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Bike Mine theft deterrent “bomb” literally explodes to scare thieves

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After having both a bicycle and motorcycle stolen from him in London, inventor Yannick Read decided he needed something more than just a lock. He needed something to alert him to the thieve’s activity before they could get away with it.

Something loud enough to wake him up in the middle of the night, and something loud enough to scare the thieves away and get everyone’s attention. The solution was Bike Mine, a miniature bomb that you strap to your bike that’ll go off the second someone tries to wheel it away…

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The kit includes three “cartridges”, which are basically small shotgun shells with the pyrotechnics fully encased (without any projectiles), the mounting bracket and the trip wire.

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As the video shows, you simply load the cartridge, set the pin and string the wire from it to your spokes. The rubber backing protects your frame from physical damage, though we suspect it might leave a burn. The real question, then, isn’t whether it’ll scare thieves away, but how many times you’ll set it off before you automatically remember to check it before you leave…

Back the project on Kickstarter for £49 and you’ll get the kit shown above. Support it with £99 and you’ll get two kits plus an extra three shells to set up a “perimeter defense” for your entire garage.

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33 Comments
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Emily
Emily
7 years ago

finally you post a kick starter that is awesome!!

Tyler Durden
Tyler Durden
7 years ago
Reply to  Emily

Eek! As long as you aren’t held responsible for the culprit’s missing digits.

D Stoller
D Stoller
7 years ago

Am I on some kind of list now that I read this article?

Chalchalero
Chalchalero
7 years ago

So stupid!

Frippolini
Frippolini
7 years ago

Wow, why limit yourself with a bang, why not just out up a Claymore mine? Your bike will stay in place, and in the morning all you have to do is to spray wash away the shredded remains of the bike thief?

Seriously, what is this Nutcase thinking, or he just got over-excited from a bad case of prepper-frenzy? Just park the bike in a safer place, get better locks, or both. Idiotic.

Jeffie
Jeffie
7 years ago

I don’t even know where to start. Toddlers? Large dogs? Nearby leaking propane tanks? Your own leg? Some of your flashy Rapha tights? Litigious would be bike thieves? Litigious passersby?
I’m sure it was good for a laugh over a pint, but actually making it is about three steps further than this should’ve got.

rideifbikes
rideifbikes
7 years ago

also designed to scare the F* out of people who are moving your bike to get to theirs in a bike rack

Dog
Dog
7 years ago

Best cafe stop prank ever

badbikemechanicx
badbikemechanicx
7 years ago

Killer! I want to get one just for a party trick

James Fryer
7 years ago

And if you like that, how about this; https://youtu.be/OmpBYcM06Sk

JNH
JNH
7 years ago

How to get yourself arrested, shot or shot then arrested in an easy to use complete package.

AlanM
AlanM
7 years ago
Reply to  JNH

How is this going to lead to you getting shot?

JNH
JNH
7 years ago
Reply to  AlanM

The police forces of the UK are notoriously humorless about explosive devices.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago

Now that it is known, couldn’t said thief just knock out the cartridge or hold the pin until they remove said cartridge, or cut the string and push in the washer, or just remove it as the user will do? Its not like this thing is inconspicuous.

Seems an awesome prank device though.

AlanM
AlanM
7 years ago
Reply to  JBikes

You make it sound like lots of thieves read BikeRumor. In my area, that’s definitely not the case.

Drew Diller
7 years ago

Sometimes I think up funny bike products, chuckle a moment, and then immediately admit to myself a basic reason why I shouldn’t really go ahead and do it: because it’ll attract police attention.

IMO this is … one of those things. Don’t get me wrong, on a personal level, I adore it. I’ve thought up all kinds of ways to booby trap my garage using light and sound to disorient a would-be thief. But… that’s one thing, it’s within a private building rather than out in broad daylight where it may easily be mistaken for something sinister.

So, I like it, kinda, but not enough to use one myself.

Wuffles
Wuffles
7 years ago

I love this idea. It is so clearly the product of a drunken brainstorming session taken way too far.

Rixter
Rixter
7 years ago

This reminds me of the car alarm of the past that we all ignore

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

Not to be Mr. Buzzkill, but I suspect this is probably illegal in the US. I think trip-wire type devices are outlawed most places here. So, have fun getting sued by the guy who tried to steal your bike… and you might get charged with a crime!

(Not legal advice… obviously).

Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago

“hey, why is the school locked down”

“they found a bike with a bomb strapped to it, bomb squad is defusing it now.”

“Oh Shit…”

Cyril Figgis
Cyril Figgis
7 years ago

It’ll sure make people regret moving your bike a few inches to make room on the bike rack

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
7 years ago

can i slip it thru airport security?

Jeff W
Jeff W
7 years ago

I fully expect a bike thief to give my bike a good thrashing if that thing went off.

ryan
ryan
7 years ago

Dumbest idea I’ve seen all week. There are so many possible unintended consequences that it boggles the mind. I think the guy who invented this is destined to get sued into oblivion and rightfully so. Being afraid of getting your bike stolen doesn’t give you the right to deploy explosives anywhere you see fit without regard for how it will impact the lives of others.

MTB4ME
MTB4ME
7 years ago

Good on ya, Mate! Love the sheer WW1ness of the concept….!

silverlining
silverlining
7 years ago

Atta boy Yannick. Now please design one for e-bikes that detonates when a sensor detects it being ridden off-road.

Dave
Dave
7 years ago

Just love him getting lost in the cloud of smoke when he demo’s this on the motorcycle.

Lumpa Lumpa
Lumpa Lumpa
7 years ago

April fools…..?

the_contrarian
the_contrarian
7 years ago

I love it but it seems like a waste of time. If your preference is to employ something that uses 12-Gauge primers then just just cut to the chase and use the full shell ’cause I doubt anyone here would feel obliged to report anyone seen taking care of a bike thief. But given that this might result in a long and uncomfortable holiday should the wrong person coming across your piece of civil service please feel free to use my idea of running mains power through your steel frame! (btw, please let me know how it goes…)

DRC
DRC
7 years ago

Looks perfect for use in DC. No question would scare off a would-be thief and wake you up to notify you someone’s trying to jack your bike. I’d buy one.

DaveR27
DaveR27
7 years ago

What could possibly go wrong with an explosive device on your petrol filled motorbike…

I’ll hook the garage door handle up to the mains electricity as well whilst i’m at it

RAB Share
RAB Share
7 years ago

If you’re going to pitch such a blatantly stupid product, at least go all in on it.

-Motion activated, linked to phone app via Bluetooth so the owner doesn’t set it off
-Put it in a saddlebag so it’s inconspicuous and goes off right behind the thief as he rides away (hilarious)
-Offer a “premium” version that weights 10g less because it’s constructed out of CF and “a proprietary alloy” at a 200% markup

The Truth
The Truth
7 years ago

It’d be better to have it mounted in the seatpost and have a saddle with a open section in the middle of it. This has awesomeness written all over it. Maybe mount it inside of a water bottle so it doesn’t look so obvious.

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