Bicycle alarm appeared a second time. If not for the large number of hijackers, it would not be needed. Until now, in the villages, cases of bicycle thefts are the work of “guest performers”.

The problem of stealing any vehicle is very acute in our country, where you can sell stolen goods from your hands in Kaliningrad, and find a car, for example, in Vladivostok.

With bicycles, it’s quite simple: you don’t need to interrupt the numbers, repainted the frame and that’s it. As a last resort, I threw out the “baubles” of the previous owner, which made the bike too recognizable.

Here, for example, is a Novosibirsk car of one good man. Not only is it equipped with a two-stroke Comet engine, but the whole machine also bears the imprint of design in a mixture of rockabilly and steampunk. A thief needs to strip everything, depersonalize it, and then sell it. Therefore, such machines are looked at in advance.

There is a heartbreaking site for finding stolen bikes: lostbike.ru

Since every fifth, if not tenth, bike gets on its pages, the statistics are more than depressing. Here are typical situations: “The bike is practically new. They took me away from the stairwell, biting the cable. “Two guys cut the cable and drove off towards the outskirts.” “Stolen along with the chain. A piece of chain was left at the porch at work. The police did nothing. It has been poisoning the soul for the third month already ”…

The situation is aggravated by the imperfection of the legislation. Even car thieves during the investigation declare that there was no thought of stealing, that is, forcibly appropriating someone else's property. Like, they would ride and put in place. And to prove that it was the theft that was planned is almost impossible. It’s even easier with bicycles: I would bite the chain, ride it and put it in place. Only when theft is legally equated with theft, then the bike thieves will think about whether or not to take someone else's.

Simple rules that make life difficult for a hijacker

• The simplest and most effective rule is not to leave the bike unattended;
• In the event that there is code lock, chain and padlock and so on, you can take your eyes off the bike, about 40-60 seconds. Then it is advisable to leave the queue at the pharmacy and take a look at the porch and the bike.
• It should be before you drive up and, dismounting, leave the bike, put the shifters on the largest driven and smallest leading sprocket. In this case, the attacker will be forced to drive very slowly until he figure out how to switch. And these are seconds, the opportunity to attract attention, the threat of a fall. Anything is better than the quiet disappearance of a thief with a bike.
• Remove everything “beautiful and expensive” from the bike - a rare copper horn, audio speakers, a beautiful rear-view mirror. Come back - you won't find it.
• Never fasten the bike by the wheel. Remember that the frame and front fork are the most expensive parts, just like the car body.
• Experienced Tip - Repaint your bike in a poisonous fluorescent color or a zebra in the most teary shades. Most likely, they will not be associated with this.

What can a bike alarm do?

• The bicycle alarm can give an audible signal when the vibration sensor is triggered at the level of the pain threshold, up to 120 dB.
• The setting allows you to ignore vibration that lasts shorter than a certain time, for example 2 seconds. This time is enough not to disturb the owner during the passage of the tram next to the parking lot.
• The bicycle alarm with feedback not only “beeps” very loudly itself, but also sends an alarm signal to the remote control.

Therefore, if you see an alarm with feedback on sale, then this means that you will have, like a car owner, a device with a remote control or a key fob.

The alarm system and the bicycle anti-theft lock have been combined. So there were locks with alarms.

The advantage of this device is that a loud and unpleasant sound signal is given not only when an intruder opens the lock, but also when trying to get by with “little blood”, i.e. when the cable is bitten or at the slightest vibration. This greatly increases the owner's chances of responding.

The device runs on 3 batteries. In addition, if desired, the alarm can be turned off and the device can be used as a simple lock.

The second option with an alarm is a rigid frame type made of hardened steel. At a price of about 2.5 - 3 thousand rubles, hardened steel perfectly resists both the hacksaw blade and double-lever bolt cutters.

What can smart bike lock do

In connection with the development of cellular telephone communications and GPS navigation, it would be surprising if sooner or later these innovations did not begin to help not only motorists, but also bicycle owners.

One such example of the use of communication in bicycle alarms is the “intelligent” lock 8, which entered the market about a year ago, in May 2014.

Its distinctive properties are:

• Electronic locking is controlled through a special application on a smartphone.
• Data exchange is carried out via a wireless Bluetooth connection.
• It is possible to send a copy of the electronic key to those people who are trusted by the owner of the bike.
• The lock is equipped with a mobile communication module and a GPS receiver in case of theft.
• It is important that the blocker does not have batteries, but is recharged while driving. This means the energy independence of the device.

