Own a bicycle in any American city long enough, and it’s going to happen:
Some deadbeat will forcibly remove one or more of its constituent parts and make off with them.
And then you will be sad.
But those days could be coming to an end thanks to a new line of bikes by VanMoof that are virtually unstealable.
Available in three- and eight-speed models, the keyless SmartBike has an onboard GSM tracking system that VanMoof’s Peace of Mind Service will monitor for free and use to assist the police with tracking down the bike if it ever gets stolen. The Bluetooth-enable bike also connects to your cellphone via an app that enables you to track it (even inside a building) and to unlock the cycle’s heavy-duty chain lock with the touch of a finger.
As added security, the Dutch bike manufacturer equipped the bike with wheels with anti-theft nuts and a seatpost and seatpost clamp with anti-theft screws that require a special tool to adjust.
The best part? If by some miracle the bike goes, and stays, missing for two weeks or longer, VanMoof will sell SmartBike owners a new one for a fraction of the original cost.
“We believe riders have shouldered the burden of bike theft for long enough,” says VanMoof cofounder Taco Carlier “We’re committed to solving major problems like bike theft — and to encouraging more urban commuters to swap four wheels for two.”
The company is taking preorders for the models at discounted rates ($1,098-$1,498), but the prices will jump substantially once the bikes start shipping in the fall.
As of now, they’re still a steal.
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