Fastest Way to Open a Bike Lock...

I would like to see a password required to be part of controller programming. Just like on a laptop or cellphone this would make ebike harder to resell if the motor won't run. Currently after market GPS trackers are limited to being concealed in the handlebars or headset. I think if the manufacturers started including these in the controller, battery or elsewhere this may help.
 
erider_61 said:
I would like to see a password required to be part of controller programming. Just like on a laptop or cellphone this would make ebike harder to resell if the motor won't run. Currently after market GPS trackers are limited to being concealed in the handlebars or headset. I think if the manufacturers started including these in the controller, battery or elsewhere this may help.
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You can actually do far better than that.

What I'd like to see is a system where you have to "pair" batteries, display, controller, and motor. And none of them will work if they aren't properly paired. "Pairing" would require a visit to a bike shop and would use the serial number of the motor (and ideally of the bike) as an input. So if you had a database of stolen e-bikes you would find them when they had to be paired with a new battery or display, which would make an e-bike with the battery and/or display removed basically worthless from a resale standpoint.

The big downside is it would be harder to share batteries between bikes.
 
Mr. Coffee said:
The big downside is it would be harder to share batteries between bikes.
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We are a 4-ebike family and share batteries a lot. If I need to go somewhere far and didn't charge, I can swap out with another fully charged battery from one of our other bikes. So while the pairing idea is good in theory, it would make me a bit nutty, because swapping batteries is a useful thing to be able to do. If security is the point, then perhaps "grouping" would work for multi-bike families, where components/batteries could be "grouped", not paired, so that those with multiple compatible bikes could swap around stuff within their group of bikes that they own. Just brainstorming here!!!
 
From what i”ve read they have another padlock shackle made of Molybdenum ? which is claimed to be a little better then boron.
The challenge would be to develop a stronger material -a nanomaterial class that can’t be drilled into/cut into. It can be done, and allthough expensive at first , once mass produced the prices will lower.
 
I decided to throw the bike security question in a Locksmith forum and here is the general consensus. An entirely new type of locking mechanism would need to be developed.

Some locksmiths think a new type of parking rack to integrate with the lock is needed as well. Most of us agree that the lock is going to have to contain Wurtzite Boron Nitride (WBN), a non oxide ceramic that has a indentation rating of GPa 114. In comparison diamonds are GPa 97. So in theory a diamond cutting wheel is not going to cut it.

The Locksmith group thinks ceramic inserts of WBN could be used both in the lock body and the locking shackle or where necessary in a new concept for a bike lock.

My question to the members here is what would you realistically consider paying for a new type of lock that would carry a grade of TL15 or TL30. A TL rating is used with safes meaning it takes 15 or 30 mins. to breach it with cutting, drilling, hand tool attacks. The highest rating is TX-TL60 but the group does not think a bike lock could meet this rating, however a 15 min. rating is certainly doable and most likely a 30 min. as well

Having an industry recognized rating would be an advantage for the consumer as the current ratings applied to bike locks really mean nothing.

With the FBI reporting bike thefts on the rise, estimated at more than 1.5 million a year in the US it is obvious the current design and materials are not working. I plan on looking further into this as it could definitely be a lucrative project with increased ebike sales on the horizon.
 
erider_61 said:
I decided to throw the bike security question in a Locksmith forum and here is the general consensus. An entirely new type of locking mechanism would need to be developed.

Some locksmiths think a new type of parking rack to integrate with the lock is needed as well. Most of us agree that the lock is going to have to contain Wurtzite Boron Nitride (WBN), a non oxide ceramic that has a indentation rating of GPa 114. In comparison diamonds are GPa 97. So in theory a diamond cutting wheel is not going to cut it.

The Locksmith group thinks ceramic inserts of WBN could be used both in the lock body and the locking shackle or where necessary in a new concept for a bike lock.

