Protection against bike theft: The right bike lock and tips for locking up
Text: pressedienst-fahrrad
1. use the bike lock correctly: Locking and not just locking
Very important: Lock it and don't just lock it. A bike that is not chained to a fixed object can simply be carried away and the lock can be picked elsewhere later at your leisure. "Ideally, the lock should secure the frame and the front wheel to a fixed object. It's best to attach it as high up on the frame as possible. This makes the thief's job more difficult," advises Torsten Mendel from security expert Abus.
2. connect bike: Good opponent
Point one of course means that a lock is only as good as its counterpart. "A rotten fence or a thin stick can be picked faster than the lock. Ideally, cyclists will find lean-to parkers," emphasises Fidel Delibalta from street furniture supplier WSM. Large brackets with a locking eyelet attached to the top are widespread; their use prevents the ground from being used as an abutment for a bolt cutter, for example.
3. pay attention to the quality of the bike lock
For many years, the rule was that the lock should cost around a tenth of the price of the bike. However, with prices for e-bikes now upwards of 3,000 euros, this is difficult to realise. The price range for locks is between 20 and approx. 200 euros. Locks with special functions such as an alarm system or smart lock can be more expensive. It is therefore important to pay attention to quality. The more expensive models not only have material that is difficult to cut through, but also high-quality locking cylinders that can even withstand lock-picking methods. "And a good lock simply also has a deterrent effect, as it can mean that thieves look for an easier victim," says Daniel Gareus from brand distributor Cosmic Sports.
4. use two bike locks
If you want to protect your high-quality, new bike even better, you should use two locks. It is important to use two locks with different designs and locking systems. This is because bike thieves often specialise in a certain type of lock. And they like to take the path of less resistance ...
5. several locks with one key: group locking
Different locks or securing the entire family fleet can result in an exhausting collection of bike keys. "Group locking, which allows several locks to be opened with the same key, can help here," says Markus Riese from Riese & Müller, which offers keyed alike locking for e-bike batteries and folding locks. "You can simply order duplicate keys or new locks from the manufacturer using a key card."
6. park your bike in busy places
If you have a choice, a bike should always be locked in a busy, well-lit area - and not in a dark alley. This would be an invitation to take your time with the bike. Conversely, the advice is of course to pay attention and show moral courage. In other words, intervene if you notice a theft.
7. secure bike components
"If you have connected the bike with a good lock, the components are still often easy to remove: wheels and seat post are secured with quick-release skewers or thru axles, brakes, gears or handlebars with standard Allen screws," explains Torsten Mendel. He therefore advises using lock loops that can be quickly pulled through wheels or saddles and can also secure other bikes or child trailers.
8 Use "networked" security sensibly
Fitting a bike with a GPS transmitter is a popular option that makes it easier to find the bike in the event of theft. However, it is much more important to prevent the theft itself. And only steel and a good lock can help. On the other hand, you should also be careful with digital options and not give everything away if possible. Cyclists who meticulously record their journeys and share them online should choose settings that do not reveal to thieves exactly where they always park their expensive bike.
9. use a bicycle lock without exception
"I just wanted to quickly..." - who hasn't heard the constant exclamation of the thief? Opportunity makes thieves, as the saying goes, and if you don't necessarily need the little thrill of checking whether the unsecured bike is still where you left it, you are best advised to simply always reach for the lock. Even if locking and unlocking sometimes takes longer than buying bread rolls at the bakery.
10. check bicycle insurance
If the bike is actually stolen, cyclists turn to their insurance company. Unfortunately, often only then. You should regularly check whether new bikes - such as more expensive e-bikes - are still covered by your policy or whether you should take out your own bike insurance. You should always keep the following items in a safe place: Bike passport, if available, purchase contract with frame number and any other receipts - and also photos of the bike. If necessary, you can also obtain an expert opinion on the value of a bike from a specialist dealer.
You get the feeling that bikes are being stolen all the time. Yet the number of reported thefts has fallen in recent years. This is certainly due to higher quality locks, but also the increasing awareness among the population of the need to park their high-quality bikes safely. - Thomas Geisler, Editor pd-f
Which lock for what? The right bike lock
Around 260,000 bicycle thefts were recorded by the police in 2023 - compared to just under 340,000 in 2014. This is because the number of high-quality bikes, especially e-bikes, has increased along with the prevalence of good locks. Our overview shows which locks are available and what they are suitable for.
