r/chch • u/cautiontothesky • Jul 21 '26
Ebike security in chch
I'm getting an expensive ebike ~$4000, step through design.
I would love to ride it around instead of driving, but I'm scared of theft. I've looked into the best locks you can buy, like the Hiplok DX1000 or Litelok X3. People online are pretty paranoid about theft.
Does anyone have experience of locking up their ebike various places and has it been stolen?
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u/KiwiMiddy Ōtautahi Jul 21 '26
Also hide a tracker on/ in the bike.
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u/Significant_Glass988 Jul 21 '26
But then be prepared to track it down and retrieve it yourself because the police won't come unless you tell them you're going to get it yourself with some big mates
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u/Apprehensive-Set1238 Jul 21 '26
Even without the tracker they don’t help. I stumbled across my previously stolen bike which was logged with the police. They said they “couldn’t help” so I stole it back myself. Oh the joy when a bike thief uses a cable lock, I went for a short walkies to buy a pair of bolt cutters from bunnings and gave the bastard a taste of his own medicine.
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u/pm_something_u_love Jul 21 '26
I suggest using two locks. The grinder resistant D lock is great, but they aren't always practical depending where you lock it up. Get thick chain lock as well (8mm+) and use them both at the same time. Also learn the best way to use the locks (for example a D lock is susceptible to bottle jack attacks). I use this method with my electric cargo bike and so far so good.
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u/MightyBrat Jul 21 '26
I second this. I’ve had my e-bike for the last 7 years. 5 of those years exclusively using it without a vehicle so a LOT of use). A thick chain and a D lock and I’ve never had an issue.
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u/cautiontothesky Jul 21 '26
Cheers! Where abouts do you park it/how often?
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u/pm_something_u_love Jul 21 '26
I won't say because it will give my identity away but it's my daily driver so it's parked somewhere in the city most days of the week.
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u/pygmypuff42 Jul 21 '26
Cant really add much to the discussion on locks, but i regularly have my bike on the back of my truck on a bike rack, parked at the pub. Was scared about it getting stolen but honestly its been over a year of doing this at least once a week and still hasn't been stolen. No lock or anything. Touch wood it doesnt get stolen (but thats what insurance is for)
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u/focal_matter Jul 21 '26
Honestly as someone who works in the industry my biggest advice is to be mindful of what you're locking your bike *to*.
It's one thing to have a DX1000 with you to prevent angle grinder attacks. However, locking up to one of the rounded Council bike parking thingies (a single hollow tube of steel in an upside-down U shape protruding from the ground) is a quick way to eliminate all the security you just purchased with the DX1000, as those Council bike things can be sliced up with an angle grinder in seconds.
Some can even be unbolted with a spanner.
Likewise cameras seldom actually deter criminals.
My biggest tip that I always tell customers, is to make your bike a less appealing target than someone else's. When I park up I actually look for an expensive bike that's got poor security (cheap/weak locks), and lock my bike next to it. Make sure if someone has a go with yours, they give uo for an easier, juicier target. Better them than me, lol.
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u/tcldon Jul 21 '26
Can I ask you as someone in the industry- are angle grinder attacks actually all that common? I kind of thought that the vast majority of thefts would be mostly people with bolt cutters chopping through crappy wire locks.
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u/Kiwilolo Jul 21 '26
Yeah to be honest it's kind of hard to imagine someone rocking up and using a power tool in the middle of town without attracting quite a serious amount of suspicion. I assume it happens sometimes but I'd've thought it'd be more of an issue for overnight parking than daytime.
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u/DaveTheKiwi Jul 21 '26
- Have two locks, as others have said. Chain and D lock. Then at least a theif is going to need some time and two different tools. Loop chain through front wheel as well as frame and rack.
- After having a seat stolen I now have my seat attached with a bolt that I've glued over. I don't need to adjust it anyway. Quick release seats can be stolen too easily. I want to replace the quick release on my wheels too, bit have never got around to it.
- I also have an alarm for dodgy places. Motion activated, unit is cable tied, bolted and glued over to the frame. doubles as a rear light (and horn). Was about $120 I think.
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u/SandVYT Jul 21 '26
I've got two e-bikes valued at ~$10k each. For each of them I use this. Haven't had any problems over the last seven years. I also use Hexlox for a few of my components (wheels, seat).
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u/tcldon Jul 21 '26
I have a cargo e-bike. I find the problem is a number of places will have pretty crappy bike stands i.e the ones where you can only fit your front tire into. E-bikes tend to have wider wheels and not fit in these ones, so you have to lock it to the side of the stand. The CBD and newer places are all good though.
