Prevent bike being lifted?
Discussion
Go with friends, or ask another biker when you get there, and lock your chain through theirs. It's what we do when we think things are higher risk as it's harder to lift two/three bikes than one. As it's locked chain to chain you both gain while there, but can both escape when you want (at which point the gain ends).
If you are with friends so arriving and leaving together, rather than lock through chains if there's three or more of us we position the bikes in a triangle/circle and lock front to back wheels so every wheel is chained to the wheel of another bike.
Look for better spots e.g. lock around a tree/fence at the edge of a carpark. Park right next to the security guards, park away from where any vans can get to (they'll want the van close to minimise people interrupting), etc. Park under street lights at night.
Look for a more stealable bike than yours to park next to, especially if you can find one without added security...a better and easier to steal bike will always go first!
All of this can help but, no matter what you do, a determine thief will take your bike. All you can do is make it better for them to take someone else's.
If you are with friends so arriving and leaving together, rather than lock through chains if there's three or more of us we position the bikes in a triangle/circle and lock front to back wheels so every wheel is chained to the wheel of another bike.
Look for better spots e.g. lock around a tree/fence at the edge of a carpark. Park right next to the security guards, park away from where any vans can get to (they'll want the van close to minimise people interrupting), etc. Park under street lights at night.
Look for a more stealable bike than yours to park next to, especially if you can find one without added security...a better and easier to steal bike will always go first!
All of this can help but, no matter what you do, a determine thief will take your bike. All you can do is make it better for them to take someone else's.
Motorsport3 said:
I chain mine on the wheel of my car. I also use a sturdy disc lock. I also lock the steering.
All of them can be broken but would take more time and generate noise so hopefully that is a deterrent in itself.
Seems a bit extreme to take your car with you everywhere you go .All of them can be broken but would take more time and generate noise so hopefully that is a deterrent in itself.
These threads sadden me. Biking is supposed to be about fun and freedom.
I lived in a rough part of SE London for my early biking life in the 80s and 90s and never worried about crime or whether the bikes would get nicked if I commuted into central London.
Never used more than the steering lock. Yes! I did have one bike nicked. My brand new 1988 CBR600 that I ran in heading down to the Bol D'Or, South of France.
Got nicked from outside my hotel.
It was only come the 2000s when things went mental. Why?
I had to wrap my T-Max in 3 chains which got tiresome, plus having to carry them everywhere. I'd come out of the flat in the morning, look at it and think, I can't be arsed and take the car instead.
My current bike sits in my garage under a cover with a big chain around the back wheel and disc locks front and back.
The fact that I have to do that really pi55es me off. Sad state of affairs
I'd rather it was in the street outside my front door ready for me to swing a leg over it and head off to the shops where I could leave it by the entrance, unencumbered by chains and locks.
I lived in a rough part of SE London for my early biking life in the 80s and 90s and never worried about crime or whether the bikes would get nicked if I commuted into central London.
Never used more than the steering lock. Yes! I did have one bike nicked. My brand new 1988 CBR600 that I ran in heading down to the Bol D'Or, South of France.
Got nicked from outside my hotel.
It was only come the 2000s when things went mental. Why?
I had to wrap my T-Max in 3 chains which got tiresome, plus having to carry them everywhere. I'd come out of the flat in the morning, look at it and think, I can't be arsed and take the car instead.
My current bike sits in my garage under a cover with a big chain around the back wheel and disc locks front and back.
The fact that I have to do that really pi55es me off. Sad state of affairs
I'd rather it was in the street outside my front door ready for me to swing a leg over it and head off to the shops where I could leave it by the entrance, unencumbered by chains and locks.
As others have said, there is only so much you can do. Unless you have something ultra rare and valuable I'd not stress much at a bike show or BSB event etc. Take yourself a lock and link it with next doors bike's chain to max the security you have available to you. It's sad but its life and same with my car, I stressed about it being nicked when I bought it and realised it was taking the enjoyment away, do the best I can and accept it.
