Oddly, this thread keeps popping up with the last recent reply by Eddie, which is gone when I go to look at it. It's been doing this for a couple of days.

Oddly, this thread keeps popping up with the last recent reply by Eddie, which is gone when I go to look at it. It's been doing this for a couple of days.

 

I've noticed this happening on other threads intermittently too. It happens sometimes on the "sticky" threads that are in a separate folder but appear in here after a post entry which might be intentional, so this might be related to that function in some way.

.

I leave it in only when I go to the shops etc. I wouldn't risk someone attempting to lever the seat open and taking it. I have taken it in with me to offices etc when the outside temp is below 5°C and/or I'm going to be longer than 15 minutes.

Oddly, this thread keeps popping up with the last recent reply by Eddie, which is gone when I go to look at it. It's been doing this for a couple of days.

 

Yes, I am constantly having to refresh to see thread content...is forum in its death throws?

It's a Poll

 

Is it because there is a 'poll' facility at the head of the thread. Perhaps members are casting a vote but not adding a comment. If so, is this what's bumping the thread?.

Ooops

 

Perhaps I should have added a note !

So far I have only used my bike from home (locked indoors) to work (underground carpark with keyfob access), once I have sorted out an alarm and alarmed cable lock it will be used for more trips where I can do without the car.

Ah well, ressurected, but still an interesting poll. I leave the battery on the bike in my work car park, but that is indoor and quite secure. I dont think i'd leave it on outside unless it was only for 5 mins. The battery locks, but i can imagine people mangling it in trying to remove it. Also, i'd be concerned about leaving it in the rain for long periods of time.

My bike's secure at work. If I go into town I leave it on as it's too darned heavy to lug around and it's locked to the rack anyway. With the panniers on, I'm sure most people wouldn't even know it's an ebike so it should be o.k.

...so it should be o.k.

 

And that really is the point, i.e. it SHOULD be ok.

 

The only way to ensure that your precious ebike (or its battery) never gets nicked is not to own one in the first place.

 

 

Allen.

if i'm going to a place where i think i may not take one of the bigger bikes inside, i ride the brompton-nano. never been refused entry, even into quite secure buildings, with the brompton-nano and battery bag

Edited February 7, 201115 yr by Tex

Well at home and around my local shops. I leave it locked on the bike. Tomorrow will be the 1st time that I will have ridden it to work. (local secondary school) . I will take the battery off but I'm concerned about kids fiddling with other parts like the display etc!

your best thieves were all sent down this way to australia as convicts hundred of years ago.

 

your best thieves were all sent down this way to australia as convicts hundred of years ago.

 

True, we've had to start importing them from mainland Europe now.

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True, we've had to start importing them from mainland Europe now.

.

 

Well, 50 or so years back, before these mainland European crooks started coming ashore in waves (apparently), we managed to get on quite well with home-grown thugs and thieves. Perhaps all the decent, white, Christian, 100% British scallywags can now retire or claim industrial compensation.

 

A

I've seen quite a few e-bikes locked up now, and most of the time the battery is left on the bike.

 

For me, in London, that seems crazy! Leaving an item worth several hundred pounds unattended attached to a bike. However other people may have different ideas...

 

So do you leave your battery on the bike when you lock it in the street?

 

I agree, it's crazy leaving the battery on the bike. In rural parts it might not be an issue but in towns and cities its surely a no no. It's the most expensive part of an electric bike after all.

 

A battery on a bike is a clear invitation to any thief. They will either try and steal the whole bike or remove the battery off it hoping to sell it on. Even if they can't get either they can do a lot of damage in the process to your nice bike.

 

The other side of this is that insurance companies 9 times out of 10 will not cover theft or vandalism of batteries on electric bikes.

 

The problem is that battery technology still has a long way to go and the big batteries being fitted to bikes are impractical to remove and carry around with you when you're out shopping or whatever. Who wants to lug a 5kg lump about!

One cheap partial solution is to cover your bike when you leave it for an hour or more, on the basis of 'out of sight, out of mind'. For a thief to properly sus out your bike, the first thing he's got to do is to remove your cover. Thieves (believe me) like to be in and out as fast as possible. Locks and bolts deter them mainly because they've got to hang about while they deal with the locks etc. A cheapish rain cover will cover all your shiney bits, and also disguise the fact that your bike is an ebike.

