If you already own or are planning to purchase an electric-assisted bike, you already know that it is an investment! And one that you want to protect.
We talk about different locks and the scenarios for when you might want to use them. If you are lost, confused, or overwhelmed by all the lock options available, this is a good place to start. You can think through your particular scenarios and determine which might work best for you.
If you are curious about “keyed-alike” locks, what they are and whether they might be useful for you, this article will help.
It starts with your battery lock.
Most Bosch-powered electric-assist bikes come with a battery that is locked into or onto the frame. This makes the batteries harder to steal.
The key for your battery lock has a unique “key code.” This key code will be printed on the tags that come with the key. Keep it! This code comes in handy if and when you need to get replacement or want to have additional keys.
The German company ABUS makes many of the locks used on eBikes. They offer a service through which you can order additional locks that use the same key code as your battery lock. This is what is meant by “keyed-alike” locks.
Not all locks can be keyed-alike to one another, which we will cover in more detail below.
If you are interested in learning more about keyed-alike ABUS locks, then read on! We’ll help you identify your needs, and recommend an approach.
If You Have a Riese & Müller eBike, start here.
All Riese & Müller eBikes come with a lock. Depending on the model, it will have a café frame lock or a 90cm folding lock with a frame mount.
Does It Have a Café Frame Lock?
- No it does not have a café frame lock.
Then you most likely have a Riese & Müller Homage, Delite, or Superdelite, which come with a 90cm folding lock, the Abus Bordo X+, keyed-alike to the battery key.
You can order additional locks that will also use the same key code. We would recommend a chain such as the Abus Granit City chain, or a U-lock such as the Abus Granit 640 U-Lock.
To order yourself, go to the keyed-alike ordering page on the Propel website.
For a chain, select the length you want. We typically recommend the 110cm. To order this, you would select the following item:
A1101002-Plus-Granite-City-1010-110cm/9mm
There are longer or shorter options if you choose.
For a standard 9-inch U-lock, go to the keyed-alike ordering page on the Propel website and select the A1640007-Plus-Granit-640-9inch Black/11mm.
- Yes, it has a café frame lock!
If you have a Nevo, a Charger, a Supercharger, or a Multicharger, then it came with a keyed-alike frame lock (also known as a wheel lock or café lock). These are very convenient if you are not locking up for long. You can also quickly add a bit more security with an extension lock.
However, if you want a stronger, more secure lock, we recommend ordering an additional folding lock such as an Abus Bordo Granit X+, which can be keyed-alike to your battery and frame lock and mounts nicely on the bicycle’s frame.
For convenience and aesthetics, the smaller 85cm version is very nice.
On the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select A1640004-Plus-Bordo Granit-6405/85 Black
But to make sure the lock reaches around an immovable object and through the frame, you may choose to go with the larger, longer, 110cm version.6405/110 Black
On the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select A1640501-Plus-Bordo Granit-6405/110 Black
A chain lock such as the Abus Granit City chain, or a U-lock such as the Abus Granit 640 U-Lock is also a good choice. Each of these can be keyed-alike with the same code as your battery and frame lock.
For a chain, select the length you want. We typically recommend the 110cm, which is
A1101002-Plus-Granit-City-1010-110cm/9mm
For a U-lock, we recommend the 9” version, which is
A1640007-Plus-Granit-640-9in Black/11mm
Is it a cargo or compact bike–a Load 60, a Load 75, or a Tinker?
The battery locks on Load 60, Load 75, Packster 70 cargo bikes, and the Tinker compact bikes use a different model of key. These bikes have frame locks which are keyed-alike to the battery locks, but due to the lock core-type additional locks cannot be keyed-alike.
If you are looking to purchase additional locks and are interested in a keyed-alike option, you have options:
Option 1): Replace the lock cylinder on the battery, and get a new frame lock. This is something that Propel or most other dealers will be happy to assist with. If you make this choice, you are then able to order as many other keyed-alike locks as you like, and you will only ever need one key.
Abus offers a package that includes both a frame lock and a battery lock. To order this from the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select A1829840-5750L-NR BK lose BLO BOS DT2 Plus
Option 2) Order your additional locks keyed-alike to each other and just resign yourself to carrying two keys. Still pretty convenient!
For cargo bikes, we recommend getting a long chain. It will give you the most flexibility as to where and how you lock. On the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select the Abus Granit City 140cm, or A1101003 – Plus – Granit City 1010 – 140cm/9mm
If You Have a Tern…
The HSD, GSD, and NBD (available starting early 2023) models come with keyed-alike battery locks and frame locks. An adapter chain lock can be purchased separate to make the frame lock even more useful, but for greater security you might want to add an additional, thicker lock.
