Can a £25 Apple AirTag TRACK A STOLEN BIKE?!

[@juliettefranklin6577]

I just spent 3.5 hours at Heathrow last week trying to get my bike box which I could see was in the terminal but wasn't coming through the oversize luggage area - I could see it was relatively close by via the AirTag on the Find My app. After talking to the baggage customer service counter at least 4 times (waiting at least 30 mins each time) one of them finally went down to the plane level baggage area and found my bike box plus another one that had been taken off the plane and just basically abandoned - they had not scanned the luggage tag on it so it was not coming up as having arrived at Heathrow on their system (they kept trying to tell me it was probably still in Vancouver). Without my persistence and the AirTag I may never have seen my bike again! Not a good thing when I am over here to do Ride Across Britain starting this week. So thankful to have the AirTag!

[@plusbonus1165]

A bit dodgy , eh ?

[@Astr0Bot]

Thanks for this! A potential issue is that, as I understand it, if the tag starts traveling with someone else (a thief) and the thief has an iPhone, the iPhone will alert the thief to the presence of the tag. Apple did this to reduce the potential for stalking. So, the thief could potentially find the tag, and toss it. Also, in the USA, good luck trying to get the police to do anything about this even if you tell them the exact location. Finally, again in the USA, do not confront a bike thief - you will likely get shot.

[@deblordoutdoors5783]

That’s reassuring to know about it notifying in case of stalking. My sister was being stalked by her ex and we wondered if he might have planted some of these on her car etc, but if they show up, she’d have seen them👍🏼

[@genelegend]

lol. you will likely get shot?

[@Astr0Bot]

@@deblordoutdoors5783 Indeed, though I'm not sure it's foolproof. If the stalkee has an Android phone, they would not be alerted so easily. I believe Apple did make an Android app called Tracker Detect but I think it requires the user to proactively run it every so often. I'm sorry that happened to her!

[@mogsyman]

Hi. You need to remember these are ideally used against casual thieves who take your bike to get home, not determined ones - even determined ones will dump the bike in their garage and leave it, their phone won’t then let them know it’s tagged as they aren’t in close contact with the tag. If someone is determined to have your property, regardless of what you have on it, in it etc., you won’t see it again. Personally I don’t think you can’t get a better and more cost-effective solution that might give you that one chance to get your bike back.

[@Astr0Bot]

@@mogsyman The problem is that you don't know which type of thief stole your bike. So, you locate the tag - who will you come up against? A dumbass kid who needed to get home? Or some violent ahole who will shoot you when you show up?

[@joegamas1194]

I’m so glad you made this video, because it helped me make up my mind and pushed some of my skepticism to the side, it might not worked perfect but your right, it sure gives you a little of more piece of mind, specially when air traveling, thank you Katie

[@denlsgoulden2307]

All very good, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you said never leave it out of your site, always feel uncomfortable when my bike is left unattended and locked (which it always is) even for a vertical short duration which is always the case. Sadly this is the world we now live in 🤔😟

[@daviddiskin5668]

Love AirTags. Recently, shipped my bike (via BikeFlights - UPS) from Santa Barbara CA to DC. It made it to within 30 miles of the LBS here in DC but next day I saw it was in Pennsylvania and heading back West again. I knew all of this from my AirTag on the bottom of my bike. I knew more than either UPS or BikeFLights did. Turned out the shop in Santa Barbara had not removed the previous label on the box (the one to go from DC to Santa Barbara). Big big fan!!

[@KatieKookaburra]

That's the exact reason I love them!!!!

