Shed security for E-bike Insurance?
Discussion
Have just bought a E-mountain bike, it cost £3K - so looking to insure it for theft + damage (plus public liability).
It seems all the insurer's ive looked at have many stipulations on how you need to secure the bike.
Whilst at home, it will be kept in a wooden shed in my garden, said shed does not currently have a lock, as i consider it pointless (if someone has got into my garden, a wooden shed will be very easy to break into no matter the lock.....
But this is what one insurer stipulates:
At home when you live in a private house
Point 1
The bike can never be left outside.
Point 2
The bike must be kept inside. This can include the house, a garage, a wooden shed and a steel bike container.
Point 3
If the bike is inside the house you do not have to chain or lock it up. However, all doors and windows must be locked so that potential thieves would have to use force and violence to enter your home.
Point 4
If the bike is inside a garage, shed or container, they must be solid e.g. keeping it in a tent will not count (people have tried!) and there are two options to secure it:
Secure the garage, shed or container door using the manufacturers installed locks.
Use a 5-lever mortice dead lock or a 5-pin padlock on the door of the garage, shed or container.
Again, all doors and windows to the shed, container or garage will need to be locked so that potential thieves would have to use force and violence to break in.
So do we think that one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUIMALL-Stainless-Padlock...
and one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henry-Squire-Sons-HSQW45-...
Would meet these requirements? no matter how pointless, when you could probably very easily rip the screws out.....
What do we think?
It seems all the insurer's ive looked at have many stipulations on how you need to secure the bike.
Whilst at home, it will be kept in a wooden shed in my garden, said shed does not currently have a lock, as i consider it pointless (if someone has got into my garden, a wooden shed will be very easy to break into no matter the lock.....
But this is what one insurer stipulates:
At home when you live in a private house
Point 1
The bike can never be left outside.
Point 2
The bike must be kept inside. This can include the house, a garage, a wooden shed and a steel bike container.
Point 3
If the bike is inside the house you do not have to chain or lock it up. However, all doors and windows must be locked so that potential thieves would have to use force and violence to enter your home.
Point 4
If the bike is inside a garage, shed or container, they must be solid e.g. keeping it in a tent will not count (people have tried!) and there are two options to secure it:
Secure the garage, shed or container door using the manufacturers installed locks.
Use a 5-lever mortice dead lock or a 5-pin padlock on the door of the garage, shed or container.
Again, all doors and windows to the shed, container or garage will need to be locked so that potential thieves would have to use force and violence to break in.
So do we think that one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUIMALL-Stainless-Padlock...
and one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henry-Squire-Sons-HSQW45-...
Would meet these requirements? no matter how pointless, when you could probably very easily rip the screws out.....
What do we think?
Well personally my ebike is in the garage and I installed a very sturdy ground anchor into the concrete floor with tamper proof bolts. The bike is chained to this anchor with a chain that weights about the same as the bike. Its easy to break into a garage but fair play to them if they get through the chain.
Driver101 said:
I would worry if a normal shed would make the criteria. They are too easy to break into. It doesn't matter how good a padlock is fitted it's still too easy to pull it or the hinges off the thin wood it's secured too.
Yes thats the very reason ive never had a lock on it...however just found the policy booklet, and it specifically mentions wood as ok?
b. Locked inside a shed, garage, purpose built immovable bike storage box, or outbuilding which is only accessible to You and Your household. This storage location must be fully enclosed and built from brick, stone, concrete, wood or metal and be within the boundaries of Your home and comply with one of the following security requirements:
i. All external doors must be secured by a minimum of a 5 lever mortice deadlock to BS3621 or a 5 lever or closed shackle padlock or;
ii. External doors must be secured by the manufacturers installed lock
I built a really secure shed when I bought my ebike. Built out 4x2s closely spaced, hard wood ply then decent shiplap, a padlock, through bolts and an internal lock with a solid bar. Than fitted a alarm.
I still keep my ebike in the house. They don't take to much space if you use a fork mount mounted on the wall and the bars turned so it's standing on its back wheel. Mine uses space in an alcove.
