Locks and Security Solutions for Electric Bikes

electricbikereview.com/guides... For this video guide, I met with Chris Nolte, the owner of Propel Bikes in Brooklyn, NY. He sells a wide assortment of u-locks, chain locks, cable locks, folding locks, and other security devices. Major cities tend to experience higher rates of bike theft and since electric bikes cost so much, it's worth spending more on a lock and knowing how to use it.
Chris carries a lot of ABUS branded bike locks because they can be "keyed alike" with keys that match the locking core cylinders on the ebikes themselves. Usually, the battery pack is locked to the bike, and in this way, you can unlock the battery and the bike lock without having to carry around multiple keys. ABUS locks are designed in Germany and tend to cost more, but are made very well... they even have an electronic lock that sounds an alert if tampered with. Chris explained that right now, only Plus level locks from ABUS can be keyed alike. Another use case would be to save the key code and order replacement keys if you lose them, or perhaps loan keys to friends and family members. Most of the locks are numbered with strength ratings such as 9 or 15, but Chris did have a 20 rated u-lock which was designed more for use with motorcycles. It costs $300 while many other locks were in the $100 range. Some of the nicer city style ebikes will come with frame locks (also called cafe locks) that immobilize the rear wheel. There are chain locks now that can plug directly into the cafe lock, and Chris showed me one of them.
Chris explained that one of the most common ways that people overcome bike locks is with a portable angle grinder. Unfortunately, this sort of attack is very difficult to overcome. Chris recommended parking your e-bike where people are frequently around. For example, near a door man at a bar vs. in an alley where nobody is walking by or paying attention. If you used a u-lock with a chain that has protective material, it might take a thief longer to cut through and even require multiple batteries.
If you're just eating lunch, a cafe lock and mid-toughness chain could work. If you have a fancy saddle or seat post, it might be worth purchasing a small chain or cable to secure the seat through the saddle rails (especially if you have a quick release seat post collar). Some people will leave a seat chain connected at all times, just looping through and connecting it to the frame triangle, seat stays, or a rear rack. Chris had some really small u-locks and he explained that they are easy to put into pant pockets and use quickly, just locking to a street sign pole. Another step in securing your electric bike is to use a Pitlock or other security hardware to replace skewers and seat post clamps. Another brand of security hardware is Pinhead. These use specialized keys that fit into pits or indentations in order to unscrew the bolt. ABUS has created a design that requires the bike to be tipped onto its side to unlock (and that usually cannot happen if a bike is locked in the upright position). Kryptonite has a locking hardware design where you have to flip the bike upside down. One other company is called Hexlocks which uses a magnetic design so people can't just override the bolt. Another option is bicycle insurance from a company like Velosurance. Some insurance companies have exclusions for products with motors... so check with that. Apparently New York City now has a law where new buildings have to provide a bike cage for safe storage. There is also a law where buildings have to provide access for bringing bicycles inside places of work. Folding locks can be easy to mount to bike frames but some u-locks are small enough for pockets or to slip into your belt. Chris said that he will frequently use three bike locks when parking his bikes for over an hour (folding lock, a u-lock, and a chain). The extra weight of additional locks isn't such a big deal when you're on an electric bike. One of the things that's neat about some of the fancier u-locks is that both bars will lock, so a thief would have to cut through both bars. Apparently Kryptonite has an insurance policy for their locks but it is void if the lock is broken with a power tool... which is one of the more common methods of theft.
One of the challenges that Chris raised about ebikes that use thru-axles is that there doesn't seem to be a locking hardware solution on the market right now. Some thru-axles use a 9 mm skewer type of thing in the middle and this can be replaced with a locking skewer, but it requires some modification. Robert Axle Project might be a resource for those looking into locking thru-axles (because they build these special solutions for trailers). EBR was paid to perform this review #Sponsored We try to be honest, thorough, and fun! Comparison tools, shop directory, and forums at: ElectricBikeReview.com

[@bombdiggitydave3881]

Botom line theft deterrents. #1. Keep your bike with you. If you can not see it. Someone can just walk off with it and put in a pickup bed or van. Gone in 60 seconds. #2 Multiple locks. Additionally, different types, i.e. combination lock and key lock, along high security pin lock. #3 Lock bike to other bikes and , or , to a concrete ground anchored pole or designated bike parking area. #4. Take it inside the establishment and possibly TIP a cashier or watress or doorman, to keep an eye on it. #5. Bike theft insurance. Best method when you cant keep your ebike with you. $$$ Lock it with a variety of keyed and combo muliple locks and position it near multiple cameras that are monitored in realtime. Just suggestions / food for thought. Hope this helps. If so, gimme a 👍 thanks :)

[@danrenwick2647]

Chris made a great point. With an e bike you can afford to carry a little extra weight in locks. Storage is a concern, but three lock solution seems like a minimum. Great discussion Court

[@vasipro]

1. Use anti-motion alarm. 2. Use Abus Granit X Plus City Chain because it is hard to sit in right position in order to cut with angle grinder. 3. Use GPS locator for Bosch systems BUT if cops don't want to get involved, it doesn't matter that you can locate your bike...

