Audible Bike Alarm

[PaulSB]

Today's experience makes me feel I need to upgrade my bike security, especially for cafe stops. My buddy locked our bikes together using a cafe lock - thin cable and a digital lock. This is all I carry. When we left he couldn't get it to unlock. A pair of pliers was produced and cut the cable in ten seconds at most. This has got me thinking, especially as I have a new bike arriving in a month or so.

I know there are audible alarms available which are triggered by an "unauthorised" attempt to move the bike. Does anyone have experience of these? Any recommendations?

Thanks

 

[classic33]

Today's experience makes me feel I need to upgrade my bike security, especially for cafe stops. My buddy locked our bikes together using a cafe lock - thin cable and a digital lock. This is all I carry. When we left he couldn't get it to unlock. A pair of pliers was produced and cut the cable in ten seconds at most. This has got me thinking, especially as I have a new bike arriving in a month or so.

I know there are audible alarms available which are triggered by an "unauthorised" attempt to move the bike. Does anyone have experience of these? Any recommendations?

Thanks

Panic alarm under the saddle, with a "trip wire" to a part that will pull the pin out with the minimum movement.

That or a Kranks Landmine or door alarm.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I recently bought a Knog Scout travel tag
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/knog-scout-travel-luggage-alarm-and-finder-varkngsctr
The idea being I will loop my lock through it, so it will set off the alarm if anyone touches the lock.
They also do a version that attaches to the bike under the bottle cage but my reasoning was that by the time they move the bike it’s already too late, arming the lock gives another few seconds of warning. And also its easy to take with you no matter which bike you use.

 

[Drago]

Now you know why I scoff at rhe concept of cafe locks. A Scumbag won't go easy on you just because the bike is outside a cafe.

 

[PaulSB]

@Flick of the Elbow thank you. That's an interesting approach and another to add to my thoughts.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Now you know why I scoff at rhe concept of cafe locks. A Scumbag won't go easy on you just because the bike is outside a cafe.

No - but the point in a "cafe lock" is to make it that bit more difficult to steal

If they want to take it they can
but every second increases the risk
plus thieves are not generally the brightest sparks in the bonfire and the ones that will nick a single bike from outside a cafe are not likely to come equipped with anything more useful than a vape thing and their phone

It does stop them just jumping on and riding off - and I have seen loads of bike just leaning against a shop front - and not getting stolen

and at the end of the day - all a lock does is make it more difficult
and teh thief has a red line of difficulty - and for most it is pretty low

personally, I carry 2 cafe locks - one could be cut with any wire cutter or picked with a decent pin
one has a combination lock that anyone with a brain could crack in 2 minutes

but it is good enough for a cafe where I have the bike in view the whole time

 

[Dadam]

Garmin Edge units have a bike alarm feature which I've never used because I'm never going to leave an expensive device attached to my bike while I'm in a cafe. It takes 2 seconds to twist it off the mount and do a runner.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I used to use an Abus Alarm Box (https://www.abus.com/uk/Consumer/Personal-safety/Alarmbox). Not one for lightweight carbon frames but not noticable for most cyclists. Moved it to the bent but after several years and lots of touring in EU button got a bit clogged with grit (positioned close to road) and I managed to break it clearning it out. Loud and strong enough to not be easily removed by any thief.

I replaced it with a Knog Alarm (https://www.knog.com/products/scout) which is both an alarm and a "tracker". I'm not interested in tracker, just want a loud noise if a their tries. But it's based around Apple iPhone for control (based on an AirTag for the tracking). Quite happy with it.

But my "quite happy with it" is more about ease of use and resilliance as I'm not aware of with having ever deterred a thief.

Some years back I got a AlterLock https://nogoodnamesleft.net/alterlock-cycle-security-review/ mainly as the alarm will sound and additional notify you through alerts to your phone when you are distant from the bike (though delivery of that alert may be slower than a snatch and run thief). But sent back for full refund as it didn't work well. They have a Gen 3 version that addresses some of those shortcomings but it's not available in UK due to wide area network communications (which has been the case for ages and ages so looks like it's not being addressed).

 

[Drago]

No - but the point in a "cafe lock" is to make it that bit more difficult to steal

The OP has just demonstrated that is not the case.

If it requires locking, lock it properly else you may as well not bother.

 

[Oldhippy]

I got one on Amazon just shy of £30. It is excellent. I can't for the life of me remember what it's called but should be easy to find on their search thingy. Round, around inch and a half and looks like a back light. Comes with remote and battery lasts ages. Still wouldn't look my bike where I could see it however and would rather the 'I'm bringing it in the shop or you don't get my custom unless you start to provide decent front of shop parking' conversation.

 

[mikeIow]

When I did my LEJoG, I figured I needed something for when I left my bike briefly, or overnight whilst camping.
I got one of these simple alarms - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08F592WQQ
Cheap, but worked quite well. Perfect for a cafe stop.
You could pop it in a saddlebag, pannier or bar-bag. I had a solid Brooks saddle then, and zip-tied it underneath.

Only time it went off was in the Scottish Borders. I was at a cafe by a beautiful loch. A couple of police bikers had stopped, & we had a natter. I joked about the alarm, then set it & went in for a butty and cuppa.
Of course by the time I came out, I forgot I had armed it, & promptly set it off moving the bike 🤣 They thought it was hilarious 💪

Just found a piccy - at the Loch of the Lowes, near St Mary’s Loch. Beautiful day, you can just see my armed bike 🤣

 

[fossyant]

You can get padlock alarms. When we were having a few issues at work, and I was on a nice new shiney fixed gear, I supplemented the locks with a padlock attached to the bars near the stem. Knocking into the bike would trigger an alert noise, second time it would go off. You can also get alarmed cable locks, but they arr a bit bulky. I used one at our static just an an alert ifcanyone tried to take the bikes which were chained.

 

[mikeIow]

You can get padlock alarms. When we were having a few issues at work, and I was on a nice new shiney fixed gear, I supplemented the locks with a padlock attached to the bars near the stem. Knocking into the bike would trigger an alert noise, second time it would go off. You can also get alarmed cable locks, but they arr a bit bulky. I used one at our static just an an alert ifcanyone tried to take the bikes which were chained.

That alert system is how the one I had (link above). worked. 👍
Nudge it, and you get a loud squawk.
Nudge it again and everyone knows you’re touching it 😜
I also have a “Dutch wheel lock” - this sort of thing. Mine has the cable with it.
Adds about 700g, perhaps 1kg with cable, but that & the alarm made me feel I could leave things for a loo stop etc 👍

Of course these won’t stop a determined thief, but they would delay or stop an opportunist, which was all I needed 🙏
& you start to understand why the fully loaded (camping kit too!) LEJoG bike was around 35kg 🫣

 

[PaulSB]

Many thanks for the responses. I'm edging towards a choice between these two. Originally I wanted something that was transferable but as I only have two bikes that need this protection I'll probably buy two and leave them permanently mounted. One deciding factor will be the ease of under seat mounting.

Cruxer - I've seen one in action. LOUD!

BangTing - this one doesn't appear to have a zip tie mounting option meaning if the bracket won't fit under the seat is can only go on the seat post