Two Stolen Optibikes

[Swiz]

Hi Everyone

I hope this is the appropriate place to post this.

I just had my two Optibike 850's stolen in Palo Alto CA.
One is a blue 2012 and the other a red 2010. Both have dual crown RockShox Boxxer U-Turn Forks.
The red one has black Aerospoke Wheels.
Blue bike has silver cranks
Red bike has black cranks
Both bikes had 4 inch Fox logo stickers on both sides


Here are the serial numbers for the stolen bikes:

Blue 2012 850 #10259
Red 2010 850 #10058


Given that Optibikes are produced in small numbers, they should be somewhat hard to fence.
If this community would keep their eyes open it would be much appreciated.

 

[bowlofsalad]

Perhaps you could illustrate the circumstances of which these bikes were stolen. Where were they? Were they locked up? Were they together? And so on. I ask only in personal interest.

 

[dogman dan]

Bummer. Definitely keep an eye out for them on our for sale section, Craigslist, etc. Unfortunately, it will be easy for them to make a buck selling the parts like the forks and shocks.

Too expensive to ever leave anywhere. That's a problem with bikes, motorcycles, cars. I'm curious too, taken while out on a ride, or taken from your house? From your house, unfortunately your friends might be who did it. Things are tough all over.

 

[marty]

Bummer. Definitely keep an eye out for them on our for sale section, Craigslist, etc. Unfortunately, it will be easy for them to make a buck selling the parts like the forks and shocks.

Too expensive to ever leave anywhere. That's a problem with bikes, motorcycles, cars. I'm curious too, taken while out on a ride, or taken from your house? From your house, unfortunately your friends might be who did it. Things are tough all over.

A wise man told me that friends who steal your bicycles are not your friends.

 

[flathill]

I would go to the the two oakland flea markets and the berkeley flea market and the san jose flea market this weekend
Skip berkeley if you dont have time

The bikes will be there in a van peaking out but not totally out in the open

 

[MikeFairbanks]

That's an odd thing to steal. It's such a unique item that I can't help but think that whoever took them knew what they were doing.

I noticed OP hasn't come back. Where were these bikes when they were stolen?

They'll show up at Burning Man.

 

[dogman dan]

How true that might be. But they'll be differently colored by then. Real different.

 

[The fingers]

Maybe someone on the sphere could design and market an e-bike lojak device to help prevent this.

 

[bowlofsalad]

Maybe someone on the sphere could design and market an e-bike lojak device to help prevent this.

Someone did make a posting on the forum about some sort of tracker device for bicycles. I don't know how well that'd work, but it might give you a location to visit upon it's reached destination.

 

[lbz5mc12]

I'd be calling around to local bike shops and pawn shops as well. He is in Cali after all.

 

[TylerDurden]

One for Landis, one for Armstrong. Sad, really.

 

[Sp00nf3d]

Where to begin... I have had 3 cannondale bikes stolen, the latest this month... So i am looking for a bike. I test rode a specialized ebike and a stromer in palo alto, and began to relate to the prices of these bikes. So when i saw a guy ridding on one at a local hardware store, and he looked like he could use the $$ more than the bike..."how much for the e-bike?" I asked him. "I paid 600$ for it,... But we need money for pg&e." I traded ph #s and discovered the ridder didnt have the charger for the bike....RED FLAG [full stop]
I told the guy i would call him saturday (last) and chat about the bike. Then went out and test drove more bikes. Been trying to figure out how to 'deal' w/ this one, its been on my mind. I'am a veteran, 'lost" bikes too, but these are gypseys, and i am hesitant to get *cough* 'between' them and the door, so to speak.
Upon further review, its an optibike (blue), has a 'dash' w/ 3 switches on it, fox stickers...but i dont have the 'unmitigated gall' to just take a photo of its serial number. Feel free to email me, not sure how to "do more" and look out for myself. They told me they would leave soon, *shrug* maybe you have a good idea...or even better maybe you have homeowners or renters insurance. If you happen to have all the above and feel like being generous to a Vet. You could donate a charger to me, i know where i can pick up an opti bike for under a grand
Best regards, Bejos, & Ciao - spoony

 

[neptronix]

This person never came back to check to see if this thread had responses in it..

Kinda odd lol..

 

[lbz5mc12]

I'd say buy the bike for $600.00. Then contact Optibike HQ and see if the both of you can't track down the owner via the serial #. I'm pretty sure the original owner would reimburse you your expense plus a little extra to put towards another bike. I mean if the OP had enough scratch for two optibikes he's probably not hurting for money. If it turns out the bike is stolen, then turn the guy in who sold you the bike. Just don't lose his contact info. If the authorities get suspicious you could just say you were having second thoughts about the purchase and were just covering your ass by making the appropriate calls.