My question to the members here is what would you realistically consider paying for a new type of lock that would carry a grade of TL15 or TL30. A TL rating is used with safes meaning it takes 15 or 30 mins. to breach it with cutting, drilling, hand tool attacks. The highest rating is TX-TL60 but the group does not think a bike lock could meet this rating, however a 15 min. rating is certainly doable and most likely a 30 min. as well

Having an industry recognized rating would be an advantage for the consumer as the current ratings applied to bike locks really mean nothing.

With the FBI reporting bike thefts on the rise, estimated at more than 1.5 million a year in the US it is obvious the current design and materials are not working. I plan on looking further into this as it could definitely be a lucrative project with increased ebike sales on the horizon.
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I was going to mention that WBN material that i read for 1st. Time on a locksmith forum myself.It looks like they could do an alloy of boron/WBN/Molybdenum/Stainless steel for integrity ? Chromium is listed as very hard material as well.
And as you mentioned ebike sales are just starting to rise in the US, i wonder in Europe what sort of locks they use or if the theft are even an issue ?? For ex. In Paris they already have bike share for ebikes and in other big european capitals is bike theft an issue as it is in say NYC , probably the world capital of bike thefts ??
Me personally , i would def. spend anywhere from 2-500$ Prob. even 1k max. For a close to totally theft proof , die cutter proof lock.
And i am not even the person that has 4-5 Stromers in my garage as others members here on forum ...For many i’m sure this e bike is a marvelous toy, a car replacment, health insurance replacment and a non stop free happiness generator ?.
With upcoming newer models and increase accesories(Abs, double battery) those innovative locks would be an absolut necessity. Coupled a lock like that with maybe bike industry insurance say maybe Specialized can get into the game and provide bike insurance ?? Those 2 toghter( Lock+insurance) or maybe 3 (lock+insurance +GPS) , maybe even a portable drone ? would deter many to consider a “ job “in bike stealing.
And def. it would be disruptive to the present industry and lucrative.
Mr. erider_61 , call the patent office and reg. that idea ! It’s time to get busy.
 
Ebiker01 said:
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And def. it would be disruptive to the present industry and lucrative.
Mr. erider_61 , call the patent office and reg. that idea ! It’s time to get busy...
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Disclaimer: I hold several patents. Disclaimer #2: I Am Not A Lawyer, Thank Goodness.

You are going to want and need a lot more than described here to get a defendable patent. And there are a lot of other ways to protect your intellectual property that are both cheaper for a garage operation and easier to defend. Since the law says that if you can't or won't defend your intellectual property it isn't really yours that can matter. If you are serious about doing something like this, hire and pay a competent IP attorney to work out all the angles.

This might be a good idea. Then again, it might not make any sense at all. You are going to have to do a ton of research and probably think outside the box quite a ways to get anything going.

There seem to be lots of products on kickstarter and indiegogo related to preventing bike theft. It hasn't seemed like any of them have gained any traction. That should tell you something and perhaps you can learn from their failures and figure out a better way.

For myself, you'd have a hard time selling me a bike lock for much more than $250. If you look on rei.com bike lock prices seem to top out right at $200. If you'd want a higher selling price I'd suggest an all-in-one bike lock, gps tracker, noisy bike alarm, and insurance for $500 or so.
 
I still am enamored with the Skunk Lock a poster here mentioned. I believe he receives his this month or maybe next month. I'd like to know rider_61's thoughts on it. As a locksmith he could probably tell us if it's a bunch of baloney or not.

https://www.skunklock.com

For obvious reasons there are ZERO reviews of this lock!
 
SirJonathan said:
I still am enamored with the Skunk Lock a poster here mentioned. I believe he receives his this month or maybe next month. I'd like to know rider_61's thoughts on it. As a locksmith he could probably tell us if it's a bunch of baloney or not.

https://www.skunklock.com

For obvious reasons there are ZERO reviews of this lock!
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My concern would be is the lock body pressurized with the chemical like the shackle is. I some how doubt it as the body contains the key cyl. and holes the shackle fits in. The lock is clearly identified as a skunklock with its black & white colours. Knowing this a thief would simply cut the lock body in half and avoid the shackle.
 
