Locking Your Bicycle or Motorcycle the Right Way: A Step-by-Step Guide
Worried about your bicycle or motorcycle getting stolen? In this quick instructional guide, we’re going to give you the information you need to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Both abandoned bicycles and motorcycles are often the targets of thieves, so it is crucial to always secure them properly so that your brand new bike doesn’t get stolen. It is not enough to buy a high-quality lock — you have to know how to properly use that lock. In fact, more often than not, a stolen bike is the result of an improperly used lock, not an ineffective one.
This guide will focus on locking your bicycle or motorcycle using a U-lock, a classic and effective method. U-locks are easy to find, convenient to use, and most importantly, will keep your bike safe if you know how to use them the right way.
There are several different ways of using U-locks: locking your bike with two U-locks, using a U-lock with a chain, using a U-lock with a cable, using one U-lock with the front wheel removed, and using the Sheldon method. In this guide, we will walk you through the methods we consider most effective for both motorcycles and bicycles.
Remember: make sure you read the steps for your specific vehicle, whether that is a bicycle or a motorcycle. There are unique instructions for each!
BICYCLE LOCK-UP
Step 1. Identifying a Location
There are several factors to consider when find a location to lock up your bicycle. An area covered by CCTV is best as this deters many thieves. However, in the absence of this, it is good to find a busy place to leave your bike, so that there is a better chance of someone noticing if an attempt is made to steal it. It is a good idea to lock you bike up where there are already several other groups, preferably in the middle of the group, as it is harder for a thief to maneuver and use tools in the middle of a cluster of bikes crammed together.
Step 2. Choosing an Immovable Object
The object you choose to lock you bicycle to is just as important and the lock you use. Even if a thief is unable to break your lock, if they can saw through the object the bike is locked to, there is no point in even having a lock. Wooden posts and chain link fences are poor choices of immovable objects, as they are relatively easy to cut through with the proper tools. Ideally, you should find a metal bike rack, made for the express purpose of locking up bicycles. These are cemented into the ground and very difficult to saw through.
Step 3. Selecting the Part of the Bicycle to Lock
One of the most frequent mistakes made when locking up a bicycle is attaching your lock to a wheel. It is easy for a thief to detach the wheel and steal the rest of the bike, so to properly secure your bike, you must attach your main lock to the frame of your bicycle. Ideally, you would want to fasten the U-lock around a wheel as well as the frame. You may also want to use multiple locks so that the wheels of your bike are not stolen. We will discuss this further in Step 5 of the guide.
Step 4. Positioning the Lock
When preparing to lock your bicycle, you must also keep in mind the positioning of the lock. It is important to angle the locking mechanism towards the inside, where it is not visible to a potential thief. This makes it harder to use tools to open the locking mechanism and steal the bike. Additionally, you should always keep your lock away from the ground as a common technique for breaking locks is using a hammer to break it against the concrete. If the lock is positioned away from the ground, this technique cannot be used. It is also harder to use the floor as leverage when using certain tools to open the lock, such as a bolt cutter.
Step 5. Locking Your Bicycle (Which Method to Use)
Whenever you use a U-lock, it is essential to fill as much of the lock as possible with the bike frame and the immovable object. This makes it harder for a thief to use tools to break open the lock. Chains and cables can be used in conjunction with U-locks. The following methods are different ways to secure your bicycle and prevent it from being stolen.
· Two U-locks: When using two U-locks, the first lock should be tightly secured around the bike frame, back wheel, and the immovable object. The second lock should be fastened around the front wheel, the bike frame and the immovable object (generally a bike rack). U-locks are light and easy to transport.
· U-lock and Chain: When using a chain with a U-lock, the U-lock should be fastened around the back wheel, bike frame, and bike rack. The chain should also be secured around the frame and rack, as well as preferably around the front wheel. The chain is a good option for optimal security as it is heavier and harder to break than a U-lock.
· U-lock with Removed Wheel: With this method, quick release wheels are necessary so that the front wheel can be removed easily. The front wheel should be removed and fastened to the back wheel using the U-lock. The lock should also be wrapped around the bike rack and frame.