Fit one of these.
https://www.motea.uk/motorcycle-aluminium-top-box-...
Place a 65l water bladder inside, at the last petrol station before parking up fill it with water, ride and park up. Your bike is now 65kg heavier than usual making it more difficult to lift into a van. Before leaving simply empty your bladder.
https://www.motea.uk/motorcycle-aluminium-top-box-...
Place a 65l water bladder inside, at the last petrol station before parking up fill it with water, ride and park up. Your bike is now 65kg heavier than usual making it more difficult to lift into a van. Before leaving simply empty your bladder.
croyde said:
These threads sadden me. Biking is supposed to be about fun and freedom.
I lived in a rough part of SE London for my early biking life in the 80s and 90s and never worried about crime or whether the bikes would get nicked if I commuted into central London.
Never used more than the steering lock. Yes! I did have one bike nicked. My brand new 1988 CBR600 that I ran in heading down to the Bol D'Or, South of France.
Got nicked from outside my hotel.
It was only come the 2000s when things went mental. Why?
I had to wrap my T-Max in 3 chains which got tiresome, plus having to carry them everywhere. I'd come out of the flat in the morning, look at it and think, I can't be arsed and take the car instead.
My current bike sits in my garage under a cover with a big chain around the back wheel and disc locks front and back.
The fact that I have to do that really pi55es me off. Sad state of affairs
I'd rather it was in the street outside my front door ready for me to swing a leg over it and head off to the shops where I could leave it by the entrance, unencumbered by chains and locks.
I’m 100% with you Croyde. I live in a lovely place, nice area, but that means nothing - scrotes will come to nice areas to nick your nice stuff. I lived in a rough part of SE London for my early biking life in the 80s and 90s and never worried about crime or whether the bikes would get nicked if I commuted into central London.
Never used more than the steering lock. Yes! I did have one bike nicked. My brand new 1988 CBR600 that I ran in heading down to the Bol D'Or, South of France.
Got nicked from outside my hotel.
It was only come the 2000s when things went mental. Why?
I had to wrap my T-Max in 3 chains which got tiresome, plus having to carry them everywhere. I'd come out of the flat in the morning, look at it and think, I can't be arsed and take the car instead.
My current bike sits in my garage under a cover with a big chain around the back wheel and disc locks front and back.
The fact that I have to do that really pi55es me off. Sad state of affairs
I'd rather it was in the street outside my front door ready for me to swing a leg over it and head off to the shops where I could leave it by the entrance, unencumbered by chains and locks.
I was cursing the way things are the other day, I needed to move some cars and bikes round and had to carry out this huge handful of keys. It’s such a f
king ballache. My bikes are chained with a 16mm and 19mm Pragmasis chain on each bike. Just moving them is a complete and utter tt of a job just getting these heavy chains off. Let alone the locks on the garage, alarm etc. I really cannot understand what makes people take what isn’t theirs. It baffles me.
Back to the OP - chain it to another bike, loop your lock through theirs. Nobody, not even a bunch of burly blokes are going to be able to pick up two motorbikes at a time and bundle the whole, disjointed angular mass into the back of a Transit.
Moulder said:
Fit one of these.
https://www.motea.uk/motorcycle-aluminium-top-box-...
Place a 65l water bladder inside, at the last petrol station before parking up fill it with water, ride and park up. Your bike is now 65kg heavier than usual making it more difficult to lift into a van. Before leaving simply empty your bladder.
I like!https://www.motea.uk/motorcycle-aluminium-top-box-...
Place a 65l water bladder inside, at the last petrol station before parking up fill it with water, ride and park up. Your bike is now 65kg heavier than usual making it more difficult to lift into a van. Before leaving simply empty your bladder.
Dog Star said:
Back to the OP - chain it to another bike, loop your lock through theirs. Nobody, not even a bunch of burly blokes are going to be able to pick up two motorbikes at a time and bundle the whole, disjointed angular mass into the back of a Transit.
I do tend to travel alone, but I guess bikers are generally friendly so I could ask whoever is next to me if they mind?Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff