Time on my hands .... Bike security design

[airsafari87]

Like many others I am currently working from home for the foreseeable future. I was also informed today that once this week is over I will be furloughed until 31st May.

Given that I am a mechanical design engineer and have a laptop equipped with Inventor here with me I figured I would spend this downtime developing something which has been on my mind for a little while now.

What I am thinking of developing is a form of bike lock / anchor to be used in home garages and back yards. As the design develops it may become evident that it could be used elsewhere too, but for now my main focus is home garages and yards.

The initial concept is for it to be a ground anchor of sort, but without the need for chains. I know that this limits it to single bike use, but at this time that is not a concern.

I don't plan on being secretive about this, and will likely use this thread for critique of the designs as they progress.

At present I have no plans to go in to large scale production, but I will likely have samples made up and ultimately have it Sold Secure approved, but that is some way down the line.

If possible I may even try to get samples sent out to the PH BB community for testing and critique.

So given that.

What current form of garage security do you use?
What is good about it?
What is bad about it?
What would you like to see that is different to what you currently use?

Thank you.

[bogie]

Good effort, glad to help.

What current form of garage security do you use?
16mm chain, anti pinch pin to go through rear wheel/single side swing arm. Squire lock 65, ground anchor

What is good about it?
the pin through the single side swing arm hub is easy to use with the Squire lock, takes about 1 minute to fit when I park up

What is bad about it?
Not much really ..... I guess thieves can still grind the chain given time. Where do you stop? multiple chains & locks in a secure alarmed garage should be enough....

What would you like to see that is different to what you currently use?

I use a front wheel chock style stand, very convenient to just ride into, keeps the bike upright for working on it and you could fit more bikes into the same space if necessary.

The bike stand/chock has a loop for a chain but not really big or sturdy enough to take a 16mm or bigger chain, but then you could say you are just securing the front wheel anyway

For completeness you want to lock the front wheel to the stand/floor and use another chain through the frame and/or rear wheel (if hollow hub style)

To be honest I think in home garage security is quite well catered for with big chains and anchors...in order to improve and defeat/slow down grinder attack you need thicker/harder metal bars, which become impractical to get through a bike frame.

[Prof Prolapse]

I use a Pragmasis 16mm (allegedly uncroppable chain). The name of the lock escapes me but it's on their website and sold as a package.

I set a Y-anchor underground, and carefully reinforced the concrete with steel rebar, so it could not be shattered and removed.

The dream is something which cannot be cut with an angle grinder but can still fit through the wheel but ideally frame and a ground anchor.

The only effort I have seen has been one made for bicycles (can't remember the link) which works by being physically too large to cut with a cutting disc, but that's hugely impractical for securing a motorcycle.

Not sure what the solution is. Best of luck.

[airsafari87]

bogie said:

What would you like to see that is different to what you currently use?

I use a front wheel chock style stand, very convenient to just ride into, keeps the bike upright for working on it and you could fit more bikes into the same space if necessary.

The bike stand/chock has a loop for a chain but not really big or sturdy enough to take a 16mm or bigger chain, but then you could say you are just securing the front wheel anyway

For completeness you want to lock the front wheel to the stand/floor and use another chain through the frame and/or rear wheel (if hollow hub style)

Well that didn't take long did it!

That is pretty much the route I am planning on.

I know this will limit me to the types of bike this will be suitable for, but I understand this and am willing to accept it for the time being.
But my plan is to have a front wheel chock type which will be anchored to the ground with hidden anchors.
The sideplates will be of such a design that the front wheel nuts will not be accessible.
And the bike would be secured by some form of pin going through the hollow front spindle.

[the cueball]

airsafari87 said:

Well that didn't take long did it!

That is pretty much the route I am planning on.

I know this will limit me to the types of bike this will be suitable for, but I understand this and am willing to accept it for the time being.
But my plan is to have a front wheel chock type which will be anchored to the ground with hidden anchors.
The sideplates will be of such a design that the front wheel nuts will not be accessible.
And the bike would be secured by some form of pin going through the hollow front spindle.

This would also limit anyone with paddock stand/crash bobbins on the front of their bike??

[bogie]

airsafari87 said:

bogie said:

What would you like to see that is different to what you currently use?

