Development of a new EasyBlock - PCX 2021 Edition
If you are familiar with EasyBlock, you probably know that each anti-theft device is designed to fit a specific motorcycle or scooter.
Many riders in our community have asked us how we design our scooter locks, so we thought we'd take the opportunity to show you how we did it for the brand-new Honda PCX 2021 model. (June 2021 version)
First of all, we are proud to say that all EasyBlock wheel locks are made in Italy.
We have some of the best engineers and use many different manufacturing techniques to create products of the highest standards of quality and safety for our community.
When designing a new prototype, such as the new Honda PCX 2021 EasyBlock, we go through a certain number of stages.
PHASE 1: RESEARCH
Every year, manufacturers release a new version of a scooter with minor changes and updates. Sometimes this means the previous year's model will still fit, but sometimes we have to modify it.
The most significant change occurs every 3-5 years when a scooter model undergoes a major update, which usually means we have to design a completely new EasyBlock system for it.
When this happens, we use our official dealers to help us get our hands on the new scooter as quickly as possible, and that's when prototyping and testing begin.
PHASE 2: PROTOTYPING
First of all, we consider which part of the new bike would provide the best support for attaching the EasyBlock to the bike.
In doing so, we consider both aesthetic and technical aspects. We always strive to create a product that offers maximum protection while integrating perfectly into the bike's design.
Next, we compare the differences between the new and old bike models and check whether any of our other 50+ EasyBlock models have a similar mounting system.
If we are lucky, there will be a model with a design very similar to the one we need, and we can use it as the basis for our initial prototype; otherwise, we start from scratch.
We were somewhat fortunate with the 2021 Honda PCX and could use a mounting point similar to the one used for our Honda Sh 125cc model.
However, we often prototype a couple of product versions that attach to different mounting points. This gives us the opportunity to test multiple options before committing to a final version.
Once we are satisfied with the prototypes, we move on to the testing and evaluation phase.
PHASE 3: TESTING AND EVALUATION
At this stage, we work directly with our community of riders and dealers to further refine the prototype and ultimately decide which version we will produce.
This allows us to receive feedback even before production begins.
For the 2021 Honda PCX, we sent the prototypes to London and worked directly with the London Motorcycle Centre (LMC), which has some of London's most experienced mechanics and support staff.
LMC is also quite close to our headquarters, making it an excellent place for us to meet and engage with our community.
At LMC, we met Mohsin, one of the riders in our London community, who had previously used our EasyBlock for the 2018 PCX model.
He kindly offered us his brand-new 2021 PCX to test our prototypes.
With the help of Wilson Negretti, our mechanic at LMC for the day, we fitted both prototypes to Mohsin's scooter.
Once we were seated, we gathered the other staff members, including LMC workshop manager Paulo, to examine the pros and cons of both prototypes. We had to consider the security and ease of use provided by the different prototypes, as well as the ease of installation for the mechanics who would fit our finished product.
TIME TO DECIDE
For the 2021 PCX, we had two prototypes that used two different mounting points on the motorcycle.
In the end, based on the test feedback and our assessment of the security implications of both locks, we chose the lock positioned just below the exhaust.
This position makes it easy for the rider to lock and unlock quickly and makes it quite difficult for potential thieves to attack the system with an angle grinder, one of the most common tools used by scooter thieves in Europe.
We also decided to add extra protection for this model by using a special type of security bolt, which would make removal with standard tools almost impossible.
REAL-WORLD USER TESTING
We therefore left the prototype lock on Mohsin's bike to give him time to test it the following week and report any issues we might have missed. In this situation, it was perfect. So we are extremely pleased that the test was a complete success.
PHASE 4: PRODUCTION
The next step is to start creating our first batch of wheel locks for the 2021 PCX. Since this model was quite similar to the previous versions we had made, there will be no delays in producing the locks, which means we are planning to go from prototype to testing and production in less than a month.
The 2021 PCX model will begin shipping in early June. You can find the preorder page using the following button.
We take our work at EasyBlock very seriously. We are always looking to improve our wheel locks and increase the number of bikes we equip with our security systems.
We believe that security is vital for our motorcycling community and that every day without an EasyBlock lock could mean another scooter being stolen.
We are grateful to our community for all the help they provide and for the great fun we have at every meetup.
Best regards,
EasyBlock Team
P.S.: Special thanks to:
Mohsin for providing his beautiful bike and valuable feedback
Wilson Cavera for his skilled hands and optimistic attitude
LMC staff who always support us in every situation, it's fantastic working with you guys!