Read more about this wonderful castle here:

By the way, this castle also has a “miracle price”: about 8,500 rubles without delivery in Russia.

The second pure GPS tracking device option is the Spy Bike GPS Tracker.

This alarm does its job quietly and imperceptibly. It hides in the steering sleeve and is activated via SMS. The vibration sensor sends an SMS about the theft to the owner's phone. The job of this hub is to send coordinates from the processor, which can be fed to the owner's cell phone in the form of local coordinates with a certain time interval, which can be represented as a trajectory.

Naturally, this requires a SIM card. The device runs on batteries for several months. In the SMS coming from the device, the battery level is shown.

A wonderful thriller with a happy ending about the use of this device is shown below.

What are the "cons" of an anti-theft alarm?

High current consumed by devices in "standby mode", which is explained by the power supply of motion sensors, position gyro sensor and other devices. Typically, this current is 0.7 milliamps per hour. Considering the battery capacity of 0.5 A \ hour, it can be understood that the average life is about 1 month.

And so the following situation is possible: forgetting to change the power source in a month, you are horrified to see that there is no bicycle, and the device “did not work”. The need for frequent battery replacement imposes certain restrictions on the convenience of using an alarm with an autonomous power source.

In addition, the alarm itself sounds for 15 seconds to save energy. Sometimes she falls silent at the most inopportune moment, for example, when she “shouts out” in deserted garages and the thief drives out in silence to a crowded place. While the next 15 seconds pass, a lot can happen.

In order to make a bicycle alarm with your own hands, it is not at all necessary to have knowledge in radio engineering.

To do this, it is enough to purchase a wireless bell for the front door and rearrange the contact a little so that it works for “opening”.

After that, you can mount it in the end of the steering grip and, having changed the bell to "howler", use it calmly. To do this, you need to press the button and, in the pressed state, rest the steering wheel against a tree, for example. Now, when you try to move the steering wheel away from the support, you will hear a beep.

Of course, do-it-yourself alarms are more vulnerable than industrial ones. What if it doesn't work, or the water gets wet. Trust professionals!

Of course, it is best to combine GPS control, a lock with an audible alarm and a powerful chain.

And in conclusion, you can watch a good excerpt from Galileo about bicycle locks.

Any bicycle anti-theft alarm is unlikely to stop the kidnapper, but it can strain his nerves and maybe even scare him away. The presence of a protective circuit does not eliminate the need to securely fasten the bike with a steel chain or a quality lock, and not with a Chinese tufted cable.

This alarm for a bicycle will work if you change its position, or if you touch it. The alarm sound signal lasts 30 seconds, and after a few seconds, it repeats and so on until the bike alarm is turned off.

The bicycle alarm consists of three main components: a vibration sensor, a siren activation delay timer, and an alarm sound generator.

The vibration sensor is a rather long and flexible spring, one end of which is soldered to a piece of double-sided fiberglass. Then carefully solder this piece perpendicular to the printed circuit board from the back. We pass the second end of the spring through a tinned washer, which also needs to be soldered to the printed circuit board. That is, at the moment of a slight push, the spring closes on the washer, and then opens, which will create a drop on the inverters DD1.1 and DD1.2.

The generated pulse will start a single shot on the logic elements DD2.3 and DD2.4, which implements a 30 second delay. This delay can be changed by changing the resistance R7 and the capacitance of the capacitor C6.

Elements R4 and C3 set a time delay after turning on the device to calm the vibration sensor.

The source of the alarm signal is a piezo emitter. Rectangular pulses to the piezo head come from the Schmitt trigger made on the element DD1.4. Its frequency is set by the capacitance C7 and the resistances R8, R9. To achieve the maximum sound signal, this oscillator frequency coincides with the resonant frequency of the piezo head. To make the sound signal more noticeable, it is replaced by a low frequency signal created by the second multivibrator.

Try not to leave your iron horse unattended.

In the scheme bicycle alarm almost any number of normally open switches can be used. Set them so that they close when the handlebar changes position or the bike frame moves out of place. Use microswitches to protect removable components and other easily removable parts. If at least one microswitch is closed, the siren will yell. Two minutes after the switch contacts become open, the alarm will stop. The sounding time of the siren is selected by the value of the capacitance of the capacitor C1.

The circuit board and switches must be protected from moisture or condensation, which may cause false operation of the circuit. Without its sensors, the board is quite compact.

