What is BikeWatch?
BikeWatch is a new type bicycle security device. It is fixable under the bike seat and comes together with a cable lock and rear LED light. It’s built in waterproof, die-cast aluminum casing which gives extra protection against breaking off. The alarm is built not only to give a similar protection level as heavy chain locks do, but also to be easy to use and look good.
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Story
I and my friends are active cyclists who use bicycle every day to get from home to work or school. We have faced the same problem that many other cyclists have - light bicycle locks don’t guarantee the necessary safety, but large chains and U locks are too heavy and impractical to carry them with you every day. So it all ended for me not using locks at all, because I hate to carry heavy stuff in my backpack or keep the lock on my bike while riding.
After one of my bikes got stolen I started to search for alternatives and decided to stay with an alarm, because GPS solutions are expensive, easy to detect and I still need to carry a lock around. I ordered two different alarms, but upon receiving them I saw that they are ugly as hell and easy to break. I showed them to my friend who is an engineer and he said that he could make a better and safer alarm. And here you can see to what we have come after 5 months, 4 prototypes, long hours with designers and hard work.
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Alarm
The alarm function in BikeWatch device can be activated with iButton key. Just by pushing on iBotton reader with the key you can activate or deactivate the alarm. When the alarm is activated, it has three alert levels.
- At the first level, when the alert feels vibration, it beeps for once and goes in the waiting mode for 10 seconds. If there is no movement during these 10 seconds, it goes back in the vibration waiting mode.
- If there is another movement during the 10 second waiting mode, it goes into the second alert level and gives out a 3 second long warning sound.
- If there is the third movement during the waiting mode, it goes into the third alert mode and gives a 105 dB loud noise for as long as there is a movement and for 30 more seconds after the movement stops.
Cable lock
When the cable is plugged in the alarm, it is automatically fixed by the electronic lock. It is possible to unplug it only when the alarm is not activated, by pushing on and holding iButton reader for 3 seconds just with your finger, and the alarm releases the cable and you can pull it out. When the alarm is activated you cannot pull out the cable and if it is cut, then the alarm goes off at the maximum level for 10 minutes and then stays at the 3rd alert level until it is deactivated.
There are two BikeWatch models with cable:
- with regular 3.3 feet (~1m) long and 0.2 inches (~5mm) wide cable;
- with pull-in 6 feet (1.8 m) long and 0.06 inches (~1.5 mm) wide cable;
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Rear LED light
The device also has special design rear LED lights with optic fiber cables for better visibility. Lights can be turned on and switched between modes by shortly pushing on iButton reader with a finger.
Rear light has 4 modes:
Easy to install
Installation is fast and easy. Insert 9v battery, fix the device under your seat (fits poles from 27.2mm till 31.6mm) with 4 screws (screwdriver included) and you are ready to go. Inside, in front of each screw there is a sensor, and if someone tries to take off the device while the alarm is active, it goes off at full volume.
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Specifications
- Dimensions: length - 3,9 inches (100mm), width 3,54 inches - (90mm), height 1,57 inches (40mm)
- Weight: approx. 0.8 lb (360g) (version with pull in cable)
- Material: anodized aluminum
- Light source / brightness: High output LED / 50 000 mcd
- Battery: 9v battery
- Battery life: 24 hours on maximum brightness, on blinking mode about 350 hours (depending on LED light usage)
- Alarm loudness: 105 dB @ 11,8 inches (30 cm)
- Regular cable length: 3.3 feet (~1m)
- Regular cable diameter: 0.2 inches (~5mm)
- Pull-in cable length: 6 feet (1.8 m)
- Pull-in cable diameter: 0.06 inches (~1.5 mm)
- Water resistant (IP class 53)
- Patent pending
IndieGoGo Exclusive
Only for Indiegogo backers we offer an exclusive edition with green, blue and orange colors. All our products are anodized, but Indiegogo Exclusives have special colors and ID numbers from 1 – 299 and you won’t get these colors in retail.
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Rewards
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Risks and challenges
We have developed a working prototype which is really close to the manufacturing version and if there are any changes to come, we will make them only for better. Still there are some small manufacturing and other challenges we will need to overcome to get this product to you.
As we have managed to build a team of professionals who have designed and developed several products for manufacturing companies, we are able to predict and overcome any obstacles or challenges which naturally will happen during the product’s life cycle.
Component supplier delays
One of the largest risks why there might be delay with shipping is that sometimes component suppliers are late with their shipping dates. We have developed a trusted supplier network from whom we have bought components for prototypes, so we hope that there won’t be any problems.
Manufacturing
A lot of hardware manufacturing companies produce their products overseas and risk with quality. We want to have full control over the manufacturing process, so we will be doing assembling and testing ourselves. We have been testing all components for months to find the best for our alarm. In this way we can provide the highest quality to our product.
Questions? Comments?
E-mail me at: info@bikewatch.eu
Thank you for reading and support. Don't forget to tell your friends about this amazing project and help us to reach our goal!
FAQ
Do I need to bring a separate lock for the wheels?
Depends on which BikeWatch device you are using. If you’re using only the „BikeWatch” alarm, then a separate lock would be recommended, but if you are using „BikeWatch with regular cable” then lock for front wheel is recommended. If you have BikeWatch with pull-in cable then you don’t need a separate lock because cable is 6 feet long and goes through both wheels.
How tough is the cable? Can I snip it in 10 seconds or less?
Cable can be cut with 3 feet long cutters but then the alarm will go off on maximum volume. Cables’ main function is not to allow thieve to just grab your bike while you run in a coffee shop or the mall.
If the thief loosened the fixing bolts at top and bottom of the seat post he /she would be away with the rest.
You can change fixing bolt for special screw which will be included in every BikeWatch box.
