would this work for anti theft?

[Dewey]

I may yet do an "ugly ification" with fake rust and grey tape, etc.

That's one of the features I like about my DIY converted pedal bike held together with bits of duct tape, strips of old inner tube under clamps, zip ties, a hose clamp, etc.

 

[Art Deco]

That's one of the features I like about my DIY converted pedal bike held together with bits of duct tape, strips of old inner tube under clamps, zip ties, a hose clamp, etc.

I just don't have the heart...

How to Make Your Bike Look an Ugly Discouragement for Thieves

How to Make Your Bike Look an Ugly Discouragement for Thieves : Bike theft is one of the most common troubles in UK like most of other European nations, moreover, the locks don’t put much resistance against tech savvy thieves. Take a look at this video “Bike Theft” on Youtube by the Neistat...

www.instructables.com

 

[dodahman]

If your e-bike isn't a Trek or Specialized, always lock up your bike beside a Trek or Specialized (even if they're not e-bikes).

Guess which one the thief of opportunity is going to take?

Here in Toronto, I'm also surprised by how often I see pedal bikes worth north of a couple of grand locked up with a single U-lock, frequently only through the down tube. If I'm leaving my bike unattended for longer than it takes to grab a cup of coffee mid-ride, I'll have at least 2 locks with me.

The majority of thieves ARE opportunistic, and just the sight of both a folding lock, and a decent U-lock (or sometimes the Beast chain), is enough for them to pick an easier target. I would say that in practice, almost every time I've done a lock up, there's been a high quality pedal bike poorly locked up nearby, and I choose to park beside it.

Also, if there's the option to pick a less easily accessible spot to lock it up say, a middle space in a crowded row of racks, I'll choose that, for the same "thieves are opportunistic jerks" mindset.

I've taken this approach with my pedal bikes for the past 30 years as well. Think of it as a "herd mentality" thing... if thieves are wolves, looking for the weakest prey, don't be the weakest prey. I wouldn't say that it's something I actively have to keep in mind... it's become instinctual with me, well before I bought my first e-bike.

The only countermeasure I could never bring myself to do is the "make the bike look like crap" approach, though the idea of a fake rusty patina on the frame to give it a "jalopy" look does appeal to me aesthetically speaking.

Also, as @Mike TowpathTraveler said, having a removeable display was a part of the decision making process, because besides thieves, there are also dicks who like to mess around with bikes for the lulz. One of our fixed Bafang displays was deliberately twisted by a dick while we were shopping last year. Luckily it was just the clamp and not the display that was cracked and easily fixed.

excellent advice. Kinda like houses. One doesn't need the best protection, just better protection than the neighbors houses.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

It is actually easier than that. And if the manufacturers got on board with it, I don't think it would ever be worthwhile to steal an e-bike.

The key point is that you've got to charge the batteries, and that most people don't carry their charger with them.

So what you do is build a system where you have to pair the batteries with both the charger and the bike motor. That pairing process can involve serial numbers on both the batteries and the bike (both of which usually already have serial numbers). You'd need to go to a bike shop (or give the battery serial number information when you ordered a charger) to get this done.

What that lets you do is that when someone with a stolen e-bike inevitably needs to buy a charger, they have to go to a bike shop to get the charger "paired" with their batteries. At that point you can check the battery serial numbers against a register of stolen bikes. Done.

A minor and modest extension would be to allow any given battery to work with multiple e-bikes.

 

[Gionnirocket]

It is actually easier than that. And if the manufacturers got on board with it, I don't think it would ever be worthwhile to steal an e-bike.

The key point is that you've got to charge the batteries, and that most people don't carry their charger with them.

So what you do is build a system where you have to pair the batteries with both the charger and the bike motor. That pairing process can involve serial numbers on both the batteries and the bike (both of which usually already have serial numbers). You'd need to go to a bike shop (or give the battery serial number information when you ordered a charger) to get this done.

What that lets you do is that when someone with a stolen e-bike inevitably needs to buy a charger, they have to go to a bike shop to get the charger "paired" with their batteries. At that point you can check the battery serial numbers against a register of stolen bikes. Done.

