Modern Buddy

This week I bought a Genuine RoughHouse R50 scooter here in Boston from Scooters Go Green (Great guys!).

While deciding how to deal with protecting my scooter from theft, I decided that I didn't want to deal with the inconvenience of dragging around a huge, expensive lock, and always tying up my Rough House -- so I did some research and came across the Zoombak GPS.



I've since gotten it in, set it up, and hidden it in my scooter, and it works great!

Here's the basic setup:

1. ~$100 for the physical hardware
2. It captures your GPS location information for free from the sky, but then needs to relay that information over the cellphone network (uses T-Mobile) back to their servers.
3. Because it uses the cell network, you need to pay a ~$10/mo fee which covers that, and usage of their website.
4. The device can be charged and last 5 days at a time, or you could buy the Auto Installation Kit and get it hooked up to your battery. (I'm working on this with the guys at Scooters Go Green later this week - I'll keep everyone updated!)
5. It only updates every 15 minutes unless you visit the website and enable 'continuous tracking' mode - 60 minutes of 5-minute updates.
6. Whether on normal 15-minute updates or continuous mode, you can see a map over time of points where it has registered your scooter as being located.
7. You can setup 'alert zones' - To get notified via SMS or email if your scooter enters or leaves a zone. Ex: 'If my scooter leaves work between 9:30-4:30, page me' (aka gets stolen).

I purchased the GPS Universal, and the Auto Installation Kit is on its way.

Some helpful links:
Zoombak (their website)
Zoombak ZMBK300 (Amazon Review of what I bought)
Zoombak $15 Off - My referral link that gets you $15 off!
Additional Coupons from RetailMeNot ex: 50% off accessories.

P.S. If you're in Boston, help contribute to a Free Scooter Parking Google Map effort thats on-going

Note: This was cross-posted from my website.

that's a cool idea. let us know how it all works once it's finished.

Yes, I think you should go for a GPS tracking device. I am using https://www.gofleet.com/product/gps-veh ... ing-device this device for over two years. And thanks God I am happy with it and still my bike is safe. I heard about other devices like tomtom, brickhousecurity....etc....Anyone you can try...But my suggestion go for the brand value..

The problem that I see with the device you described is that the GPS tracking device doesn't seem to have much visible deterrent value. It won't stop your scooter from being stolen, just let's you know when it is stolen and should aid in its recovery. However, what you may recover might end up being a trashed scooter with the front panel ripped off, the ignition set destroyed, and ignition wires cut. The value of a good, visible lock is not only that it "secures" your scooter to an immovable object but that it also discourages a would be thief from deciding to try and steal it in the first place.

If you are willing to spend the upfront and continuing costs associated with the GPS tracking device you purchased, I would personally also use it in conjunction with other security measures like a solid lock or alarm not in lieu of one of these other options.