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Product/Service: Bike Brace security device
Manufacturer/Provider: www.bikebrace.com
Reviewed by: Jeff Kufalk

I was recently approached by Jay Heerens from bikebrace.com, asking if I would be interested in learning more about his product and if he could offer a reduced price to our forum users. After a few conversations, and clarifying/agreeing on a couple of ground rules (stand behind product, etc) I found Jay and I to be very similar in his views, ethics and practices.

I agreed, and put out a post within the forum. Jay, in turn, sent out a unit for my review. I received the unit UPS ground in a couple of days, and was a little surprised at the weight of it (28lbs). Opening the box, I found interior packing and a second box, which is VERY nice since it keeps the brace from destroying the box, or other items in the UPS truck (normally one would say "it keeps the product from being damaged", but you're really NOT going to damage this product").

Pulling out the brace, I really wasn't prepared for this thing. It is MASSIVE. It weighs a ton, and is absolutely solid. Mass production of this item would easily renew the steel industry.

The unit comes with the main bike brace (large black part), steel security rod, industrial strength master lock, and 6 2000lb concrete anchors.

The concept is simple. Drill 4-6 holes in your driveway or parking spot, mount the brace, wheel your bike into it and lock it up. Now, before you get all excited since you live in an apartment or want it for work, GO ASK if you can drill 4 small holes into the concrete which you will fill when you leave, so you can mount the bikebrace! Don't just assume your landlord or property management won't allow it!

So, what makes this different from a $50 kryptonite chain? Simple. You're not cutting through this. Period. Well, yes, you could, but who carries around an oxyacetylenetorch for this?

So I pondered a bit more about whether a bike could be stolen while in the brace. Here's what I came up with...

The probability of someone stealing the bike by removing the rear wheel while in the brace are slim and none. Why? Here's why:

Nobody is going to take the time to bring the correct tools to remove the wheel.
They'll be dicking with the chain and getting the wheel OFF the bike while it is still locked up and at an angle
Removing a rear wheel while the bike's weight on it is extremely difficult and will require at least 2-3 people and more importantly, TIME.
Moving the bike once the rear wheel is off will be quite difficult.

If a person used the brace on the front wheel, removal would actually be MORE difficult because the forks act independently, and a person would have to remove the calipers to get the wheel off...

All in all, my thoughts are that a thief is not going to cut through or break the bike brace in any way. And they will look at it and realize that it will take too much time, make too much noise and all-in-all be too risky to try.

There are a million "what-if's", and in the end could someone steal the bike while in the brace? Sure, I suppose they could. Would they? I highly doubt it.

And now the best part:
Jay has been kind enough to offer a substantial discount from his $149 retail to our cbr600rr.com users. If you mention you came from our site, you will get a $30 discount. $119.00! And for a limited time, Jay is even helping us further by giving $10 for each unit sold to our project fundraiser for special olympics!

Need more info?
www.bikebrace.com

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