[pavel_lishin]

Isn't this something that would be trivially bypassed by passing a big spark through the frame? Burn out all electronics, without harming the rest of the bike.

[brk]

Most likely not.

First, how you are going to pass a "big spark" through the frame? Carry around a big ass battery while you're on the hunt for bikes?

Secondly, the current would follow the path of least resistance, through the frame itself. Unlikely to really affect a module inside the frame, especially if that module is wrapped in an insulator.

[pavel_lishin]

I imagine it wouldn't be done on the spot - pedal to where you parked your theftomatic van, which comes with a nice, big battery pre-installed.

[agumonkey]

Good point, but how much current would it require ? wouldn't this be too big to carry noisy and even smelly ?

[wiredfool]

Metal tubes make a nice Faraday cage.