[@deanh7190]

Electric bike manufacturers should include anti-theft features in the electronics package. GPS tracking buried in the frame. Or If the bike is lifted without first entering a code or sensing a proximity device, zap the crap out of the potential thief. If it was an errant bike owner, they will never again forget to first enter their code or wear a fob. "Free lock training, must have zero heart issues".

[@laur-unstagenameactuallyca1587]

agreed, I wish companies would start being a little proactive with this stuff, I'm sure plenty in the market would reward them with money for implementing those types of ideas

[@kevindarkstar]

I agree, especially if said bike is $5,500 it's a disgrace that you don't have gps and alarms

[@enriquecarmona9935]

No money maker for bike manufactura.

[@skankhuntdave7232]

I welded a tracker to the inside of my bike it works great

[@deanh7190]

@@skankhuntdave7232 Perfect solution! Great if it never gets stolen and utilized but how sweet it would be to track and nail the scum that steal bikes. 👍

[@lordfubar1]

It was this video that got me to step up my locking devices for my new eBike. I got the locks before the bike. I was going to use a cable with the Abus Plus U lock for the front tire, but the cable is pretty thick and I am running low on space as I mostly use the eBike for grocery shopping and not just to ride around town showing off that I have a new eBike. I am pondering a folding lock instead. I use 2 massive locks, the Abus Plus U lock with a thinner cable around the seat stays and through the U lock and a 10 ft. Kryptonite chain. I like to have different locking options as finding a secure parking spot can be a problem. This wonderful video also led me to Chris Nolte's KZbin channel.

[@johnlaw3323]

You two make really great informative vids and when you are with the Bosch team at the shows that is the best of all. Keep up the good work I have learned loads about EB's from you guys. Really enjoyed your rides around NY never been so really good to see at street level. Many thanks.

[@carolreid5405]

Most helpful information guys. Had 3 bikes stolen from a locking bike storage room in the building where I lived which I kept for family visiting to get around. Took my bike and put it on my third floor balcony. Guess what? Had expensive tires bought to prevent more tire slashing (oh yeah) removed and replaced with old tires. That’s not all. This issue really has to be addressed, which I appreciate your doing.

[@Erafune]

Personally I'm going with two locks and two alarms. If someone can get through two locks they are definitely using an angle grinder and no amount below 20 locks would stop them. So no reason to use more than two. One of those locks is also a motion-detection alarm. Having two alarm locks could be bad since when you unlock the first you trigger the other to scream. So the other alarm will be a remote-controlled small version to unlock without touching the bike. Wish me luck and another seven years with no stolen bike!

[@fightfannerd2078]

I'll do that to

[@geegee8625]

@@fightfannerd2078 I av 3 alarm d locks no way can a thief be brazen enough to ignor 3 sirens going off

[@jackrodgersjr]

A 5 or 10 second delay for the screamer would give one time to unlock it.

[@grantspassage]

I just bought an E-bike from Propel. 0[ I appreciate these Videos. Thanks...

[@oldguyriders]

Excellent video. Great information and in my case, timely since I just bought an Ebike and need a good locking solution(s). Thanks

[@305ssmonte5]

Really helpful video about locks. Thank you for making it.

[@dustinnoyfba7227]

a point most people who bash this video and the featured locks miss is that most thieves are opportunistic. they usually (at least where i live) wont spend more than a minute on a bike unless they have little to no chance of detection, or are stealing YOUR specific bike for a specific reason. if they have to make a lot of noise/light to take the bike in an area where there is a high chance of detection, again at least in the areas i have lived, they give up quickly or pass altogether, unless it is personal. like the thief has a personal beef with you or they think the bike is worth the risk. in the case of the former they usually just destroy the bike around here, and in the latter case they still pass most of the time and wait for the owner slip up. i find that removing decals or covering them makes most thieves pass since they cannot fence it/sell it for much if it looks like a low quality wallyworld turd. that can be a double edged sword though. might increase the theft chance with certain thieves/areas. in my area those get left alone, as do ones that are TOO expensive/recognizable. also having worst case scenario recovery aids hidden in the bike to prove its yours should it get stolen is a good idea. an index card with your info hidden in the handlebars/frame/seatpost/wheel/all of the above can go a long way to recovering it if you find it especially since, at least in my area, you HAVE to prove ownership, even if there is a police report about it getting stolen. i have done this and it worked, before i started using a good lock combination. i now use anti-theft wheel skewers and seat post retainer, 2 high quality u-locks (one holding the front wheel to the fork and one holding the back wheel to an object through the frame so i cant be removed without cutting one or the other apart), and a high quality thick cable (for seat, wheels, cargo rack) just for going to the grocery on my home built commuter. and i might also get a remote alarm and/or gps tracker when i get a bafang on it for the hills here. most thieves here are a bit skittish and not very bright, preferring quick brute force thievery methods. a few know how to get through the combo locks though, so i avoid those. it should be sufficient i hope. mostly what i have to worry about are the ransomers as i call them. they take a lock and put it around your bike and refuse to remove it until you pay them. luckily these idiots are cheap so i can get through their cheap lock fairly easily. i had to learn to defeat combo cable locks because of them. worst case scenario i call the cops and they cut the a-holes lock when i prove that my bike is mine, at which point the ransomer claims it wasnt him/her that locked it and they walk scott free if you dont have video of them doing this (a cheapo action cam is good enough for this). once i had to take all the stuff i could off my bike, walk home, and come back later with a saw a couple days later, by which time the thief lost interest but left my bike locked. had to prove my bike was mine to the cops when someone thought *I* was the thief. once i did though the cops actually helped. ransomer was even charged since i had caught them on video.

