E-Bike and Bicycle Security

While a starter bicycle may cost just a couple of hundred pounds, a high performance Mountain Bike or Racing Bike could easily cost you a several thousand, and a good E-Bike will probably cost you £5,000 or more.

Obviously, the amount you spend on security will be influenced by the value of your model, but as a general guide, around 10% of the value of your bike would be a reasonable investment in security products or measures to protect it, while other factors such as insurance for instance are also very important.

Some people rely on their household insurance policy to cover their bike, but most general household policies limit the amount they will pay out for any individual item, and may carry an excess which you have to pay if you make a claim.

A purpose designed Electric Bike or specialist bicycle insurance policy will ensure that you have adequate cover in the event of theft or damage, but will almost certainly require you to meet specified security requirements if they are to pay out in the event of a claim, so you need to consider carefully the real financial loss and the aggravation you would suffer if your bike was stolen.

In essence, there are four types of security to consider, property marking, bike alarms, physical bike locks and building security, so let’s have a quick look at each.

Property Marking for Cycles and E-Bikes.

Marking your bike with a recognised asset marking kit will identify it as your property and your details will be registered for life on the police national database. Marking your bike is a proven way to help to deter thieves, but should your bike ever be stolen and subsequently recovered, the police will know exactly who to return it to.  

A Cycle Alarm.

There is nothing wrong with bike alarms, however it is a sad fact that people generally tend to ignore alarms, even one screeching out 130 decibels or so as they pass by, so only a real optimist would rely exclusively on an alarm to protect their bike.

Physical Bike Locks.

Physical locking devices normally take the form of a security cable or chain with padlock, or a D-Lock. While there are many to choose from, we would recommend choosing one which is Sold Secure Gold rated for bicycles as a minimum.

You also need to consider weight issues, as anything over 2 or 3kg will be hard to carry around with you. At home however, using a more robust and heavier duty system to secure your bike (or perhaps multiple bikes if you have a family), will offer a higher level of security than your lightweight carry around system, so you probably need to invest in both types.

Bike Security Storage.

From a custom designed cycle store to storing your bike in your garage or shed, there are many places where you could store your bike(s) out of easy view, but you will need to consider locking the building or structure as the first layer of defence against thieves.

Within the building or structure itself, you should consider using a high quality security chain and a padlock of a similar security level, to secure your bike to a sound anchor point such as a ground anchor, wall anchor, shed shackle or something similar. Again we would recommend that you look for Sold Secure Gold Approved products, which should be your minimum security level target.

Best Bicycle Security Products.

At Insight, we understand that when investing in security solutions, it is important to choose products that you know you can rely on, which is why we only stock tried, tested and proven products that do what they claim and offer genuine value for money.

Here are a few helpful links which you may find useful.

See all D-Locks and U-Locks.

See all Padlock and Chain Solutions.

See all Ground and Wall Anchors.

See Shed and Outhouse Security.