Motor lock, to block your bike electrically

[Arrius]

I have to agree that a kill switch would be a great safeguard for an ebike. It still wouldn't prevent thieves to steal the bike though which is the main issue.
Multiple layers with a lot of alerts is what I am going for. I am buying an e-bike tracking package with movement alert, geofence etc. I sure hope it will be enough with the addition of a couple of sturdy locks.

 

[AHicks]

I have to agree that a kill switch would be a great safeguard for an ebike. It still wouldn't prevent thieves to steal the bike though which is the main issue.

Thinking you're going to need to be pretty motivated to move a bike with a nearly locked up rear wheel. You certainly aren't going to carry it far! Or even if you were capable of/motivated to carrying/dragging - it's not like you aren't going to create some attention from anyone in the area.

I like the idea myself. Especially if you set up a circuit that made it impossible to power up the bike with this feature enabled as part of the design. -Al

 

[Bruce Arnold]

Defcon 1, Use the cafe lock on the bike to immobilize the bike and take the controller. I keep the bike in sight as much as possible.

I don't have a cafe lock, but this serves the same purpose. It's not a "be out of sight of your bike for several hours lock" in any but the most safe situations, but for a quick run into a shop where I can keep my eye on the bike, it's perfect. I put it through the rear wheel and frame to deter the hop-on-and-ride-away thief. Pretty much what a cafe lock does.

 

[erider_61]

I don't have a cafe lock, but this serves the same purpose. It's not a "be out of sight of your bike for several hours lock" in any but the most safe situations, but for a quick run into a shop where I can keep my eye on the bike, it's perfect. I put it through the rear wheel and frame to deter the hop-on-and-ride-away thief. Pretty much what a cafe lock does.

WOW...a small pair of wire snips and there goes your bike with that glorified Zip tie. Maybe it's just me being a Locksmith but I am always amazed how people cheap out on protecting valuable things. And I don't mean just ebikes. I see lousy locks on homes, gun cabinets, safes etc. While no lock will prevent a theft, the best we can do is purchase the top of the line to at least deter the lower level of thieves. They know what locks are easy to defeat and which ones aren't and are always looking for the quickest way...

 

[Bruce Arnold]

WOW...a small pair of wire snips and there goes your bike with that glorified Zip tie. Maybe it's just me being a Locksmith but I am always amazed how people cheap out on protecting valuable things. And I don't mean just ebikes. I see lousy locks on homes, gun cabinets, safes etc. While no lock will prevent a theft, the best we can do is purchase the top of the line to at least deter the lower level of thieves. They know what locks are easy to defeat and which ones aren't and are always looking for the quickest way...

You really ought to read before mouthing off, locksmith or not.

For one thing, it takes more than a pair of "small wire snips" to cut these ties cleanly. You might be able to cut them with wire snips if you were willing to stand there and chew away. If I'm wrong, and you can send us a video of what you're talking about, then I will eat crow without complaint.

Second, you could say the same thing about any cablelock, which can be cut by boltcutters, but they have their place too.

Three, my threat assessment is not the guy with the boltcutter, it's the guy who sees a bike and decides to try to ride off on it.

Planning for the worst case scenario at all times in all circumstances is a losing strategy. I'd just never take the bike out at all except for recreational rides with no stops if that were the case.

A picture is worth a thousand words:

 

[erider_61]

I stand buy what I said. At $20 for a pair, those fancy zip ties are not a security device and you comparing them to a cafe lock and saying "this serves the same purpose" & "Pretty much what A cafe lock does" is a stretch of imagination. If you feel it works for you then great. I will stick to REAL locks and continue to recommend them.

 

[harryS]

Summer 2017. Thief unscrews post to take bike in Chicago.

https://abc7chicago.com/news/caught...-parking-sign-to-steal-high-end-bike/2202211/

 

[ebikemom]

I heard somewhere on the web that bike thieves work in twos or threes. In the "threes" scenario, one guy spots the bike to steal. The next guy goes and disables the lock on that bike. The website said that theives tend to carry tools that can get their work done quickly, like cable cutters for cable locks, and don't carry tools for lots of different kinds of locks. Then, guy #3 goes to the bike and rides it away.

In this scenario, what is stolen are bikes that are easier to steal.

The website also said that thieves prefer attractive/expensive-looking bikes. So, as my bike gets the look that comes from wear and tear, I see that as a good thing!

I'm fortunate that I can bring my bike into my office when I go to work, so it isn't unattended all day. Other times I'm riding recreationally or for errands, and when I lock the bike up, it's only unattended for up to a few hours. I use a "foldylock."

 

[Bruce Arnold]

I stand buy what I said. At $20 for a pair, those fancy zip ties are not a security device and you comparing them to a cafe lock and saying "this serves the same purpose" & "Pretty much what A cafe lock does" is a stretch of imagination. If you feel it works for you then great. I will stick to REAL locks and continue to recommend them.

So we have a different risk assessment. That's okay by me.

However, you think yours is right and mine is wrong, which is pretty obnoxious, and the exact opposite of what risk assessments are meant to provide.

 

[erider_61]

Let's see, calling me "obnoxious" and saying I'm "mouthing off" because my assessment of your zip tie thingy is the way you carry on a debate? Really?

Whether I am right or wrong is not the point. Resorting to derogatory remarks is not something I will participate in with you.

