Is my expensive bicycle safer under a tonneau or a camper shell?

Removing the front wheel is always a good idea because some thieves steal a bike to actually ride it. If it doesn't have a front wheel it just looks like a bunch of parts. This being said I would never leave my Seven Ti road bike anywhere, it's full custom and took too long to get.

 

a shell offers more than a tonneau

covered reduces temptation .......not every thief will know the value
its FREE to them anyways

lock wheels & bike...................iv got aerospoke carbon fiber wheels
while mine isnt 5k..........it IS 4k!!

 

Just stand a bit further back when spraying. At 10 feet away the water won't be powerful enough to hurt anything. They also make portable low power pressure washers.

 

I’d probably go with one of those hinged tonneau’s or a diamondback or one of those aluminum commercial toppers without windows. Probably gonna be a struggle to fit a bike under a tonneau without partial disassembly. You could also drill a couple holes in the bed and run a chain or cable through it and lock it to the frame. Probably be easiest to just wheel it inside.

 

Not being a smartass, but since this is a $5k bike that has to live outside, maybe check for insurance,,,, of course in addition to securing.

 

If you're traveling alot, maybe look into one of those cases/boxes that your bike can break down into? They're meant to pack away so you can check your bike onto a plane so it's got lots of padding and whatnot. I think all you do is take the wheels off. Loosen your stem to fold the bars parallel with the frame, and jam it in there, Velcro it down, and it looks like you just have a big piece of luggage walking into the hotel.

Like this

$600 CyclingDeal Bike Travel Case - 700c Bikes - Bicycle Air Flights Travel Hard Case Box Bag EVA Material Lightweight & Durable with TSA Lock - Great for Road Bike -Transport Equipment Pro

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WJZ2XLD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_i9reFbQXCRQ07

 

Can I get some details on that topper? Looking to possibly change from tonneau to a cap and just need side storage and a rear window like yours (assuming a rear window can be configured)

 

The bike is really only safe inside the room with you.
Thieves don’t care how how much they wreck your cap, or tonneau cover breaking into it. As @Chew said, we all tend to self-profile with certain accessories and stickers, etc.
Oh, and this...
affordable, ultra portable and can pretty much deconstruct anything your lock is attached to.
ps. N+1

 

I had my daughters downhill bike in the back of my truck locked inside my Leer Canopy driving home after racing at Sea Otter in California.
I was parked right out front the main entrance to the Holiday Inn in Eugene, Oregon and they still busted in, cut the lock and stole the bike. It was a well lit area in the open and they still didn't care.
Don't have any stickers on your canopy that identifies you as a biker, big tip off to thieves. The thieves will know what a bike bag is as well.
I do like the suggestions to back up tight to a concrete wall so they can't open your tailgate or canopy.

 

Bike bag or rolling case and don't ask permission.

 

Get something like this without windows. Gonna be your best bet if it has to stay in the truck

https://www.rlddesignusa.com/p/toyota/tacoma/tacoma-truck-cap-canopy/

 

A cable lock is worthless for security, except to keep honest people honest. It will only slow a determined thief a few seconds. Snip! If you must leave it in the truck I like the suggestion to take the wheels off and bring them inside, or put them in the cab. Lock the frame using a thick steel chain. Not impenetrable, but it will slow a thief down more and they'll make some noise trying to cut it with a grinder. Covering it with blankets will also help.

Personally I'd take the wheels off it and lock it in the back seat of the cab. My bike used to fit perfectly, upright on the floor behind the front seats on my Gen1. Blanket over top to hide it, and locked with said chain if parked in a sketchy location for any length of time. Haven't tried that in my new truck as the bike is getting old enough I don't care anymore.

Best suggestion is don't stay in a hotel. Go camping instead. I've never had an issue with theft in a campsite. And, you're sleeping near enough you'll hear any attempt to take it. Save money, too. Win/win.

 

Use a shell and lock the tailgate so they have a hell of a time trying to get it out. Otherwise use the side door to the hotel if possible and sneak it in

 

I was thinking a cable lock like this?

https://www.mcmaster.com/8942T14/

Also, if its under a canopy that nobody can see it, because no windows on canopy, how would thief know its in their to steal it?

 

I bike/travel with my wife too. She is a badass mountain biker. But she likes hotels and won't camp. So I need to secure the bikes in the truck..

 

I had a bike stolen that was locked with a much thicker cable than that. Unfortunately, even thick cables are easily cut. I have a couple of these - expensive but much harder to cut. You are right about out of sight being safest. A thief can't steal a bike that they don't know is there. Unless they break in anyways and happen to see it. That's where the big ass chain comes in.

If you must stay in the hotel, I'd be sneaking the bike inside. In pieces, if need be. Wheels first, then frame wrapped in a blanket. If it's dirty then throw a tarp down on the floor to keep things clean.

 

As someone who lives in an apartment with a secure parking garage + secure bike storage inside the parking garage and knows how many times bikes have been stolen out of there: there is no lock in existence that will stop someone stealing a bike that's looking to steal a bike. Doesn't matter how populated or well-lit the area is, some of those dudes will get through the toughest of bike locks in less than a minute with a cutting wheel and be gone before anyone even realizes what happened. One lady even had the highest quality lock setup she could possibly find plus some kind of motion alarm on the lock and that fucker still got stolen without hesitation.

So if you're truly in a situation that you can't bring it inside with you, a secure tonneau like Diamondback SE (I feel like I'm shilling since I just wrote in the other tonneau cover thread) would make me feel best about that situation. Completely unassuming looking and about the best lock system you can find for a cover. It's the only reason I don't stress much about leaving my golf clubs in the back of my truck in the middle of Seattle.

Sucks having to break the bike down every time you store it, but as someone who also enjoys expensive bicycles, I'd go through the hassle just for the peace of mind.

 

Thanks for the opinion. It is really a question of a shell vs. a diamondback.

So if I get a cap, with no windows and no rear glass, how would that differ from the diamondback SE in regards to the thief knowing that the bike is in there.

 

Please listen. If you don't want your shit stolen, best bet is take it to the room. If the place doesn't like it, find a new place. I have pushed my muddy mtn bike across many of marbled foyers of nice hotels and they didn't bat an eye.
If you insist on staying at B&B places then get a cover and never open it so no one can see what's under it.
You came here asking a question yet you want to argue. Good luck and an electric mtn bike is not worth the effort. Lol nobody is going to steal a 55 lb mtn bike!

 

Side question,
How are electric bikes? Always thought (like many out there) that e-bikes were for out of shape people that wants to ride a bike without actually having to ride a bike. Guess there are different levels to e-bikes. Is it worth the extra $?

I would get a bike bag and just take it inside along w your other luggage. I’m sure maybe 1 out of every 20 Hotel workers would recognize what that bag is for and they may or may not say anything about it. Or enter through side door.

thanks and good luck!