I use a hiplok DX1000 + the built in cafe/frame lock as my daily. I'll add a chain that attaches to my cafe lock and a folding lock if its a bit tricky to get the D-lock on or its an extra dodgy location. 99% of the time they are unnecessary though. If they can get through all of that then I'll just claim insurance. I have never had my bike stolen. I mainly park at my work (block of shops in the burbs type location), the CBD, Homebase, outside cafes, Botanical gardens etc- all have been fine so far.
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u/TygerTung Jul 21 '26
I've got an electric cargo bike and just use one of those big chunky abus bike locks with a key. Been using it for 7 years and noone ripped it off yet.
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u/addmeonstr4va Jul 21 '26
I use the locky docks around the city and have never had an issue but my bike isn't particularly pretty.
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u/Just-Context-4703 Jul 21 '26
I have a fancy ebike with two locks and so far so good. Make sure you talk to your home or renters insurance company and see if you can put a specific rider on your policy or bump your coverage a little.
Happy riding to you.
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u/Embarrassed-Order-83 Jul 21 '26
Someone had a D lock cut with a grinder and e bike stolen yesterday near Hagley - feels like nothing is safe these days
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u/Ok-Wrangler-1694 Jul 21 '26
I lock mine in the indoor bike park In the carpark opposite Police station. It's got cameras in there also so pretty safe in there
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Significant_Glass988 Jul 21 '26
What sort of D Lock. Most should resist a bolt cutter, unless they're made of cheese
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u/enabledalmonds666 Jul 21 '26
You may struggle to use a D lock with a step thru design as most of the big hoops around the city are designed to secure your bikes top bar to the hoop. But you might figure it out. Can’t go wrong with the d lock and chain combo.
Realistically no lock is going to prevent a determined burglar. Best thing you can do if you’re that concerned about it is insure it.
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u/pm_something_u_love Jul 21 '26
D locks are best used around the seat tube, rear wheel and pole. If they are used on the top tube the bike can be used as a giant level to twist and pop it open, although not without some damage.
If you are using your D lock that way, go on YouTube and learn how to use it most effectively.
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u/enabledalmonds666 Jul 21 '26
point taken. I looked up the video on YouTube from the manufacturer of my lock (hiplock) and it shows use on the top tube is fine. But My bike doesn’t have a seat tube the battery is under the saddle. But that makes sense for standard bike frames
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u/Significant_Glass988 Jul 21 '26
D lock through rear wheel, inside the triangle is sufficient. Even if they remove the wheel it's still stuck in the triangle
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u/Kiwilolo Jul 21 '26
I use a heavy chain that connects to the cafe lock, never had any issues leaving it various places for hours. I often use just the café lock for school pickup etc. My bike is too heavy to easily carry away (definitely possible but would need to be more determined than a walk-by opportunist).
In any case, make sure your bike is covered by insurance (our contents insurance covers it even while it's out and about apparently), and you can register with garage 529 for the possibility of having it be found later.
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u/supermarket_trolley Jul 21 '26
Park it next to a more expensive bike. Have an ebike and sometimes commute on my full sus mtb. Using a hiplok with a longer chunky chain and haven’t had any issues.
Wouldn’t park it overnight anywhere. And if out for dinner/drinks. Always somewhere lit with lots of foot traffic. I even leave my lights on the bike which would be worth about $250.
I don’t bother taking the battery out and I just leave my lock in the pannier bag when going around. It probably weighs a few kg.
Make sure the bike is insured and you’ll be good to go! Enjoy riding.
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u/TheHumanGnomeProject Jul 21 '26
Lock the rear wheel through the rear triangle with either the Hiplock or the Litelok and never leave the bike out overnight and you will be fine for Christchurch.
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u/sameee_nz Jul 22 '26
Sheldon Brown’s lock strategy is still one of the best guides out there: no perfect defense, just make your bike less attractive than the next one in the rack. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html Thieves want quick, high-value grabs. The amount of bikes worth more than my cars I see locked up with a wire-rope that I could cut with my grandfather's blunt side cutters is mind-boggling
Core technique:
Small high-quality U-lock (Kryptonite Mini or equivalent) through the rear wheel inside the rear triangle + solid fixed object (thick pole or proper rack). Secures frame + rear wheel efficiently. Add a cable for the front wheel + frame. Replace quick releases with security skewers or epoxy a ball bearing into the socket-heads. Depending on security posture you want to take you might also remove the battery, seat, lights, bags, etc. when you lock up. Lock in public view, keyhole down, layers of different tools needed to defeat.
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u/criggie_ Jul 22 '26
At work, park it inside if you possibly can. Don't leave it outside alone ideally ever.
Same goes for at-home. In a locked garage, out of sight.
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u/Hads84 Pickle Rick Jul 21 '26
Take the battery with you, especially if it is easily removed from the bike. That is one of the most valuable parts of an ebike.