GPS Tracking device, in case of theft?

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Damorgan311

New Member
Wondering if anyone has purchased a GPS tracking device in case some A-Hole decides to steal your bike? If so what is the best device out there? I'm looking into getting the SpyBike but seems a little too pricey.. ANy help would be appreciated.

http://www.spybike.com/
 
There are some gps type trackers out already, but the seatpost of theirs seems like a decent option - the light wouldn't be, too easily removed, good likelihood someone might just rip the light itself off as your bike! You could also do something simple like a tile (that is the name of one of the top selling models on amazon) bluetooth tracker. The tile one in particular has a feature where it will ping you location if it hits in range of other tile users anonymously, meaning even if you aren't in the 100ft range, if your bike were in a crowded location you might get a ping to narrow an area to search.
 
Appreciate the response and feedback. I'm going to look into the Tile.. The seat post option on Spybike is not available yet, but I signed up to get an email once it goes live on the market.

Cheers!
 
for me a small gps device is much better, you can hide it under the seat. im using Trackimo 3G gps device, but still you can google different kinds of gps device that suits you best.
 
I have two Boomerang GPS trackers for both of my Radrovers. They are $200 if you get your own data plan or $250 the 1st year if you get their Verizon data plan for one year with the unit (assuming you will just need to renew the data plan for $50 after the 1st year). I had the two units since Nov/16 and it was mostly because we travel with our ebikes. I was worried at a hotel on the road and someone stealing the bike off the vehicle bike rack if we couldn't store the bike in the room overnight.

The system uses the Verizon cell network and a smartphone app to track, arm, and disarm the boomerang unit. The alarm will sound in a few seconds with movement. You can't arm your bike rack and drive down the road; only when you park, arm bike, run your errands, disarm bike, and drive away. I don't use the outside bike rack at work (store/charge in my server room on 2nd floor); but, I imagine the boomerang might alarm if the rack and bike was bumped enough.

You will get a smartphone alert when the alarm is triggered along with the audible alarm at the bike. There is a web-based app to track your unit. You can't arm/disarm or receive alarms from the webapp, only on your smartphone. You can just google map track and look at metadata collected on your ride with the computer based app (trips, mileage, carbon offset, map location, battery level. device temp, signal level, etc...).

The unit does have trip data logging; but, it is about useless. It starts/stops/records on its own and there is no way to start/stop trip logging like you can with other bike apps. A 2 hour ride might be broken into 2-4 trips with some bike riding time not even being recorded and other time like the bike on the vehicle rack driving down the road included in the with some of the trip time. I just use the Boomerang to arm and track my bike position only. I use free iPhone app like Endomondo to track trip data.

The unit looks weather and dust/dirt resistant. The only place I can see being a problem is the micro USB port used to recharge the unit. I make sure the dust cover is always closed for the USB charging port. I can usually go about a week between charges. The unit uses more power with the bike on the move compared to stand-by mode. I might be able to go 2-3 weeks in stand-by mode. The unit still reports your location in stand-by mode.

Mounted on the down-tube of both Radrovers with a Zefal DT Armor MTB frame guard for extra water and debris protection:
(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)
 
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As mentioned on my R&M Charger thread, I have it mounted with one of the torx screws and two velcro straps. It didn't quite fit my bike due to the weird position of my bike's water bottle mounts. But one screw is better than none I suppose. In my recent two days of testing I had good experience with the accuracy of the GPS. My initial test of the alarm function was positive. It probably isn't loud enough to attract a lot of attention if there is a lot of street/traffic noise. But the text messaging that the bike is being stolen is instantaneous. With the cell phone app, I did notice some latency having my ride info updated. I also experienced a snafu with setting the alarm wherein the cell phone app showed it not activated when it was activated.

Update: I spoke with Boomerang and they expect to roll out a new server in the coming weeks. It is expected that this will improve the latency I noticed. I think also there will be some app updates in the near future. Lastly they are testing another clamp option that will use the Gorilla clip and brackets with security bolts that will allow attaching the device to a cargo rack.
 
dejavu514 said:
for me a small gps device is much better, you can hide it under the seat. im using Trackimo 3G gps device, but still you can google different kinds of gps device that suits you best.
Click to expand...

How do you mount the Trackimo? I couldn't find anything that looked like a secure mount for it. It seems like folks were mounting it with velcro or inside a bag. I was hoping there would be a locking clamp or something to secure it to the bike.
 
Over50 said:
How do you mount the Trackimo? I couldn't find anything that looked like a secure mount for it. It seems like folks were mounting it with velcro or inside a bag. I was hoping there would be a locking clamp or something to secure it to the bike.
Click to expand...
yes im just mounting it using a velcro..and it suits well since the device has a magnetic attachment on it.
 
Seems like Trackimo is good one. Would it fit inside the body of a bike where no one would ever know that there is one GPS tracker inside?
 
Damorgan311 said:
Wondering if anyone has purchased a GPS tracking device in case some A-Hole decides to steal your bike? If so what is the best device out there? I'm looking into getting the SpyBike but seems a little too pricey.. ANy help would be appreciated.

http://www.spybike.com/
Click to expand...

