Cycle Security/Anti Theft
Currently shopping for our first motorhome! We are interested in how we are going to keep our e-bikes safe overnight? Does everyone keep them on the rack overnight? We have seen some beautiful motorhomes with garages but these seem to be nudging us out of our price range. Any guidance would be appreciated!
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There is no real safe answer. You can use locks securing bikes to the rack and each other if two bikes are on rack. Remove the batteries for weight & security. Better still lock them to the tow bar frame if you have a tow bar. I used to fasten a long laptop lock cable to the bikes under the covers and pop the cable into the exterior locker door with a padlock on the end hoping it would look like extra security and hoping I’d hear it rattling if someone disturbed it.
I also used the cable to secure my Cadac when leaving it at the back of the MH overnight. (Saved it being stolen once).it is worth checking out your location. Does the site have a bike store? Don’t park up against public paths which give easy access to the back of you MH. Ask the wardens what’s going on.
The D locks are meant to be the bestThere are also loud bike alarms available.
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As keen cyclists and wanting to keep our ebikes away from prying eyes meant that a MH with a proper garage was a given when we changed vans (after two Swifts) 7 years ago.
as garages with the required internal height only seemed then to be from European manufacturers, that's where we looked....Our van is only 6.4M long (and slim at 2.12m wide) but has a large garage under the rear bed.
I don't see the point in buying (say) a 6m van and then having to attach a bike rack (tow ball style) which then adds another metre to the van.
along with the bikes, the garage is great for outdoor chairs/tables, spare wheel, hoses/leads, water container, washing line etc, etc...
plenty of used continental vans about but we are now on our second van with a garage and wouldn't have one without.
when on site, if not put away, we use sold secure cables and hefty D locks.
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What a wonderful world. Lock it up or lose it. Great!
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I'd probably qualify that a bit, it depends largely where you are....leave it at Clumber Park out in the open.....?
OTOH, many campers leave their ebikes parked up all over the site here in Spain, even on pitches unlocked while at the bar!
folk here seem to have more to enjoy than trying to nick a bike...they all have one, anyway!😉
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Security of your e-bikes is always a worry but, in my experience, the risks are quite low if they are kept locked out of sight under a sturdy bike cover or in a MH garage.
In transit we keep our bikes on the high level bike rack, secured with a security cable. They are also covered by a heavy duty bike cover which is secured by lots of straps (a pain to remove), or under a lightweight Fiamma Bike cover if they are in constant use.
On site, we use the security cable through the bike frames and wind it around a tree/lamp post or through an alloy wheel on the MH. We also use the bike cover to keep them out of sight and covered from the elements.
Two other points :
1. Insurance – read the policy wording covering your bikes as many restrict cover for theft from a motor vehicle or in the open. Some require security devices to meet certain standards. Also, make sure the policy covers Public Liability third party risks when you are riding.
2. Payload – e-bikes are quite heavy and many MHs are operated at the max limit of the rear axle capacity. Carrying e-bikes may mean your MH is overloaded.We have used e-bikes for over 10 years and have enjoyed the mobility they give. Don't let security concerns put you off - take sensible precautions and enjoy !
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Great post, Jim 👍
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Yes check your insurance wording, apart from which lock are deemed necessary it may give details about cycle racks, ours does:
Immovable Object
Any of the following:
i) a solid object fixed onto or into brick, stone, concrete or metal
and which cannot be undone or removed with or lifted under
or over the Cycle; or
ii) a securely fixed purpose built motor vehicle roof rack or Cycle
rack; or1 -
I actually wanted our insurer to confirm in writing that they considered a touring caravan that is static on a campsite pitch to be an immoveable object for the purposes of the insurance and that they were happy with my bikes being tethered through a chain and heavy duty padlock to the caravan itself. I do this by threading a heavy chain through the cornersteady which is a triangle on our model and then chaining both bikes together. The insurer was happy with this.