[@paulaj2829]

Just watched your video & really enjoyed it.. But until I got to the end i did'nt notice that youhave mentioned Martin bik3d which I have just today ordered from amazon for my e-bike.. so that is worth the time watching to see how it goes. Paul

[@russelvann8806]

I installed one on my bike over two years ago and am really impressed. It was difficult to change the battery, as the air tag is hidden in a 3d printed holder; but I think that’s a small inconvenience every couple of years. I now have 4 more in luggage, backpacks and on my keys. Really great value for money for item tracking. We tracked our luggage when we went to Australia and it work perfectly. Keep making the great content and don’t fall off 😀

[@frankchan5547]

Depending on the country, reporting a stolen bike to police with an electronic tag as evidence of location won't be enough for police to enter private property and retrieve it, let alone you doing that and risking life and limb. Otherwise, a tag is only useful if your bike is on public property and you have some way to follow it, but confronting a thief is not recommended by police. Be careful too because leaving your bike unattended outside a cafe despite having a tag, will be grounds for insurance refusing a claim if they argue you haven't taken reasonable steps to protect the bike. Having photos of your bike including serial number, keeping receipts and registering it on bike registers will help with any claim and recovery if it is put up for sale. Insure your bike, keep records and keep it safe.

[@MrLuigi-oi7gm]

Nice video of a great product for cyclists! 👏👏👏 Maybe your next test of the AirTag should involve a good and TRUSTED friend "stealing" your bike so your iPhone's "last recorded location" of your AirTag is no longer where your AirTag/bike is. This would be a more challenging test for the AirTag and require your AirTag to actively employ its crowd sourcing feature to catch the thief/trusted friend. CATCH YOUR MATE IN THE ACT! 😂

[@DP-PhD]

Neat little gizmo. Also, haha and playing in the background ‘our friends electric’, Garry Newman

[@leslietennant1]

Use them regularly and think that they are great. I now have 8 stored in various bikes and bags. Have used in my bike box and it does give peace of mind that your bike is on your plane or has reached your destination airport. Tracked my bike box and suitcase last year across France and used to complain to the courier (Chronopost) that they had not been delivered to my hotel (got back about a month later!). Yes, thieves can remove them but you can't eliminate all risks, just mitigate them. In my experience the batteries last about a year. Great value. Surprised that the price has not gone up - maybe just a matter of time.

[@79Batty]

FYI when an AirTag connects to another iOS device on the Find My network what you get is the location of the device it connected to not the actual location of the AirTag. AirTags don’t have gps but as they have to be within 30m max to connect then it gives you a good general area. Then if you have an iPhone with a U1 chip then it will guide you to it (as you did in the video). I got one when they first came out, hid it with one daughter in the neighbourhood (didn’t have my phone with me when I hid it), waited an hour for it to be discovered by another device and gave my phone to my other daughter and she went and found it. The location was showing on the map as the middle of a dual carriageway (as that’s where the device what that connected to it). My phone can’t do the nearby location thing but getting close enough to connect and getting it to make a noise meant she found it no bother. GPLama has multiple videos explaining and showing how it all works and the caveats around relying on them.

[@davidpearson3579]

Pop up bikes is a lovely place,great mechanics ,jumble sale every month and a nice cafe to boot. Anyway sounds like a fabulous gift idea for cyclists only wish I'd had one when my luggage was stolen from a train. Cycle safe everyone.

[@stewartmacdonald4425]

Another cracking video. I’ve been using an Apple air tag for the last 12 months. I also use it for my daughter to track me on my rides.

[@dirtrider6198]

I use SNOG Scout bike alarms which have a built in Air Tag. They fit under the water bottle cage and costs approx £50. I really rate them.

[@tombainbridge5406]

Really handy to have for peace of mind on trips. Thank you for the review.

[@fritzdit7829]

A customer on our last cycle tour in the French Alps could track his bike at Heathrow after his baggage never arrived for the tour. It stood on the apron for 48hrs

[@Distorted-Vision]

Hi Katie, I've just returned to cycling after a break and I've just bought a new Colnago road bike. Hope you're well. Rupesh

[@SaugotChowdhury]

Tell your friends to hide your bike somewhere 😜 then search it. It will be like some treasurer hunting

[@db613]

I lost one of these a year ago when I was changing a flat tire and turned my bike upside down. Then I was recently at a bike shop buying a coffee and my phone started telling me my tag was by the mechanic stand, viola! It was in a bin with a bunch of random keys and other stuff people lost and found 👍

[@davidalderson7761]

Excellent ….. the Tag found itself. How cool.

