Snik Announces GPS-Enabled Security Device to Protect Your Bike from Theft
PRESS RELEASE: Snik
Have you ever had your bike stolen? You return to your vehicle where you last locked it, and that’s when it hits you. Your bike is gone, and the odds of you recovering it are slim to none. We’ve been there. And so have many others.
It's no wonder then that people are always on the lookout for new ways to protect their rides. We are Snik, a Vancouver-based company specializing in bicycle security. We have developed a device that sends users real-time alerts if their bikes move without them. So whether you're at home or halfway across the world, you can rest assured that your two-wheeled investment is safe and sound.
Your bike’s security, at your fingertips.
Bike Security Reimagined
Snik uses GPS, Cellular and Bluetooth technology in case of a bike theft. Once you have paired your device with our mobile app, you will be notified when your bike moves without you. Here are a few things you can do with Snik in the event of a theft:
1. Alert the community, your friends, or the authorities—even non Snik users are able to join a map that pinpoints the stolen bike (red) and the other fellow searchers' (green).
2. Collaborate with other searchers using a live chat that is below the map.
3. Receive a phone call from Snik in the event that you’re not responding to a notification, and your bike is moving without you.
We’re not an AirTag. But we do that too…
Snik uses technology far more reliable and sophisticated than an AirTag. That said, if the battery ever gets critically low or you are out of service, Snik leverages ‘Find My’ and preserves battery life.
Battery consumption
We’ve gone to great measures to preserve battery life, and your Snik device will only use energy in the event of a theft, otherwise, it’s on standby. Users also have the ability to toggle the frequency of GPS pings, further adding to energy preservation. For that reason, the battery life can last up to nine weeks (9) on one full charge, and the battery level can be monitored in the app.
Installing the tamper proof enclosure
Your Snik device is custom made to fit in your steerer tube, and installation is simple. Knock down the star nut with the provided installation bolt, and drop in the outer casing! Once the casing is in your steerer tube, tension the headset just as you would with a normal stem cap. The Snik GPS is then dropped into the casing and locked with a unique key—We’ve partnered with a fastener manufacturer that’s trusted by the Military and the US Government. The proprietary key is tamper-proof, and we have several variations in rotation.
The hardware is enclosed in a tough polycarbonate material that can withstand a beating. We’ve taken a hammer to this thing with no damage to show!
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Here’s how to purchase a Snik.
1. Order your device → www.snik.bike
2. We won't charge your card until your device is in production (approx 2-3 month delivery)
3. 25% off for early adopters sale → $150 ($200 regular price)
4. Additional 9 months of service included
5. After the initial year, the service cost is $7.50 per month
*Service available in Canada & USA only for now
The mobile application will be available both on iOS and Android. Similar to your smartphone, we will continually update your firmware to ensure the best experience possible. We currently serve North America, but have plans to expand overseas quickly.
For more information, check out our website here or give us a follow on Instagram.
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In case you forgot! (Sarcasm)- "Mexico is South of USA" and N.America not to be misaligned as USA as a whole like people want to believe it is; because USA has an idiot president that is allowing US boarders to be breached by multitudes of non citizens.
THANK YOU!
We did explore every single potential location (we started in the bottom of steerer!) on the bike and landed in the top of steerer tube for two reasons: standardized fit (straight or tapered steerer), and GPS signal. To combat the fact that it's visible, we've made this thing toughAF and use proprietary key that's tamper proof.
invoxia.com/en-US/product/gps-tracker
It's $125 vs $200 of the Snik, compact enough to be stashed on a bike, and first year of GPS subscription is free then $40 a year after that.
I think Snik offers some bike specific advantages but the Invoxia still seems like a great option too.
Glad to see someone finally making an effort on a bike specific version. Hope Snik is successful.
I threw an airtag into my hockey bag and the performance was adequate. If your bike is with you until baggage check and you retrieve it when you land and the bike stays with you for the trip you're probably fine.
