Electric Bikes being stolen !

[Coolcats]

Apologies, for reference overall there are 23m bikes in Netherlands so stolen at 500k is slightly more than 2%. Again not sure what this means!!

2% sounds about right for the e-bikes though bike theft is a real problem I read recently one woman had a lock on her bike but it wasn’t locked to a fence and saw the bike being taken apparently the thieves get about £50 per bike !

 

[stevec]

We went for the 6.3m PVC for exactly this reason - I can whip the front wheels off in 5 seconds and store our expensive road bikes behind the deadlocked and Vanbitz protected rear doors, under the bed. Anything left outside is sadly a viable target for the scrote thieves. The only lock that seems to come close to defeating a portable angle grinder is this one

LITELOK X1

The World's Best Bike Lock. 5x more angle-grinder resistant than the best performing D-lock, X1 is supreme bike security: Sold Secure Diamond D-Lock

www.litelok.com

Increasingly tempted by the idea of Bromptons though ...seems ideal for trips when you dont need a serious bike, for cruising around towns, villages etc

They now do an X3 for another £100 (so £249). I was told to spend 10% of the bikes value on security devices. But maybe not solely on one device!

 

[Tonks]

We actually had a groundsheet nicked in Spain last week from our pitch whilst it was pegged down!

Last year, my campsite neighbours had the lights they'd set up on their pitch stolen overnight.

 

[Tonks]

No option if you have a PVC, even folding models, be they e-bikes or pedal, would be too big for our van .. so we use a towbar rack.

We've had two bikes stolen... one in France another in Spain... one was cut off the rack on our RV at Capbreton, .. another was simply snatched while we waited outside a Liddl in a shopping centre .. . a bike is an easy target for the opportunist thief ..even out cycling ..

I have a VW campervan and my folding ebike fits on the front passenger seat. Just! It gets put in a bike wrap to protect the upholstery and the van interior and it's put in the main van first, then up onto the seat. There's no way I could lift it onto the seat from outside as it's far too heavy. In the daytime it's locked to one of the van wheels with an insurance approved and very heavy lock. Very few locks would deter a determined thief, but the idea is to make it less easy to 'grab and go'.

 

[Coolcats]

They now do an X3 for another £100 (so £249). I was told to spend 10% of the bikes value on security devices. But maybe not solely on one device!

Just watched the video on the web site 1.5 discs to cut the X1 and an impressive 4 discs for the X3 and as the guy said it was in optimal conditions so being on a bike it may be harder and longer

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tonks]

Not if you have a PVC with a fixed rear bed, as there will be space underneath for folding bikes. We have two under our bed! Just regret not going for a lighter model bike.

Mine sits on the passenger seat at night. But like you, I would love to have a lighter one. However they're not that easy to find.
The Gron model which I do like is very expensive as it's partly carbon fibre. That said, my top e-folder in terms of spec and use at the moment is the Wisper 806. But that is 5-7kg heavier than the Gron, depending on the spec. Which is a lot. So it does boil down to performance v weight. Of course the performance requirement varies considerably from person to person. The Wisper is also about £1000 cheaper than the Gron which would also be a key factor...

 

[jerryz]

wHO?

cheaper to shoot them

Yes but its no spectacle, and long term hanging or impalment is cheaper, you can re use the equipment

 

[Abgs]

We’ve got a pair of self converted Swytch ebikes for general mooching about duties. Base bikes were about £350 each years ago and the kits about £400, so not particularly valuable.

If we park them, we lock them and remove the batteries and hope they will still be there on our return. So far so good. With our previous PVC they traveled on the external rack minus front wheels, batteries and seats, nowadays they have the comfort of heating garage,

In a addition I have a proper full fat, many £K’s E Mountain Bike that also lives in the garage. When I take that out it its purely for mid/hardcore riding so it's never parked anywhere out of my sight.

 

[Mixyblob]

I agree on the take pub bikes bit. I think if you put a few grands worth of bikes on the back of the motorhome and they get nicked you have partly yourself to blame. It's like walking into a shop in a dodgy area and pulling a wad of cash out. I'm not blaming the victim for the crime but it's a good idea not to act in a way to make becoming a victim more likely.

So, you're suggesting that we don't carry our expensive bikes on the back of our PVC, because if they get nicked we're partly to blame.
The mind boggles.

 

[Mixyblob]

Why does someone keep expensive ebikes on a rack. That's why we got our van as it has a garage last one didn't (well not big enough for bikes) to keep them out the way.

Because some of us don't own a van big enough to keep bikes inside. Are you suggesting that PVC owners do not take their bikes with them?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Mixyblob]

We had our stolen from there a few years ago. Left them in a busy area as advised. Outside of shops. Locked to a bike stand. When we returned the locks had sawn through and left on the ground. Bikes gone. Nice is known for serious bike thefts - disappointing so is the rest of France

We had our new ebikes stolen in Toulouse a couple of years ago, similar scenario to you. They were locked up in front of a CCTV camera. Police said they get an average of 20 bike thefts a day reported. They refused to look at camera footage as the scrotes would be wearing hoodies and covid masks.
Luckily, they were fully insured and the company paid up in full.

 

[Waveski]

Out of curiosity; do those who keep expensive bikes in their garage also lock them up? My insurance requires my e-bike to even be locked up securely in my locked garage at home.

 

[Nanniemate]

Why does someone keep expensive ebikes on a rack. That's why we got our van as it has a garage last one didn't (well not big enough for bikes) to keep them out the way.