It would seem like more ebikes in NYC were confiscated by police (over a thousand) than stolen there last year.
 
It all started from some big exec. Guy who complained to city hall/ mayor 2years ago..
Now is changing b/c Uber/Citybike/Jump/Lime have lots mo’ money then him and it became a law , that it is legal an Pas ebike.
And ongoing is the legalization of the throttle ones...
Citibike and the other companies e bikes bike sharing system have no throttles so no law given there.


harryS said:
It would seem like more ebikes in NYC were confiscated by police (over a thousand) than stolen there last year.
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erider_61 said:
My concern would be is the lock body pressurized with the chemical like the shackle is. I some how doubt it as the body contains the key cyl. and holes the shackle fits in. The lock is clearly identified as a skunklock with its black & white colours. Knowing this a thief would simply cut the lock body in half and avoid the shackle.
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My 2 cents-How about if the thief comes back moments later after the smoke clears and takes a second shot at it?? The owner will have to retrieve his bike anyway 'after the fact'. Or the thief may just go after an easier target while stinken up the place. Just speculation on my part.
 
erider_61 said:
My question to the members here is what would you realistically consider paying for a new type of lock that would carry a grade of TL15 or TL30. A TL rating is used with safes meaning it takes 15 or 30 mins. to breach it with cutting, drilling, hand tool attacks. The highest rating is TX-TL60 but the group does not think a bike lock could meet this rating, however a 15 min. rating is certainly doable and most likely a 30 min. as well
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I think a $250 lock is doable for a bike costing $2500-5000. That Sargant-Greenway 951C at $1700 (with the ceramic insert) is 2/3 of my bike cost & has a hole cover that makes it incompatible with wire slings. I'd have ordered the Abus 83/80 already but the price spread on e-bay ($110-230) indicates there are obvious fakes out there and is the high price guy real either? Biting the bullet and riding the bus 5 hours to get to Klein Bros (abus dealer) over in the next state wasn't on my todo list at 2 deg F. Also there are no dimensions on the Abus website, so is the shaft at least 10 mm and is the hole big enough for a two eyes of a 3/8" sling? Meanwhile I'm locking up my bike daily around the town with a 1/4" cable and 5/16" shaft Master lock with no trouble. I could cut that lock in 30 minutes with an $8 carbide hacksaw. Probably 4 min with a die-griinder. While the manufacturers are at it, a 6' sling with a uncuttable ceramic wire would be cool. Bike racks around here are front wheel park only, in stupid locations that won't bother the tenants. That 22 kg chain promoted above is a non-starter, save that for a $10000 motorcycle. My bike handles like a barge just with 30 kg of groceries on the back.
E-biker01, I've cut stainless steel shafts professionally at work. PI** as it doesn't melt away from the grinder blade the way carbon steel does once it's red. I have my doubts if a bolt cutter, even an Irwin, could do more than one 3/8" stainless sling without sharpening. Real thieves are too drugged up, IMHO, to keep a first class tool like that very long. I met some thieves fencing goods at 2 AM at the truck shop by the freeway. Thieves are mostly very impatient people. Top of the line here is the throw the gas scooter over the fence and into the van gang.
 
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Uncuttable Ceramic wire, that sounds promising !
On Amazon, the real Abus is also sold by Abus as a seller, it shows their name right on left hand side at the very top, on the right side of the item photo.
 
John07 said:
U-locks may be standard for bicycle locks, but it can get very complicated if you misplace the key or can't unlock it. You can learn how to break a U-lock with just a basic ballpoint pen. Make sure you have a basic 'bar' pen with a ballpoint pen tip. Using your fingernail to pry open the small cap at the end of the pen, it's a good idea to leave the pen with an open tube as this is the tube you'll use to unlock it. You can now insert the pen tube inside the u keyhole. Make sure the tube also fits into the keyhole. Apply enough force when pushing and twisting. Continue the movement until the lock opens. Continue turning until you hear a click that indicates the keyhole is unlocked.
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Better yet if you buy a cheap lock you can pull it apart.
 
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