3 ms·

What's to stop someone from just taking the wheel when it's locked? Or removing the wheel and taking the rest of the bike?

by soperj 13y ago

kevinastone 13y ago
Their "Find my iPhone" style tracking and alerting presumably.
- mparlane 13y ago
  Via bluetooth? I think not...
- kamjam 13y ago
  But the iPhone (normally) has a 3G/4G data connection.
technotony 13y ago
Nothing... you'd still want to lock this up to something. And at $600 for just the wheel that's increasing your chance of it being stolen as well, bikes get stolen far too often.
r-s 13y ago
It looks like this wheel is using a standard quick release. If that's the case it would be fairly easy to take out. Couple of options though: - When locking the bike, run the lock through the wheel. Yes, someone could still cut the spokes and steal the main hub, but this is going to take q fair amount of effort. - Have a bolt on version, lots of older bikes, or bikes which use a horizontal dropout design already have this. Typically they use 15mm wrenches, but there are some alternative sizes (some even use hex keys). Looks like a pretty cool concept. I personally would prefer a model which only gained energy from the rider when coasting down hills or braking, then could release the energy at the riders discretion. Plugging a bike into an external power source isn't something that interests me.
- StavrosK 13y ago
  > I personally would prefer a model which only gained energy from the rider when coasting down hills or braking But then you gain nothing, on average.
  - darkmighty 13y ago
    Of course you gain, since that energy would otherwise be wasted as heat.
  - anthonyb 13y ago
    You would lose going downhill (when you don't need it) and gain going uphill (when you do). Seems sensible to me.
- FlyKly 13y ago
  The quick release in the video and the photos is used only for demonstrational purposes in the prototype phase. The final product will come with anti-theft screws that can only be used with a custom made wrench. Of course the features of locking the motor and tracking the Smart Wheel via GPS are still helpfull in case someone still decides to steal it.

What's to stop someone from just taking the wheel when it's locked? Or removing the wheel and taking the rest of the bike?

by soperj 13y ago

What's to stop someone from just taking the wheel when it's locked? Or removing the wheel and taking the rest of the bike?

kevinastone 13y ago

Their "Find my iPhone" style tracking and alerting presumably.

mparlane 13y ago
Via bluetooth? I think not...
kamjam 13y ago
But the iPhone (normally) has a 3G/4G data connection.

technotony 13y ago

Nothing... you'd still want to lock this up to something. And at $600 for just the wheel that's increasing your chance of it being stolen as well, bikes get stolen far too often.

r-s 13y ago

It looks like this wheel is using a standard quick release. If that's the case it would be fairly easy to take out. Couple of options though: - When locking the bike, run the lock through the wheel. Yes, someone could still cut the spokes and steal the main hub, but this is going to take q fair amount of effort. - Have a bolt on version, lots of older bikes, or bikes which use a horizontal dropout design already have this. Typically they use 15mm wrenches, but there are some alternative sizes (some even use hex keys). Looks like a pretty cool concept. I personally would prefer a model which only gained energy from the rider when coasting down hills or braking, then could release the energy at the riders discretion. Plugging a bike into an external power source isn't something that interests me.

StavrosK 13y ago
> I personally would prefer a model which only gained energy from the rider when coasting down hills or braking But then you gain nothing, on average.
- darkmighty 13y ago
  Of course you gain, since that energy would otherwise be wasted as heat.
- anthonyb 13y ago
  You would lose going downhill (when you don't need it) and gain going uphill (when you do). Seems sensible to me.
FlyKly 13y ago
The quick release in the video and the photos is used only for demonstrational purposes in the prototype phase. The final product will come with anti-theft screws that can only be used with a custom made wrench. Of course the features of locking the motor and tracking the Smart Wheel via GPS are still helpfull in case someone still decides to steal it.