 

Not guaranteed, but easier than lugging the battery around with you.

 

 

A

One cheap partial solution is to cover your bike when you leave it for an hour or more, on the basis of 'out of sight, out of mind'. For a thief to properly sus out your bike, the first thing he's got to do is to remove your cover. Thieves (believe me) like to be in and out as fast as possible. Locks and bolts deter them mainly because they've got to hang about while they deal with the locks etc. A cheapish rain cover will cover all your shiney bits, and also disguise the fact that your bike is an ebike.

 

Not guaranteed, but easier than lugging the battery around with you.

 

 

A

 

That's a good idea covering the bike, less chance of it attracting attention.

My Kalkhoff has the Axa lock on it which locks through the rear wheel. I run the accessory cable through the handgrip of the Panasonic battery and plug it in to the Axa, so the battery is secured by its built in lock and the Axa cable as well.

It takes very little time to do.

 

Then I secure the frame with an Abus Granit. I feel its something of a security plus that the Panasonic battery requires a specialised charger too.

Great minds think alike

 

I do exactly the same on mine.

Another variant of the 'what the eye can't see' approach:

 

if I'm nipping in to the shops for 3 minutes, and can't be fagged to remove the three gleaming lights from my handlebars, I often use a scruffy carrier-bag - which goes over the lights, computer, etc., etc. As usual, it's NOT designed to do any good against the better class of thief, but if an oik wanders by and sees the gleaming lights, he's more inclined to quickly unclip them and scarper.

 

Use with discretion, of course.

 

 

A.

Hugh,

 

"Great minds think alike" is only part of the old adage. The rest is, ".....fools seldom differ!" I'm pretty confident you're not a fool but lots of people use that first part without knowing the second part.

 

You probably knew that though!

 

Regards,

Indalo

I've seen quite a few e-bikes locked up now, and most of the time the battery is left on the bike.

 

For me, in London, that seems crazy! Leaving an item worth several hundred pounds unattended attached to a bike. However other people may have different ideas...

 

So do you leave your battery on the bike when you lock it in the street?

 

Optibike battery is built in the frame and the external is a li-ion 36v 22ah and I wouldnt leave it on the back for more than 10 minutes and I dont really leave my bike out of sight to be honest!

If I had a sla on the back I would hope someone would steal it if they were strong anuf to pick it up... so I could buy a ping!

Do an insurance poll next. How many have their bikes and batteries covered on household insurance, and how many have actually checked that it does in fact cover batteries when the bicycle is left outside?! How many have taken separate specialist insurance for their bikes?

 

I contacted one insurance company to clarify this and they said, whilst household insurance would cover the bike, it would not cover the battery and it would only cover the bike if it was locked inside a bricks and mortar out building with a suitable lock like a shed or garage and SECURED with an insurance approved bicycle lock against the actual building wall! Quite a few conditions there not immediately apparent to many people. They stated they would not cover the bicycle itself let alone the battery if it was locked up in the street somewhere, even if an approved lock was used, unless a separate premium was paid with a claims excess applied. They stated that such provision would never extend to the battery or electrical parts of the bicycle.

Edited December 24, 201114 yr by morphix

Unfortunately we are dealing with the scum of the earth (NO, not the forum members ;-)

 

But with people who quite happily steal catalytic exhausts from ambulances and copper from hospital generators.

 

Given the slightest excuse, a nice piece of battery will sell down at the scrappys like anything else (plus a pound for the scrap value of the bike frame).

 

Bike locks, hardened chains, Hardened wire loops, are all vulnerable to Screwfix man.

 

That said, Have a Happy Christmas and New Year,

 

(But do keep an eye on your pride and joy, The bike (not the spouse ;-) )

 

Rgds

Battery ?

 

Heck my bike AND battery go with me everywhere!

 

The Brompton is the most portable and goes in and out of coffee shops, general shops, bank, PO, supermarkets etc. The Moulton is stowed in my office when I use it to commute but too big for much more than that.

 

Brompton

 

 

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6308934524_38652b776a_o.jpg

 

 

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4007/4240402305_ccc7d8495b_o.jpg

 

Moulton

 

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6118/6318610623_3cfb5a882a_o.jpg

 

 

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/6321603805_177364c0d3_o.jpg

 

Happy Christmas to you too.

 

Jerry

Edited December 25, 201114 yr by jerrysimon