Not the usual bike carrier question - Security?
- Thread starter TheAngryKoala
- Start date
I never said there was only 2 types, I said there's multiple levels of bike thief. And the rack will only deter the most basic, passer by. But that's enough for a quick piss stop.
Anyone with a set of basic bolt cutters will get through most locks in seconds and don't arouse much attention. No rack lock will withstand basic tools. And if they're driving around in a van looking for bikes they'll most certainly have a set of bolt cutters in the back.
Ultimately I think this is the end answer. Other racks may be slightly better with the locks but if the bikes are on the back of your van, they're vulnerable and very visible.
It's part of the reason I went from this:
To this:
I was tired of trying to find hotels or AirBnB's with secure bike storage.
Totally get what you are saying. I have the DL3, and yes the loop is secured by two quick release bolts, so undo those, and the ratchet type wheel clamps and someone could then walk away with all bikes from the carrier still locked together via the frame clamps & arms attached to the loop.
I always lock my bikes to the carrier frame and to the underneath of the van using a combination of cable locks and a big motorbike U lock when I leave them. I don’t like to leave all that on while driving due to concerns of wear & tear of all those bits jiggling around.
I have heard of campers getting up in the morning to find their bikes taken from the rack at the back of their van, so it does happen and I always lock my bikes up overnight. Of course, if someone targets your gear, you are unlikely to be able to prevent it. You can only make it increasingly difficult.
Motorway services are the worst place for such thefts - whole trailers go awol there! Some insurance companies state that an unattended caravan/trailer is not covered in that scenario!
You can never really stop the thieving b'stards completely - if they really want your bikes, they will get them so the only thing that you can do is make it too difficult and/or time consuming so that they just go and nick the ones attached to the rack on the car in the next pitch. For myself, I'm content that the D Lock holding the bikes together, the D Lock attaching the inner one to the rack frame and the cable and padlock around the whole lot on the outside of the cover are enough to put of the casual or opportunist toerags.
I should also add that my tailgate can open over the rack but I haver modified it to so do - you can't open the tailgate out of the box but modding is simple if you don't mind taking a hacksaw to a couple of bits of plastic. Mine's the two bike version and the XT3 looks to be the same design.
I can personally vouch for that - we went over a speed bump in a campsite on I'le d'Oleron a few years ago very slowly but when we stopped so my Mrs could get out type in the code on the exit gate, she saw that the passenger side light cluster on our Thule Easy Fold XT2 was hanging off. It's been gaffer taped on ever since and is probably stronger than it was in the first place.
I should also add that my tailgate can open over the rack but I haver modified it to so do - you can't open the tailgate out of the box but modding is simple if you don't mind taking a hacksaw to a couple of bits of plastic. Mine's the two bike version and the XT3 looks to be the same design.
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When on the van, we use 2x Abus Granit D-locks - 1 to fasten the bikes to each other and 1 to fasten 1 of the bikes to the frame of the rack. At this point, I believe the weakest point of attack becomes the tow-ball mount or the mechanism for detaching the tow-bar from the van.
When on site, we store the bikes and the rack in our awning. This not only removes them from view, it also means we can use the 2 D-locks to fasten everything together into a configuration whereby thieves...
(a) could only remove them by virtually destroying the awning (easy to achieve, but difficult to do so discreetly)
(b) would find them very unwieldy to manhandle and
(c) would probably find them too wide or too long to fit in the back a standard Transit (which, as we all know, is the getaway vehicle of choice for a wrong'un
).
The above is in no way foolproof, but I think it would scupper all but the most determined and well-planned theft attempts.
When on site, we store the bikes and the rack in our awning. This not only removes them from view, it also means we can use the 2 D-locks to fasten everything together into a configuration whereby thieves...
(a) could only remove them by virtually destroying the awning (easy to achieve, but difficult to do so discreetly)
(b) would find them very unwieldy to manhandle and
(c) would probably find them too wide or too long to fit in the back a standard Transit (which, as we all know, is the getaway vehicle of choice for a wrong'un
).The above is in no way foolproof, but I think it would scupper all but the most determined and well-planned theft attempts.
Sorry for the really old thread bump but that ddg shooter is awesome. I used to run one back in the day.This thread is precisely why I use this method:-
Totally understand that it is not for everyone as that space is rarely able to be devoted entirely to bikes in lots of peoples' vans!!