· Sheldon Method: This technique, designed by bicycle expert Sheldon Brown, involves using a single U-lock. The lock is fastened to the rear triangle of the frame, the back wheel, and the immovable object. It is a good option for convenience, especially as a lighter U-lock can be used, but does it not secure the bike as well as the other techniques.
MOTORCYCLE LOCK-UP
Step 1. Reducing Visibility
A good first step is to reduce visibility of your motorcycle, making it less tempting to steal for opportunists. A key method to decrease temptation is to keep your bike covered at all times when not riding it. You may even want to consider putting the motorcycle cover of a cheaper brand than your bike on it to further deter possible thieves.
Step 2. Identifying a Location
You should not lock your motorcycle in the same location every day, unless that location is a secure garage. Changing the parking location regularly makes your movements hard to predict, an important defensive factor if surveillance is involved in a thievery attempt. It is a good idea to lock up your motorcycle in a busy area with several other bikes. This is beneficial for several reasons. Someone is more likely to spot and report an attempt at stealing your motorcycle, it is harder to access in the center of a group, and a possible thief may instead choose to target a less protected bike in the same area instead of your motorcycle.
Step 3. Selecting an Immovable Object
This is one of the most important steps and is even more crucial for motorcycle owners than bicycle owners. Motorcycle thieves are generally better equipped with tools that can easily cut through materials such as wood posts and chain link fences. While these objects may seem stable, in reality, locking your motorcycle to either one is opening it up to theft. Possible objects include a steel or concrete post that is cemented into the ground.
Step 4. Choosing the Region of the Motorcycle to Lock
Since motorcycles are so much bulkier than bicycles, it is not possible to fasten a U-lock to both the frame and the wheel. For this reason, we highly recommend securing your lock onto any part of the frame. It is easier to cut a lock off of a wheel, or remove the wheel and steel the bike, so it is crucial to lock the central frame of your motorcycle to the immovable object you identified in the previous step.
Step 5. Positioning the Lock
Your first priority when positioning your U-lock should be to keep it off the ground. The most common technique to break through motorcycle locks is using bolt cutters, because it is fast and quiet. It is much harder to use bolt cutters to break a lock if the U-lock is positioned high above the ground. This positioning eliminates leverage and does not give the thief a surface to press the lock against. If you are using a chain with your U-lock, make sure there is not a lot of slack on the ground as this is susceptible to attacks with a hammer. Another factor to consider is positioning the locking mechanism where it is not visible, but this is not a huge priority because motorcycle theft rarely involves lock picking.
Step 6. Locking Your Motorcycle (Which Method to Use)
The key element of locking your motorcycle is the U-lock. However, the U-lock can also be used with a chain or disk, or two U-locks can be utilized. There are pros and cons of each method, and we will explain the differences between them in the following bullet points.
· One U-lock: The simplest, most convenient technique is using a single U-lock. The lock can fasten any central part of the motorcycle frame to the immovable object. The U-lock should be secured in a place where as much of the inside as possible is filled. It is convenient and easy to transport; however, its does not secure the bike as well as the other techniques.
· Two U-locks: When using two U-locks, the first lock should secure the motorcycle frame to the immovable object, as described in the one U-lock method. The second lock is to make sure the wheel is not stolen, so it is fastened around either of the two wheels, generally the front wheel as the first U-lock is positioned closer to the back wheel.
· U-lock and Chain: When using both a chain and a U-lock, the U-lock should be fastened in the same way as the one U-lock method. The chain should be secured to the front wheel and slack should be kept as minimal as possible. This a good option for optimal security as the chain it is heavier and harder to break than a U-lock.
· U-lock and Disk: Again, with this technique, the U-lock is secured the same way as in the one U-lock method. The disk is fastened to the center of a wheel to capture the rotor, and is generally fitted with an alarm. The U-lock prevents lift away theft, while the disk lock prevents rollaway theft, so all your bases are covered.
