bestfoldingbike

I was wondering if everyone who owns a folding bike is paranoid about someone stealing it.

It seems like a bike that I'm going to spend 600-1,600 on will prob become a burden on days I use it because I can never take my eyes off it.

Just wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to store or protect their folding bikes.

Also, how do you deal with always having to worry about having it stolen.

Thanks in advance, rob

Bacciagalupe

1) Don't buy a bike you can't afford to replace.
2) If you're paranoid, bring the bike indoors.
3) If you can't bring the bike indoors, get a big Kryptonite lock and *fully* register it in the alloted time.

werewolf

I'm trying to figure out how to best carry it (Swift) around with me in my pickup truck with shell. I don't want to have anything visible that looks too attractive to a thief. Usually I cover things up with old clothes and stuff, but I don't know if that will work with this.

simsles

Also remove some easliy detachable small parts from it, such as clamp screws, so that it would be necessary to obtain replacements before the bike could be ridden.
This may not prevent someone stealing it, but at least they won't be able to ride it, or even demonstrate it's features prior to selling it on.

Mr. Smith

Renter's or home owner's should cover it if it's stolen. I have successfully taken mine into restaurants, movie theaters, office buildings, shops, grocery stores, and once on a bus. The whole idea is to take it with you. As came up in your other posting, the ability to roll it makes that more of a reality.

My tikit rolls well enough on the front tire as is designed, but my wife can't roll hers because she lacks the wrist strength to keep it from tipping while she's rolling it. The wheel is off center, so not exactly balanced. The Strida looks like it rolls best of any I've seen so far, more like a golf bag cart. The bikes with small suitcase style rollers like the Brommie get hung up on small things.

Since a tikit is included in your price range, it wouldn't hurt to look at one if you want a stoutly made bike. It's pretty solid as folders go. The folded size may disappoint you, but it is a little better than a bike that folds in half, and you don't have to readjust the seat height. My wife has the tikit with the manual handle post knob, and it is a slightly more rigid bike than mine with the cable system. I'd recommend hers over mine, and it's cheaper.

These bikes are highly inefficient to lock up outside, so I've never even tried. I'd just ride one of my regular bikes if that was the intent. These folders spend a lot of time in the trunk, which is convenient. If we are out shopping we'll centrally locate the car and take off on bikes. To expose the true laziness of the bike thief, replace all the quick releases on your bike with standard bolts and absolutely no one will come near it. That and a good diamond chain or U-Lock and you're all set.

chainstrainer

Removable pedals, like MKS EZY, can deter the opportunist when he sees there are no pedals. For that matter you can remove the seat post as well. Tuck it and the pedals behind your truck's seat in the cab if you store the bike in the shell. Use the Kryptonite if outside.

folder fanatic

I devoted a whole section to this topic. See Security at:

https://www.geocities.com/folder_fanatic/Security.html

vik 

I keep my Tikit with me when I go anywhere so it would be pretty hard to steal. At home it stays in my apartment on the 11th floor which makes it fairly secure.

cyclistjohn

Exactly.

Interesting, can you expand on that please?

We're just back from a longish holiday with ours, & they've been (un)folded numerous times, mostly to demonstrate to intrigued onlookers :-)
Our favourite supermarket whilst away, "New World", really surprised us, in that *every store* we went into had interested staff - one check out girl wrote down Strida's web address to follow up, & the manager of one of their stores was contemplating the idea of importing them!

Just the same for us :-)

popsicleian

On a Brompton you can fit a standard U-lock through both wheels and the frame when it's folded. It won't keep someone from walking off with the whole thing locked together, but they might think twice if they don't know if they'll ever be able to unfold it.

Mr. Smith

In a largely exaggerated example, imagine pushing a wheelbarrow with only one handle. The wheel and the handle are not in the same plane so there is a bit of eccentricity to cope with. I am able to muscle it along, but my wife is not. A lap around the market and my arm begins to tire. The Strida looks like that wouldn't be an issue.

werewolf

I just watched this disturbing video on your website, FF:

https://www.blip.tv/file/252942/

werewolf

The doped up thief won't even notice any of that. Guess I'll just toss a dirty old tarp and some crap on top of it.

chainstrainer

Better yet use camouflage. Take an old sleeping bag and use glue, hook-and-loop tape or stitching to attach trash to it - soda cans and bottles, old newspapers, worn sneakers, beach towels, dirty underwear, etc. No one will bother with breaking in because of the "homeless-and-sleeping-in-the-truck" look. You can remove the camouflage cover as a single object instead of spending time digging the bike out of the crap piled on top of it.

Mr. Smith

If bikes were supposed to be there, where are the bike racks? I think that perhaps there weren't any. All cities are pretty prominent about only putting bikes on racks. If you tie it up to anything else (stop signs, meters, etc.) you are technically in the wrong and the city can choose to remove your bike. If the city refuses to place racks, then you have grounds for a fight. Business owners can also purchase bike racks and obtain city permits to place them in various locations. Basically, if you're going to be gone for more than 5 minutes, don't put your bike anywhere but on a bike rack. They would do the same thing to a bunch of Harley owners who parked on the sidewalk.

werewolf

Chain - My truck already has that very fashionable homeless and sleeping in it look, since i do sleep in it and use it as a camper. Plenty of junk and sleeping bags to toss atop the bike.

Mr Smith - This is NYC they're talking about, not a college campus. Bike racks, what bike racks? In NYC, if the criminals don't get you, the meter maids and the cops will get you. I am so f'ing glad I got out of there!

vik 

Just a suggestion - I roll my Tikit in two ways:

1 - handle low and bike out in front. This gives me better control [like when I want to rush to catch a bus], but I have to support more of the bike's weight.

2 - handle high and bike more directly underneath it. This is fine for moving slowly while browsing in a shop and I don't have to support much of the bike's weight as it is balance on the wheel.

Mr. Smith

I suppose you're right. A lot of cities and companies are doing anything to get LEEDS credits, and an easy way to get a lot of them is provide bike racks and/or showers at businesses and public facilities. There are pretty substantial tax savings to be had. I haven't been to NYC for a long time, but I sort of pictured them being one of the front runners. D.C. and Chicago have come a long way in the LEEDS movement, and a lot of the West Coast cities are really doing well with it. NYC is geographically screwed, so maybe that's what's holding them back.

Mr. Smith

Thanks, Vik. I'm learning there is a bit of a trick to it and am getting a little better at it. There is no hope for my wife. She loathes rolling hers, which causes her to back out of taking her bike sometimes if a high probability of having to roll it exists. I'm wishing we would have bought her a Strida. I think there's one last 2'x2' area in the garage...

werewolf

If they have their police confiscating bikes that are attached to parking meters and poles, etc. in NYC, and arresting bicyclists who dare to protest, they are essentially outlawing most bicycle commuting in the city!

invisiblehand

How tall is your wife? Do you think that her height results in the bike being held at a disadvantageous angle?

Caaah

Here's where I keep my Curve at home...hehehe. Yes, that's a windowsill (has bars, and its not facing the street though).

BB49

I fold my 20" Dahon, lock it up, and take the seatpost with me. Some people told me it looks like a folded wheelchair. That seems to make it theftproof.