[@skipugh]

I also use it on my bike bag when I travel. So, I feel great when we take off and the app says it’s with me 🥰

[@ralphcantrell3214]

The fact that airtags alert the thief is complete BS. I just bought a 4-pack of them and will now be sending them back without ever opening the box.

[@mogsyman]

Hi Katie. Many thanks for your kind words and link to my website. If you pm me the very least I can do is send you a selection of different mounts you can use for your own AirTags.

[@philippedeloge7582]

I've been using 2 for one year now (bike and keys). Useful indeed. I don't regret the purchase

[@ndennan67]

You can buy AirTag holders on Amazon that you can then attach to your bike under a bottle cage

[@WisdomDesignUK]

Ones by Bik3d best :)

[@barrypegg3070]

Muc-Off do couple of products for Airtags. One goes under your bottle cage, the other goes inside a tire attached to tubeless valve.

[@dom.a.e]

I do like the idea of the air tags, it's good for peace of mind. There's a possibility you can track your bike if it's lost/stolen. I wonder about long term use though. They're great when tracking your bag going abroad etc because you want to use it. But will people remember to change the batteries when they die as I don't think it warns you? So it'll has life in it when you actually need it.

[@dominicbritt]

You can look at battery life at any time..

[@MegaSixpac]

Off to Europe and will try them out.

[@stevefraser7501]

I have had two airtags on each of my bikes for over a year and used one in my luggage when recently travelling from Australia to the UK. Not only did it help me locate my luggage, I also knew that my bikes back home in Australia were safe and sound at home. They work brilliantly.

[@ralphcantrell3214]

By the way... if Apple doesn't have wherewithal to make a tracker just for catching thieves, someone else should do it.

[@MaximB1]

I went to France this July. Got covid upon 2nd day there, after recovery 1.5 weeks, went for a bike ride, fell off the bike fractured my femur and had to get surgery, insurance didn't come through in time, stuck with 8k Euro debt now. Fun times 🙂

[@lubistro]

I'm sorry for the complications, but there was no travel insurance?

[@nadernayo]

very useful information katie.. Thanks

[@karlnaylor8757]

Another great video one question how long is the battery life and does it give you a low battery signal .🙃👏🏻🍀

[@dominicbritt]

The Find My App gives you battery life level…

[@leslietennant1]

About a year from experience and yes. I got a low battery message on my iPhone which was relayed to my Garmin watch.

[@Chriswilliams-lx9mx]

I never leave my bike unattended to be honest but for 25quid it’s a bit of peace of mind are they waterproof could be handy for one of the dogs 🤣👍

[@catface101]

You could get an aluminum enclosure box (the style they use for guitar pedals) and drill holes in it so it could fit on the bottle mount, then put the tag in there. Replace the standard enclosure screws with hex screws so no opportunist could quickly open it and dump the tag on the street. There's also the Sherlock bike GPS tracker. But for 30 quid the Apple doesn't seem half bad.

[@albertbatfinder5240]

A metal box of any sort is gonna mask its signalling ability

[@peterharrington8709]

@@albertbatfinder5240 Ditto inside a metal frame.

[@catface101]

@@albertbatfinder5240 they make plastic enclosure boxes too

[@robinsonsadventures2174]

Anything to help get your belongings back is a great thing! . Great vid

[@paperfishkirsty3927]

Used AirTags on recent bike trip to Pyrenees and it was so reassuring to follow my bikes progress and even see it travel across the tarmac! So useful for travelling. Could also pop one on your Teenager 👌🏻

[@KatieKookaburra]

Great for travel!! But not sure how ethical it would be to use them on a person 🙈

[@triroo107]

Great review, just enjoying listening to you chat away, reminds of my ExPat friends in Dubai…. You would fit right in… 👍💪🙏🥂

[@givreycham]

Great video....try Blutac to change the battery

[@jarrodashton5923]

Yup big fan for bike , suitcase and believe it or not caravan

[@kennyhollinsworth5395]

Interesting Sherlock 🤔😀 ….glad you’re well KK ❤️

[@alexisentonfire]

Id avoid bike insurance it's a scam, costs too much and they are very reluctant to even allow claims, then they often wont pay out in full or at all. they will fight in court to claim that the bike has been used by you so its not worth the full value of a new replacement.

