Keep your bike safe! 5 essential tips to lock your bike to your bike rack.
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- In this video, we're going to show you some easy tips on how to avoid bike theft. By following these 5 foolproof bike rack locking tips, you'll be sure to keep your bike safe and locked up!
Bike theft is a major problem in the world today, and it's getting worse and worse. By following these tips, you'll be able to keep your bike safe and locked up, and help ensure you don't become a victim. Watch the video to find out how to lock your bike to a bike rack, using the best bike lock for your needs!
These tips will work with MTB or Road Bikes. These tips can apply to a wide range or rack and bike combinations. Whether you have a hitch bike rack, a bike rack for a car, Thule or Saris.
Here are links for the products I've shown:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Abus Chain:
amzn.to/3QpszIa
Abus Lock (20/80): (try 20/70 if out of stock)
amzn.to/3rRmB8x
Abus Lock (20/70): This is very similar to the 20/80, the 20/80 is out of stock. The 20/70 is still a disk detainer lock, but with a slightly smaller shackle and overall a little lighter duty
amzn.to/3QzHWh3
Abus Lock (37/80):
amzn.to/45dSztY
When locking my electric bike in the main open corridor of my apartment building, I use a motion alarm (w/remote control key fob), a long shackle steel body American Lock with tubular core to lock seat to battery rack, remove battery and bring it inside, a Forever Lock u-lock (version #1) to lock back (motor) wheel to frame, and a 12mm hexagonal hardened steel Schlage ring loop chain to lock frame to front wheel to banister and secure that chain with a Sargent and Greenleaf 831B-M military padlock with Medeco core. And I have two hidden tracking devices: one Samsung SmartTag Plus and one Solum Smart Tag. When locking to bike racks outside of businesses around town, the only difference is that I don't secure the back (motor) wheel and I use a shrouded shackle Kasp 19070X (6-pin Yale keyway) padlock with Ilco Bump Stop spring installed in pin chambers 5 and 6 (plus the usual spool pin drivers in the remaining chambers) through the Schlage chain to secure front wheel to frame to rack, and I use a steel Harley-Davidson branded Kryptonite disc detainer disc brake lock on the back wheel, and a Tung Sheng steel disc brake lock on the front wheel. Three weeks ago when locked to the rack in front of the grocery store directly underneath the security camera at 1pm with security guard 4 feet away inside the store, I was still using the Abus 7mm square chain with a Miracle Lock (laminated steel padlock with the Chubb Ava style core) (and did not engage the motion alarm so others locking bikes near mine would not be disturbed) (and left the battery in the bike) while I was inside the store for exactly 10 minutes the thief used an angle grinder to cut the 7mm chain and stole my bike. At that time I only had one tracking device hidden on the bike (the Samsung SmartTag Plus). I tracked it down and 1 hour 20 minutes later I located it and took my bike back.
I have a similar bike rack as you do. I use a D-lock that I put through the frame of the bike and the Thule frame. I also use the smaller cable through the wheel.
Interesting! How do you lock the rack to the car?
@@NVRNerdsnewer thule racks ship with a hitch lock. I have an older one that just attached to the hitch with a pin, so ai just use a locking hitch pin from harbor freight. Those things are thick and not quick to cut through. Although, they will cause the rack to rattle inside the hitch receiver. Recommend using a hitch rattle clamp for that.
Thule also makes a locking hitch pin called the Thule Snug Tite. I haven’t seen them up close, but those have an actual threaded bolt with a lock at the end so it’s possible that the bolt when tightened will stop rack rattle.
I use the 10 foot version of this chain along with the ABUS Granit X-Plus 540 U Lock to secure my e bike.
I am looking at the LITELOK X3 for my next purchase.
Nice, to secure to your rack? What kind of rack do you have?
@@NVRNerdsI have a Hollywood Racks Sport Rider. I run the chain from the frame of my Class B RV, through a portion of the bike rack and the frame of my e bike. I also secure the front wheel with a different lock. I recently drove from CA to Tennessee and back. Wanted to make sure I kept it secure when unattended.
