20 tips to keep your electric bike safe

Between July 2021 and June 2022, 74,421 bikes were reported stolen in England and Wales — that’s one bike stolen every seven minutes.

E-bikes can come with a high price tag, and because they’re powered, they make for a quick getaway. On the other hand, keeping your e-bike safe doesn’t always mean just protecting it from thieves. Here are some tips that you might find useful.

Buy a decent bike lock

If you’re planning any journey, it’s always best to have a bike lock handy as nipping into the shops for two minutes and leaving your bike outside could result in an expensive loss. Investing in a bike lock that has a Solid Secure Rating will make it harder for those attempting to steal your bike. Bike lock options include D locks, chain locks, Cable locks and ground anchors.

They can be had for under £10 (or $10 for US buyers) but expect to pay around £60 ($53 options found in the US) for something decent — not a bad price when it comes to protecting your e-bike.

Park it under a camera

Whether it’s a busy town centre, a quiet rural town or your place of work, parking your e-bike under a camera won’t always prevent theft but it will make catching the bad guys a little bit easier. If your bike is stolen, you will be able to log this with the police who will investigate the camera footage and you may be one step closer to getting your bike back. 

Use additional locks

You’ve invested in a decent lock with a Solid Secure Rating, and while this should make it harder for thieves and act as a deterrent, there’s no harm in buying a second or third lock; they don’t need to be as expensive as your main lock, but this will make the thieves’ lives a lot harder.

Take out insurance

Like a car or motorbike, having insurance for your e-bike could cover you in the event of theft and accidental damage, or if the battery were to catch fire when charging. Some companies cover bikes and e-bikes alone, and insurance can cost around £4 per month or $100 per year for US buyers, although this could rise depending on the price of your e-bike.

While it’s possible to use a home content policy to cover your e-bike, it’s worth remembering that home policies may only have a £1000 single-item limit, and if your bike costs more, you could be left out of pocket in the event of a claim.

Use a GPS tracker

If the thief manages to break through your plethora of bike locks, a tracking system may help you and the authorities get your e-bike back. GPS trackers are often discrete and can be easily attached, you will then need to download an application from the manufacturer which will allow you to track your bike.

Depending on the tracker, some GPS devices even send back notifications if the bike is being tampered with. There are various options available such as the Tile Sticker (spotted for £20 or $30) or Apple Air Tag (£29 or $29).

Keep it in a locked and alarmed shed

Wheeling your e-bike in and out of your shed creates a habit, and it’s one that thieves may notice. Investing in a solid shed will not only protect your e-bike from the elements but also keep it out of sight. Using a high-quality padlock will disadvantage thieves when they are attempting a break in, and installing a motion-sensing alarm may cause them to flee whilst also alerting you. Bike sheds can cost around £300 ($370) and alarms start at around £10 ($11).

Invest in a bike alarm

Just like a car alarm, a bike alarm will emit a constant loud sound if it senses vibration or movement in the e-bike. Most alarms allow the owners to adjust the sensitivity levels and volume, some even have an SOS function which will detect an accident if the e-bike is tiled at more than 45 degrees and sound the alarm for help. Alarms can be cable tied onto the bike and prices start at around £15 or $13 in the US.

Record its serial number

Like normal bikes, e-bikes also have a serial number. When you’ve purchased your bike, it’s important to record its serial number. In the event of your e-bike being stolen, the police will want to know its serial number for their records, or if by some miracle you come across an e-bike that looks just like yours, you’ll be able to cross-reference the serial number.

Remove the saddle when parking in public

If you are commuting into a busy town or city centre and are parking your e-bike unattended, another way to deter potential thieves is by removing the saddle. Bikes can still be ridden without the saddle, but it makes spotting your stolen e-bike a bit easier and can make the thieves think twice as they’ll need to spend money on replacing it. Of course, this means that you will need to carry your saddle around all day.

Mix up your cycling routine

We are creatures of habit and routine, and while some habits benefit us, others don’t. Thieves pick their targets and will often observe them closely before making a move, and if you travel daily to a place of work or enjoy a particular cycle route at 1 pm every Saturday, this won’t go unnoticed. If you can, mix up the route to your place of work or take the car a few days a week; switch up your routine on your Saturday cycle also — it may just throw them off the scent.