[@George-ck6qw]

Were do u live about? That's crazy!!!

[@paulg2100]

Jesus .. no way I’m reading all of that. Wrote a dam book my guy

[@slavojalois1639]

Wow!

[@joemartinez8819]

God damn. U must be putting the wrong energy/vibrations into bikes

[@NWforager]

Dude , this vid is perfectly timed Court . Just got my beater grocery getting crap bike stole last week and retrieved today . SOme kid cut my cable lock .Thank goodness it was just a cheap bmx. It would be very cool to see a series from time to time on testing locks . Talking to Lock makers, crowdfunded locks and such . I can't think of a better market for an amazing bike lock (system) than Ebike market .

[@bombdiggitydave3881]

Great info on theft deterrent options. Thanks Chris and Court 👍

[@typhoontim125]

Excellent advice...that guy knows his stuff!

[@jerrypelletier2328]

Build a lock that when cutting it, it delivers a life ending volt of electricity......

[@skeletonjones1]

I endorse this

[@chaxologist2961]

A Skunk Lock U-lock comes the closest to that which releases vomit-inducing chemicals when cut!

[@oliverrickard9970]

Or fill it with gas

[@matthewbrown6628]

Nice shop Chris! I found this video very informative and thorough. Everything in the store looks super expensive but it seems like this would be the right place to shop if you're not willing to settle for less.

[@scubatrucker6806]

I always enjoyed watching your reviews on products. 👍👍

[@oliverave1234]

Excellent video. Truly informative and thought provoking.

[@laura198816]

I've heard in the Netherlands there are bike parking garages staffed with security guards. Sounds like parts of NYC could use this

[@pjf7943]

The Netherlands has a population of 3.. LOL! What parts of NYC are you talking about..?? LOL! You obviously don't know anything about NYC..!!

[@pjf7943]

@César A. Marroquin On that we can agree.. LOL!

[@billadmond9450]

I heard there is one country in Africa where thieves are stoned to death in public, that is the best deterrence.

[@MrCollins2000]

Bill Admond I heard there is a state in USA where you can be shot for just breathing

[@billadmond9450]

@@MrCollins2000 That happens in all America, also look for police brutality and you will find bad news everyday.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Informative, also good that the shop owner stated the fact that the Kryptonite insurance doesn't cover for theft with the use of powertools. So it's still advisable to have a separate theft insurance. I use a what you call a "cafe lock" in the US with the plug in chain and the second lock is a Kryptonite New York lock, so the bike is thetered at 2 points to a fixed object. That will be secure enough as the bike is stored in a garage at home and a bike shed at work. The bike shed is next to a gate lodge which is manned during daytime, and during night hours the entrance gate is closed but there is still CCTV monitored by nightshift staff itself. The bike is used mainly to commute so those are the 2 places where it stays for most of the time, apart from a quick ride to a store and back in a more rural area or a pleasure ride with a stop for a drink, where I usually will sit outside and have an eye on it.

[@edwardrowland1853]

Excellent video, much appreciated!

[@Lkarlos300]

Thanks for the video Court I really need this. I went to see Sam at electric bicycle center and got me the populo electric bike and I sure need a lock for the bike.

[@ferryengr]

Good job. We've had several ABUS folding locks - used for years, with no thefts and no problems. Love the folding types as the flat bars are hard for a bolt cutter to get leverage to cut and folding locks weigh a similar amount to the better U-locks or chains.

[@M5Dri3rz]

If you look around on KZbin you'll find that they are hilariously easy to break. Half of the ABUS folding locks are easily shimmed. I use one on my cheap road bike but would never consider a folding lock for a high dollar bike.

[@ferryengr]

You can find that on KZbin for just about anything. That anything can be shown "not to work". The proof is in the pudding. We've used them for years on several high value bikes - with no loss.

[@tymesho]

SAME~ one look by a thief, and he passes it by for something easier.

[@HayabusaOrlando]

Good information. I hit the like button. And I'm a Subscriber. Keep up the good work. 👍🏼

[@marcuswelby921]

Very informative video. Any plans to do an up to date version (2021) on locks & Security solution for electric bikes???

[@12345lolacat]

Even with a bunch of locks on your bike, make sure the immovable post you lock it to is immovable. Had 2 kryptonite u locks on my bike with a cable and they unscrewed bike post and took the whole bike where they just worked on breaking the locks at their home away from the spot I locked it to. Luckily I eventually got it back where they were able to break one lock. So just be aware of what you lock it to is solid.