I use a front wheel chock style stand, very convenient to just ride into, keeps the bike upright for working on it and you could fit more bikes into the same space if necessary.

The bike stand/chock has a loop for a chain but not really big or sturdy enough to take a 16mm or bigger chain, but then you could say you are just securing the front wheel anyway

For completeness you want to lock the front wheel to the stand/floor and use another chain through the frame and/or rear wheel (if hollow hub style)

Well that didn't take long did it!

That is pretty much the route I am planning on.

I know this will limit me to the types of bike this will be suitable for, but I understand this and am willing to accept it for the time being.
But my plan is to have a front wheel chock type which will be anchored to the ground with hidden anchors.
The sideplates will be of such a design that the front wheel nuts will not be accessible.
And the bike would be secured by some form of pin going through the hollow front spindle.

Got it

sounds great, an easy to use, ride in wheel chock, thats secure AND blocks access to remove the front wheel

that would be a nice improvement and save time, you just ride in and park up

[tvrolet]

Years ago thumbing through what was even then a very old copy (50s I guess) of Motorcycling Magazine I always recall one of the 'readers tips'. The anti-theft device was to solder-in a spark plug fitting underneath the fuel tank, then when you left the bike swap over the HT lead from proper plug to the one in the tank...and remember to swap it back again afterwards.

It wasn't clear if the idea was just to take lead of the proper plug to stop the bike starting and stow it somewhere, or to create an explosion...which would be impossible if the plug was in the fuel, and near enough impossible to get the correct air/fuel ratio if it wasn't. And if it did work it'd bugger your tank.

Always struck me as Viz type advice - A POST-IT note stuck beneath the nose is an ideal way to foil lip-readers - but published in a proper bike mag. Ahhh the good old days, when folks could publicly plan to blow the balls off bike thieves. I trust your ideas can do the same?

[TooLateForAName]

I've always thought that a device to pressurise the brake lines. Fitted to a movement sensor so brakes lock on if the bike is moved.

[Prof Prolapse]

tvrolet said:

Ahhh the good old days, when folks could publicly plan to blow the balls off bike thieves. I trust your ideas can do the same?

Perhaps just urban legends, but I heard some belters from South Africa, spring loaded spikes, cars which caught fire...

You'd have to be pretty confident with your wiring...

[airsafari87]

the cueball said:

This would also limit anyone with paddock stand/crash bobbins on the front of their bike??

It would yes, I had already thought of that.

I understand that coming up with something which suits absolutely every bike and everyone's needs is impossible.
My aim though is to try and come up with the best solution, and to provide the best product for someone who's needs do fall in line with solution I come up with.

I'm not going to get it right first time, and it may end up being totally unviable. But given the current situation I have nothing to lose from putting my time in to a design and getting some drawings produced for costings.

Given that it's also bike related it helps fill the void from not being able to ride the bike right now too.

[RazerSauber]

I don't know about other peoples garages but mine is quite small and provides access for large items to the garden. If we need to get something chunky through the garage to the back then the bikes come out. If there was a hoofing great big metal anchor on the floor it would present quite the trip hazard. Is it possible to have something that would be removable from the floor and maybe just leave a flat plate buried into the ground? Maybe a big screw thread? The bike would prevent the anchor being unscrewed while still being able to easily remove once the bike is no longer secured to it.

[airsafari87]

RazerSauber said:

I don't know about other peoples garages but mine is quite small and provides access for large items to the garden. If we need to get something chunky through the garage to the back then the bikes come out. If there was a hoofing great big metal anchor on the floor it would present quite the trip hazard. Is it possible to have something that would be removable from the floor and maybe just leave a flat plate buried into the ground? Maybe a big screw thread? The bike would prevent the anchor being unscrewed while still being able to easily remove once the bike is no longer secured to it.

That was a consideration I had already made. I am in a similar situation to you with regards to garage space by the sounds of it.

If I can make it pivot then I will, this will give greater flexibility for those who have rear paddock stands such as the Renntec Moovamoto one like I have.

[CoolHands]

Without wishing to be a misery I think it’s all been thought of before. Pragmasis have various items eg pins etc. I can’t see you’ll come up with anything better. Look at all the locks the lock picking lawyer overcomes, in the end there’s only so much you can do.

