You can have the best bike lock in the world, but it’s no guarantee your ride will be there when you get back. Yerka is foolproof – the lock is built into the bike, so if the thief wants to take it, they have to cut through the frame, rendering the theft pointless.
Here’s how it works – part of the frame opens up. You take the seat tube out and slot it into the gap, and clip it around whatever you want to lock it to. Hey presto, an unstealable bike.
It also means no one can make off with your saddle, as it’s part of the locking mechanism.
Check out the video at the bottom of the page to see it in action.
The action takes less than 10 seconds.
The wheels are secured with special nuts, so no one will make off with them either.
The team are also working on making it sync via Bluetooth to your phone. Which could mean you unlock on your mobile in future.
Read more: Sesame: the smart lock that lets you in when you knock
It’s a nifty idea, but not without its downsides. There’s no word on what the bikes are like to ride, and with no notable heritage or experience in the field, that will turn off a lot of cyclists. You can buy the frame and add your current bike’s wheels and components to it, but that seems a lot of hassle. We reckon the company would be better off licensing its mechanics to the big brands.
It’s raised over $21,000 of its $50,000 goal. The bikes start at $399 (£262), or $199 (£130) for just the frame.
(YouTube)7A4eOsAyQcw(/YouTube)
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