[@davidklein1667]

If I may share a technique I've developed ,sadly from losing many bikes. First, there,s the 30 second rule...if you make it take longer than 30 seconds bike thieves will move to easier prey. This is exspecially true at bike stand areas with many bikes. Mainly though ,I,d like to add to the guy in the video saying he uses 3 locks...very good! But here's my upgrade. Yes, 3 locks but use Three Kinds of Locks! Each type of lock u bolt, cable, chain is most vulnerable to different tools. By using all three kinds of locks at once the scum most likely need a variety of tools and thats to cumbersome. Its not perfect but even if they,re very good it slows them enough for the 30 second rule to kick in!!! Hope this helps! DEATH TO BIKE THIEVES

[@Smegma_pirate]

not true, angle grinder will cut through all of the locks, the cable and chain will be easy work with the u bolt requiring maybe 25 seconds with a fresh diamond wheel and a fresh battery. you guys are fooling yourselves thinking any of these locks are going to stop street kids from poaching the shit out of your fancy ebikes

[@cameroni7798]

I agree with you about redundancy with different kinds of locks and which encourages thieves to move on. Others here snarked a bit about a cordless angle grinder being able to cut through those - well, no shit. Nothing is 100% safe from thieves, but the point is to make it as hard and as time-consuming as possible.

[@rosihantu1]

DEATH TO BIKE THIEVES!!!

[@ivankaspeadsforquincyjones9273]

Thanks for the info, and I would add a fourth element to your recipe. A hidden GPS chip. Street Justice can be a beautiful thing

[@EQINOX187]

No offence but your 30 second rule is laughable, they do not move on after 30 seconds and there is no shortage of videos showing that people take as long as it takes, hell when i looked at security footage of when my bike was stolen the guy was there for 3 min trying to brute force the lock and in that time police walked past the guy and about 30 people, the sad reality is most bike locks can be picked in under 10 seconds with auto pickers and a skilled manual picker can do it in 20 seconds so its pointless making a beefy lock as the mechanism is always the weakness heck it could be 10" thick but if the mechanism can be picked or raked in under 30 seconds its pointless, have a look at lock picking lawyer here on youtube it is truly scary just how useless locks are including the ones in this video.

[@metamorphicorder]

one suggestion is the bully pager alarm lock. its motorcycle intended ulock. it has a fairly sensitive tamper alarm in it that will go off when the bike is jostled. its pretty loud and has s warning whoop to give someone a chance if they accidentally bump it at the rack. its not the strongest ulock ever made, but what it lacks in strength, it makes up for in smarts. it comes with a fob that will chime if the lock is set off. it has a range of 2000 feet. yes nearly half a mile. its around 100 dollars. its a heck of a lock. the draw back though is that the shackle (u shaped bar) is smaller than most full size u locks. its designed to fit snugly around a motorcycle wheel and tire or just the wheels. it doesnt seem to be intended to actuallt lock the bike to anything but just around the wheel and use as an alarm. but its sufficiently strong to use as a primary lock if you can fit it around something. the kryptonite 1415 lock and chain set is about $120 and the chain as shown by wayne winton is nearly impossible to cut with even very large bolt cutters. it uses a mini ulock as the lock and the whole set weighs about 15lbs. its not for the ultralight people. the lock is nearly uncuttable also with anything less than a grinder and will be difficult to pick for most people and most thieves dont pick. folding locks, cables, almost anything with the name master on it, harware store chains, even 'security chains' that are no name and made in china are pretty much useless in high theft areas. they are almost all either pretty weak or the locking mechanism is easy to pick, or otherwise bypass. combination locks are almost universally worthless. avoid them. bosnian bill wayne winton lock picking lawyer those are all channels that your viewers can look at as a resource for information on choosing good locks for thier bikes, valuables and homes. caution, if you watch those guys open a lock with picks or bypasses like they were using the key or faster, it doesnt mean its a bad lock. they are very good at what they do and they make it look easy and they have the perfect tools and more or less laboratory settings they are working in. but it give you a good idea of the quality of a lock. also as to brand names, all makers of any considerable reputation make a range of locks. so just because you see in a video that abus or kryptonite makes a good lock or a bad lock, it doesnt mean that all locks with that name are good or bad. the 1415 mini ulock i above is a really decent lock and the chain is top notch. however it has some flaws. the lock mechanism for its type isnt particularly pick resistant and someone with the right tool and knowledge COULD pick it. its not likely, but it could happen. also the inner part of the lock is a plastic plug and the lock core itself is a cheaper metal than the lock body. its possible that on some of the locks built like that, to use a plumbing torch to heat the lock until the innards fail. the test i saw took 7 minutes which is freaking amazing but its still an attack that works. a word about master locks. dont. just dont. yes they are in many respects bullet proof or nearly so. but most bike thieves dont use guns to open locks, they use cutters, grinders, hammers, prybars pipes, torches, saws, and less often picks and other bypasses. master locks have been opend with a little as a few taps with a hammer. yes taps. tappy tappy tap. ive seen one picked open with a zip tie. master DOES make some decent or almost decent locks, but for the money you could get some kit made by people who actually care about what products they make. remeber this, you may not always get what you paid for, but you will rarely get something you didnt pay for. if you are riding ebikes its pretty likely you paid a decent amount for your bikes. protect them. some people say just get insurance and be done with it. you should get insruance, but what it doesnt cover is hassle and bother. a decent starting bike is about 1500$. you should really put about 10 to 20% of that into locks for it. dont be sacred of the weight, you have a motor. if you have to carry it up stairs, get some panniers to carry stuff in. you can use a smaller chain to loc the bike up with and put the battery in the panniers and carry that up the stairs and then come back for the bike. ive had an ebike stolen and it sucks. it was my fault. i had the wheel chained to the frame and my bully alarm armed but not anchored to anything. i was worried about ride offs but someone snatched it into a vehicle and took off. i had accidentally left the alarm fob at home that day. it sucks. buy good security and use it. use it correctly. another option is to stash a cheap prepaid smartphone on the bike hidden well in a pannier or otherwise attached secretly to the bike and have a tracker app on the phone linked to one or more other phones so you have at least s chance of finding your bike if it is stolen. this went a bit long, but its an important topic ive done a lot of thought on. Also its good to have more than one lock. its possible to lock the bike by the front or rear wheel of you have a couple chains or a chain and a lock AND a u lock by securing the wheel to an anchor point AND securing the frame and wheel together. stay safe and keep those bikes where you park them.