 

[dnmun]

Where to begin... I have had 3 cannondale bikes stolen, the latest this month... So i am looking for a bike. I test rode a specialized ebike and a stromer in palo alto, and began to relate to the prices of these bikes. So when i saw a guy ridding on one at a local hardware store, and he looked like he could use the $$ more than the bike..."how much for the e-bike?" I asked him. "I paid 600$ for it,... But we need money for pg&e." I traded ph #s and discovered the ridder didnt have the charger for the bike....RED FLAG [full stop]
I told the guy i would call him saturday (last) and chat about the bike. Then went out and test drove more bikes. Been trying to figure out how to 'deal' w/ this one, its been on my mind. I'am a veteran, 'lost" bikes too, but these are gypseys, and i am hesitant to get *cough* 'between' them and the door, so to speak.
Upon further review, its an optibike (blue), has a 'dash' w/ 3 switches on it, fox stickers...but i dont have the 'unmitigated gall' to just take a photo of its serial number. Feel free to email me, not sure how to "do more" and look out for myself. They told me they would leave soon, *shrug* maybe you have a good idea...or even better maybe you have homeowners or renters insurance. If you happen to have all the above and feel like being generous to a Vet. You could donate a charger to me, i know where i can pick up an opti bike for under a grand
Best regards, Bejos, & Ciao - spoony

you can contact the guy directly by sending him a pm and he will send you a picture of the bike or you can go to the optibikes google group and find him there. that is where he originally listed it as missing and i am sure he will reward you for finding it because if they find the one they will find the other too.

 

[Sp00nf3d]

Personal safety note accepted Neph. Theguy never came back. Yes that could be 'bad guys doing recon'
I also accept the point of another poster
Re: makining some follow up after a bad purchase. My personal take there is that asking for a receipt (even at mikes bikes) is similar behavior. Why should anyone ever have to respond to the insinuation...."Well WE dont know Where you Got it..." (presumably ansering someone who beleives they have the aegis to monitor other adults) perhaps more imrortant would be after the initial "moment of being lured to easy money" a person could be seen as connecting with some Sense of conscience and that is a good thing, i say bring em back inside the wire. That is not a lost soul. Falling down is natural, gravity is a permenant true fact, GETTING BACK UP now that takes strength, personal sense of agency, willingness to be dusted off maybe even with a few smacks on the bottom (backsides end up on the ground often) that soul, willing and able....i want them on My Team (when the time comes to choose up sides an smell armpits).
Thanks for the PM tip, i am not a bbs user or "board poster" just picked this skill up to do my due dillagence. If anyone can facilitate- thanks. I m hopeing i dont have to keep checking here for info. AND due to the sensitive/ personal nature of some of the info, i hope there is a friendly community mechanism to remove these notes...in the near future.

 

[Sp00nf3d]

Ahh well guess it was too much to hope for someone with 20$k in money for toys offering a reward.
Have you heard of Funding the New Economy through public banking? It is a non parasitic alternative to private banking. Public banking has been around a thousand years before Jesus walked the earth. So its not new technology. In South Dakota they have a functioning public bank and it appears that they weathered this most recent finiancial storm better. I understand much of our current economic woes actually revolve around artificial "job recession" and not economic ...errr um..."depression?"
Public banking Democratizes money to such an extent that i have adopted the philosophy that it stands the greatest chance to remove the influence of corporations money from our sustem of governance. If you are the sort who believes in the return of democratic rule; read up on public banking, find a local organization, look into the negioations of the TPP agreement (being negiotiated in private) which appears designed to disrupt local borrowing and lending.
It is interesting to hear wall street bank(s/ers) standing against public banking on the ground that they cannot compete with them, as public banks generally lend at a fraction of the rates of private banks. I guess that this is an instance where the banks of wall street do not want the market to make its own (decisions?)
If you happen to speak with any angry patriots let them know that public banking is a solution to our troubles, educated patriots will already know about the role of public banking in the founding of our country. Public banking will be a solution before the revolution and will still be a solution and a way forward after the next economic crisis, (banks are already 'blowing $ bubbles' that will pop creating more financial misery.
Shared because many cyclist embrace the ideals of democratizing; transportation, economics, governance, and the world.
Bejos Ciao & keep 'er between the ditches,
-C

 

[dnmun]

did you contact the guy and he said he would not pay a reward? i figured he would jump at the chance. he never answered your email?

 

[toby]

The red bike matching the description was legally sold by California Auction Company LLC at a police seizure auction in Stockton CA on December 4 2013.
http://www.icollector.com/Red-Electric-Optibike-Pedal-Charged_i18171820