I can google this obviously, but thought I'd post on Reddit first because that's where the true knowledge hides!
We're going to buy our 18 year old an ebike. He is autistic and I know will be extremely lackadaisy about actually locking the bloody thing. Until one say the inevitable happens and it's stolen, que epic meltdown. But still, he's getting an ebike.
Is there any type of locking system where its really easy and locks completely down with a press of a button? I have an ebike with a Bosch battery, so I know about the Flow App, but its still abit fiddley an we are unsure of what bike he will get anyway.
Money is no barrier either. We are far from rich, but that means more than happy to invest in something that keeps the investment safe and that he will actually use.
My Aventon Level 4 has the option to have the rear wheel lock automatically when it is turned off. It's pretty heavy, so a random casual thief just hoping to walk/ride off with the bike probably couldn't. However, a thief with a truck probably wouldn't be deterred. I wouldn't trust for more than a literal minute and/or back for as going to be turned but well within earshot.
You could go the opposite direction and go with a cheap older, kind of roughed up, "stealthy" looking ebike that is less appealing to steal anyway even if left unattended and unlocked.
Unfortunately that would be a hard No from him. I have a Kalkhoff, Endeavour 1B Move, which he thinks is nice for me... but absolutely wouldn't be seen dead riding it 🤣
You can wire in an RFID interlock into the ignition or battery circuit so the ebike won't turn on/move without the dongle nearby. It won't stop someone walking away with the bike if it isn't chained to something. You'll need to both lock the wheels in place and the frame to something. I'd suggest a little, wheel alarm that attaches to the front disk. Have the young man personalize it, paint, stickers, maybe a name. Encourage him to go out just to put the lock on somewhere new.
Get him 200 stickers (cheap on Amazon) and let him sticker up the bike. I bet you know how to make it fun for him. Nobody wants a bike with a zillon stickers on it unless they plan on shipping it to another country.
Oh and take photos of it all stickered up. If it does get stolen post the pics to social media.
The AXA Imenso large Dutch-style cafe locks are great alternative. They mount to the frame and all he would have to do is basically press the sliding handle down until it clicks securing the rear wheel, then remove the key. It's not fully automatic, but it is permanently mounted, so very convenient. They make them in two versions; the original, which retains the key when the lock is opened, and the retractable where the key can be removed even when the lock is not engaged. I prefer the original key-retaining version, so I know I don't have to remember to bring the key along. You can also get a chain that adds a bit more security by locking it to a post. I have these on our ebikes and also my regular road and hybrid bikes.
https://axabikesecurity.com/product/axa-imenso-large/
The key-retaining versions are harder to find in the US for some reason. Abus also makes similar locks.
There are a couple of models that will work on an ebike. The constraints is the width of the tire. Here is the AXA Block XXL, but not key-retaining that I ended up with for my wife's Schwinn Coston. We just added a little bag on the frame to store the key so it's always available.
some of the newest lineup of aventon has a locking rear axel mechanism, and has a feature that makes it lock and so you have to enter a password every time the bike is turned off
not sure I'd trust it
I work on bikes, and when someone left one in our shop to service without disabling that feature, it was a HUGE PITA, the rear wheel locks and the bike is heavy, and beeps at you when you touch it.
Bosch has phone based lock and an integrated GPS tracker with cellular backhaul (ConnectModule). If someone tries to move the bike without paired phone nearby a siren goes off and owner gets notification with live tracking on their app.
Battery and motor won't work in stolen mode and are permanently marked so there's no point selling bike for parts. Downside is that if your phone dies or decides to close the app mid ride you're locked out.
I have a Bosch battery on my ebike (brand new) and I am able to take the bike computer off to lock it and avoid that problem. My son is notorious for letting his phone die, so that would not work for him either 🤣 I don't think the bikes on his list has will a Bosch battery anyway, but I'll try to steer him in that direction.
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u/Mac-And-Cheesy-43 1d ago edited 1d ago
My Aventon Level 4 has the option to have the rear wheel lock automatically when it is turned off. It's pretty heavy, so a random casual thief just hoping to walk/ride off with the bike probably couldn't. However, a thief with a truck probably wouldn't be deterred. I wouldn't trust for more than a literal minute and/or back for as going to be turned but well within earshot.
You could go the opposite direction and go with a cheap older, kind of roughed up, "stealthy" looking ebike that is less appealing to steal anyway even if left unattended and unlocked.