160 million euros is the amount German insurers paid out in compensation for bicycle theft in 2023 – a new negative record! To help you avoid becoming part of the theft statistics, Bosch offer the ConnectModule and the Flow+ subscription. We put the GPS tracker and premium service to the test for you.
Although the number of reported bicycle thefts has not risen in recent years, the value of the bikes stolen has increased. One reason for this is that bike thieves are specialising in high-value bikes. Expensive ebikes are increasingly becoming the object of unlawful desire.
Bosch now offer their own tracking service with the corresponding hardware for all ebikes with a Bosch Smart System. The Bosch ConnectModule is a small tracking device with an integrated motion sensor, GPS tracker and mobile phone module (LTE & NB-IoT). Bosch charge € 139 for the retrofit kit, but you can get it from online retailers for as little as € 100. In addition to the one-off purchase price, there are ongoing charges for the Flow+ service, as the ConnectModule transmits its position via the mobile phone network. In comparison to Apple AirTags, for example, this means that it works regardless of whether there is an Apple user nearby. Unsurprisingly, however, the mobile operator wants to be paid for the service. After a free trial year, the following year costs € 39.99, or you can opt for a monthly subscription for € 4.99 per month. We tested the electronic guard dog for you.
Installing the Bosch ConnectModule
The first hurdle when installing the ConnectModule is choosing the right version. There are two models: one for ebikes with Bosch Performance Line CX and Cargo Line motors, and another one for Performance Line drive systems. The models have different mounting plates, each of which only fits the corresponding motor. In most cases, the ConnectModule is attached directly to the motor. However, if the bike manufacturer haven’t included space for the module in their customised motor cover, it will need to be mounted elsewhere on the frame.
The compact Bosch Performance Line SX motor doesn’t have a mounting option at all, but you can usually find a free corner on the down tube – e.g. between the battery and the motor – where the ConnectModule will fit.
The ConnectModule has two cable connectors that can be plugged into the connection from the motor to the display or from the motor to the control unit. The retrofit kit includes a short cable for this purpose, meaning you don’t have to disconnect any cables yourself.
One end goes to the motor and the other to the LED/Purion 200 remote control, the system controller or the Kiox 300/500 display, depending on what is currently installed on your ebike. If you have a wired remote and a Kiox display on your bike, the ConnectModule goes into the cable connection from the motor to the display. The retrofit kit also includes a rubber plug that fits flush between the top of the ConnectModule and the CX motor, ensuring a secure fit under the cover.
If there is enough space under the motor cover to fit the module, installation is as easy as connecting an electric barbecue in the garden to a living room socket with an extension cord. However, if your bike manufacturer have excessively encased the motor with a custom-made cover, inexperienced ebike mechanics may want to visit their Bosch dealer for assistance.
Fortunately, more and more manufacturers are starting to equip their Bosch ebikes with a ConnectModule as standard, such as the Canyon Strive:ON and the Moustache J.
The last step is to activate the Flow+ service in the Bosch Flow app and connect it with your ebike. You will then be able to activate the new function under eBike Lock & Alarm.
The Bosch ConnectModule’s eBike Alarm functions
The eBike Lock function comes standard on every Bosch Smart System motor. With it, the motor is locked when it is switched off and can only be unlocked via the smartphone or a Kiox display. The eBike Lock is a prerequisite for the newly added eBike Alarm functions and must therefore be activated.
eBike Alarm adds location tracking as well as alarm and notification functions. A new feature is the “Parking location”. Have you taken a taxi home after a night out and can’t remember where you left your ebike? Just click on the address line under your saved ebike in the Flow app and you will be shown its last known location.
And don’t worry about a dead ebike battery after you’ve been frantically circling the roundabout looking for the exit last night – the Bosch ConnectModule has its own 650 mAh battery for this purpose.
This battery charges itself from the main battery. Your ebike doesn’t even need to be switched on – the ConnectModule can wake it up from standby mode and perform a so-called service charge. According to Bosch, this process takes place every 4–14 days when the ebike is switched off. You can view the charge status of the ConnectModule battery in the eBike Flow app.
If you have activated the eBike Alarm in the Flow app, any suspicious movement when the bike is switched off triggers a rapid beeping sound. The alarm sounds like a parking assistant when you are within 5 cm of the bumper of the car behind you. In addition, the LEDs on the remote give a telltale light show and the display shows “eBike locked”. This may deter opportunistic thieves.
However, if a determined thief is not deterred by the audio-visual signals, the ConnectModule will initiate the second stage of the alarm. A slightly louder honking sound, similar to a car alarm, is emitted for approximately one minute. Still, it is nowhere near as shrill and loud as a car alarm. Nowadays, with so many people cruising around the city park with boom boxes on their handlebar, the alarm horn is unlikely to inspire passers-by to intervene.
Interestingly, the ConnectModule does not have a speaker of its own, but uses the motor’s speaker. If the thief manages to remove the battery quickly enough, the alarm is silenced immediately.
If you doubt the deterrent effect of the alarm and do not want to attract attention with a false alarm – which could be triggered by a clumsy bump – you can deactivate the alarm sounds. The anti-theft protection remains active and works as a silent alarm.
When the ebike detects movement in the protected state, it sends a notification to the smartphone. If the location then changes, tracking mode is activated. The ConnectModule sends its location to the smartphone at short intervals and records a movement history so that the thief’s route can be traced.
According to Bosch, the ConnectModule is designed to provide location updates for up to a week in tracking mode. To conserve battery power, location updates are only sent when movement is detected. If a bike is moved around a lot, say in an underground car park where there’s no reception, the ConnectModule will try to make a connection until reception is restored.
If you plan to travel with your ebike, you can activate the transport mode. The bike is still protected by the eBike Lock function, but all alarm and tracking functions are temporarily deactivated. This means that movements will not trigger notifications and no location updates will be sent.
The problem is that you can only deactivate the transport mode with your smartphone within Bluetooth range, not remotely. If your ebike is stolen from the rear luggage rack at a motorway service station or from the bike compartment on a train while you’re in the toilet, you won’t be able to find it. You should therefore always switch off the transport mode if you leave your ebike unattended, even if it’s only for a short time.
Conclusion on the Bosch ConnectModule and the Flow+ subscription service
Equipping a Bosch ebike with a GPS tracker and mobile phone module has never been easier than with the ConnectModule. Thanks to its integration into the Bosch Smart System, the functionality is better than with comparable third-party solutions. Better still, the first bike manufacturers are already installing the electronic anti-theft system as standard. This is a clear recommendation from us, although the rather quiet alarm and the lack of remote support in transport mode are a little disappointing.
Tops
- silent alarm
- relatively easy to retrofit
- some manufacturers are already using the ConnectModule in series production
Flops
- alarm sound too quiet
- tracking cannot be activated remotely
- no dedicated mounting point on the Bosch Performance Line SX motor
Fore more information, visit bosch-ebike.com
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Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Antonia Feder
