Discovering that the place where you parked your e-MTB is now vacant is a nightmare scenario for any rider. What’s even worse is that this gut-wrenching situation has occurred to many of us, and it’s closer to reality than we might care to acknowledge. In the ever-evolving world of e-Bikes, Bosch has proven itself with their ultra-reliable Smart System motors, but the latest addition, the Bosch ConnectModule or BCM, brings an added level of security.
According to Bosch with its vast experience in the tool sector, it has the batteries and motors pretty well covered and the future of e-bikes is in digital solutions. Launched back in 2021, the Smart System aims to seamlessly integrate the controller, motor, and batteries with the Bosch Flow app for customisation and updates. The Bosch ConnectModule combines a touch of hardware and a bit of tech to provide a degree of anti-theft protection, well beyond an Airtag glued under the saddle. A small dongle that is mounted inside the motor cover it’s only compatible with Smart System-equipped eMTBs, and you’ll know you have one if your bike can connect to the app.
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At a glance, the Bosch ConnectModule with the Flow+ premium subscription offers:
- Integrated battery which will stay charged via the eBike battery
- Movement sensors to activate alarms and send alerts
- Two-stage acoustic alarm
- GPS tracker
- Mobile notifications
- Theft reporting
Tracking without a Bluetooth connection
The Flow+ subscription is required to access the acoustic alarm, motion sensors, mobile notifications, and location tracking. The free Flow app will only have access to the eBike lock feature, disabling the motor and battery. That’s because it doesn’t need to piggyback a mobile phone for GPS tracking and the like, instead it has a sim card that’s connected to a wireless network — so your subscription is covering that cost. That also means you don’t need to be within Bluetooth range to activate the alarm or lock.
If you have a Kiox 300 or Kiox 500 head unit, you can set that as the key. If you don’t have these and as long as you have a compatible Bosch motor, you will default back to using the Flow app as the key. Should your phone be out of action or the battery dies, it’s just a matter of logging in again on another device and connecting via Bluetooth.
Once the lock has been activated the system features a two-stage audio alarm. The first stage alarm beeps away when it detects motion to hopefully scare off a thief, whilst sending you a notification that your bike has moved. If it then detects the bike has moved away via GPS it will set off the second warning alarm, and begin tracking your bike. In the unfortunate event that your bike has been taken, the app can automatically generate a theft report with all relevant information about the incident and details of your bike.
Installation can only be conducted at a certified Bosch eBike service centre, which you can locate via the app, and took less than 15 minutes to install. Our Bosch ConnectModule was fitted to a 2022 CUBE Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC SL, which required an upgraded motor cover with a little more room for the unit. Not all bikes will need this, and most newer models will come with the upgraded cover from the factory. For bikes purchased in 2022, Bosch notes the BCM is only compatible with bikes with a 750Wh battery, for 2023 models it’ll play nice with all bikes that have a 500Wh battery or higher.
The small unit fits snuggly within the motor cover. It has a built-in battery, which will continually charge off your eMTB battery so it can stay operational even if the main battery is disconnected. In lock mode the software deactivates the motor and battery, providing another level of deterrence even if any component of the system is removed.
Customisable security settings:
The BCM is the only OEM offered aftermarket alarm and location tracker that we know of currently available in Australia, and it’s this integration with the other components that makes it stand out from third-party options like the Knog Scout. It is currently available from Bosch eBike service dealers for $224.95 and comes with 12 months free subscription to Flow+. The subscription is priced at $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually, and includes mobile service so that the unit can send notifications and access GPS services.