When the bicycle alarm siren, the circuit consumes almost no electric current. Thus, the presented scheme allows you to independently assemble a fairly simple and reliable alarm system for a motorcycle, which has a certain versatility. I powered the circuit from a 12 volt power bank. The main disadvantage of this bike alarm scheme is that if the robber knows about it, he only needs to disconnect the battery.

A good protection option can be purchased in Chinese online stores for only 300 rubles. The size of this device is a pack of cigarettes, and it yells so loudly that it immediately lays its ears.

The device is controlled via a radio channel, with a frequency of 433 MHz, from a remote control with two buttons. The range of the control panel is 30-50 meters. The receiver is a conventional super-regenerator. Then the signal is decoded and controls the operation of the siren on the piezo emitter.

The piezo emitter is used in the bicycle alarm circuit and as a shock sensor. Even the weakest pulse from it, getting to the operational amplifier, is amplified and fed through a step-up transformer to the siren. The circuit is powered by a single 9 volt battery.

If you still have your bike stolen, then you have a small, but still chance to find it, for this I propose to assemble a small radio transmitter that can be tracked using a conventional FM radio receiver. The tracker can be powered by a 1.5-volt battery and has a range of about 0.5 km. This radio tracker must be placed hidden on a bicycle and in case of its theft, just ride around and search with a conventional radio. Since stolen bikes tend to settle in some place, an example in a forest area not far from the city.

The current consumed by this device is only 3.7 mA, so the AA batteries last for a week of continuous operation. It is better to exclude the LED from the circuit so that it does not attract the attention of a thief, although it can be left at the debugging stage. Because when you see his quick flashes. You need to tune the FM radio and find the clicks of the transmitter. The antenna can be a piece of flexible wire 25 cm long, imperceptibly wound around brake cables or hydraulic lines.

To increase safety when riding a bicycle, it is recommended to equip it with an audible alarm. The structure of the electronic call circuit includes an AF generator, a power amplifier and a dynamic head. Using an electronic bell is much more convenient and better than a classic mechanical one.

Another common signaling option from China. Let's see what it is

The box is similar to the previous review


It contains an alarm unit, bolts, instructions


Similar design, battery-powered crown


The block cover is blocked by the bicycle tube

Instruction

Features of this device:
1. there is a 4-digit numeric code that the user can unlock.

2. There is a choice of high - medium - low sensitivity.

3. Safety and sensitivity adjustment.

4. Consumption following

Standby 62 uA
In operation 65uA
when triggered 80mA

Usage:
The default unlock code is "ABCA".
To change the code:
When the device is not working:
press and hold "A" 3 seconds, and you will hear a short "Di" sound, enter the old code, you will hear "DiDiDi" sound if correct. Then you must enter a new 4-digit code no later than 5 seconds, you will hear a "DiDiDi" sound if successful. If you enter the wrong old code or don't change the code, you will hear a long "Di" sound. Then you must repeat the process.
To reset the code, remove the battery for 30 seconds, the code will automatically reset to default.

By default, the sensitivity is set to Medium.

Sensitivity change:
When the device is not working, press "C" and hold until you hear a sound (in right moment release button)
Di = High sensitivity
DiDi = Average
DiDiDi = Low

Turning on the alarm:
Hold "B" for 3 seconds until the sound "Di". After 5 seconds, the device starts working.
Turn off the alarm: Enter your 4-digit code, hear "DiDiDi" - correct. If the wrong code is entered, you will hear a long "Di" sound

Important
The buttons are blocked for 3 minutes if the wrong code is entered 4 times.

When triggered, the alarm will sound 5 times, and if triggered again within 5 seconds, it will sound for 15 seconds continuously.

In my opinion, the crown is an unsuccessful power option. You can remake the power of the device as in the previous review.

I plan to buy +6 Add to favorites Liked the review +7 +20

Read about bicycle alarms and anti-theft devices. Choose the most effective option for protecting your bike.

Bicycle alarm. Types and selection criteria

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Various means are used to counter bicycle theft. The least expensive are the locks that fasten vehicle with fixed support. This method of preserving a bicycle left unattended is not effective, since it is not difficult for an experienced attacker to destroy the locking mechanism. Effective protective devices include various alarms that allow you to record an attempted theft and notify not only the owner of the bicycle transport, but also passers-by who have become unwitting witnesses to the incident.

To increase the safety of the bike, you need to use several types of anti-theft
means, for example, to combine the lock with an audible warning device. The use of equipment with a different principle of operation greatly complicates the task of a potential hijacker, forcing him to abandon his malicious intentions or scaring him away with the possibility of being caught at the crime scene. There are several types of anti-theft mechanisms and devices that differ in efficiency and ease of use. Traditionally, they are divided into two groups - locks and electronic systems.

