I’ve excellent news and dangerous information. The dangerous information is that motorbike theft in the US (and virtually each different nation worldwide) is rising. Since 2019 there’s been a staggering 29% improve within the variety of bikes stolen within the USA with the whole quantity presently sitting at round 55,000 every year. These will certainly be unsettling statistics for any motorbike proprietor and an unignorable incentive to put money into a safety system. Sadly, thieves have change into quite expert at breaking by most locking mechanisms, and failing that they’ll merely load a bike right into a van (like this) and drive off.
The excellent news is there are methods to maintain your motorbike secure past simply throwing a lock on it. Again in 2022, I reviewed the Monimoto 7, a bike anti-theft GPS system that alerts you of a doable theft and updates you in your motorbike’s whereabouts. Since then the Monimoto workforce has continued to enhance its providing and I’ve acquired the newest model, the Monimoto 9, to see the way it’s modified.
Out of the field, probably the most notable distinction between the Monimoto 7 and Monimoto 9 is its dimension. The monitoring unit of the 7 is across the dimension of the palm of my hand. As compared, the Monimoto 9 version is comparable in dimension to my index and center fingers facet by facet. The precise dimension of the unit is 93 x 39 x 15mm and it weighs a mere 95 grams. They’ve shrunk the unit to permit much more discrete mounting which in flip makes it more durable for thieves to find it. Infact the Monimoto 9 is so small that the variety of mounting choices out there has elevated tenfold, particularly in the event you personal a bike with fairings.
There’s a draw back to the decreased dimension although. The earlier mannequin, powered by 2 Lithium AA batteries, provided an working time of as much as 24 months. As compared, the Monimoto 9 guarantees 12. That’s nonetheless nothing to be sneezed at although and the opposite advantages outweigh this.
Together with being conveniently smaller, the Monimoto 9 is rechargeable by way of a USB C port on the base of the unit. This makes protecting the unit powered a lot easier and likewise means that you can hardwire it to a USB port on the bike do you have to need it to be charged every time you fireplace up your bike. The brand new design additionally has an improved ingress safety (IP) score of 68. This interprets to a unit that’s each dust-tight and waterproof sufficient to be totally submerged in water for an prolonged interval. Being totally watertight means the Monimoto 9 can be appropriate to be used on different autos similar to ATVs, trailers, and watercraft the place there’s elevated publicity to such components.
What’s within the field?
Contained in the Monimoto 9 packaging, you’ll discover just some objects. First is a multilingual setup/consumer information and a pamphlet with a QR code for downloading the Monimoto app to your smartphone. Beneath these, you’ll discover the monitoring unit, a key fob, and a few reusable zip ties for mounting the monitoring unit to your motorbike.
Personally, I’d additionally wish to see one other mounting system, similar to a 3M bracket or 3M Velcro pads included with the Monimoto 9. These would prolong the system’s mounting prospects even additional since they wouldn’t depend on one thing like a body tube to affix the system to. After all, there isn’t a motive you may’t supply these your self, and I’ll possible do it with my unit.
Monimoto 9 set up and setup
After unpacking the Monimoto 9 it’s best to cost the monitoring unit. That is carried out by eradicating the waterproof rubber grommet from the bottom of the unit and attaching a USB-C cable (not included with the system). Whereas that’s taking place you should utilize the QR code to put in the Monimoto app to your cellphone and full the consumer setup. The important thing fob should even be activated by opening it with a small flathead screwdriver and eradicating the plastic cowl from the inner battery.
As soon as the unit has completed charging you employ the app to register the Monimoto 9 to your cellphone. Throughout the registration course of, you may be requested to supply a cellphone quantity, that is the quantity that the tracker will contact ought to it’s triggered. While you check the unit it can save you the variety of the SIM to your contacts so you may title it one thing you’ll acknowledge when it contacts you want “BIKE ALARM!” or one thing comparable. Out of the field, the SIM card contained in the tracker comes with 2 months of free use. After that, there’s an annual payment of $79 AUD to proceed utilizing your Monimoto 9.
As soon as it’s arrange the unit could be mounted to your motorbike. That is the place you will get inventive. Search for a spot that would simply be ignored by a thief or can’t be accessed simply with out instruments. You should utilize the included reusable zip ties to carry it in place or an alternate resolution of your individual just like the 3M pads I discussed earlier. The one factor to be conscious of in the course of the set up is that the brand facet of the tracker shouldn’t be touching any steel surfaces and that the GPS will work greatest if the brand is pointing sideways or up on the sky.
The final step is to connect the Monimoto fob to your motorbike key.
How does it work?
In a nutshell, the Monimoto 9 is a silent alarm with monitoring capabilities. The important thing fob features because the distant, utilizing its proximity to show off or activate the alarm perform. Cleverly the Monimoto workforce has added a perform that means that you can fine-tune how far the fob must be from the tracker to arm it. This implies in the event you retailer your keys solely a brief distance away from the place you park your bike it’s going to nonetheless arm.
The tracker unit, with its inside SIM, is the alarm itself. As soon as the tracker is armed the digital wizardry inside it’s going to detect in case your bike is being moved. Inside about 1 minute of registering motion with out the fob close by, it’s going to name your cellphone. The cellphone name is designed to provide you with a warning that one thing is up.
As soon as the unit is in alarm mode you may as well initialize lively monitoring. So in case your bike’s already being stolen and being moved to a brand new location you may see its whereabouts. Because the motorbike continues to maneuver, the tracker updates its location on a map which you’ll be able to view in your cellphone. In case your bike stops shifting for half-hour you’ll obtain an correct report of its final identified location. At that time, you may cross that data on to the authorities.
Is the Monimoto 9 well worth the cash?
The Monimoto 9 prices $299 AUD and has an ongoing yearly payment of $72. Whereas you should buy a high quality motorbike lock for lower than that, a lock won’t ever present the identical peace of thoughts because the Monimoto. As soon as a lock has been damaged its perform ends. A lock could assist to forestall crimes of alternative, but it surely gained’t deter skilled motorbike thieves who’ve loads of methods of coping with them. The one factor the Monimoto lacks compared to a lock is the visible deterrence. For that motive, I’d advocate additionally becoming a lock to your motorbike to additional scale back the possibility of theft.
My motorbike is extra to me than merely a type of transport and something I can do to keep away from the ache and stress of shedding it to a thief is nicely well worth the cash. So, after over a 12 months of firsthand expertise proudly owning a Monimoto, I emphatically say YES.
Accessible from: Monimoto USA & EU / Australia
Article important picture by way of Freepik