Uglify your bike

Like magpies, thieves are drawn to shiny objects. If you’re parking your bike in a quiet area, such as an alleyway, it may be worth abandoning it, securely, next to bins.

Another way people uglify their bikes is by covering them in tape, removing the wheels and saddle, painting them to look less attractive and keeping them dirty. This way it looks like thieves have already stolen most of the major components and that the bike won’t fetch much when attempting to sell.

Correct charging

Straying for a moment from thefts, it’s important to include a reminder that E-bikes get older, as do the charging components. If your charger no longer charges the battery like it should, makes any strange noises or sparks when you’re plugging it into the battery, it’s time to change either the charger or the battery. E-bike manufacturer websites often sell replacement chargers; if the manufacturer is no longer available, however, there will be other suitable options to explore.

It’s imperative to check your battery’s current and ensure the charger current matches, and that the charger is from a reputable source. Any mishaps could cause a fire or damage your e-bike electrics.

Buy only certified batteries

Like a replacement charger, replacement batteries must be like-for-like. E-bikes come with different wattage motors, various accessories that run off built-in power and different battery sizes. If you buy a battery that can’t feed the e-bike's resources, things won’t run correctly and may end up damaging components that are expensive to replace. It’s imperative to buy genuine batteries from reliable sources and ensure the currents match. When your new battery arrives, check for any damage as this could lead to a fire or an explosion.

Remove the battery

What’s an electric bike without its power assistance anyway? Removing the battery can deter thieves as an e-bike without one will be harder to sell and it will cost the thief too much to replace the essential component. Most e-bikes come with a slide-out battery, making it easier to switch in the event of a fault, while others have clip-on-and-off tube batteries. It would mean you need to carry a heavy battery with you, however.

Keep any proof of ownership

If your e-bike is stolen and is found by the police or a member of the public, it’s only right that they give the bike back to its owner and not another thief. Proving who the owner is can be tricky without any documentation. If you have proof of ownership such as a receipt of purchase, or in some cases an invoice with your name, this can often be enough to get your e-bike back.

Register your bike

Sometimes, manufacturers will offer a registration service when a new e-bike is purchased. This allows the new owner to register it online, kick start any warranty service and give the manufacturer the serial number that will match their details online. Riders can also register their bike with the Bike Register for free, a national police-approved database, and the owner can also be sent a marking kit for their e-bike which is permanent, or for a higher price, a UV covert kit.

If a stolen bike is found, the marked bikes can be compared against those on the database and returned to their rightful owner.

Try and park your bike inside

Some cities now offer secure underground bike parking, allowing you to lock and leave your e-bike. Although this is not available everywhere, there are workplaces and shopping centres that have secure and monitored bike sheds, some workplaces even allow employees to park their bikes inside. For those who have a foldable bike, this is a lot easier as the bike can be carried in and safely stowed.

Park next to cleaner bikes

While it’s good to keep your e-bike clean, a dirtier bike can deter thieves, especially if there are other more attractive bikes in the area. Parking your e-bike next to nicer and cleaner bikes could mean that they could skip yours. Cleaner and more maintained e-bikes will be a priority as these can be quickly and easily sold.

Plan your locking method for maximum destruction

Rather than just finding a lamp post and locking your e-bike normally, use your bike lock to create maximum destruction if the thieves attempt to remove it. The object you’re locking your bike to should be stronger than your e-bike so wooden fences and posts should be avoided, also ensure the lock passes through the e-bike frame triangle and the motor hub wheel. To get the bike loose, they’ll have to cut through the bike to get it or damage the motor hub wheel. A headache they won’t want and will cause them to look elsewhere.

Visual deterrents

Just like a CCTV in operation or a “Beware of the Dog” sign, people may think twice about stealing your e-bike if it has a visual deterrent. When buying a GPS tracking system, most manufacturers will send a sticker that can be applied to the e-bike but owners can also print off a fake GPS tracking logo using glossy sticker paper and apply it to the frame.