I bought a Riese & Muller Delite and want to do whatever I can to keep it from being stolen, so I researched gps devices for a long time, but no real solid product exists. Most of them have crappy tracking or have to text the device to find out its location.

I found a GPS tracker that goes inside your handlebar, and the head is an end cap to your bar so it can get a signal. They give you a matching one to put on your other end so it isnt suspicious to a thief (he'd have to be one smart thief). So the device charge lasts about 10 days, but that is because it does so many things right. The battery readout is on the app and to charge it you dont have to remove it! You just flip off the end cap piece and theres the port, so you can even charge it on your bike while riding if you had to.

https://www.sherlock.bike/en/

When you leave your bike you can put it into lock mode and it will tell you of any motion detection with your bike, and of course tell you if it has been moved. So you will know right away if it has been stolen and it gives real time satellite tracking when you turn on "theft mode" from the app. Essentially you could get in a car and find the bike even at it is going down the highway.

The app is really user friendly and simple. The product is made in Italy and is available for pre-order. It ships in May and I already paid for mine the other day. I have been tracking this product and it has great beta test results as well. I was watching it before the price was revealed and truly thought it would be a $250-$350 device. In total I paid $145ish but shipping was about $25.

I can't give a user review of course but it is definitely worth checking out. All the other products are pretty useless in the event a professional bike thief takes it. Spybike and Boomerang and others might work for if the town drunk steals your bike or some drug addict. I believe the Sherlock is the only device that would stand a chance, and still may be discovered by a good thief.
 
I'm always torn between hidden compared to exposed GPS trackers. I would like to think an exposed GPS tracker with alarm would be less of a target for the average "opportunistic" thief. I really wouldn't want to confront a bike thief on the street or their home turf without law enforcement present. Considering the cost of some of these ebike, I'm surprised they don't offer cellular GPS tracking options hidden inside the bike and run power off the ebike battery. The GPS unit can have its own internal battery source (1-2 weeks of power); but, gets topped off when the main battery is connected and/or charging.
 
Over50 said:
Nice. How/where did you attach it? I've been wondering if Trackimo has released a locking housing for bike mounting yet....
Click to expand...

I looked into Trackimo's 3G GPS device and they included a belt strap and a magnetic attachment for this device. But I think it would suffice because of how tiny the tracking device is and how easily you can conceal it from the eyes of the thief. hehe ;);):cool::cool:
 
Joseph Adams said:
I looked into Trackimo's 3G GPS device and they included a belt strap and a magnetic attachment for this device. But I think it would suffice because of how tiny the tracking device is and how easily you can conceal it from the eyes of the thief. hehe ;);):cool::cool:
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure. You can't hide it inside aluminum tubing as I understand that dampens the signal. Seems you'd have to stick it under the seat which is the first place a thief would look. An experienced thief is probably looking for obvious trackers. They just put a bike share program in place in my area and it is clearly marked that they are tracked via gps - I'll try to find out how/what device. I'm not sure I trust a magnetic only attachment either over rough terrain. I still think they need a device that locks the tracker on the bike.

By the way, my Boomerang stopped communicating for an unknown reason and I think they are sending me a new one - I'll post more once I know for sure.
 
I have two Boomerangs and one unit occasionally drops communications. It seems to work as normal after I hit the reset button. I just got in the habit of pressing the button once a week. I only put around 2000 miles on my bike; but, 20,000 on my vehicle. I sometimes remove my GPS tracker on my bike and place it inside my car (I have a 12v plug in my SUV hatch). I figure I'm paying for nation wide 24/7 coverage and I get multiple use from a single use item to make it cost effective insurance policy.
 
I think putting under the seat or in a conspicuous location can really deter wanna-be thieves. Although, there are exceptions and some are fearless enough to yank it off, usually with tools to do so.
 
Dorothy Hill said:
I think putting under the seat or in a conspicuous location can really deter wanna-be thieves. Although, there are exceptions and some are fearless enough to yank it off, usually with tools to do so.
Click to expand...
If it is hidden under the seat then it isn't a deterrent. If it is visible and is a deterrent then it needs to be locked to the bike. Ideally the hidden tracker also needs to be locked to the bike. If it is just a matter of a thief checking under the saddle for a tracker and removing it (velcro, magnetic) and tossing it then obviously it isn't going to be of much use.
 
Over50 said:
If it is hidden under the seat then it isn't a deterrent. If it is visible and is a deterrent then it needs to be locked to the bike. Ideally the hidden tracker also needs to be locked to the bike. If it is just a matter of a thief checking under the saddle for a tracker and removing it (velcro, magnetic) and tossing it then obviously it isn't going to be of much use.
Click to expand...

I really don't want to track my stolen bike. I would like to stop it's theft in the first place. How about applying an on board "Electric Fence" type technology. Something that sends jolt(s) to whom ever is violating the bike. Electric fences help keep livestock enclosed and protected or keep predators at bay. With all that electric going on a keyless jolting electric pulse along with an audio alarm would be a better way to go - just my 2 cents
 
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