There are plenty of reviews online with many complaints about problems with the pronged key failing and having to cut the strap off. Also you only get 1 key and this fits every lock.

I'm sorry but that is not real security in my world. The company also sells a fashion lock that you wear as a belt. This speaks volumes to me as to the type of products Hiplok is marketing

 

[glenmorenee]

I think I'll add a pair of these to my Defcon 1 level. I need something to deter a casual theft of my QR front wheel while I have the cafe lock activated. And maybe 2 of them together for my seat. My seat is not that expensive but the Thudbuster seat post is and riding home without a seat would be miserable.

 

[dblhelix]

I do think some kind of camera you could stick to a wall or post such that you could watch the bike or it takes motion sensitive pictures or videos of anyone trying to or taking it. .

Would your local law enforcement help you if you brought your video to them?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

...
I do think some kind of camera you could stick to a wall or post such that you could watch the bike or it takes motion sensitive pictures or videos of anyone trying to or taking it....

Brickhouse Security CAM-MICRO -- of course, someone could steal that too.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Let's see, calling me "obnoxious" and saying I'm "mouthing off" because my assessment of your zip tie thingy is the way you carry on a debate? Really?

Whether I am right or wrong is not the point. Resorting to derogatory remarks is not something I will participate in with you.

There are plenty of reviews online with many complaints about problems with the pronged key failing and having to cut the strap off. Also you only get 1 key and this fits every lock.

I'm sorry but that is not real security in my world. The company also sells a fashion lock that you wear as a belt. This speaks volumes to me as to the type of products Hiplok is marketing
View attachment 29178

I think you need to consider where and when such a device is appropriate.

I agree with you that a bike secured with a z-lok wouldn't last five minutes in Manhattan or San Francisco. However, I live near a small western town and the z-lok is a great quick way to secure the bike when I am at the post office or bakery. They also really shine for securing panniers to your bike so they can't be as easily stolen when you are on a ferry. Yes, you can easily defeat them with a good pair of cutters, just like most any cable lock on the market.

A quick perusal of Youtube shows that there isn't any lock on the market that will stop a determined thief. So what lock you use and when and where you use it becomes to some extent a judgement call. My own preferences are to avoid high-risk areas and make a point of parking and locking my bike where I can see it and quickly get to it if there is a problem. That makes the purpose of the lock more to slow down a determined thief rather than make the bike bombproof, which as so many youtube videos show is a hopeless endeavor.

 

[JRA]

Granted I don’t live in a high crime area at this time nor leave my bike unattended except for short periods, but as the old saying goes “locks only keep honest people honest” so I roll with a simple cheap cable combo lock.

I keep it slung on my rear view mirror and before I start out I slip the coil onto my wrist where it rides comfortably and at hand, literally, when needed.



I usually just throw a loop around the top tube to a rack or rail and give the combo a few clicks.

I also keep the battery locked with the key in my pocket while riding so it is secure on its own.

 

[erider_61]

For one thing, it takes more than a pair of "small wire snips" to cut these ties cleanly. You might be able to cut them with wire snips if you were willing to stand there and chew away. If I'm wrong, and you can send us a video of what you're talking about, then I will eat crow without complaint.

While not a Hip Lok this video of a very similar product , the Ottolock shows just how quickly these zip ties can be removed with a simple pair of cutters. Would you like your Crow medium or rare?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

While not a Hip Lok this video of a very similar product , the Ottolock shows just how quickly these zip ties can be removed with a simple pair of cutters. Would you like your Crow medium or rare?

I honor and respect your expertise. Please understand that on this site we have an ethos of being excellent to each other and don't generally get into any kind of one-upmanship.

A quick perusal of youtube shows that nearly all bike locks on the market can be easily defeated by someone with even moderate skill in a few minutes, often with simple tools.


I agree that the zip-tie "locks" can be easily defeated in a few seconds with simple tools. But so can expensive and fancy Abus and Kryptonite locks. So for this amateur it is hard to see what the value proposition in that heavier and more expensive lock is.

The alternatives that cannot be so easily defeated are both heavy and expensive. So what practical solutions can you recommend short of a lock that weighs 10kg and costs perhaps $200?

 

[erider_61]

@Mr. Coffee Unfortunately I have no practical solutions when it comes to bike security. Anything currenty available can be defeated in seconds not minutes like I mentioned in my other thread. I wouldn't waste your money on a high security, expensive lock tho. I think that money is better spent on a GPS tracker and ebike insurance.

However I do like the idea of a chemical deterrent with the Skunk Lock.
https://www.skunklock.com/

 

[Bruce Arnold]

@erider_61 Those aren't wire snips, which is what you cited earlier. I've never said that this lock couldn't be defeated with the right tools.

Moving the goal posts isn't about having a dialog, it's about winning at all costs. Which is pretty funny, since this is just an ebike forum, not the Super Bowl or something else where winning actually pays off.

You continue to dodge the central issue, which is risk assessment. This works for me in a specific and narrowly defined set of circumstances. And by "works" I don't mean I like the theory. I mean has worked, over time, providing a minimal cell of security when a minimal level is what I want.

If you want to say that there's never a to time when minimal security is acceptable, okay. We disagree. Discussion over.

 

[erider_61]

@erider_61 Those aren't wire snips, which is what you cited earlier.

I must be missing something here then. Because when I google Wiss tool wire snips which happen to be the pair I own I get this pic. But I will defer to your obvious superior tool knowledge...