The Vektron and the Quick Haul models only have the battery lock. Though the Quick Haul frame does have the needed mounting bracket to purchase and attach a frame lock.
The type of key used for these locks cannot be keyed-alike to other Abus locks per se. There are options, though:
Option 1): Replace the lock cylinder on the battery, and get a new frame lock (if applicable). This is something that Propel or another dealer will be happy to assist with. If you make this choice, you are then able to order compatible keyed-alike locks, and you will only ever need one key.
ABUS offers a package that includes both a frame lock and a battery lock core. To order this from the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select A1829840-5750L-NR BK lose BLO BOS DT2 Plus
Option 2) Order additional locks keyed-alike to each other and just resign yourself to carrying two keys. Still pretty convenient!
For a GSD, we recommend getting a long chain. It will give you the most flexibility as to where and how you lock it up. On the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select the Abus Granit City 140cm, or A1101003 – Plus – Granit City 1010 – 140cm/9mm
For an HSD, a medium-length chain like the 110 cm Granit City will work. Order A1101002-Plus-Granit-City-1010-110cm/9mm from the keyed-alike drop-down menu.
For Gazelle’s
Gazelles come with AXA brand battery locks and frame locks that are not keyed-alike compatible. That said, you can replace them!
If you have added a second battery, you will need to order an additional (different) lock cylinder as well.
Abus offers a package that includes both a frame lock and a battery lock. To order this from the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select A1829840-5750L-NR BK lose BLO BOS DT2 Plus
The second battery lock is the Abus Plus Powerpack Battery Lock DT2.
Have a Benno?
Benno’s come with a battery lock that is not keyed-alike compatible. That said, you can replace it. You may especially want to do this if you add a second battery.
You would want to order an Abus Plus Powerpack Battery Lock DT2 for each battery.
Then, you can order whatever additional locks you want.
A Bordo folding lock comes with a frame mount so it’s easy to pack up and bring along. To make sure the lock reaches around an immovable object and through the frame, you may choose to go with the larger, longer, 110cm version.6405/110 Black, as opposed to the 90cm
On the keyed-alike drop-down menu, select A1640501-Plus-Bordo Granit-6405/110 Black
The Granit City chain is flexible for various locking situations. A medium-length chain like the 110 cm Granit City will work. Order A1101002-Plus-Granit-City-1010-110cm/9mm from the keyed-alike drop-down menu.
Which locks should I order?
Either way, it’s good to choose locks specific to the type of bike you have.
To make it easy for you, we have a special web page that allows you to order keyed-alike locks. Or we can do it for you, just give us a call or shoot us an email.
Here are Propel’s suggestions for packages to order, whether you already have a bike or whether you are just contemplating!
On this page, select the locks from the drop-down menu
https://propelbikes.com/product/abus-keyed-alike-locks/
Riese & Müller Powertube
If you are ordering one of these bikes (insert list) you may also want some keyed-alike locks
1x Bosch downtube lock cylinder
1x Abus 6000 90cm
Riese & Muller Powerpack?
If you are ordering one of these bikes (insert list) you may also want some keyed-alike locks
Gazelles
Gazelle electric-assist bikes come with keyed-alike wheel lock and battery lock. However, if you want to get additional locks and have them all be keyed-alike, you will need to replace the lock cylinder on the battery, and the entire wheel lock.
If this is what you want to do, you should order
one battery lock cylinder
One Abus 5750 wheel lock.
Cargo Bike Keyed-Alike Packages
The electric-assist cargo bikes that Propel sells come with a wheel lock and battery lock that are already keyed-alike. Despite these being good solid Abus locks, they are a version that is not compatible to be keyed-alike with other Abus locks.
If you choose to keep your current battery lock and wheel lock, but want your additional locks to be keyed-alike to each other, we recommend that you consider starting with the Abus Granit City X-Plus 1010 chain lock. Chains offer the most flexibility, which you may need if you find it hard to get the bike right up next to the object you wish to lock it to.
Any additional X-Plus locks can be keyed-alike to this.
If you don’t want to carry around a bunch of keys and decide to replace your battery lock and wheel lock, we recommend ordering:
- A battery lock cylinder, or two if your eBike is dual battery
- The Abus Granit City X+ 1010 in the 140 cm length
- OR one Bordo Granit XPlus folding lock, 110cm size (or both)
- And one 5750L cafe frame lock
Labor rates:
$10 cafe lock install
$20 battery lock install
$10-25 depending on specifics
With some Riese & Müller bikes, it is possible to order additional “keyed-alike” locks in advance, because Riese & Müller will let you and your dealer know the key code for your bike as soon as it is manufactured. You can always order keyed-alike locks for these bikes later as well–particularly as your needs become more apparent over time.