Hi,
We will be arriving in Zurich in 2 months and was thinking of purchasing a new electric bike (folding one perhaps?) to bring along for leisure cycling with the kids and for grocery runs. Having read some of the threads on this forum regarding bikes being stolen, I'm wondering now if that is a good idea. Decathlon London is selling e bikes for about £600 or I can get a leisure bike for about £200
Can anyone who has bikes, especially ebikes, advise:
1. Is it a good idea to buy a brand new ebike/regular bike to bring over to Zurich or is it better to buy it across the border in Germany to save on shipping costs?
2. Is ebike a common and do you reckon it will attract more attention and make it a target for thieves?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Everyone (almost!) is riding electro bikes here. I think no more risk of being stolen as an ordinary bike. They have a fairly good locking mechanism. You can always extra secure it with another lock to something solid, if you intend parking it somewhere for a length of time - like a train station.
I think they are relatively affordable here at the moment - prices seem to be going down (?). Mine cost +- Sfr1,600, but I see them for about 1,000 now.
Make sure its insured/covered by your household insurance.... like everything else in life.
Hi Smoky, is Sfr1,600 a brand new or second hand bike?
Our e-bike was stolen almost as soon as we bought it Police says brand new e-bikes are definitely targeted by thieves. Most of the stolen ones are transported out of CH within 3 hours so the police never finds them.
Cost 2350 chf, house insurance paid it minus 200 chf deductible.
Did you leave the battery on Dragongirl? I am wondering if it's better to take it with me if I go into a shop.
Apparently 20% of all new bikes currently sold in Zürich are electric. I bought mine in November last year, and I love it. Bought it here, a Cresta Giro, definitely not cheap, but it will make a great souvenir if we don't stay in Switzerland.
I try not to be paranoid about the risk of theft, but I'm being moderately careful. I don't leave it outside overnight, it's kept unlocked but without battery in our indoor garage (commin garage for the buildings, lits of cars and bicycles). When downtown, I try to lock it to a stand, but if nothing is available where I park I only use the "wheel lock". After dark, I alway lock it to something. Also, so far I've never needed to park it for more than a couple of hours, if it had to stay at the same spot for the entire day I would definitely try harder to find something fixed to lock it to.
It's not 100% foolproof, but I can live with the current level of risk.
I would buy it in Switzerland rather than London.
Here, the VAT is lower, an expensive bike might end up being more less what you would pay abroad. You'll get a better welcome when you turn up for service in a shop if you bought it local. If you're planning to buy it soon, you can negociate the price as it's winter and bike sales are low Less chances of getting stolen in Zurich than London, nonetheless get a good lock (or 2) and be smart when locking your bike. Get a good insurance that covers e-bikes (ie: http://www.vaudoise.ch/de/private/me...rung-velo.html ) Finally a recent thread here about stolen bikes proved that a solid lock is needed. Someone had a 4000CHF bike locked by wheel lock only. This is not enough, at minimum I use a U-Lock + a chain.
May I ask how it was locked and what kind of lock you used ?
My bike is unlocked when at home as it's just a 6-family building, nobody else has access. But I wouldn't even think of leaving it unlocked in your situation as it's essentially a public garage.
Believe me, it's not a public garage. We live in a 6 flat complex which is basically an ultra-secure bunker. Whenever I get in the building, I worry about not being able to get out. You either need a remote or a key to open the garage door, which has no handle on the outside. To get in the building itself, it's a reinforced concrete door with a sophisticated triple (electric) lock. Feels like entering a prison.
Anyhow, if anyone stole my red Cresta without its battery (which I always remove when I get home) rather than one of a very fancy cars parked alongside (there's enough money in our there to cancel the debt of at least on African country), I'd be very surprised. A general safety rule of mine is alsway to park besides a fancier vehicle than my own...it's not difficult in Zürich.
To be more precise on the "lots of cars and bikes", it's a relative concept.
5 out of 6 flats (2 low buildings) are inhabited by 9 adults, there are up to 15 cars and about 20 bicycles in the garage.