Bikeregister security marking

Do you? https://www.bikeregister.com/advice/how-it-works

I did my last bike but just noted the number rather than enter my bike and address into their database. You get a little 8cm x 2cm stencil and permanent paint to put somewhere on the bike, I put mine under the downtube at the headtube end. Very covert however you’d have to be looking for it as the bike is dark grey and the paint is dark blue.

Wondering whether to do the next bike. It’s a light colour so if put somewhere easily spotted it would stand out too much. The other options have the opposite problem of making it less likely to be even found – putting it on the inboard side of the chainstay, inside the frame via the battery door, or using the UV invisible kit. It’s also getting RideWrapped so obviously would need to go on before that.

I have, marked on the underside of the top tube so not too difficult to see/find but you wouldn’t know it’s there unless you looked for it.

They come with a sticker as well, which I’ve put on the seat tube. That sticker stands out and makes it obvious to anyone to look for the code, if you didn’t put the sticker on for discreetness I’m not sure anyone would know what the code is for.

So to me regardless of where you put the etch you’ll always have something obvious on the bike to show it’s been bikeregistered.

How long before it is hacked and the big list of all our bikes turns up on a public dropbox?

That sticker stands out and makes it obvious to anyone to look for the code, if you didn’t put the sticker on for discreetness I’m not sure anyone would know what the code is for.

I think knowing to look is the problem. The BIKEREGISTER.COM bit above the code should be enough of a clue what it’s for. Even with the sticker I doubt anyone would know to look inside the battery door so scratch that idea of mine.

How long before it is hacked and the big list of all our bikes turns up on a public dropbox?

Indeed, hence I marked, noted the code, and didn’t register.

Fair point about the etched text, but how is someone going to know at all to look for the etching if it’s at all discreet. It’d need to be very obvious to anyone buying the bike second hand from someone’s who’s stolen it or the police.

Indeed, hence I marked, noted the code, and didn’t register.

So what use is it? The police will search for the number and sod all will come up on their database. Same applies to a second hand buyer, they’ll search for it and nothing will come up.

You may as well just write down the frame number and not bother with the etching.

The use is that I’d register if and when it’s stolen.

Hmmm, position it covertly and the police won’t spot it on recovery, make it overt and the thieves will and can either scrape it off, paint or sticker over it…

I’m skeptical of these schemes TBH and I’d be interested to know just how many registered bikes, that have been stolen have actually made it back to their owners…