1. light wire rope lock
This smallest of all locks primarily prevents a bike from being taken away quickly - because, as we all know, opportunity makes thieves. As it has a flip mechanism, it can also be used to secure the bike against falling over on the train, for example.
If the bike itself is protected by a stronger lock, the mini lock is great for attaching bags and helmets or as a "hut lock" on mountain bike tours.
2. frame lock
It's familiar from the traditional Dutch bike: for a quick trip to the bakery, you turn the handle through the wheel and remove the key. Advantage: The lock is permanently attached to the bike, so you can't forget it. Disadvantage: It is only an immobiliser and does not help to prevent the bike from being carried away - the bike is only really secure if it is not only locked, but also connected.
They are also available with an optional connection chain or cable. (see point 7). The frame lock is experiencing a renaissance on cargo bikes and also on many e-bikes, which are usually too heavy to simply be carried away.
3. cable or spiral cable lock
This type of lock is probably the most widespread - and therefore quite popular with thieves. They have braided steel wires on the inside and a rubber cover on the outside. They do not withstand attacks with brute force, such as bolt cutters, for long. This is why they are more recommended for inexpensive bikes, short parking periods and/or monitored car parks.
4. folding lock
These ruler-style locks can be fitted to the bike in a very space-saving manner - e.g. on the threaded eyelets designed for bottle cages. They are available in various qualities and weight classes. What makes them particularly popular is that the stable struts can be used flexibly thanks to the joints. The better folding locks already have very secure disc lock cylinders that cannot be picked or opened with bump keys. The rule is: if it has to be secure, then it will be difficult.
5. shackle lock
This lock is the unbroken classic, virtually the epitome of a secure lock. Instead of a round steel shackle, it is best to have one made of square material, so that you have to saw both sides of the shackle because the shackle cannot be unscrewed from the lock. Tip: Choose a lock large enough so that the frame can be attached to a road sign or similar. The latest versions of the shackle lock use a tungsten carbide alloy that can even withstand cut-off grinders.
Tip: Around 10 % of the bike price should be invested in security (lock, GPS tracker, insurance).
6. armoured cable lock and armoured chain
These thickest of all bike locks can withstand even the heaviest equipment. Armoured cables consist of many small braided steel cables, which in turn are braided into a thick strand and robustly encapsulated with steel segments. Armoured chains are made of extra-hardened steel, which can be up to 14 millimetres thick. Even large bolt cutters can hardly get through them and even a grinder takes so long that thieves tend to steer clear. The only disadvantage, of course, is their weight.
7. smart loop
These coated steel cable loops are available in different lengths as clever accessories for every type of lock. They can be used, for example, to quickly secure the front wheel, saddle or bags with just one lock. They can also be used to secure a child's trailer or an entire family outing in front of the pub or on the car roof against thieves.
8 Smart locks
More and more locks are offering smart functions. Some have an alarm system that is triggered by motion sensors and can distinguish between a small bump on the bike rack and an attempted theft. Other locks can be opened and closed using a smartphone app.
9. GPS tracker
If the bike has changed hands unintentionally despite all safety precautions, the increasingly widespread tracking devices can help. Most of them work via GPS modules and must be permanently installed on the bike (power source e-bike battery), others work via proprietary networks such as Apple's Airtags and must be charged. In any case, you should report the theft to the police as soon as you realise it and not "investigate" it yourself. Some bike manufacturers or insurance companies offer the recovery of stolen bikes as a service.
10. battery-operated locks and group locking
If the battery of an e-bike is removable, it is usually secured with a key. Sometimes the e-bike can be configured so that the locks for the battery, frame lock and any lockable compartments on cargo bikes can be operated with the same key. Additional locks and keys can be ordered from lock manufacturers for some cylinders - this means that entire family or company fleets can be locked and unlocked with the same keys.
"Of course you have to choose locks that suit the car park: It's better to park the bike in a busy place and in the light than in the dark behind the house - you have to trust the lock there. If the bike is waiting at the station all day, it probably deserves two different locks. Firstly, all thieves have a favourite lock and secondly, they only take three minutes on average. When locking up, the lock should be as far away from the ground as possible so that it cannot serve as an abutment for levers. Good leaning parking brackets therefore have a steel eyelet or a crossbar in the upper area. If the lock cylinder is positioned as inaccessibly as possible, access and visibility are made more difficult, which delays the "intelligent cracking" of the lock with small tools." - H. David Koßmann, Editor pd-f