[@mrbarbarycoast8572]

A simple "tile slim" hidden on the bike is what I use for tracking and location notification along with heavy duty u locks for all of my ebikes. Great write up and thanks a lot for all of the information you provided.

[@tymesho]

MRBARBARYCOAST~ i use the same tile idea. pop the handlebar cap, toss it in, and your good to go. my brother recovered his this very way OVER A WEEK THE BIKE WAS SNATCHED!

[@mrbarbarycoast8572]

Awesome! Luckily I haven't had any problems with thieves yet, but whenever I go somewhere and lock the bike up, I instantly set the phone to bluetooth and keep track of the location. Glad your brother was able to get his bike back.

[@metamorphicorder]

MRBARBARYCOAST i dont like the tile idea because it relies on bluetooth and enough people using that tech for it to work. If you live where the net work is strong then its cool. The reason i suggest the phone route is that its the same price or cheaper than purpose built equipment trackers and if you do it right, the monthly fee for the phone is cheaper than a monthly subscription for a real time tracker. Now, you have s full time real time tracker with unlimited pings AND you have a back up phone on your bike. This is good if your primary phone is dead, destroyed or stolen or lost. You can track your primary phone as soon as you realize your phone is gone. And you still have communications that way. Lots of ebikes have rear racks or front cargo attachments. This is a good place to attach a cellphone. I would get something like the pelican polycarbonate waterproof box and put it in the case and then use 3m vhb foam tape to secure the case to the rack or other surface. You might have to get a a piece of sheet plastic from a hardware store and cut it to size under the rack and use zip ties or screws and brackets to attach it then tape the case to the plastic. This set up would also function as at least a partial fender on a rear wheel. If you have to do the plastic idea, you might cover the plastic with something like tape or something that keeps people from seeing the case with the phone in it ad they may get savvy to what you have there and steal the phone or destroy it to steal the bike. If you have panniers that are hard to remove or are locking thats another way to do it. If you have something like a nalgene bottle and a cage that will hold it, its possible to put the phone in that and then devise a way to secure the bottle in the cage. The point to remember is you need to be able to access the phone for charging and such but it needs to be secure enough or hidden enough that thieves dont see it while trying to steal the bike so they disable it or toss it. Or steal it. Trac phone has cheap android smart phones and last i checked, they have a 125$ yearly package that comes with 1 year of service, 1500 talk 1500 texts and 1.5gb of data. This seems small but its for a phone that you are using as security and as a back up for your primary phone. The tracker apps will often send or allow you to check the device status remotely so you can see what the battery is like, but just set a reminder every other day to charge the tracker phone so you arent riding around with a dead phone when your bike is stolen. It would also be a good idea to randomly check your connection through the app to make sure it actually connects at any given time. The only real downsides to this are that it is bigger and harder to hide on a bike. And phones are sensitive to heat and cold. This might not work well in extreme climates. I fully expect that asset tracking is an industry that will incorporate bikes and ebikes fully in the next 10 years or less. Ebikes specifically because they are powered and can use and onboard battery for the tracker that is charged from the main battery and thats pretty awesome, its one of the things holding it back because to hide something really well on a bike, you pretty much have to make it hard to access and that complicates charging somewhat. But with ebikes this problem can be made to go away.

[@mrbarbarycoast8572]

Yeah, I am located in a very busy city with a ton of tiles around at any given time. Each tile slim that I have bought are about $18 and last 1 to 2 years with no monthly fees. The good thing is that we live in an age that, almost wherever you live, there is a security system that will work best for you. Thanks for the info and take care.

