This is a pretty neat idea!
- UNLIKE TRADITIONAL LOCKS, IF A THIEF TRIES TO STEAL A YERKA, HE WOULD HAVE TO BREAK THE FRAME, THE MOST STRUCTURAL PART OF THE BIKE. THE BIKE WOULD HAVE NO USE AND THE THIEF IS LEFT EMPTY-HANDED.
IF BY ANY CHANCE THE THIEF BREAKS THE STRUCTURE YOUR YERKA WAS SECURED TO, HE WON’T BE ABLE TO RIDE IT. WHEN THE FRAME IS IN ITS LOCKING POSITION, BLOCKS THE CRANK SET AND PEDALS TOO, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RIDE. THE LOCK FEATURES A REINFORCED COLLAR OVER KEYWAY AND HIGH SECURITY DISC- STYLE CYLINDER FOR INCREASED PROTECTION.
I've seen bikes without a bottom tube, so if this bike is structurally sound enough to ride, a thief could, with enough time and resources cut that part of the frame. The seat would have to be replaced eventually, but for the initial get away, the thief wouldn't need a seat. Of course, it wouldn't be a stolen good that could be easily sold, which is likely to deter theft more than the actual locking mechanism, and overall, it's not a terrible idea, but it could be stolen and used. It's also not a great bike in way of features. The picture only has a front brake like a BMX bike, which it most certaintly is not. It is also either a fixed or a single-gear, which is a weird choice for this kind of bike. I think it would be better if they had spent the time to design a nice bike that happens to be it's own lock, rather than seemingly designing a lock that happens to be a bike.
The thing is, cutting through the bottom tube doesn't release the pedals. The bike is immobile while it's in the locked position. It would take quite a lot of effort I imagine to get it mobile again... I'd wager more effort that the average bike-thief is willing to go to. I agree that it's a little feature sparse. Some extra gears and decent brakes would definitely be a welcome addition.
From what I can tell from the info they give on the site, all that is blocking the pedals is the lower section of the bottom tube. Having a setting on the wheel nuts that locks them in place would be a better way to do this. Faced with the modern thieves arsenal of rotor saws and cutting torches, especially considering the msterials seem inferior to the standard U-lock. A lot of bike thievery has become about finding time, so they'll hit overnight lots or even put their own locks on and come back later. This design would work fine against a high school petty thief, but the pros who are stealing 500 bikes a year and fencing them wouldn't even be fazed. Now, I agree that the average bike thief would probably leave it, but any quality U-lock, or even chain lock could achieve the same. I just know that from what I've seen of it, I could steal it, and so people who are actually inclined and equipped could do so with less effort.