If there were 10 bicycles and your eBike parked next to each other – what bike do you think would be the most attractive to thieves?
Unfortunately, the resale of stolen bikes is a large business and no country or city is completely safe. However, it’s up to you to stop thieves in place and secure your eBike just like you would do to any other property you own.
But if you know how thieves think, you might know how to prevent bicycle theft, right?
That’s why, in this post, you will find the most efficient ways to prevent eBike theft and keep your favorite bicycle protected at all times.
Wise Bike Locking Techniques
If you’ve been a bike owner for a long time – you’d understand that there are ways & techniques you can follow to fully secure & lock your bike down.
There are also 3 types of locks you can use:
- Chain locks
- Cable & combination locks
- D-Locks
Every one of these types has its weaknesses and advantages and it’s up to you to wisely choose the locks that won’t compromise the security of your eBike.
1-Lock Techniques (2 Methods)
Ideally, you’d want to rely on 2-lock techniques, but if you have only one lock available – here are two of the best way to keep your eBike secured.
The first method (image above) you could try is by using a D-lock where you lock down both rear wheel and frame to an object. If your front wheel comes with a quick-release mechanism, you can remove it, line it up with the rear wheel and lock both of them down, along with the frame.
The second method (image below) involves locking down through the rear wheel to an object. This way, the lock will be placed within the rear triangle of the rear forks and this way, both your rear wheel and frame will be secure. If your D-lock is big enough, you might even be able to secure both wheels using this method.
2-Locks Technique (1 Method)
The most efficient way to lock your eBike is using two locks for the best security. You can choose two locks of the same type, or you can even combine them – it’s totally up to you.
If you choose to use 2 D-locks, you would place the first D-lock at the front securing both front wheel and bike frame to an object. Then, you would do the same with the second D-lock and you would secure rear wheel and frame to the same object.
Locks That Can Withstand Maximum Destruction
If you were browsing bike locks, you would notice that there’s a big difference between the cheapest and the most expensive locks.
The main difference is in the material. Some of the hardest locks to break will feature hard steel material which will be heavy – but will be able to withstand maximum force and even make the most determined thieve abort the mission.
We highly recommend investing in a quality lock, because, even if you properly secure your eBike with techniques mentioned above – you would still put your eBike at risk by choosing low-quality locks.
Lock Removable Parts to your eBike
eBikes will come with removable parts such as an LCD display or even a battery pack. Unfortunately, you would have to secure them as well.
Some thieves might not be after your eBike but possibly after some pricy eBike parts that could be resold or re-used on other eBikes.
The best way to secure these parts is to try and lock them with a cable to your eBike. However, if you aren’t able to do that – taking these parts with you will be necessary.
GPS Tracking (Real or Fake One)
Nothing can keep your eBike protected as a GPS tracking.
Depending on the value of the eBike – some users decide to put up a sticker in a very visible space that notifies everyone that the eBike features GPS tracking (even if it doesn’t).
However, if your eBike is as precious as we believe it is – there is no reason not to install a real GPS tracking to your eBike. Most of the time, GPS trackers made for bikes come concealed in a way of light, seat post, or any other object that won’t draw too much attention.
But if you’re bold enough – you can put up a GPS tracker that isn’t concealed right on top of the handlebars to let thieves know what you’re up to!
Carefully Choose the Parking Location for Your Routine Rides
The thing about routine rides is that this can give thieves a better opportunity not only to steal your eBike but also to learn when is the perfect time to steal it.
If you ride an expensive or shiny eBike – you should carefully choose your parking location everywhere you go. This especially applies to the routine rides.
Alarm Installation
We’re living in the modern world where technology is highly available and you would be surprised with some of the alarm gadgets available to cyclists.
These alarm gadgets aren’t only compact and easy to install, but they’re very versatile so they also include tracking systems, LED light notifications, and most importantly – alarm sound.
Think of Upgrading to a Foldable eBike
If you rely on your eBike for your routine rides and yet you are worried about the limited parking space you have available – another great option is to park the eBike inside the building.
However, this might not be an ideal option for everyone so that’s why we believe it might be a good idea for some fellow riders to upgrade to a foldable eBike to increase the parking options they have.
Conclusion
What is your favorite way to keep your eBike safe from thieves?
We understand that you can’t be with your eBike every second – but thieves are quick and they work fast. Therefore, we highly recommend learning proper eBike locking techniques but also investing in a quality lock & alarm or GPS gadgets.
In the worst-case scenario, if your eBike gets stolen – you will still be able to track it down before it’s too late.
Did you ever have your eBike stolen? Were you able to recover it back?
Feel free to tell us about your experiences or lessons you’ve learned, or even share a tip or two in the comments below!
Hopefully, this article is enough to teach you how to prevent bicycle theft and keep your precious eBike safe!