[@senorpants5604]

I had three bikes added to my renter's insurance. It covers theft from my home, or anywhere else. It also insures my bike in the event I was hit by a car. The only thing it does not cover is tires. Only costed me and extra $20 a month

[@edperkins5242]

G-4 chain used on high-end boat anchors highly resistant to grinders if need more length.

[@TheLillianYoung]

I bought a massive electric scooter online that sent me into a tailspin of research about locks. My e-rideables are usually small enough to take indoors. When I owned a Segway i2 and had to park it outside, I was nervous all day despite an alarm lock plus the internal digital tire lock. I'm just not a fan of locking things outdoors.

[@jamesdeornellis5727]

Great information. Took awhile to understand the brand name Abus.

[@nigelknapton339]

Here in the UK you can easily get bike insurance but they will specify "Sold SecureGold" standard locks. e.g the Abus X plus folding lock. The lock that comes on the Delite as Standard is Sold Secure Silver standard.

[@arqsolidsnake4739]

excellent review on security items, I just purchased an ariel rider grizzly this information will be very useful to protect my investment. Thank you very much for all the videos you share on your electricbikereview channel... a hug from a distance 🤗

[@douglasstewart518]

Excellent info!

[@sbturtle5345]

How about the Whistle 3 pet tracker? USB rechargeable. It's quite small - has to be for small dogs and cats. Hide it somewhere in / on the bike. Set wifi safe zones - work, home, coffee shop, library and if the bike leaves it'll tell you via app and/or SMS and you can track it in real time. It'll even show you where you've been. Requires a subscription for the cellular connection - about $90/$100 a year for the device.. But it'd make for a near perfect bike tracker.

[@bellysize]

Exceptional Video.

[@pault5179]

If leaving out of sight, a 5kg motorcycle chain and 1kg padlock - really, wrap around top tube while cycling. I also always use an alarmed (shock sensitive) padlock on the front wheel, locked onto the seatpost when cycling.

[@gctw2341]

Thank you guys!

[@judyl.761]

Excellent. Thank you much.

[@TheFastestSrbin]

Great video!

[@lawneymalbrough4309]

I just store my lovk in the saddle bag when It's not in use. It came with a fram holder attachment and I did use that for a while, but wrapping th able around the frame all the time became too much truoble. Now I jst ciol up the cable an ddrop it in the bag. Saves effort.

[@frederickbartholomew6290]

Great review on Nyc !

[@dragoscummins2345]

I thought I was going to hate this video, with "some expert" telling us how to use some puny lock but actually it was very nice and informative and made me feel good about myself for using 5 locks on my bike. I have a massive Ulock for the frame, an O-lock for the rear wheel with a quality hardened chain, as presented here, a thicker cable with a combination cifre for the front wheel and frame and a thinner cable with a combination for the seat, so I carry 2 keys. It is worth mentioning that O-locks keep their key inside while unlocked and the key can only be pulled out while locked. Also, on the front wheel I have a dynamo hub with a roller brake which would need to be disconnected, plus the nuts, on the rear wheel I have a 7 gear speedhub with a coaster brake which also need to be disconnected so I hope a potential thief would rather go look for the next bike and leave mine alone. Or maybe, so much security will annoy the thief and thus, he might cut my spokes, stab my tires and cut my seat, scratch the paint, and others... Hopefully the thief would be busy looking for the next easy bike and not bother.

[@basmatirice9924]

Reading the first 3 lines of your comment made laugh 😆. But after watching this video it makes me think that bike thefts in US is more serious than here in UK

[@dragoscummins2345]

@@basmatirice9924 As far as I know, only in London, about 20000 bikes are stolen each year. That's more than 50 per day. Don't become a statistic! Make your bike hard to be stolen so somebody else's bike will get nicked instead. Enjoy your bike!

[@tymesho]

my abus x-plus is about the best out there, but NO LOCK is unbeatable. if a thief has the right tool he's gonna get it. my bike was over 4 g's, and the hundred 25 was worth every penny. it's all about common sense guys. no bad areas, foul night places, and other easily recognized no-no's. im lucky to be in a very rural area, everybody knows everybody, but in say, ANY BIG CITY, you have to play by the rules~! have a great ride~

[@RobertEaves]

Great video 👍

[@TeddysVentures]

Great video! Thanks! I want to travel down to Brooklyn to see your store there after the crisis subsides. Your store seems to offer a greater selection of locks and accessories vs the website.

[@Xtrafix2015]

I’m definitely going to visit soon

[@KtotheL]

ive been riding since i was 2 yrs old. in all that time ( 50 yrs ) i lost 3 bikes. my shockaroo my redline ( which i had out grown anyways ) and a cheapo from walmart which was stolen from a bus bench as i was waiting for the bus to arrive... ( they pulled up to the light and grabbed it and through it in the pick up and screwed. ) boston is also notorius for these gangs since i was a 5 yrs old this has been going on i would go to games and on the way back every single time they took whatever they could ( basically stripping them and leaving what they couldnt i always felt bad for the owners. ) many times ive had my lights/seat/mirrors even bike bags taken not the bike tho. ill be getting one of those new foldable abus fer sure along with my cable lock and gps i should be OK but let me tell ya i am thinking about insurance this go round. thanks for the video pretty informative even to the well seasoned veterans :)

[@lenallan9098]

is there a security code lock you can programe on the digital display to prevent theft or at least power assisted theft on electric bikes like the befang kit

[@steves.922]

Great info!

