Locking Bicycles to Bed

I came to this thread looking for this exact comment. I just can’t believe I had to go all the way to post #11

 

Thanks for your input. for every additional person that will repeat to just never leave my bike - i have decided to leave my bike. What i'm asking for is advice on the best things to do when i do that. I understand the risks. Thanks again.

 

I think the d-ring bolt ideas are a total waste of time. Thieves are not going to fuck with those bolts, they are going to cut your chain or cable. Do the best you can to deter them and carry good insurance if the bikes are of high value.

PS: or do like I do and ride a vintage bike that is not worth much. My mountain bike is a 90's model Trek 970 that is awesome to ride but probably worth $200 bucks on a good day. If it gets stolen even with my security measures, I will just go buy me another one.

 

If you are worried about it getting stolen. Take it out of the truck and lock it to a bike rack, light pole, street sign, etc with a standard bike lock. Don’t forget to grab it before you drive off.

I’m an avid bicyclist and I think I’ve worried about this once and, you guessed it, it was locked that time.

In my entire life I’ve had one bicycle stolen and I don’t carry a lock unless I’m using the bike for transportation and have to leave it outside for extended periods.

 

I thought your solution was a rather good idea, with locking it to the reciever with a heavy duty lock with a heavy chain.

I recall instances of people driving through the front of bike shops to take bikes, and people being shot in the head for the bike they are riding.

I wouldn't leave a bike locked up outside. I wouldn't install a dash cam on my vehicle either.

 

Keyed lock bolts like someone said

 

I had the same issue, I went with Yakima, expensive, but a lot less than replacing my bikes, unfortunately I think if they really want them they’ll take them. The front loader has a cable to lock them, and the rack is locked to the rails

 

If you're just looking to throw a couple bikes in an open bed, use multiple locks (cable, chain, u-lock, etc) at differing locking points. Use both D rings and/or the rings near the cab. And if there are two bikes, lock them together with seperate U-locks. Even if they manage to cut the multiple cables and chains, and/or take the time to remove mounting hardware with tools, stealing multiple bikes locked together is much more awkward and difficult.

The best option (as others have mentioned) is to put them under a tonneau or topper so they aren't seen...but still locked up. Obviously that's an expensive option. Also installing a bed rack, roll bars, or headache rack to provide more secure points to lock to...again, a more expensive option.

At the end of the day, like anything you don't want stolen, you want to make it as difficult at possible by adding multiple layers of protection. If you find yourself thinking "man, this is a pain in the ass to secure all these locks to these bikes!" The theif will be thinking something similar when they consider stealing your shit.

 

A good lock or 2 will deter 90%+ of thieves. The times I've been ripped off have mostly when I have been lazy and neglected to, or done a poor job of securing my items. Add more d rings and secure to 2 spots. Don't overthink it.

 

For one bike, I’d go diamondback tonneau. Reasonable protection and completely out of sight.

for 2 or more you have to start thinking convenience and you lose the ability to stuff them easily into a locked bed. So hitch tray and cable lock to receiver. If you have fancy carbon fiber race wheels then maybe a second cable through the wheels.

Security is only reasonable if it’s convenient.

Insurance for the < 1% chance someone is motivated enough to take it and comes prepared to do so.

 

I would always choose chain over cables. Cables are not much more than a deterrent, IMO. Cable will deter crimes of opportunity, but cutting through a chain (even better if it's 3/8" Grade 70 transport chain) is enough to turn off most thieves. Easier to steal the truck!

 

Best to secure inside if possible .

 

I use these. But then again my bikes are a few hundred, not a few thousand. The allen heads are nearly impossible to get to when the bike is on and even if they got those loose you have to tilt it 90 degrees to get it out of the header rail.

 

I was in London a few years ago. bikes were chained to a railing 50 feet away. we had our backs turned for I kid you not 20 sec, and the bikes were gone. Police said, the bikes were gone and probably already repainted. They explained that the thieves in cities carry around 3 tools,

• bolt cutters for cable locks
• scissor jack for u-lock
• small thermos of LN2 for chains

It's been a few year so they are probably just picking locks now after watching the lock picking lawyer on youtube. I just use a small cable lock now to make it a little harder for people to just walk off with it. Aside from that, I don't leave my bike out in the open. It lives inside including in hotel rooms.

 

Remember that even if you secure your frame well over half the value of your bike is components. With an Allen wrench and side cutters a thief can remove a stem, bars, shifters in seconds. Other valuable components are also quickly removed. Good luck.

 

Nobody's stolen a thing from my truck since I invested $5 in a Sig Sauer sticker.

 

Fake Soiled look'n Diapers work also .

 

Buy an old bike, nobody appreciates anymore, a 30 dollar cable lock. Sleep soundly.

 

Locktite on the D-rings?

 

I was thinking about this the other day. In addition to taking the front wheel off, I'd take the seat off as well. Just have to mark the seat stem with a Sharpie so you can get the height correct.