tarwheel 

My main commuter bike would cost over $4,000 if bought new, and my other commuters would probably cost $1,500-2,000+ new. I didn't pay that much since I bought the frames and parts used, or swapped from other bikes, but it would cost me that much replace them with new bikes. I park my bikes outdoors but we have a pretty good security system at work, with a guard and cameras, and I use a strong U-lock and cable. I would never leave any of my bikes unlocked, even for a few minutes while commuting.

e0richt

burton, can you give some more details on this bike cover? brand, model... I would be interested in looking it up on the web...

Steely Dan

to the OP, if you're curious about how expensive BF bike commuters' bicycles are, the following poll i created several years ago might be of interest to you. with nearly 450 votes, roughly a third of BF commuters initially spent over 1,000 bucks on their primary commuting bike.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...you?highlight=

Juha

My new "CX" bike cost +1000€ a couple of years back. "CX" is a very loose marketing term here, but the bike is decent by my standards. I do leave it unattended for a couple of hours at most for grocery, errands, pub, whathaveyou, but the rack needs to be a good one. I choose stores and pubs based on where I know I can lock the bike properly. The bike has locking skewers / stem and I carry a beefy U-lock (Abus Granite). At work, we have a good rack in a CCTV controlled yard.

With my other, cheaper bikes, I'm less picky. As long as I can lock the bike to something solid it's all good.

--J

cccorlew

Motobecane Phantom Outlaw commuter bike by ccorlew, on Flickr

800-ish before the rack, lights, bags, and a bunch of upgrades.
I stays in my office. I so very much don't want it stolen. The only times it's ever been locked up outside are when I've been to events with a "bike corral."

ItsJustMe

I just bought a road bike, $800 plus accessories (from BD, more like $1500+ at a bike shop). I've only ridden it once because the weather keeps crapping up on me here, but I will have no problem riding it and leaving it around. I didn't even lock my previous bike. This one I will probably bring a lock along. There's not a lot of crime here.

My old bike was protected by an impenetrable field of ugliness. The new one is kind of nice looking and I'm resisting the temptation to bolt ANYTHING onto it (apart from an Ortlieb bar bag and a seat wedge for tools and a pump, about 1000g total).

hsh101

I primarily commute on my Crossrip, for which I paid over $1000. Keep it locked up in our warehouse, and feel completely safe. I'll also ride my Madone to work on occasion, and again, feel comfortable. My story would change if I was unable to lock them up where I do now...

eofelis 

I rode in today on my Salsa Vaya Ti ($2k+). I park right in my own office <glances over at my bike>, so no problem there.

My only "lockable" bike is an old Novara Randonee frame ($15 NOS at an REI garage sale) built with LX stuff as a towner bike. I don't like to leave it locked up somewhere out of my sight for too long though.

CommuteCommando

https://www.masibikes.com/bikes/perfo.../partenza-2013

Approaching 4k miles and love this bike. Downside is it isn't great for commuting, but a Giant Defy wouldn't be either. If you want to use it for long weekend road rides too, it's a decent trade off.

sauerwald

My commuter probably cost close to $6K. It is parked in my garage at night, and has a safe place at work. I don't own a car, so although it is an expensive bike, it is not expensive transportation. One thing that probably helps it theft wise is that it doesn't look like an expensive bike - it is a custom, steel, lugged frame, with very sturdy components (Phil Wood rear hub, Schmidt dyno hub, etc).

GP

Mine's custom lugged steel too. Paid for by the insurance company of the driver that hit me and bent my Cross-Check.

fietsbob

my Bike Friday Pocket Llama has a Rohloff Hub. the hubs, alone, break the $800 target price.

+ 2 Abus Locks Folding and Chain


My Koga WTR has a Chain, 1.4M long a plug in, to go with the AXA Ring Lock on the Frame.



Living Close in, now, My most often used bike is my Mountain Drive crank M3L Brompton,

since it folds, It comes inside with me a lot .

the Swiss 2 speed crank probably doubled the cost. ..

KonAaron Snake 

I've done it for a while in a high crime city. Relatively few problems, though I also limit exposure and use good locks.

hubcap

I try to keep my commuters reasonably priced since at least one of them gets locked up outside at the train station everyday. The problem I have had is that even inexpensive bikes (e.g. <$300 bought used or <$800 new) get expensive to replace when you start considering the pedals, saddle, etc. that I change out, and the blinkies, racks, fenders etc. that I add.

neil

My main commuter bike has a replacement value in the $1200-$1300 range, not including accessories. I got an excellent deal on it new, for $850.