Why would change a van just to hide a bike a larger van may not get to locations you want to visit because the van is unsuitable
You buy what suits you and if you constantly scared of theft. Parking going anywhere just in case something may get stolen having difficulties parking in what is deemed a 'safe location'
A lot more bikes travel very happily on the back of a van than get stolen

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Pal of mine has retreived several e-bikes for friends and family over last few years. Basically he's buying 4 x fifty pence sized tracker buttons and hides them on the bike, difficult as they will look for them so need to be as quick as possible. These work out at £25 each, then tracked on phone, so need to check every 30 mins. It's just a cheap 'n' cheerful peace of mind !
We've got them hidden in the motorhome and my motorbike. Also got Gloabal telematics on moho with credit card size Immobiliser in my money clip, so won't start till card activated and within reach of dashboard.

 

[Ernesto]

Pal of mine has retreived several e-bikes for friends and family over last few years. Basically he's buying 4 x fifty pence sized tracker buttons and hides them on the bike, difficult as they will look for them so need to be as quick as possible. These work out at £25 each, then tracked on phone, so need to check every 30 mins. It's just a cheap 'n' cheerful peace of mind !
We've got them hidden in the motorhome and my motorbike. Also got Gloabal telematics on moho with credit card size Immobiliser in my money clip, so won't start till card activated and within reach of dashboard.

I sort of get it …but struggle a bit with it being peace of mind with respect to bikes?

I’d prefer to deter the theft than track down people who thieve bikes, and may be confront them and maybe get your bike back without being beaten up.

Immobilisers on vans I totally get as it prevents the theft

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Alway's the same you can't police everybody, and everybody to their own, I just prefer our way of dealing with the situation. Hope you don't get caught out in the future

 

[Mixyblob]

We just make sure ours are fully insured and do everything we can to deter the scrotes.

 

[Minxy]

Out of curiosity; do those who keep expensive bikes in their garage also lock them up? My insurance requires my e-bike to even be locked up securely in my locked garage at home.

Ours weren't particularly expensive (second hand) and we still lock them when in the garage, if they get in then at least it's not a quick grab and run/ride job.

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

In Toulouse atm, thousands of e-bikes and scooters locked up in centre, most got the infamous 'U' clamps on them As bad as Nice I spose
Wife saw a lad texting opposite us when locking bike up to a lamp post, she got a bit paranoid thinking about it, I said it will be Ok don't worry about it

 

[Nanniemate]

Out of curiosity; do those who keep expensive bikes in their garage also lock them up? My insurance requires my e-bike to even be locked up securely in my locked garage at home.

My insurance requires you to be able to produce a receipt for their approved lock and stipulates when and where it needs to be secured to an immovable object

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Rodders1234]

Biking is supposed to be a pleasure but it’s turning into a burden and a worry just because of a few scum bags.
We have one pub bike and one e-bike, we remove the electric controller and lock to a rail if out. On the MH bike rack we use locks and Van blitz alarm cable.

 

[Threeracers]

Prompted by this thread I have just insured my two new Brompton purchases with Bikmo. Anyone have an experience of Bikmo?

Brompton offered a 25% off deal with the bikes so I didn't bother shopping around and a quick Google of Bikmo suggests they are well regarded.

Just under £30 per month and my existing D lock meets with their approval so I think that's a deal.

M

 

[Landy Andy]

£360 per year seems expensive to me. That’s car insurance money,

 

[Barryh]

Our bikes valued at £2000 each are covered under the house insurance, which is less than £360 a year at the moment. They are covered in Europe for 60 days per trip, up to 180 per year. No great stipulations about locks and stuff other than being properly secured.

 

[Threeracers]

£360 per year seems expensive to me. That’s car insurance money,

I just double checked with Pedalsure and their quote was higher at £39.43 pm. If you take into account the 25% off that I got via Brompton’s deal they are about the same actual cost.

To be fair the bike values are £3,785 and £4,415. So total cover is quite a bit more than my car and they are easier to pinch so it seemed reasonable.

M

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

Prompted by this thread I have just insured my two new Brompton purchases with Bikmo. Anyone have an experience of Bikmo?

Brompton offered a 25% off deal with the bikes so I didn't bother shopping around and a quick Google of Bikmo suggests they are well regarded.

Just under £30 per month and my existing D lock meets with their approval so I think that's a deal.

M

£27 per annum extra on my house insurance for 2 Bromptons which for insurance I've put as £1200 each, £2400 total.

 

[Barchetta47]

Now this might freak out some of you….either with or without a garage.

I’m on the Ile de Re at a municipal. My German neighbours both have BT Winn crank driven eBikes. They leave them out completely unlocked, not even the Axa clamp lock, with batteries attached all day and night. He has a garage but doesn’t use it. In addition he has a 200cc scooter with no additional security plus a hi tec kite board which he leaves lying around with kites.

I suppose it’s all a matter of how much risk you think is really at play.

 

[Waveski]

I used to work in risk assessment, both financial and security. I came across two quotes:

“You have more chance of being killed on the way to get a lottery ticket than winning the lottery”

“More people drown in motor cars than those using sailing boats”

Life is all about assessing the risk v the reward and your appetite for the risk and its consequences. I choose to lock up my bike but I can afford the loss if it were stolen. The benefit is hugely greater than the risk.

 

[scotjimland]

“More people drown in motor cars than those using sailing boats”

should substitute motor cars with - Swift Motohomes..

 

[Blaydon]

should substitute motor cars with - Swift Motohomes..

I think you may have a problem with the grey tank not emptying! PoooooH!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}