[@kentjoosten8149]

I’ve had one tucked under my saddle for over a year. Still works great.

[@tonycarlsson7409]

Gplama tested this in a couple of videos, including having a friend hide it out in the wilderness 😊

[@spingirl4855]

Lol I love the outros on your videos 🤣

[@adamschung1869]

I think you use Alter lock gen 2 better than AirTag

[@CoasterJames]

I think you should let someone hide the bike and see if you can locate it

[@ecopennylife]

An airtag or tile for Android is a must for piece of mind for the bike, car or aeroplane luggage, it's not infallible but just another tool in case something is lost or stolen 😎

[@newbeginnings8566]

The question I always ask is..... You track your bicycle.. Are you ready to confront the thief? Are you ready and able to defend yourself and fight back? These thieves are not pleasant people and are usually carrying a knife... So what would you do? Don't count on the police... They are busy painting rainbow flags on the vehicles, investigating online hate crime, taking a knee, dancing at gay pride (shame) events.. Brief: UK police are the biggest joke on the planet.. House burglary is never investigated or solved, looting is tolerated. So they won't be coming to check up on your bicycle.... So what would you do? I'm not saying this is great... It's a shameful state of affairs..

[@purplejoolz]

I would have liked to have seen a second part of the video where you mark it as stolen. It would have been interesting to see how other iPhone users phones detected it and notified you to where it was. A bit of a missed opportunity I feel.

[@New-ye2fl]

Loving those pearly whites 😁

[@252Scooby]

For me the battery lasted about 7 - 8 months at a time and in a update they removed the battery level !! Which is annoying

[@KatieKookaburra]

Really??! Not noticed the battery level! Maybe if it was removed that’s why

[@KyriaxWitch]

an mini gsm gps tracker with prepaid chip is lightyears better and cheap. i n my bike i use with the most cheap mouthly gsm plan and woriks perfectly. i paid 2 U$$ month and paid 15 U$$ for the tracker

[@harrymurphey2634]

... here in the USA ... it is about THEFT!!!! ... When on bike rides I never leave my bike alone we always leave someone watching over our bikes ... and then swap off. I will have one of these on my expensive TREK 5.2 Domane ...

[@laninash4579]

Great review of the AirTags. Something I am definitely interested in. My question for you is where is your New Ribble bike. How come you never ride it ?😁

[@KatieKookaburra]

I do! Rode it yesterday :) this bike in the vid is now on my turbo 😢

[@laninash4579]

@@KatieKookaburra Thank you for quick reply I am behind on watching you videos. Are you thinking of doing PBP next year. It’s something I’m thinking 🤔 of doing but I’ve never been to France 🇫🇷 with my bike before. 😁

[@clp91009]

Next time I replace my bottom bracket I might glue one of these air tags inside the bottom bracket shell where any potential thief would never think of looking or even know how to get to. My bike has a BB86 press fit bottom bracket and I replace it myself once a year for routine maintenance.

[@dominicbritt]

You’d probably block it’s signal by doing this…

[@gowesreborn]

Bagus sekali ya. Bisa dicari sepeda kita kalau dicuri. Harus cepat sebelum pencurinya jual. Terimakasih informasinya. Salam sehat dan sukses selalu. Subs. Indonesian🙏🚴‍♀️🇲🇨

[@johnmcnulty1129]

Catching them "red handed" trying to steal the horse, that's the dream ! Good vid up on KZbin Katie, you've no doubt seen it already, "Rapha Films Present Tour De Force ( 42 mins ) Le Femmes Pro riders. Bet they wouldn't contemplate doing a APN in driving wind & rain though ! Stay amazin ☀️ 🐑🐑

[@parishayes2000]

How much is the parking at PopUp?

