How the Cowboy auto-lock, alarm and theft tracking work
A Cowboy has no mechanical lock. 'Lock' means the motor is disabled and the alarm is armed; the bike can still be lifted into a van, so always use a physical lock as well.
Step by step
- Open the Cowboy app and connect to the bike (Bluetooth on, bike awake).
- Tap the lock icon on the home screen to lock manually. The bike beeps and the rear light flashes twice.
- Enable 'Auto-lock': Settings > 'Bike' > 'Auto-lock'. The bike locks when your phone moves out of Bluetooth range and unlocks when you come back.
- Enable 'Theft alarm' (Cowboy 4 / Cruiser): Settings > 'Bike' > 'Alarm'. Movement while locked triggers the alarm and a push notification.
- 'Find my bike': the bike has a SIM and GPS. On the home screen tap 'Find my bike' to see its last position. Cowboy 3 and older need the 'Cowboy Connect' data plan; Cowboy 4 / Cruiser include it for a period, then it becomes a subscription.
- Report a theft in-app: Settings > 'Bike' > 'Report stolen'. The bike is flagged in Cowboy's database and Cowboy support can share GPS data with the police.
Can't find it?
If you see no lock icon the app is not connected. If 'Find my bike' shows 'No connectivity', the bike's SIM plan has expired (Cowboy 3) or the bike has been without GSM coverage for days.
Frequently asked
Does the lock work without the app or internet?
Manual lock/unlock works over Bluetooth without internet. Alarm push notifications and GPS need the bike's own mobile connection, which depends on Cowboy's servers and SIM contracts staying active under the new owner.
My Cowboy unlocked itself at the cafe.
Your phone in your pocket was still within Bluetooth range. Lock manually or increase the auto-lock distance in Settings.
Is the motor lock enough against theft?
No. It stops a thief riding away with assist, nothing more. Insurers require an approved physical lock.
Manuals and video
Videos found on YouTube and checked automatically; they are other people's work, not ours.
- Cowboy 4 battery removal with Abus ringlock #ebike Rick-Anthony del Toro
- Cowboy: Auto Unlock Tim Rijckaert