Worst thing is bringing it in after a muddy ride and it's too late/crap weather/too tired to clean it first.
I still keep my ebike in the house. They don't take to much space if you use a fork mount mounted on the wall and the bars turned so it's standing on its back wheel. Mine uses space in an alcove.
Worst thing is bringing it in after a muddy ride and it's too late/crap weather/too tired to clean it first.
There’s two issues here:
1. Meeting the insurers criteria such as 5 pin padlock on an otherwise flimsy door
2. Preventing the bike being stolen in the first place
I’d follow the insurers criteria however ineffective so that the policy is valid, but also look into preventing the bike being stolen e.g. big chain anchored into something immovable such as a tub of concrete which weighs far too much to be carried. I don’t know how good shed alarms are but one may help deter a potential thief. Lastly, if going away on holiday, I’d put the bike in the house just for extra security and peace of mind.
Most importantly - enjoy the bike!
1. Meeting the insurers criteria such as 5 pin padlock on an otherwise flimsy door
2. Preventing the bike being stolen in the first place
I’d follow the insurers criteria however ineffective so that the policy is valid, but also look into preventing the bike being stolen e.g. big chain anchored into something immovable such as a tub of concrete which weighs far too much to be carried. I don’t know how good shed alarms are but one may help deter a potential thief. Lastly, if going away on holiday, I’d put the bike in the house just for extra security and peace of mind.
Most importantly - enjoy the bike!
Maybe lash it to something very heavy and solid, concrete slabs or something ? mine is in the garage but I have a motorbike wall anchor and a chain round it so if anyone gets in, they cant just walk off with it, or if I am working on a car or whatever. Its cul de sac so very little in the way of people passing but I do like a bit of security, and thwarting scrotes. When I go away I reverse a car up to the garage as well o cant open the doors without moving it.
Oh, and I have put an Apple airtag in a piece of car sponge and stuck it inside the frame so if it does go, have a fighting chance of seeing where it went. Helps that its a big tubed carbon frame with a storage thing (Trek Domane)
Oh, and I have put an Apple airtag in a piece of car sponge and stuck it inside the frame so if it does go, have a fighting chance of seeing where it went. Helps that its a big tubed carbon frame with a storage thing (Trek Domane)
Are you looking at bike specific insurance or adding the bike to your home insurance?
I found most of the bike insurance companies have so many requirements there's little chance of you meeting them all. Insuring bikes as a named item on your home insurance tends to not only have a lot less stipulations but is also usually a lot cheaper.
I found most of the bike insurance companies have so many requirements there's little chance of you meeting them all. Insuring bikes as a named item on your home insurance tends to not only have a lot less stipulations but is also usually a lot cheaper.
My garage door is electric, no lock to it, makes me think that I would be in breach of policy conditions.
I start from a negative PoV in that insurers would prefer not to pay up and will find any
in your armour..
The only advice I would give you is to act as if you are not insured, what would you do? For me that would mean keep it in the house.
Another question is what security do the insurers want when you are out, if the bike is taken off you whilst you are riding, will they pay up?
I start from a negative PoV in that insurers would prefer not to pay up and will find any
in your armour..The only advice I would give you is to act as if you are not insured, what would you do? For me that would mean keep it in the house.
Another question is what security do the insurers want when you are out, if the bike is taken off you whilst you are riding, will they pay up?
Looks more like they want an evidence trail for a break in than something that truly prevents the theft being done.
I mean I have sorted out a secured shed, of suitably heavy construction, with concealed hinges and proper locks, but it's the ground anchors and chains that stop the bikes actually moving.
I mean I have sorted out a secured shed, of suitably heavy construction, with concealed hinges and proper locks, but it's the ground anchors and chains that stop the bikes actually moving.
BoRED S2upid said:
Biggest lock you can find and chain it to everything else. Other bikes the lawnmower just enough for them to think sod it and go next door.
^ thisWe've got 4 mountain bikes locked together, with two motorcycle chain/lock combos locking through the frames and down to a ground anchor embedded in the concrete floor of the outbuilding
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