At the end of the day a determined thief will, given the right opportunity and time, get through most locks and security devices. You are just hoping the deterrent makes them look elsewhere.
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2. Payload – e-bikes are quite heavy and many MHs are operated at the max limit of the rear axle capacity. Carrying e-bikes may mean your MH is overloaded.
There are several "lightweight" ebikes on the market. We found some that weigh 15.5 kgs with the battery incorporated into the frame and looked at several others last year before buying our present ones.
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Our bikes are G-Tech City Bikes which weigh 16kg including the battery and have a range of about 12-15 miles. Their combined weight has to be considered carefully when hanging 30kg+ on a bike rack nearly 3 metres behind the rear axle.
I wish I had paid more attention in my physics lessons at school, then I might have been able to work out what force they are exerting.
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Carthago C-Compactline i138. A class.
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I've just replaced my 8 yr old Bosch driven Gepida with a Specialized Vado SL and the difference is marked. The Vado is far, far lighter (smaller battery, lighter motor, no suspension forks etc) but the upshot is that it is far easier to cycle without power. In fact I do 90% of my riding unassisted now, which actually means despite a smaller battery (320wh agains the Bosch 400wh) it gives an enormous range. Also means charging less often when off grid. Very pleased with it....
I know ask myself whether I should have just gone back to a very light road bike.....
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Some interesting and good posts. We are keen cyclists as well, so always like to hear from others.
Heads up for anyone who might visit Clumber Park Site…..we visited for first time ever a couple of months ago (it’s our nearest Site to home). We were rather apprehensive about taking our bikes with us, but have to say found the Club provided lock up storage very good. Two big secure cabins, access electronically controlled via cards, racks inside to store, you just use your own security chains/locks. There’s even a “tool & repair station” just outside cabins for pre ride checks. Site was busy (mid week) when we were there, lots of bikes in storage, in use. Wouldn’t want to say what it’s like at weekends, but mid week it was fine. Clumber is nice for cycling, and beyond.
Ferry Meadows would benefit from similar storage, bike thefts can be an issue there as well.
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A-ha, just trawled through and realised your former username and associated avatar showing your MH. Trust you are keeping well.
There wasn't a C-Compactline in Brum last week, disappointingly. Offputting was the packs cost to get what we were looking for, so went elsewhere.
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You got there in the end, KS 😀
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We regularly tour with our E-bikes on the back of our small MH. Key issue is good insurance. They are only bikes (albeit quite expensive ones, my OH has an E-road bike) so it’s inconvenience rather than emotional/sentimental issues.
Having had bikes stolen from home, my top tip is to make sure you have photographs of your cycles, keep every receipt for your bikes/cycling as aside from the actual bikes themselves, ours have a lot of extras/modifications such as clip in cleat pedals, bottle racks, computers and mounts (unclipped when not in use) saddle bags, racks, mudguards, lights, cameras, contents of saddlebags, etc…..OH’s cycle is custom built for him, so extras like handlebars, stems are over and above the initial purchase price. When our bikes were stolen from our garage at home, we were able to list each extra with a dated receipt, and the insurance assessor who came out to help us, took copies of everything and we were paid in full for everything taken, as well as the damage to our property. The whole process was quick and as it should be, value of stolen goods paid in full.
Another tip when travelling. We have some serious locks for on our rack, but we carry a motorcycle quality security chain as well, if we take our bikes off the rack and store locked to something else immoveable. We also use a couple of personal siren alarms, tied out of sight on bikes, with the barely visible lines coming in through our rear window. One tug on a bike and all hell breaks loose. We used the motorcycle chain at Clumber, inside the security sheds.Thankfully, we haven’t had any problems touring with our bikes, bar a very funny one. We left our bikes on a CL, well hidden with the owners help, locked securely to an immoveable object, covered and out of general sight. Went out for day, came back, checked on bikes, all fine. Got up next morning for a ride, got bikes out……..blasted squirrels had had a feast on our cycle seats, ruddy great chunks missing🤨🤭
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