Once a bulky black box that screamed “here it is” gps tracker solutions have come a long way. Now refined gps bicycle trackers with long battery life exist that can be hidden deep inside your bike frame or saddlebag or even inside the hollow of your stem and handlebars. Some are even disguised as common accessories like a tail light or water bottle cage.
One such option is the BikeFinder GPS tracker (link to external site) that sits in your taillight, doubles as a working light and also enables you to monitor movement on a phone-enabled app. It has motion sensors and a loud 107db siren that sounds when it detects movement of the bike. It’s not perfect though – it relies on 2G connectivity to connect to your phone which might be patchy in remote locations and does not offer insurance – but for a small price the BikeFinder is a pretty good choice as long as you don’t mind having to remove your light to charge it.
Another option is the Apple AirTag, which works in a similar manner to a Tile tracker. However, as it requires an iPhone to connect with it – which many people don’t have – it will only be of use to you in the case of a stolen bike that has been left within range of your current location.
A much more discreet option is the Invoxia IQ TRAIL BLUE, which uses the Sigfox network to connect to your smartphone. It has a slim design like a stick of gum which allows it to be placed in more places on your bike without being noticed. It has some of the best anti-theft settings as well, with geofencing and tilt monitoring.