Types of locks

Despite their simplicity, locks to protect a bicycle from theft can have different design, which determines the breadth of their application and methods of protection. There are blocking action locks and chain-type locking devices. Individual models of each group are characterized by the materials used, which greatly affect the reliability of the device. The main types of locks are listed below.

• U-shaped anti-theft lock. It has the shape of the English letter "U". Thanks to its design, it can be used as a wheel lock, connecting them to the bicycle frame, and as a fastening mechanism to a fixed support, blocking the movement of the vehicle. The device has a reliable lock design and is equipped with a protective cover against moisture and dust. The staple is made of hardened metal alloys, which greatly reduces the likelihood of overbiting or sawing. The lock has practically one drawback - a decent weight due to its properties, which reduces the convenience of its use;

• Rope lock. The most popular design with a light weight and featuring easy use. It also has a low cost. The disadvantage is the extremely low reliability, since the cable easily bites and breaks out of the lock.

• The lock is a wheel lock. Puts on on a wheel and a rim, blocking rotation. It is light weight, easy to use. Does not protect against bike theft by carrying it in your hands.

Electronic protection systems

Devices of this type are classified according to several criteria. One of the groupings is the division of signaling by design. The main groups are as follows:

• Anti-theft protection means attached to the bicycle frame. They can be equipped with a remote control, which significantly expands the range of the warning system, notifying the owner of theft at a great distance from the bike. Plus, you can not be afraid to miss an alarm in a noisy place. Devices without key fobs are less functional and efficient.

• Combination locks equipped with a combination mechanism and a cable, as well as an audible warning system. Such devices provide an increased degree of security due to a double watchdog mechanism. The bicycle is fastened to a fixed support, which excludes its theft without first destroying the lock or cable, and the alarm system gives an alarm signal using a siren or to the control panel.

According to the method of notification, electronic anti-theft systems are divided into the following types:

• Sirens that make loud noises to scare away thieves. Such alarms are designed in such a way that when they are dismantled, the sound signals are amplified, unnerving both intruders and passers-by. The disadvantage of such protections is the impossibility of a significant removal of the owner from the abandoned bike. You can simply not hear the sound of a triggered siren at a great distance from the source;

• Sirens equipped with remote controls. They work on the same principle as conventional sirens, but can be activated and deactivated from a distance. The owner does not need to approach the bike when the protection is falsely triggered. It is enough to turn off the siren using the remote control.

• Code blocker. Does not allow unlocking the safety lock until the secret combination of symbols is entered. It must be installed with sound alert devices, especially for expensive bicycle models. Allows you to create an effective anti-theft mechanism.

Pros and cons of locks and alarm systems

Installing an anti-theft lock on a bicycle can only reduce the likelihood of vehicle theft. If it is hacked, the owner can detect the loss only after a considerable time after the abduction, which will greatly complicate the search activities. On the other hand, the lock does not require
large investments of money, and in the case of an inexpensive bike, its use will be most justified.

Alarm systems equipped with a control panel allow you to fine-tune the alarm signal. You can postpone the response time for a certain interval, getting rid of the alarm siren in case of vibrations of the earth's surface from passing vehicles. Controlling the siren from a distance eliminates the need to constantly be near the bike. The disadvantage of electronic protection devices is the need to use portable sources of electrical energy - batteries or accumulators. This both increases the cost of using the alarm, and leads to the need for constant monitoring of the charge level of power sources.

Criteria for selecting anti-theft systems for bicycles

When choosing means of protection against theft, you need to be guided by several criteria: price, functionality and reliability. The most effective protection option is an alarm with a remote control, but this option is also the most expensive. A manual combination lock provides an average degree of protection, this option should be considered for bikes in the middle price range. Simple locks can only be used for bicycles that are of low cost and value to the owner.

An important criterion when buying a good alarm is its manufacturer. One of the well-established names in the bicycle anti-theft market is Abus, a company that produces high-quality locks. Bike-Guard alarms are installed on most protective equipment. Models of this manufacturer have a fairly large radius of action.

For a long time, many vehicle owners have realized that an alarm is an excellent anti-theft tool. It is also installed on the bike. High-quality technologies provide protection from an intruder, not only preventing the theft of property, but also attracting the attention of others.

Types

There are several categories of electronic systems. One of them is a siren. She is able to attract maximum attention from passing people. A beep at high volume will scare away the thief. If an intruder tries to remove or disable it, the sound will only increase.

