E-bike accessories: How to protect your bike from theft

According to one current, most bicycles were stolen in Göttingen in 2023. Under the stolen goods, not only were ordinary bikes such as racing bikes or mountain bikes, but also expensive e-bikes, which more and more long fingers are targeting. Very few of them found their way back to their owners. This is particularly annoying if you have spent several thousand euros for a new pedelec. It is all the more important to take appropriate protective measures that make theft more difficult. This includes the right e-bike accessories as well as the conclusion of a corresponding bicycle insurance.

Don’t forget to lock!
A bicycle lock is by far the most important e-bike accessories, but you should rely on a robust model here. Because the more difficult to crack the lock, the faster a thief drops off. And contrary to many opinions, you have to pay a lot of money for quality, there is – according to Stiftung Warentest – the From Decathlon for just under 30 euros. If you want to be on the safe side and make the theft more difficult, you can attach a lock to the front and rear wheel.

The storage location is crucial
Regardless of the fact that you should complete your e-bike anytime, anywhere, the storage location also plays a crucial role: During the day, busy places that are easy to see from all sides are the best choice. In the evening you should park the bike in the garage or in the basement if possible. If this is not possible, you should opt for a (also gladly lively) storage location that is illuminated at night. On the other hand, you should avoid calm corners, small side streets or even dark house entrances.

Display the e-bike
Unfortunately, most e-bikes are recognizable at first glance, so it can be very helpful to camouflage the bike (especially at night). To do this, you only need a correspondingly large cover or one For your pedelec under which you hide the bike. Of course, a thief does not stop looking below. However, curiosity does not arouse so quickly, since you have to take the trouble to look under the shell. In any case, it is worth a try.

Take the battery with you
So that you can charge the battery of an e-bike, this is usually removable. Without the energy storage, the bike rides very usually – and is therefore much more unattractive for thieves that would first have to buy it for a lot of money. For this reason, you should always take the battery off when you park the bike outdoors. In addition, at first glance, your bike without a battery no longer looks like an e-bike, which may make some thieves from your plan.

Despite all the protective measures mentioned, your e-bike is stolen. In the event, it makes sense to buy a GPS tracker through which you can locate your bike (and report the location of the police). It is attached directly to the bike – in such a way that you cannot see it, of course. The Powunity brand, for example, is installed directly into the engine so that it is not visible from the outside. You should have skillful fingers for installation, alternatively the manufacturer offers a video instruction.

If the attachment is too complicated for you, you can also one Use e-bikes that is only glued on. This only has to be mounted on the bike-however, there is also a downside here: To use the tracker, you have to buy a SIM card in advance that is inserted into the housing. However, you get cheap prepaid models for five euros. If the e-bike is stolen, you can easily access the GPS data by call or SMS to the SIM number.

E-bikes are particularly suitable for long trips because they support the pedal function. If you want to take an excursion, the additional investment is worthwhile in one : It is permanently installed on the handlebar and thus enables you to look at the display while driving – instead of fumbling from your pocket instead of fumbling your smartphone. If, for example, if you plan your route via Google Maps, the smartphone can serve as a navigation device and show you the way.

If you are miles away from home, the tire suddenly loses air and there is no bicycle shop in sight, you need an air pump. It is part of the standard e-bike accessories and should be there on every tour. A mini pump with CO2 cartridge is recommended so that it takes as little space as possible and the hose is filled with air again as quickly as possible. The tire (according to the manufacturer) is to be inflated using the pressure in a matter of seconds. From decathlon, for example, every valve fits.

Not every e-bike is automatically delivered with a bell-many also consider it unnecessary. In fact, the small gadget in road traffic is more than useful. Especially when you are traveling quite quickly and someone (accidentally) blocks the bike path. In this case, it is very helpful if you can warn people with a short ringing from afar. It is best to take a model that is particularly loud – 90 to are a good guideline here.

Finally, the Not missing in the e-bike accessories. Because even if there is still no helmet for cyclists in Germany, wearing while driving-especially with a fast e-bike-is more than advisable. It protects her head from serious injuries in the event of a fall. There are different models for children, adolescents and adults, so that there is something suitable for every head (and every taste). Safety should always proceed here.

Once the e-bike has been stolen, it is unfortunately very unlikely that you will ever see your bike again. Even the police are powerless in most cases. However, if you have taken out insurance for your e-bike, you will be reimbursed the money (measured by the purchase price and age of the bike)-from which you can afford a new model. However, the insurance only applies if you have completed it before theft. According to you, you can have your bike protected from 32 euros a year. Therefore, it is worth taking out bicycle insurance in any case. If the e-bike has been stolen from your own house or your own apartment, it is even possible that your household insurance will pay. If you have completed one. However, it is also advisable to have the bike insured in advance (for an additional charge).

Important to know for you: Do not throw the receipt or invoice for your e-bike into the trash, otherwise the purchase price must be estimated by the insurance company. In addition, you have to prove that you actually bought the stolen model.

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