike and walk off with it hoping nobody noticed. In this case, the trusting e-bike owner lost their treasure by not taking proper precautions. Bottom line: If you’re going to be out of sight of your e-bike, at least lock it to something so you have some assurance it’ll be there when you get back. Please!
The second category is the ‘determined thief’. This person has some skills, equipment and experience to defeat just about any security measure you want to throw at them. So let’s not make it too easy for them. The recommendations provided below will hopefully not only deter the opportunistic thief, but also encourage the determined thief to move on to seek easier prey.
Recommendation 1 (assumes you’re using a hitch-mounted e-bike rack):
Use a hitch receiver pin lock like this one: MaxxHaul 70050 Heavy Duty 5/8″- Hitch Locking Receiver Pin
This will save your expensive e-bike rack as well. Start here!
Recommendation 2
Buy a rack that has a built-in locking mechanism, like this one: YAKIMA, OnRamp, E-Bike Hitch Bike Rack
The description says it has ‘Integrated SKS (Same Key System) locks included to secure bikes to rack and rack to vehicle receiver’. You can see how this security feature works at 4:30 in this video – Yakima OnRamp Hitch Mount Platform Bike Rack with Ramp Overview. FYI – This video also covers the ramp option available with this rack starting at 5:55 here.
Recommendation 3
Buy a good lock for your e-bike (AND USE IT)! Here’s a good article on the topic: The 17 Best Bike Locks for Security in Every Scenario. The author divides the various lock types into four catagories:
– Best U-Locks
– Best Folding Locks
– Best Chain Locks
– Best Lightweight Locks
Having just read Dan Roe‘s article, I would probably buy this lock: OnGuard 8019L Mastiff 6′ x 3/8″ Quad Chain Lock
AND a cheap lock like this: Master Lock 8170D U-Lock Bike Lock with Key
The expensive chain lock is used when the bikes are on the car rack, and the el cheapo U-Lock is used when I stop by the library for 5 minutes. The chain lock is heavy but deters the determined thief while the cheap, lightweight U-lock deters the opportunistic one.
My last three recommended security devices have their place in certain situations. Here they are: cameras, motion detectors, and bicycle locators.
First, cameras. If I owned an RV, which I don’t, I could use something like this to monitor my e-bikes: Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2, Tiny Size, 1080p and 140-degree FOV, Monitor Your Vehicle While Away. It’s small and discreet, though it does require a power source and a Wifi connection to do it’s job. Still, I can see this being a very handy device for RV campers in places where e-bikes are known to disappear.
Second, motion detectors. The camera just mentioned does capture video when motion is detected. This is a great feature! But there are also times when you just want to park your e-bike and don’t want anyone to mess with it. I like this gizmo: Juiced Horn/Alarm. When the ‘alarm’ function is armed, the horn will beep whenever someone moves your e-bike. Here’s a video that shows how it works: Demo of the Juiced E-Bike Horn/Alarm. And if you want to save a little money, this one available on Amazon appears to be the same unit for less.
And third, bicycle locators. I’m sure you have heard about Apple’s AirTag. Perhaps you even have you doubts about this product due the AirTag ‘stalking‘ claims that have appeared recently. Still, I think this is the way to go if you’re thinking about putting a ‘tracking’ device on your precious e-bike. Once you have purchased your AirTag here, go here to get a $10 bicycle mount that will secure your tracker to your bike. With this setup you will have a better chance of recovering your wayward e-bike than without it. But note, AirTags are designed to work with Apple iPhones. What about us Android users?
I’m going to say for Android users, consider buying a GPS tracker like this one: Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker. The upfront cost is $129 which seems a little high, but the recurring monthly subscription cost is quite reasonable at $2.49/mth ($29.90/yr) for 4G-LTE Cat-M1 cellular access. Other features of the Invoxia Tracker include ’tilt detect’ and ‘movement detect’ alerts. If you want to learn more about this cool device, check out this video. Now to figure out where to put this nifty gadget. I’m guessing it’ll go inside my tool bag with Velcro strips. Then I can move it from one bike to the next as needed…
Well, that’s it for this post. But if you’re interested in some more information on this topic, feel free to check out these videos:
How to Protect Your Electric Bike from Theft
Apple’s AirTag Saved My Bike (Real Theft)
GPS tracking: The answer to bike theft?
Thanks for listening!
PS – And another data point. Did you know “over 2 million bikes get stolen each year in North America” and “eBikes being three times more likely to be stolen than a standard bicycle“? (source) Yikes!