A minor and modest extension would be to allow any given battery to work with multiple e-bikes.

I don't think that is a good idea.
First it will add cost.
Then the person who stole the bike will probably sell it and the potentially unsuspecting buyer will be the one being punished.
Lastly I think anyone with some skill could bypass this by replacing the BMS and or controller.

As far as doing the ugly bike... Seems dumb to punish yourself to avoid the problem

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I don't think that is a good idea.
First it will add cost.
Then the person who stole the bike will probably sell it and the potentially unsuspecting buyer will be the one being punished.
Lastly I think anyone with some skill could bypass this by replacing the BMS and or controller.

As far as doing the ugly bike... Seems dumb to punish yourself to avoid the problem

My own guesstimate is that it would add $5-$10 cost to the batteries and charger. For bikes that cost $1000+ that is noise.

As for the "unsuspecting buyer", if you buy a $1000+ bike for very cheap without the charger and other materials you are either terribly naive or you really know you are buying something hot. Either way I have little sympathy for them. And this way the rightful owner has at least a chance of getting their bike returned to them.

I've been approached by people trying to sell me stolen goods and it was always pretty damned obvious.

 

[Headdamage]

It will not stop a theft but I hop it slows them down bit. I've used a Bafang magnetic brake switch as a kill switch by sticking the magnet on a bit of ferrous metal beside the switch (on the front brake handle assembly). When parking the bike or if confronted by an ebike police check I can pocket the magnet and this disables the power to the motor.

 

[Dewey]

It will not stop a theft but I hop it slows them down bit. I've used a Bafang magnetic brake switch as a kill switch by sticking the magnet on a bit of ferrous metal beside the switch (on the front brake handle assembly). When parking the bike or if confronted by an ebike police check I can pocket the magnet and this disables the power to the motor.

Good idea

 

[Gionnirocket]

My own guesstimate is that it would add $5-$10 cost to the batteries and charger. For bikes that cost $1000+ that is noise.

As for the "unsuspecting buyer", if you buy a $1000+ bike for very cheap without the charger and other materials you are either terribly naive or you really know you are buying something hot. Either way I have little sympathy for them. And this way the rightful owner has at least a chance of getting their bike returned to them.

I've been approached by people trying to sell me stolen goods and it was always pretty damned obvious.

Good luck with your venture... Let me know when it comes to market.

 

[PedalUma]

I haven't seen it done to e-bikes, personally. I've seen a "uglified" pedal bikes with well-kept components and ugly frames here in Toronto, including a higher end Sirrus covered in duct tape and stickers.

This guy uses mustard. It is very funny to watch and I love the final product. This would be so fun to do on a new Specialized. It is a short video clip of a Rat Rod Moped.

 

[Scarlet/Fire]

I keep reading about ebikes being stolen. Yesterday I read about a delivery person in big city having his stolen by folks brandishing guns/knives. The delivery guy lost his bike and his job, but he had no choice really.
So, how about hidden blue tooth connectivity device. If the owners smart phone lost contact, the device could shut down the bike. It probably should have a variable timer for cutoff, from 0 to a minute or so? You don't want to immediately piss off a robber with a gun, you would rather him/her leave, is my thinking on the delay. It could tie into brake lever control or ?
Has this been done as aftermarket accessory?
Is this stupid?
Thanks.

I like that idea - if it could somehow electrocute the thief,that would be enjoyable! I have a cheap remote on/off hidden alarm - I’m still too paranoid to leave my bike vulnerable- but this thing would be very annoying and attract attention the second the bike was significantly jostled- Cheers

 

[mogulskier]

I'd prefer to see what the manufacturers can do regarding anti-theft/security at the factory. Owners will always come up with ideas on how to deal with security be it locks, immobility devices, sound alarms, motion sensors, Bluetooth monitoring, etc.

Thieves are creatures of opportunity. When the right opportunity presents itself, they will strike. Or straight up bike jack you with a loaded firearm, and are fully prepared to use it. Look at carjacking; it all can happen incredibly quick. Much faster then you might imagine.

