Quick Poll - Bicycle Theft Recovery System
 

Hey everyone,

I am working on a technology that would aid in theft recovery of stolen bikes. It would function in a similar way to LoJack for cars in that it uses a hidden transponder and radio frequencies to pinpoint the location of a stolen bicycle. I am doing some basic market research and if you could answer these questions it would help me out a lot (this is part of my college capstone project).

- Have you ever had a bicycle stolen? (if so, what was the financial loss?)
- How many bicycles do you own and what do you estimate their worth to be?
- Would you purchase a theft recovery system for your bicycle(s)?
- If yes, what would you be willing to pay for the system assuming a recovery rate >90%
- Where do you live?

Thanks!

1. I have had a bike stolen from me in the past. It was worth approximately $600.00
2. At this point I do not own a bike. This is one of the reasons I joined the forum...education, knowledge.
3. Yes I would purchase a bile recovery system. The city I live in has a bike registration program, but I am not certain how well it works.
4. I am not certain how much I would pay for it. It would have to be an amount that is low enough to entice someone who does not purchase a bike that is $2,000.00+. But also not so low that people would perceive it to be a poor performing product.
5. I live in next to Newark, NJ. Where currently filming for the show Jacked on A&E is being done. It's about a special task force devoted to just recovering and catching stolen cars. So you can see this maybe a product that would work well here in this part of the country.

#1 - I had a bike stolen from me once when I was a teenager, I loved the bike would have done anything to get it back.
#2 - I own three bikes, not sure what they are worth because I am constantly modifying them.
#3 - Most of my rides fall into the category of club rides, errands, or brevets, I would NOT buy a recovery system for these type of rides. If I had to commute everyday to work, and the bike was my main source of transportation, I would consider one. Likewise for cross country touring where I would be traveling into unfamiliar areas and the loss of the bike would be disastrous.
#4 - If that recovery rate is possible, I would consider paying for it. However I would pass on the system if I had to sign some kind of multi-month/annual service agreement to get it.

- Have you ever had a bicycle stolen? (if so, what was the financial loss?)

Yes, about $300

- How many bicycles do you own and what do you estimate their worth to be?

3 err 4, No make that 5 ( Some in pieces) Not relevant for your purposes, the only one I would be concerned about protecting would be my commuter / around town bike which isn't that valuable but I plan to invest $3-4000 over the next couple of years.

- Would you purchase a theft recovery system for your bicycle(s)?

Yes, if it met my needs.

- If yes, what would you be willing to pay for the system assuming a recovery rate >90%

$150-$250 purchase. I am very against ongoing fees, unless very low.

- Where do you live?

Western Canada

errm how does your idea compare to this?

https://www.immobilise.com/view.php?stage=product&category=1&product=2

The biggest difference I see is that the OP is talking about a dynamic tracking device, while immobilise's bicycle tag is static. The dynamic tracking device emits a signal to a system of satellites that allows it to be tracked. It requires a power source (batteries) to send out the signal. The bike tag by immobilise contains owner information that can only be retrieved when a scanner is run over it; very much like the microchips inserted under a dog's skin, (no power and nothing being emitted).

Immobilise is interesting and might be effective, but it appears that only UK police have access to the scanners. I'm not sure how much well it would do here in America.

1. Never. I mostly ride my bike to work and carry it up to park in my cubicle. If I'm running errands on it, I lock it outside with a Kryptonite U-lock and I don't leave it alone for more than half an hour. I should probably have a chain as well.

2. I own two bicycles, one worth about $100 and the other close to $300 because of the work I've done on it.

3. It really depends on the cost and the effectiveness. Every new anti-theft gadget comes with a high price tag and boastful advertising. I'm paranoid about my bikes but I'm more likely to better my chances by parking in smart locations, not attaching a dozen new toys to it.

4. If it could be proven that 90% of bikes reported stolen were recovered, I'd pay more than I would for a U-lock. Probably up to $100. Again, it depends on which of my bikes I was going to put it on! My beater would cost less to replace than that. My project bike is more special.

5. Toronto. I live in a fairly posh part of town, and I commute to a somewhat shabbier part.

If it was a very expensive rig, I could see some kind of GPS Transciever that would somehow install in the frame tubing, or similar, which would provide a signal to locate. It would of course, have to be hidden, or very hard to remove. Once the crooks know they are out there, they will pull them off as soon as they steal the bike.