Stress? Not really. The bike is insured, I use a u-lock when parked outside, and have indoor parking at home and at work. (While access to the bike room is restricted to the people who work here and have asked for a key - probably 50 people or so - the bike is not actually locked at my office.)

Honestly, the main reason I like the indoor parking is the weather exposure, not security. My last job didn't have any secured parking, I still rode and just locked at the rack. Still no stress. And no problems either.

Instead of worrying, just take reasonable precautions and consider listing the bike on your insurance policy.

Notso_fastLane

My recumbent is worth over $1k, especially with all the accessories. I park indoors at work, and everyone recognizes my bike (one advantage of recumbents!). If you're really worried, ~$150 doesn't seem like a bad investment for a bicycle tracking device. I've thought about getting one of these on my motorcycle, actually. Much cheaper than loJack, and easier to hide.

KonAaron Snake 

I also like having fairly unique bikes...if someone steals a De Rosa, it tends to stick out. I think you have a much better chance of recovery with something that is fairly unusual.

enigmaT120

My Fargo. The Rocky Mountain was over a thousand bucks when new back in 1993 or so, but I didn't buy it. It was given to me about 5 years ago.

mconlonx

Primary commuter is a custom Geekhouse frame with a moderate build. Probably cost someone else about $3500 to put together; as a shop employee, I got it all for substantially less. I ride from my basement to the back store room. I will lock it up outside in our low-crime city without worry, but not for long. I'd not have got it if I was in a situation where I had to lock it up outside, out of view all day.

Spld cyclist

I do. I'm over $1,000 into one of my bikes, with which I have commuted many times in a fairly high-crime city. I lock it outside to a bike rack using 2 U-locks. It's near one of the two main doors into the building, and there is a security camera on it. I've been locking my bikes in this spot for going on 13 years. No one has ever bothered them that I know of, so I don't worry a whole lot about it.

Another way to look at this, is how many people leave their $20,000+ automobiles parked on the street all day and night in high-crime cities? Auto theft is a big issue where I live.

Personally, on the rare occasions when I drive to work, where I park on the street is far less secure than where I lock my bike. The police might work a little harder to investigate a stolen car than a bike. I don't know the numbers, but I bet many stolen cars are never recovered. All in all, I feel like my bike is safer at work than my car. My insurance deductible would be the same either way. Just some food for thought.

CliftonGK1

I'm lucky to be allowed inside parking for my commuter, so I don't worry about it. It's in my apartment at home, and in a storage cubicle down the hall while at work.
When I run errands on the way home, I will often bring my bike inside with me and wheel it around the store. I've only had one person tell me I couldn't because "it's dirty and..." but I cut off their nonsense with "my wife rides a mobility scooter from over a mile away on the same sidewalks and pathways, but you've never told her she can't drive that in the store." That was the end of it.

If I do have to lock, use a mini-U and lock around my seat tube and rear rim to something, with a cable to the front wheel. It's not a high crime area, so I'm fine with this.
If I'm riding downtown and will need to lock up, then I'll either ride my beater and use the above locking tactic or I'll ride my cx racer and double U-lock it using the hipster highlock technique (unless I can find open rack/rail space to use.)

wobbooze

Fahgettabout U lock mini on the frame with the loop cable on the wheels

CenturionIM

That sounds like a promising idea. what bike cover did you use?

Drew Eckhardt 

I park my Campagnolo equipped Litespeed in my office (key card required) or shed (locked).

When traveling elsewhere I use my color coordinated TiGr titanium lock to secure frame and wheels to something solid.

About like I do my German sports sedan which came with a price tag 10X as big - I enjoy the superior experience and don't worry about it.

FWIW, the _average_ price of a new car is now over $30,000. Most people just drive theirs to the office and don't bother owning a separate clunker.

Chesha Neko

1. Next to the security guards at work or low density shopping locales: Kryptonite Evo
2. Out of sight in the parking lot with cars: 10mm boron chain and Abloy padlock
3. High density shopping/movie theatre: Kryptonite Fuggedaboudit (sp?)
4. Downtown (avoid) would be the 10mm chain, padlock, and the Kryptonite New York Fugg.