ilikebikes

I know most of you know about this method of detering a thief but I thought Id post mine just to give any newbies a look

airosen

That's a good idea! What did you use for the sleeve?

maddyfish

I've seen that, but don't understand it. It is so heavy. Why not just use tamper proof torx in place of allen heads? Or depending on how secure you want to be, filling the heads of the bolts with JB weld?

ilikebikes

1) Thanks airosen but keep in mind its not my idea but it was my idea to use the insulation sleeve from a trashed CamalBack sip tube
2) because Im not a weight weenie and it was free

macteacher

i don't get it.... how is it supposed to deter a thief?

maddyfish

^^^It would deter the casual thief.
1. Steal seat from bikes with quick releases-no tools
2. Steal seat from bikes with allen bolts only-allen wrench
3.Steal seat secured with bike chain-common tools
4. Steal seat secured with torx bits-need torx bits, fairly common
5. Steal seat secured with tamper proof torx-need tamper proof torx bit-fairly uncommon
6.Steal seat secured with JB weld filled allen bolt-very difficult
7. Steal seat secured with JB weld filled torx bolts- more difficult
8.Steal seat secured with JB weld filled tamper proof torx-extremely difficult

ilikebikes

Its supposed to deter the theft of your saddle not your bike I used a chain from a mini bike which is bigger/wider than a bike chain so a bike chain breaker doesnt fit it if you dont have the specific tool for that chain you wont get the saddle and not knocking the JB Weld method but wont that make it a heck of a lot harder for one to work on that area of the bike? and again, it's free, I dont have to run out and buy JB Weld, torque bolts, Allen bolts or any of the other stuff =)

ax0n

fixed that for ya. I could steal a seat that's "secured" in under 30 seconds with a cordless drill and a trip to any auto parts or hardware store. I also have a full set of tamper bits, but they were expensive. It does security allen, security torx, one-way screw remover tool, posidrive, triangle and robertson drivers.

ilikebikes

Yeah but be honest, what are the chances youd rather steal a secured saddle right next to an unsecured saddle? 2 Corvettes, one is wide open and has the keys in it and one is locked up and has The Club on it, which one do you think the thief is going to steal?

Treespeed

Does anyone really have a saddle worth stealing?

nekohime

Not me, but if my cheapo saddle was stolen I'd have the WORST time ever going home.

ax0n

I definitely don't. OEM Avenir cheapo on my hybrid. Stupid bell squishy on the MTB and OEM Bontrager on my roadie.

ilikebikes

Im guessing your not from Philly? some weird stuff happens here, theres been a lot of bike parts being stolen in Philly these days including/especially bike saddles and wheels and to answer your question in more detail yes, there are many college kids sporting $100.00 on up saddles not to mention all the Brooks saddles I see around town. also, do you think because you have a cheapy saddle that no one would steal it?

Treespeed

Umm, no I don't live in Philly. I live in Los Angeles, it says that under the picture of my little girl, so I don't think you need to talk to me about crime. I also work at a college and just don't see bike parts getting stolen. What I do see is tons of whole bikes getting stolen. As long as kids keep locking up their bikes with cable locks I don't have to worry about anyone wasting time on my double u-locked bike. I don't think most of the young thugs who steal beach cruisers and mountain bikes on our campus would have a clue how much a brooks saddle is worth.

maddyfish

1. This whole idea of somebody stealing the bike, or parts off the bike next to mineis so foreign, because my bike is 90% of the time the only one there.
2. You realize that a bike chain, and likely a mini-bike can be cut with a good set of side cutters?
3. Anything can be stolen, but the chain around the seat thing is the lamest type of security. Heavy, ugly as hell, and easy to break.

maddyfish

Casual bike riding thieves may carry and allen set, but not a cordless drill.

If they are going to carry a cordless tool, screw the cordless drill, go right for a cordless sawzall and steal the whole bike. You're not going to defeat this type of thief.

ilikebikes

People, its always worked for me as Ive seen bikes with saddles on them when I lock mine to the racks and seen the same bikes missing saddles when I got back, doesnt happen all the time but has happened more than once, I was at the same racks with my brother in law a few years ago with a different bike but set up the same way as my current ride, he had his Schwinn Mesa and I had my Rocky Mountain, mine was secured with a Krytonite lock through the frame and another through the wheelset and my trusty bike chain through the frame and saddle rails, his had a Kryptonite lock through the frame, when we got back his wheels and saddle were gone, and my bike was fine except for some obvious signs of being tampered with, I rode home and he took the bus, so yes its worked for me I know its not a sure fire way to save my saddle from bike thieves but its worth having on there for me and when it comes down to it I didnt say any of you had to like it or agree with it, just wanted to share the idea with anyone that wanted to make it just a tad bit harder for a POS to steal their bike/bike parts maddyfish, Im not as worried about how ugly my bike looks or how heavy my bike is as you obviously are, but thats cool too, its your bike and you should keep it the way you want, just as this is my bike and I keep it the way I want me/my bike may look "lame" "heavy" "ugly as hell" but Its all good as I really dont care what you or other people think of me and my bike I no longer ride because I have to, I now ride because I want to Treespeed, my statement,"Im guessing your not from Philly?" was my futile attempt at sarcasm LOL! beleive me things are soooo different in Philly