[@KatieKookaburra]

Few pounds :)

[@KG-theknickerbockerkid]

I am hoping to electrify the bike so if someone touches they get zapped. Innovation

[@BrianSeklecki]

I wish that there was a rechargeable lithium ion 2023 battery!

[@anilchauisms]

Nice video

[@markrushton1516]

The latest toy for stalkers. Worth reading about.

[@sabrinalovesbikes]

Got one hidden on my bike for peace of mind. Great! ☺️

[@MadMadness14]

this isn't a good test, it would be interesting to see how well it works when you don't know where it is (get someone to hide it for you?)

[@astriddegroot7438]

Great thing for bikes etc. not great in the hands of a stalker or controlling partner.

[@freddickenson2602]

Can we put them on thieves Then track them

[@tomdavid7372]

Don't lock up a bike worth nicking, problem solved. Technology not needed. That's the view from London UK anyway.

[@googlelimp9834]

that will only be any good in the city and large towns, so to be honest worth £25, but if its stolen in the country side you got no chance unless the mong who stole it has an apple hahaha

[@skyrider828]

A great product for rich folks with Apple iphones! Much more limited functionality for poor Android phone users. Ref bike theft, smart thieves now take care to search for and remove the airtags as fast as they can :)

[@KatieKookaburra]

There is an app for use on Android and Samsung make similar.

[@jamesm.3967]

That tag weighs 25 pounds🥴?

[@charliecook6909]

If a Theif stuck one of these to your bike at a cafe stop or something like that, they could use these to find out where you store your bikes, then steal them from your house , would be my concern

[@crgmrgn]

They've covered that eventuality … the stalking protection would mean that the rider would get a notification after a few miles, stating that a random airtag seems to be travelling with them … Apple have been refining it over the last year or so, also works against someone popping an airpod into your jacket pocket, etc.

[@charliecook6909]

@@crgmrgn I guess that works ok if you have an airtag yourself ,but for the people without apple and airtags they could still track your bike with out you knowing I'm guessing

[@stevekirk6399]

😃

[@markfletcher4605]

Katie, my country's security agency thanks you very much for participating in our 1984 program.

[@KatieKookaburra]

My country also commends you for taking part on your phone and watching KZbin 👀

[@markrushton1516]

Anyone with anything accessing the Ethernet or a cell phone can be surveilled

[@timtaylor9590]

i dont like how inaccurate it is, they claim to have gone to the moon but cant get this right?

[@KatieKookaburra]

I’m sure it cost more than £25 to go to the moon.

[@timtaylor9590]

@@KatieKookaburra yea but my bike is priceless, i couldnt care less if they actually went to the moon or lied about it, lol.

[@timtaylor9590]

@@KatieKookaburra i dont have experience with trackers but i find it hard to believe this is as good as it gets, idk maybe it is. good ones cant be that expensive, even for a couple hundo its worth catching a bike thief for a bike worth 50 dollars. sounds like good times to me.

[@aegisdesign]

@@timtaylor9590 AirTags do not use GPS, WiFi or mobile phone data. They rely on having been spotted by another iPhone so somebody nearby walked past Katie's AirTag and that location was sent to Apple as the last known location. In Katie's case it was someone in the car park opposite the shop. When you yourself get closer, newer iPhones use Ultra-WideBand radio to detect the weak radio signal from the AirTag giving you more accurate realtime location data. If you have an old iPhone without UWB then it would leave the trail in the car park.

[@timtaylor9590]

@@aegisdesign wow thats terrible, no wonder its so bad, so if no one has an i phone or phone then its worthless. lol, junk