We didn't know the true value of the electric bike GPS tracking systems on the market. How many are there? How much do they cost? Are they easy to install? How much will they cost in the long run? How will they be supported if something goes wrong? What should you do if your bike is stolen? Am I eligible for an insurance discount? Here we explore the popularity of technology trickled down from the car market.

How do electric bike GPS tracking systems work?

Basics are simple. The bike has a small "dongle" that connects to its wiring, and an accompanying app that lets you see where you left it, or where it is if you realize it has moved. They communicate in real time, letting you know where your bike is.

The tracking device is the little black box. The wiring is attached to this inside the bike frame. We have come up with ever more inventive ways of installing tuning kits in tight bike frames over the years, so you can be sure that your tuning kit won't be visible and will be hard to reach when it's fitted to your bike! Using the wires and plugs, it is integrated into the bike's main wiring loom, effectively "stealing" the tiny bit of power it needs to run. The amount of power is so small that you won't notice a change in the range of your ebike.

For security reasons, we won't show you where or how it's fitted to a bike. It only gives potential thieves an idea of what they are looking for when stealing an Ebike. At least you'll know it's there. Others won't!

Using 2G mobile networks and GPS, the GPS tracking system sits silently on the bike, waiting for a "ping" from you. You can request the bike's location via the app at any time of the day or night, and this request is typically routed via the tracking system's servers. They will send the request signal to a satellite, which will then look for your tuning kit. After the tuning kit hears the "call" of the app, it offers it a "virtual handshake", confirming that it is the correct device, and then it sends it GPS coordinates. Satellites transmit this information to the tracking system operator's server, then to your device. A couple of seconds is usually sufficient to complete this process.