An equally popular method of protection is a special system with a control panel. It works like the previous one. The difference lies in the fact that you can turn off or turn on the sound signal at a distance only using the remote control.

A smart bike alarm is one that has a code blocker. How does this system work? It fixes the lock until the owner enters the correct combination of characters.

Bicycle alarm with feedback is no less popular. It will not only scare away the intruder with a loud long alarm, but will also send information about this to a special reception panel.

Those people who have purchased an expensive vehicle and are afraid for its safety should install several alarms at once. Then the attacker will prefer to bypass the bike, otherwise it will take a long time to mess around, and not the fact that it is successful.

What opportunities does a bicycle alarm with a remote control open?

How does this type of protection scare off an intruder? During extra fuss next to him, the bike starts to make a loud noise, the threshold of which is 120 dB. It should be noted that this sound signal for the ears is considered painful.

Thanks to special settings, you can slow down the alarm. This is done so that the bike does not start to "scream" with the vibration that appears due to a passing car. Accordingly, the owner will not often have to come to the parking place in the event of a false alarm. This alarm not only works with a loud sound. It is also capable of sending alerts to the control panel. If a person always uses it and keeps it close, he will quickly be able to understand when his vehicle needs protection.

Bicycle GPS device

An excellent alarm for a bicycle with a key fob is one that is able to determine the location. She hides in the steering column. Has the shape of a flask. Significantly saves battery charge, as it works only while driving. When a bike is stolen, it can be easily found via satellite, and because of high level secrecy, the offender will not guess anything.

smart lock

On the this moment smartphones are quite popular. There is also no need to talk about the wide demand for GPS navigation services - everyone knows about it. When combining two technical means- phone and module - you can easily monitor your vehicle. Previously, such systems worked only for cars, but now they are also used by cyclists.

The Lock 8 lock is a perfect example of this. It hit the market in the spring of 2014. High quality lock. By the way, this model is constantly being improved.

What are the advantages of this system? So, you can easily control the alarm blocking through the software on your phone. This is the most convenient. The data is not transmitted via the Internet, but via the Bluetooth module. This is an additional advantage, but the distance between the bike and the phone should be small. The last remark, of course, is a significant minus, although for many it is not particularly critical. The key can be transferred to the smartphone of any person if you need to transfer the vehicle to someone else. In case of theft, this lock will be able to determine its location - it has a built-in navigation system and a communication module. The blocker does not have batteries.

Disadvantages of anti-theft alarm

A bicycle alarm lock has its drawbacks. What? First you need to notice that a lot of energy is consumed in standby mode. Why? Because the sensors are constantly in working condition and consume all the "fuel" they need. Therefore, bike owners who actively use the vehicle will have to constantly spend money on batteries. If the alarm has a battery saving mode, then its noise signal will sound for no more than 30 seconds. It should be noted that the reviews of the owners about this moment are extremely negative. Often she falls silent at the most inopportune moment.

Also, the environment significantly affects the operation of the system. It is primarily about humidity and air temperature.

How to make a bike alarm with your own hands?

You do not need to have outstanding knowledge and achievements in the field of radio engineering to create such a device for your vehicle on your own. You just need to have basic skills and understanding of the structure of the system. What should be used? A regular wireless doorbell will do. It should function in open mode, for this you will have to tinker a little with the correct arrangement of wires.

A similar system can be installed in the end surface of the steering wheel. If you want to improve the received version, you should replace the standard ringtone with a more powerful one. This alarm will work if the steering wheel rests on a hard surface. As soon as the bike is moved, an audible alert will immediately sound.

Of course, you need to understand that such a system is imperfect and needs to be improved. It is best to prefer factory options that were created by professionals. Their main difference is powerful and loud sound effects.

Finally

If you want to buy for yourself the best model of an alarm device that will delight you with its combination of price and quality, you need to consider expensive options. They guarantee high-quality protection against theft.

How much will the device cost? The minimum cost is 300 rubles. If the owner is really worried about his vehicle, then you will have to pay more than 1 thousand. Then you don’t have to worry about the safety of your device.

If we talk about the capabilities of systems, then you need to choose the most practical options, based on your own interests. The main advantage is the control panel, which comes with some models. Thanks to such programming, it is possible at any time to draw attention to the situation with the theft of someone else's property. In addition, using the remote control, you can adjust the sound range. Sometimes its high frequencies can cause discomfort and harm to the health of not only the attacker, but also people who are nearby.