[@okcjoesos]

1 A heavy duty lock for the bike. 2 a tarp to (a) take the attention off your bike and (b) protect it from the sun and elements. 3 tie that tarp down with cables (2) that have audible alarms. A thief would have to investigate a covered bike to determine if its worth stealing so that would deter a good percentage of opportunistic thieves. But let’s say they see you park it, they would have to cut the cables triggering the audible alarms, peel off the tarp only to discover a lock that would require an additional minute or 2 all while the alarms are going off. That setup is as good as any other.

[@naveensatija7257]

The best lock for NYC is a brompton because you can take it inside. The second best lock are the bikes next to yours that have a cheap cable lock.

[@TheLillianYoung]

I'm all about taking my e-rideables inside. I buy them based on the ability to do so. Maybe one day there will be better ways to deal with this like valet parking for rideables like there is for cars. Just a thought.

[@benjammin6228]

Is a brompton only something you can buy in NYC or can you buy it elsewhere?

[@naveensatija7257]

@@benjammin6228 you can buy them anywhere

[@HUTCHvONE]

When it comes to my bike, security is paramount, and so my faith lies with the foremost lock pick authority in North America “lock pic lawyer” from KZbin, and according to him the two best locks on the market and I wholeheartedly agree are the New York ‘forget about it’ Ulock number one and number two, the Hip Lock, which I myself subscribe to! It should be said that there is one lock that’s better than both of these and it’s not leaving your bike, anywhere unattended for any amount of time! especially if it’s a nice bike, but if you absolutely have to, I would go with the New York, forget about it or hip lock!, because when you’re using one of these, you can rest assured that your bike is very safe!!

[@beyondfossil]

Court, at 7:03 in the video, do you know of any alarm locks that notify by phone? I have one that uses a radio but the range was so small it was practically useless -- I don't use it anymore. A smartphone linked motion alarm that has any dependable real-world use would have to use a cellular network with a monthly service fee unfortunately. Still then it might not reliably notify every time if it in a location with weak cellular service or the battery is dead.

[@BatteryOnBoard]

What advice or methods do you have for Battery theft protection? ...short of removal. I recently got semi-integrated battery bike (much like the orange one with the Abus Cafe lock in this video), and can see a weakness. I'd like to add wrap around lock to add a level of security.

[@lesliehelsel4218]

What about security suggestions for E-Trikes? I would just need for trips to store etc except when I go to the golf course.

[@innocentiuslacrim2290]

This was pretty great comprehensive video. Thanks.

[@MrVinnyh]

In the UK, we have Thatcham approved system which is supported by the Motorcycle Insurance companies. Sad to say what ever you ride, someone will want it, I suppose there must be Hoof clamps for those who use our four legged friends. Great review on the different locks around.

[@kaylaw366]

What I could use for a Rad Mini 2019?

[@TerenceJoyner1]

What do you think of alarms i have to on my bike including a chain lock

[@randylenart9674]

Very good to know thanks

[@KellyS_77]

"might be challenging" for a thief to break. For $300....better be more than "might". I use a two lock system when out of the house, and a huge heavy motorcycle chain lock when at home (bike stored on patio). I also have GPS tracker hidden on the bike, so hopefully it'll get recovered quickly if stolen.

[@kasapis6]

Great Info thanks . can you do a special on rack Panniers and back please

[@drone4sar959]

Which bike are you showing with the locks. I want this bike

[@NYinSD]

can you make a video on locks for scooters like the ECORECO scooter as an example...

[@mario360x3]

What part of Brooklyn is he located?

[@graffmixer]

Great video....I actually looking to get this lock 4:50 thats rated 20 for my E-Bike

[@zawest2011MoBiLe]

Okay, I'm looking into purchasing a lock or locks for a trike that I plan on purchasing soon. The trike is the current Alpha 422 made by OUTRIDER USA. Where I live, I will need a strong lock and alarm system if there are any that would be beneficial for such an amazing transportation unit.

[@illhumouredparadox]

HIPLOK Gold Super bright. Learned the hard way it's the best lock.

[@stosito48]

what about adding a loud audible alarm, wouldn't that be a good deterrent?

[@bombdiggitydave3881]

Many ebike batteries have locks that can be opened with a blank, uncut key according to other youtubers. If a lock mechanism for the Abus lock is keyed the same as the battery. Its seems a HUGE theft issue?

[@fernandofaiolamendes8204]

I had motorbike and now I’ve moved to an ebike and I would recommend a Disc alarm lock... might not give much protection as a lock but the alarms are nice and Loud

[@desmondblakely]

The guy asking all the questions is obviously the more knowledgeable of the two and he’s really trying to direct the conversation; makes it feel like hard work but lots of good info all the same.

[@thegeckoguy-kq8dq]

i need help im getting a ebike that looks like a scooter the heavy one well anyways i dont have a garage but got a parking space whats the best lock i can get for this situation

[@alexng4]

WHERE IS THIS PLACE? Hard to find the Abus 59 extreme to purchase.