With some traction and user base, it seems reasonable we will get there!
That said, I know your wheelhouse is anti-theft and respect if you're staying in that lane with an insurance offering.
Is there a month to month option? Living in an area where the winter shuts down all riding (both the actual access as well as the local builders don’t want riding on wet trails). Wondering about turning off the tracking for the months my bike is hanging out in my garage locked up and out of someone’s access.
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0279906
1) If I make a custom mount for my seadoo, would it be a viable application?
I've considered the Spot Trace which seems like basically the same product idea- it tells you when the object is moving and you can see it on a map. The problem with the Spot Trace is, it has a very weak signal, such that it needs to be out in the open for it to work, which completely defeats the purpose because a seasoned thief will just remove it.
2) how strong is the signal? If hidden in the engine compartment under fiberglass/ plastic/ foam, will it have any signal? or does it need to be directly in the open?
3) any other differences/ advantages as compared to Spot?
I have a Knog Scout that i'm trying out, and may look for a covert Airtag back up to that also. However, the bike stays with me in the apartment and is never out of arm's reach when I'm outside with it. The Knog Scout is quite a bit more affordable, but your use case/budget will have the final decision.
The Airtag is great for tracking your luggage, keys etc. but has several limitations with security. Snik is designed to keep your bike safe and has several functions that go far beyond the capabilities of the 'Find My' Bluetooth network—An AirTag will notify the thief, rely on other iPhone users to provide approximate (and delayed) locations, and of course are limited to Apple users.
We are working on solutions for road bikes with carbon steerers!
I have a Trust Message on my bike- carbon steerer tube. I think it’s the same ID as road bike. I can check.
And you missed the point if all you took out of it was me using an Airtag as an additional device. I know the limitations of the Airtag, and I just happen to be an iPhone user. Otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned the Airtag. Thanks for the extra sales pitch.
There’s a great point to running an AirTag on top of this device..
Put the AirTag in a somewhat easy to find place, let it be detected and discovered by thieves, they think they’re in the clear, and maybe never look for this device in the steerer tube!
You didn't hit it hard enough. Any dipshit stealing bikes who suspects a tracking device is going to show no mercy and demolish that thing. I'd just drive a screwdriver right down the middle.
Needs to be way more stealth. 9 weeks of standby battery life is enough that it would be fairly reasonable to hide it under a conventional looking headset cap and require loosening one bolt it to recharge.
Signal cannot pass through enclosed aluminum (conventional stem cap material) or else we'd be right there with ya. It is also quite stealth in person, especially if you're not a biker.
I thought about this for a second, and I’m not sure how you guys are planning on doing the carbon steerer tube version.
Unlike an expanding nut, the carbon tube insert expanding force is necessary to counteract the force of the stem clamp to keep the carbon tube from being crushed. This has to match the stem along its whole vertical length, which leaves no room, save for what is left under the expansion insert.
I guess that could work. I have at least 3” of empty tube under my insert as it stands.
This means pulling the insert to access though. A bit of a PITA, but you won’t see anything but the top of the expander if you just pull the cap. No key needed!
In the fork!
I believe it should be an easy fit inside the fork “tube” that houses the air only damper. Take out the damper, wrap the tracker in something like plastic or foam, shove it up above the damper mount, reinstall damper..
It’s just an empty static tube.
We've thought about that. 'How cool would it be if this thing could power itself.' We've opted to start simple and evolve based on customer needs. Appreciate the comment
Cheers
After the first year, service costs $7.50/month ($89.99 per year)
That country north of México, is called the United States of America, and is in North America, just like México, and together with Canada and the rest of the countries from Guatemala to Argentina are conform AMERICA
how can they keep you safe? Without the sign, thieves will assume all is well and come on in.
It's better to wait for a similar device to hit the market that you can hide inside a carbon frame.
Buying something only for the bike that thieves will kill with a hammer and a screw driver in 2 seconds seems a bit ridiculous.