I think it is all about layers locking rack, adding an extra lock. I am looking at changing my towbar electric to a vw version. If you unplug the trailer lights the alarm goes off. If I extend the lighting cable to go through the bike frames I would have another layer. Just need to work out the parts required 
@Furgus That's a great idea. You just need to make up an extension cable to use just when you need it. No point having a long lead wound round everything when you don't. The chances are if anyone is going to have a go, they'll cut it. So that way, the alarm will go off, but you'll still have the original short cable working to keep you mobile.
I have the Atera Genio Pro advanced, which also allows you to open the tailgate.
The U frame is part of the folding mechanism and is integral to the rack: It doesn’t unbolt.
The arms have locks and the plastic securing straps have steel reinforcement running through them. The locking mechanism also has another mechanism which prevents the arms being removed when in the locked position.
I carry two e-bikes and feel these locks are good enough for driving around and for quick stops in the day.
Anything longer (when I’m sleeping or visiting an attraction) and I’ll also then fit gold rated D lock between the frame and rear wheel of each bike and thread a cable lock (not security rated) from these through the front wheels of the opposite bike. I then run a single diamond rated chain and lock through each D lock, the frames and the U frame of the rack.
The U frame is part of the folding mechanism and is integral to the rack: It doesn’t unbolt.
The arms have locks and the plastic securing straps have steel reinforcement running through them. The locking mechanism also has another mechanism which prevents the arms being removed when in the locked position.
I carry two e-bikes and feel these locks are good enough for driving around and for quick stops in the day.
Anything longer (when I’m sleeping or visiting an attraction) and I’ll also then fit gold rated D lock between the frame and rear wheel of each bike and thread a cable lock (not security rated) from these through the front wheels of the opposite bike. I then run a single diamond rated chain and lock through each D lock, the frames and the U frame of the rack.
Dude - I got that when I was 15!!! (A loooooooooooooooong time ago!)Sorry for the really old thread bump but that ddg shooter is awesome. I used to run one back in the day.
I get so many people coming up to me when I'm out and about with my kids on their bikes, saying "hey I used to have one of those"!!!
Awesome bit of kit and I'm so glad I kept it and now can use it alongside my kids... when I get completely shown up by them I blame it on my 'old' bike!
IMO putting a sign on your bike rack with ‘ Please Don’t Steal My Stuff’ is about as effective as any lock.
Modern battery tools are cheap, easily concealed and the vast majority of the public onlookers would rather look the other way.
There are £K’s profit to be made for a few seconds work.
Modern battery tools are cheap, easily concealed and the vast majority of the public onlookers would rather look the other way.
There are £K’s profit to be made for a few seconds work.
ha ha ha that’s perfect i would have been similar when i had one. still have a few of my old bikes but the shooter is long gone. enjoy it man
In my opinion if you don’t have the ability or space to store the bikes inside the van then at least cover them when they’re on the back of the van then at least people don’t know what they’re worth.
Case in point - I had two very expensive bikes stolen from my garage.
They were carried on the roof rack of my estate car using Thule fork mount bike carriers earlier thay day.
I was lucky enough to get one of my bikes recovered. The police had raided a property and found loads of bikes and other gear from multiple burglaries. I was informed that the thieves spot vehicles in the area carrying expensive bikes, followed them at distance to find where they live and then raided the properties overnight when they had more time to overcome any security without being disturbed!!
A simple cover over the bikes whilst being transported would avoid that unwanted attention!
Case in point - I had two very expensive bikes stolen from my garage.
They were carried on the roof rack of my estate car using Thule fork mount bike carriers earlier thay day.
I was lucky enough to get one of my bikes recovered. The police had raided a property and found loads of bikes and other gear from multiple burglaries. I was informed that the thieves spot vehicles in the area carrying expensive bikes, followed them at distance to find where they live and then raided the properties overnight when they had more time to overcome any security without being disturbed!!
A simple cover over the bikes whilst being transported would avoid that unwanted attention!
Turboponzy
Member
They’re getting cleverer than that now, my bikes stay inside but have to be careful when parked at trailheads as well. I was cleaning my van at home after a day at the bike park and noticed someone had stuck a tracking tag in the rear bumper. Didn’t know what it was until I searched it online and only by chance I spotted it. Pretty sad state these days.
that is really frightening.
Wow, how on earth did you spot a tracker INSIDE the rear bumper?
That is frightening. Any tips on what it looked like etc?
Turboponzy
Member
Only by chance I was looking at the bumper while I was washing it because it didn’t look square then noticed it, small round tag with a key ring hole in it. Loads available on Amazon for cheap. Got rid of it a few miles away.