[@piergithesituation]

The abus locks with card are nice because yoi can actually have one key to manage different locks and even you door entrance of your house if you have everything under Abus systems. With one key you do everything without going around with a bunch of keys

[@michaelfoley1296]

What model Bordo lock was shown in the wooden box?

[@TibetStar]

whats the address for this store in nyc?

[@techguide9030]

we need the lockpickinglawyer to check this out

[@egidiomeola]

Would you recommend a tracking device for the bike?

[@lincolnkarim1]

May I suggest that after the lock/s are secured on the bike, an opaque bike cover can be extremely effective in keeping sinister eyes off your bike. When the bike is covered a potential thief has no way to plan an attack on the locks unless they lift off the cover. Of course the cover can be easily removed, but they will have to be really determined. Bike (motorcycle) covers cost from $20-$30.

[@l1u1c1k]

What about locking locking nut for the wheels and everything else that is screw or Allen key

[@josep6600]

Will the Abus Pro Tectic 4960 Frame Lock (cafe lock ) fit my Mario bike tire.

[@pablojonathanduranra]

What’s the store website to buy any of those locks?

[@johnmayer5920]

Are there any tracking devices on the market?

[@timdowney6721]

An overlooked step in stopping bike theft. Curbing the secondary market for higher end bikes and components.

[@langhamp8912]

"Kryptonite doesn't cover locks broken with power tools." I also might add Kryptonite requires the broken lock as evidence. Essentially, Kryptonite's coverage is so exclusive as to be useless. Because the angle grinder trumps all, with a cut time of well under 30 seconds for two cuts on a lvl 10 lock, that means passive lock technology is obsolete. Active technology such as wired shotgun shells, GPS, and extensive and regular police stings are really the only choice left. If you can somehow incapacitate the thief, through severe injury, death, or prison, then you can stop him from stealing future bikes.

[@richardsalzmann7946]

lmao so the krypto coverage is 100% useless since the only way to get thru one of these locks is a power tool? haha, thanks for letting me know. But i still kind of prefer them over the abus ones tbh

[@asoka2000]

What do you think about ziilock?

[@REYKING-Muzic]

Where do I get the part number for the motorcycle lock and how much $$$ ... I need it bad I built an electric bike and want 2 of those locks or an even thicker lock than that if possible.

[@TheDavenator7]

How about a sticker that says "protected by GPS tracker" or a tracker?

[@KoScosss]

Informative

[@DorisLeacy]

What lock would you recommend for a Rad Power Bike City Step Thru.

[@briangreischar1]

I have the older city bike. I use pinheads in the front wheel and seat post, used to use ulock and cable by kryptonite, lately more just ulock. Definitely just had some stuff stolen off it recently, but they didn't get the body or battery. They apparently had quite a bit of time with it. They got the LCD for some stupid reason, the headlight, and the seat off the saddle connector (hex drive). Busted my taillight and a horn I'd added for some added idiocy, as well. Best of luck to you.

[@l1u1c1k]

I’ve secured my bike via the battery to give a short sharp electric shock to the thief and I don’t care if it’s illegal. If the bikes held on for too long death will occur

[@shuki68]

I’m liking where this is going...

[@xavierayayaell546]

Yeah man!

[@manolodavescribtv]

Your a savage and I like it

[@mochachocoloco7426]

How do you do this

[@cubertmiso]

Prolly trolling. Anything that would kill like that would do it from the first jolt. High voltage just feels nasty without decent Amps.

[@steidwoodland8210]

It's very hard to find an Abus dealer that is willing to order through Abus in this manner. I'm going to look for you online. I'm in Australia. I hope you can help me. I have 2 ebikes and a very large set of keys. I'm hoping to streamline and upgrade at the same time. I always use at least 2 locks to lock my bike.

[@razieladolfonunezgalicia358]

Hola Amigos de ABUS Por favor díganme el nombre y la dirección de alguna de sus tiendas o sucursales en la Ciudad de México gracias.

[@joelscb]

Can u zoom in a little more? I can barely see the guy's hair follicles

[@beyondfossil]

Good point on an alarm lock at 6:47. But instead of waiting for an Abus product, I got an Urban UR6 disc disc lock with 120dB motion alarm for some $50. It clamps to disc rotor sizes up to 180mm. Motion alarm works perfectly. Disc rotor locks are also hard to cut. They are way down low on the bike, they are small, boxy convex in shape and they would rotate or swivel around while being cut making it dangerous to the thief and the bicycle he's trying to steal. Not to mention, A thief would have a 120dB+ alarm blaring into his face while making any attempt a motion alarm disc lock. Another advantage of a motion alarm is it will also activate if anyone tries to steal parts off your bike (seat, wheels, etc) and would likely go off if the thief is trying to angle grind or pry bar off your other locks!

[@1945herb]

Rotormatic Thank you for the lock info, I didn't know that this type of lock was avaible, Cheers,

[@joearrieta]

✔As of 2018 Pinhead now offers thru-axle locks.