Theft protection via Bluetooth: This lock smartly secures the bike

The iLockit GPS is a smart Bluetooth bike lock from Brandenburg, which should make it more difficult for thieves and make life easier for users. ntv.de has tried how well it works.

Around 280,000 bicycle thefts were reported in Germany last year, and the number of unreported cases is probably far higher. According to the ADFC, the clearance rate in 2018 was only 9.3 percent. So you can't have high hopes of getting a stolen bike back. Therefore it is advisable to secure a bicycle well. However, this is a bit tedious, especially at small stops, and quite a few cyclists trust their luck, for example, when making short purchases. The smart iLockit bicycle lock is particularly practical in such cases. It locks and opens on its own if desired and makes work difficult for long fingers even with GPS technology. ntv.de tried it.

Assembled quickly

Before you screw on the lock, you first have to charge the integrated battery and connect the lock to the smartphone via the iLockit app. The device itself is then quickly assembled, a German manual gives clear instructions. The lock is screwed to the frame struts of the rear wheel on the holes that are usually located there. All you need is the supplied adapter and Allen screws. In the test, it didn't take longer than 15 minutes. To ensure that the bike is compatible, the Brandenburg manufacturer offers an assembly check.

If the lock is on, you could actually start cycling, but you should change some settings in the clear app beforehand. Among other things, it can be determined that the lock closes or opens automatically when you get off the bike or approach it. The preset values ​​are chosen a little too generously.

Short distances for the automatic

Above all, you should set the distance to close as close as possible, so that you don't give even quick thieves a chance. If a long finger is just on the way, the lock does not close. As long as the bike is moving, this is excluded for safety reasons. A shorter distance is also recommended when approaching, otherwise the lock could open before you even see the bike, for example when it is around the corner.

The automatic worked perfectly in the test, but you don't have to rely on it. It is almost as easy to operate the lock via the app. And the manufacturer has also considered the case that the smartphone runs out of juice or cannot connect for other reasons. Because if necessary, the lock can also be opened with a color code that is entered using a key. Hold it longer to close it.

If a valve or anything else is in the way of the bracket, the lock will not close. However, this does not go unnoticed, in this case the user receives a warning on their smartphone. Spokes are usually not an obstacle to the slightly flexible lock.

Alarm and GPS tracking

So far so good. But what happens if a thief simply carries the bike away or removes the lock with brute force? Then a fairly loud alarm goes off, which can not only be heard far at night, because the lock reacts to vibrations. Here, too, you can adjust the sensitivity and the device is content with a slightly less noticeable pre-alarm before it really makes a mess. If you have deactivated the tones, the lock still sends a warning to the cell phone.

If you are close to Bluetooth, you can deactivate the alarm if everything is OK. If the bike is not moved any further, it switches off automatically after 30 seconds. Even if thieves are not deterred by the shrill alarm, not everything is lost. If someone is bothered by the bike, the GPS location of the iLockit is activated. If it then goes on an unwanted trip, you can track it in the app. For warning emails and localization, the iLockit GPS uses an integrated SIM card that communicates with the smartphone via a server in Great Britain.

It is better to charge the battery regularly

GPS tracking uses a lot of power, which is why the manufacturer recommends charging the battery regularly. However, you cannot remove it for this, but have to fill it up on your bike – if necessary with a power pack, if there is no socket nearby. Otherwise, the battery lasts up to seven months, according to iLockit.

In the test, the iLockit GPS was largely convincing, only a few Bluetooth problems, which made new connections necessary after breaks, were annoying at times. With a temporary stop or as additional protection in the bicycle cellar, the smart lock is a very useful helper. However, it costs around 200 euros, which is why it only makes sense to use high-quality bicycles. You can also buy the lock without GPS for 50 euros less or as a classic version for 100 euros if you can do without GPS location.

Either way, it is worth buying an optional chain (30 euros) or at least a cable (18 euros) to connect the bike to stands or lanterns. They open automatically with the iLockit. For the money you spend in total, you also get a very good conventional lock, for example one of the test winners from Stiftung Warentest.