I transport my mtbike inside my van. it's out of site and out of of the elements. nice to be able to stop at a Cafe or shop on the way home, or go on an extended road trip and not worry about the bike
👆pointless comment for folks coming to this video to find out about securing your bike to a bike rack on the back of a vehicle
if you have a quick release on the front wheel, it might require its own set of security. maybe the front wheel inside the vehicle would help. using a very thick cable is still a good idea i addition to a chain, particularly for the front wheel. the reason is the thief might need to carry more equipment and bolt cutters are bulkier than an angle grinder to be carrying around. the more stuff a thief needs to bring with him, the longer it may take to get through all the layers.
since this is about the bike rack, you are not limited to weight and portability lime you would biking around then locking it to a stationary object. in that case, you can put a bunch of thick cables all over and around with their own locks. cables which are lighter than a chain but very thick won’t necessarily scratch up your car. if parked, motion sensors help too.
Wondering what the length of your chain is in the video
I don't leave my bike locked and out of my sight, even for a few minutes. If I want to go into a store, either the bike comes in with me, or I don't go to that store. It goes into buildings and bathrooms. It rides inside my car, but is never left there unattended. I had an inexpensive bike stolen from my locked car when they simply broke into the car. I never leave it (or any valuables) inside a motel room. It's still possible that I could be robbed of the bike at gunpoint, as that happens on some of our mountain bike trails, so it also carries a tracker inside. For that reason my phone rides in my backpack or preferably an inner jacket pocket, not attached to my bike. I do like these suggestions, however, especially the chain. I would probably use a U-lock to lock the front wheel instead of a cable lock, since the wheels are carbon.
Good suggestions! It’s definitely a matter of what your risk tolerance is.
Padlock it to the towing eye.
Hydraulic cutters are more silent than grinders and way more powerful than manual bolt cutters.
In lawless London however, the scrotes favour the grinder as it's effective AND intimidating to anyone that feels brave enough to confront the thieving gits.
I wish more companies would bring out grinder resistant locks like Hiplok and Litelok did.
More choice means more competition means cheaper prices.
Agreed! $300 for a lock is tough if you don’t own a $5k bike! Can you imagine what a chain would cost with the same tech?!
The challenge with using any lock on a car bike rack, but especially the heavy chain type, is the possibility that with the motion of the car, the chain/lock will rub through the paint on the bike frame.
I could see that being an issue. The way I demonstrated doesn’t have a lot of play at the bike. The weight of the chain keeps it pretty snug. If I were going on a road trip or something I would probably try to compensate for that. Maybe add some clear vinyl at the contact points?
a bit of a pain, but what I do is remove the lock and chain whenever I am actually driving and only installing the lock and chain when parked.
I am actually scared of doing this. I make sure that my locks are on even while driving because what if on a traffic stop someone goes behind your car and try to take your bike off. I'm a bit paranoid in that sense! I just don't want my emtb stolen after paying a lot for it, ya'know?@@rcdevil2
My girlfriend got a ticket in Ontario on her way to work for using one of these bike racks for having an obstructed license plate. She got another on her way home.
Sorry to hear that! They’re very popular in the US. Do not many people use them where you live? Do they use racks that are on top of the car?
People use both. We have crooked cops with ticket quotas just like there, though and technically the cop was in the right, so be aware of that. @@NVRNerds
Just as important is what you lock to. A light pole or telephone pole no one is going to cut down. Bike racks and fence posts and signs are pretty flimsy.
Personally, if I’m out and about, I’m just going to leave it on the rack, and do what I reasonably can to protect my bike. But again, my bike isn’t worth what many high end bikes are.
i just bouhgt hiplockD1000 279$
bc my bike cost 3k + $
Nice!
You neglected to suggest removing quick release items like bike saddles, handle bars, front tire, etc. Those could be placed in the trunk.
You definitely could. I don’t, those items aren’t that valuable on my bike and not worth the time to me. Good tip!
@NVRNerds I'd hate getting to my car only to see the bike was there minus the saddle and/or handlebar.
"better yet the thief goes for another bike"?! You actually said that.
Cold but true.
dont hate the player, hate the game
People don't pick locks, they break them. Who is going to sit there and use lock picking tools to steal a bicycle?
Maybe not, but if you buy a cheap lock, a simple wave rake could get in easily. I doubt anyone is going to apply every tip, so I gave several that someone might choose to apply.
That was NOT a cable lock but a chain lock!
I was confused at first then he said it was a chain finally
Geeesch, are you planning on parking your vehicle in the alley for a fortnight, and expecting the A team of bike rustlers....stick a padlock somewhere where access is impossible and riding it away a nightmare....then, don't leave it unattended for more than a 2 hour interval....and, secure the frame to immovable anchor.