Electric bikes are objects of desire. Even more than a classic bike without electric assistance. Because of the higher resale price, the battery having great value, or the attractive electric motor, they are a prime target for two-wheel thieves.
So how to buy a reliable lock model? Where to lock your electric-assist bike? To protect your ride effectively, discover Weebot's best advice on locks with our practical guide to fight theft.
Essential accessory to protect your electric bike
The explosion in electric bike sales unfortunately comes with a new booming black market: the resale of stolen bikes.
Unlike scooters and motorcycles, the electric bike is light. Also, it does not have a handlebar lock system and starts silently. The electric-assist bike is therefore particularly easy to steal.
When buying an electric bike, you must protect it from theft with a lock. But not all are equally effective. Let's review how to avoid theft of your motorized vehicle.
What you need to know about bike theft
First of all, here are the facts about bike theft in France:
- 9 out of 10 stolen bikes were poorly locked at the time of theft (due to a low-quality electric bike lock or a bad place where the bike was locked)
- A quarter of stolen bikes were not locked at all
- One in two thefts occurs in the common areas of buildings (courtyards or building halls). A place where people often forget to lock their electric bike, thinking it is safe from theft.
Electric bike theft, the main obstacle to purchase
It is estimated today that apart from the global shortage of electric bikes, theft contributes to slowing the growth of the population using this ecological and economical means of transport.
The other obstacle is the lack of safety on the road. But this is gradually disappearing thanks to the creation of increasingly secure bike lanes like the RER Vélo in Île-de-France.
Theft is not inevitable, however. The decisive weapon is to always lock your bike by the frame with an appropriate electric bike lock.
Mandatory bike engraving since 2021
To fight against theft but especially the fencing of electric bikes, the French government has implemented mandatory marking of new electric bikes at the time of purchase. With a unique code, it is possible to find the owner's address in case of theft.
You can already have your bike engraved if yours is not equipped. An inviolable and inexpensive label will have a deterrent effect on thieves.
If you want to know more, Weebot advises our blog article on this subject.
How to choose an electric bike lock?
Not all types of locks are equal. Two criteria are mainly to be considered when choosing your security device. The solidity of a bike lock is the first criterion to know. Secondly, we advise you to read the different reviews from users and professionals in the sector. Because the most expensive is not necessarily synonymous with the best level of security.
For maximum protection of your electric bike, U locks from the Abus brand are among the highest quality manufacturing. They are all recommended to protect your two-wheeler most effectively.
The different types of electric bike locks
There is no electric bike lock that is clearly better than the others. Each protection device offers advantages but also disadvantages. You just need to find the lock that best suits your use of the electric bike.
Choosing a reliable, resistant, and suitable electric bike lock model for your use is not necessarily obvious. Between the many brands on the market and the different types of protection, electric bike users are sometimes lost.
They are generally burdened with technical jargon that sometimes discourages the purchase of an electric bike lock. To avoid the headache, you are in the right place and Weebot explains everything you need to know before buying an electric bike lock.
Chain locks
There are no chain locks specially designed for electric bikes, but there are bike chains with locks that are more or less resistant depending on the model. Generally made of hardened steel, this type of electric bike lock with a lock effectively and durably resists common brutal attacks such as sawing or bolt cutters.
If you choose this anti-theft device, know that round link chains are easier to handle than square link chains.
Disadvantage of the chain lock
- Heavier than other systems
- No need to have a chain longer than 120 cm
- The least obvious lock to carry
U locks
U-locks for electric bikes provide a high level of resistance to sawing, bolt cutters, picking, drilling... It is certainly the best way to secure an electric bike.
Since it is not foldable, it is sometimes more complicated to carry. For this, you need to invest in a fastening system inside the frame to easily carry a U-lock.
Disadvantage of the chain lock
- Does not fold
- Must be accompanied by a fastening system for transport
Folding locks
A folding lock is generally a good compromise to secure your electric bike. It is practical to use and also very easy to carry. It does not take up much space when fixed on a mount on the frame, or you can carry it in a bag or pannier.
However, they offer a lower level of protection than U-locks.
Disadvantages of the folding lock
- Less secure than a chain or U-lock
- Can scratch the electric bike frame with its straight edges
Cable locks
We can only discourage you from this solution! A cable lock offers very little protection. It can very easily be cut with basic wire cutters.
Also forget cable locks like serflex style. There are many tutorials on Youtube that show how easily their locking system can be opened in just a few seconds.
The 5 tips from Weebot before buying a better lock
To know how to effectively protect your electric bike, here are our essential tips. But the first reflex to have is to lock your bike UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!
Even for a few seconds, it is far too dangerous to leave your electric bike without a lock. Some thieves watch for electric bikes left in short-term parking in front of shops, for example. They only need a few seconds to steal your bike.
1 - Choose the device that suits you
If the U-lock is often cited as the most effective protection, it is not always recommended depending on your bike's attachment point. For example, if you usually lock your electric bike to a wide pole, the U-lock may not be wide enough to encircle it.
2 - Remove the battery if removable
An electric bike without a battery is immediately less attractive to a thief. That is why we emphasize keeping the removable battery of a bike with you as much as possible. Although sometimes a bit heavy to carry, this will help attract less temptation.
3 - Choose an SRA Lock
Since 2018, and within the framework of theft insurance contracts, some insurance companies require their electric bike users to equip themselves with a better SRA-approved lock. But what is the SRA standard?
An SRA lock is a security device that has received approval from the SRA association after passing a rather demanding series of resistance tests.
The SRA approval assures the user that this lock effectively resists brutal attacks such as bolt cutters, hammer blows, sawing, picking, or drilling. It is a way to ensure that the security level of the device is very high quality.
4 - Choose the right place to lock your electric bike
As much as possible and to ensure optimal protection, fix the frame as well as the front wheel of your bike to a fixed point (post, tree, lamppost, etc.). But pay particular attention to this fixed point. One of the latest theft techniques is precisely to trap certain bike fixing points in such a way as to be able to unscrew or remove them easily.
If the chosen attachment point is not fixed, your electric bike is certainly the target of an imminent theft. To maximize the protection of your two-wheeler, place your lock high up. A lock close to the ground is easier to handle for a lone thief. You can also place the lock facing the ground to make picking more complex.
5 - Add a GPS tracker
The last tip does not necessarily prevent the theft of a two-wheeler but primarily allows you to be warned of the theft of your bike. There are more and more GPS tracker solutions to hide on an electric bike. Whether inside a rear light to add to the bike, in a saddle, or better yet, in the bike frame, you could be notified live if your electric bike were to be moved.
It seems to be the solution against theft that offers the best peace of mind when you leave your electric bike unattended.