 

[Alaskan]

Bosch bikes equipped with the Kiox or Nyon display can get an optional motor lock function added to their device. When activated, removing the display renders the motor dead until that exact display unit is put back on the bike. I also have a Cliq rear safety light with accelerometer for both brake light as well as theft alert. Using the phone app, activating the tamper alert sends you a text if the unit detects any movement or shaking. Not a great idea to leave where you are to confront someone with a gun or knife trying to steal your bike though.

Cliq - As bright as it gets

The ultimate smart taillight for the modern cyclist.

www.hauteworks.com

 

[theemartymac]

Bosch bikes equipped with the Kiox or Nyon display can get an optional motor lock function added to their device. When activated, removing the display renders the motor dead until that exact display unit is put back on the bike. I also have a Cliq rear safety light with accelerometer for both brake light as well as theft alert. Using the phone app, activating the tamper alert sends you a text if the unit detects any movement or shaking. Not a great idea to leave where you are to confront someone with a gun or knife trying to steal your bike though.

Cliq - As bright as it gets

The ultimate smart taillight for the modern cyclist.

www.hauteworks.com

I think the phone app version of this has some potential down the road. I always mount my phone on my bars when I ride anyway, so having the option to use your phone as the display and allowing it to be the controller interface would be appealing and actually pretty simple to configure.

I think the charger pairing idea is short sighted and inconvenient, as we should be moving to eventually using plug standards so we can add universal charging stations for bikes (in cities) that don't require the rider to carry any gear. Just like E cars.

You can certainly get a wide range of tracking devices for your bike already, but they all require cellular or satellite contracts ($$) as the range of Bluetooth is inadequate to track more than half a city block, and certainly won't work through obstructions. Also, any smart thief would know to disable it as quickly as possible, but if they ever got to the point of being so common and standardized that manufacturers installed them in the frame, we might have some take up.

And it's important to recognize that most bikes stolen are at least partially rebuilt and/or stripped and parted out. The number of stripped frames I see around here in the city parks and drainages reinforces that. The frame can be traced, the parts can't, so they are easier to pawn or sell on the local swap and shop sites.

 

[PedalUma]

I think the phone app version of this has some potential down the road. I always mount my phone on my bars when I ride anyway, so having the option to use your phone as the display and allowing it to be the controller interface would be appealing and actually pretty simple to configure.

I think the charger pairing idea is short sighted and inconvenient, as we should be moving to eventually using plug standards so we can add universal charging stations for bikes (in cities) that don't require the rider to carry any gear. Just like E cars.

You can certainly get a wide range of tracking devices for your bike already, but they all require cellular or satellite contracts ($$) as the range of Bluetooth is inadequate to track more than half a city block, and certainly won't work through obstructions. Also, any smart thief would know to disable it as quickly as possible, but if they ever got to the point of being so common and standardized that manufacturers installed them in the frame, we might have some take up.

And it's important to recognize that most bikes stolen are at least partially rebuilt and/or stripped and parted out. The number of stripped frames I see around here in the city parks and drainages reinforces that. The frame can be traced, the parts can't, so they are easier to pawn or sell on the local swap and shop sites.

Many of my attempts at humor fail. Forgive me.
Have you ever noticed that a seat post is the same diameter as a shotgun shell?
What about putting your saddle up all the way? This is the approach taken by single undergrads with apartments at Colombia in NYC putting size 16EEE lumberjack boots outside their front doors at night.
What about the opposite approach? Making your bike so beautiful and distinctive that thieves are intimidated by it.

 

[theemartymac]

What about the opposite approach? Making your bike so beautiful and distinctive that thieves are intimidated by it.

Ahhh, the hot Blonde in the Bar approach. Might just work! lol

 

[Art Deco]

Many of my attempts at humor fail. Forgive me.
Have you ever noticed that a seat post is the same diameter as a shotgun shell?

A whole new meaning to "load and lock" ?

 

[Oberst]

Could always ride with this guy.....

 

[rustydusty]

Chain it to a pit bull...