[S2r]

I seem to remember 'alarm mines' being a thing, and some could be filled with fluid (water, paint, vomit...) so that they spray the surrounding area / yobbo, perhaps that could be designed in some way that it doesn't cover your bike / you when you forget to turn it off.

Perhaps combined with one of these, might be useful..!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxBa5bQfTGc

[V8RX7]

I have mine locked to a ground anchor with an Oxford Monster Chain / lock

Inside my alarmed garage, I'm happy with the solution

Many of the dirt bike boys use the steel boot that encloses the rear wheel - I've always thought it was pointless, I'd simply cut through the alloy swingarm !

With your idea for the front wheel - similar applies - unbolt the forks or just smash the triple clamp

I presume most are stolen to break for parts - otherwise we're back to balaclavas and demanding keys or stringing ropes up across roads...

[Triaguar]

Regarding the attack with a grinder. I once did a job that needed high security. As part of the measures there were some metal bars 'tubed'now the interesting thing was that the bars had some other bars in the inside that were free floating the idea being that if attacked with a grinder they would just spin this defeating the grinding effect. Never seen this since. Might be an idea.

[V8RX7]

Triaguar said:

Regarding the attack with a grinder. I once did a job that needed high security. As part of the measures there were some metal bars 'tubed'now the interesting thing was that the bars had some other bars in the inside that were free floating the idea being that if attacked with a grinder they would just spin this defeating the grinding effect. Never seen this since. Might be an idea.

As a builder who has 12" grinder... you tend to find that the heat, sparks, sharp edges, pressure mean that such designs rarely slow you down much.

Lets face facts their are people pulling cash machines out of walls - you can only do so much

IIRC 90% of bikes stolen have NO security measures (at least that's what my insurer stated)

[Crudeoink]

I've recently got a Constands bike stand. I couldn't help but think... the big hole in the frame where the swing arm pivot goes....could you design a lock that grips into that 'tube' much like a bar end is held in place? In my case it would be about 2" thick so would take an awful lot of angle grinding to cut though. The anchor could be secured into the wall and a lock covering the screw to loosen the bar from the frame.


In response to your questions though. I used a ground anchor and a disk lock.
The disk lock is easy to apply. The ground anchor and chain however can be a PITA to put on because its close to the wall, so maneuvering the bike to be close enough to get the chain through the wheel, but not so close as to scratch my bar ends when the bike is lent over is annoying. I also worry about someone being able to use the ground to their advantage and break the chain with a hammer. Maybe something that can easily be mounted off the floor would be better?
The piece of security that gives me the most comfort however, is the car (automatic) parked in from of the garage door. A few of my neighbors don't have garages so as bad as it sounds....I know my bike is the hardest to steal in the area.

Edited by Crudeoink on Thursday 26th March 10:29

[airsafari87]

Triaguar said:

Regarding the attack with a grinder. I once did a job that needed high security. As part of the measures there were some metal bars 'tubed'now the interesting thing was that the bars had some other bars in the inside that were free floating the idea being that if attacked with a grinder they would just spin this defeating the grinding effect. Never seen this since. Might be an idea.

Interesting.
I have been rattling around some thoughts this morning of how to implement a lock mechanism in to the spindle. I haven't settled on anything yet but that does sound interesting.

To address some of the comments with regards the use of grinders etc …

We all know that any security device of any type can always be overcome by those determined enough to overcome it. I am not trying to come up with something that is unbeatable as I know that isn't achievable. What I am aiming for is something that will be a little more difficult to overcome than say cutting through a chain or a padlock. Yes it will still be open to grinder attacks, but they will have to fully cut the entire wheel `Basket' off before they can take the bike away. This will require sustained use of a grinder which is going to be extremely noisy and given that this will be a product used in residential area that alone should be enough to discourage the less determined thief.

As for the comments regarding cutting through swing arms and fork legs. Frankly, if they are willing to wreck a bike that much to take it away, they are welcome to it. Other than encasing the entire bike in concrete you just can not mitigate all eventualities.

[V8RX7]

airsafari87 said:

I have been rattling around some thoughts this morning of how to implement a lock mechanism in to the spindle.

Take a look at the Bulldog lock - they used to use it on everything they made - similar products exist elsewhere also called dogbone locks (I used to sell security in the 90's)