Bike Security

[Davel]

Just bought me first bike - a s/h BMW650GS, 2 years old 3,500 miles.

Don't want it to be nicked so what advice would you give to make it more secure.

It'll be parked in a locked courtyard or garage most nights and outside my office during the day but should get those little dot things or alarm it as well.

Help please?

[bikerkeith]

If a low-life wants your bike, he'll get it no matter what devices you use. By using locks, immobilisers, alarms, datatags etc you will put off the casual tea-leaf. When you come to sell it, don't under any circumstances let a prospective buyer have a test ride, in fact don't even let him sit on it with the engine running 'cos I've seen a bike nicked in those circumstances. Situations like that make trade-ins an attractive option.
The more you spend on deterrents buys you more peace of mind, its up to you how much.

[tomash]

Normally you get a discout on your insurance if you have an alarm fitted. My insurers did.

The one thing that will catch you out is getting a disc lock. One day you'll jump on the bike fire her up and get about 2 feet before the front wheel locks up and you find yourself on the road. Thinking bugger forgot about the lock.

[ben lizard]

{Normally you get a discout on your insurance if you have an alarm fitted. My insurers did.

The one thing that will catch you out is getting a disc lock. One day you'll jump on the bike fire her up and get about 2 feet before the front wheel locks up and you find yourself on the road. Thinking bugger forgot about the lock.}

Been there done that as well don't have feel a right gimp picking the bike off the deck infront of the nieghbours

got an immbolizer on mine , not any bother expect you have to disarm it after any time you shut down the engine

[dern]

I'd carry some kind of chain if you can carry it safely (ie not over your shoulder) to lock it to something while at work. Your insurance may require you to have some kind of alarm too.

My blade has a massive chain that fits under the seat, honda smart water (which is like alphadot and similar to datatag), an alarm and believe it or not two immobilisers (one that honda fit that only works with the honda key and one with the alarm). Not that I'm paranoid you understand .

Mark

[mechsympathy]

ben lizard said: {Normally you get a discout on your insurance if you have an alarm fitted. My insurers did.

The one thing that will catch you out is getting a disc lock. One day you'll jump on the bike fire her up and get about 2 feet before the front wheel locks up and you find yourself on the road. Thinking bugger forgot about the lock.}

Been there done that as well don't have feel a right gimp picking the bike off the deck infront of the nieghbours

Likewise, leaving in a hurry, fractured my wrist at some stage during the proceedings (and broke the caliper mounting bracket). Started putting the lock on just behind the caliper so that I couldn't get so much momentum up, but haven't forgotten since. Amazing how a bit of pain helps with the learning process.

A ground anchor is proabably a sound investment, bearing in mind that most of the population will watch an alarmed bike being carried off.

[smeagol]

My dad has a disk lock but it came with an ignition cap which you put where the key goes. ie you can't put your key in without removing the cap and reminding you to unlock the disk. Seems like a good idea to me.

I have seen several imobilised bikes have problems with not starting. Okay its at the races and the vast majority of bikes get away but something to consider.

[gixxer1000]

Definitely concur on the ground anchor option. My bike lives directly outside the house under a cover and had it not been for my thick Abus chain and lock, and the ground anchor it was chained to, I would have lost it.

Twice would be robbers checked the bike out (I know because the cover was lifted right up) and gave up. They did however pinch my number plate and cloned the bike!!! Police recovered my plate and the stolen bike they had put it on a couple of days later, but not before they had ran amock pretending to be me. Luckily I had reported the number plate theft to the police and was not implicated in their wrong-doings.

[s2ooz]

look for "sold secure" on chains. They suggest a 5 minute prevention test has passed.

I wouldnt carry the chain, try and get it under your seat. If you do come off, the chain will make nasty dents in flesh and bone.

alpha dotting is like datatag too, but far cheaper. more preventive than recovery.

[s2ooz]

Just read a report in RiDE, that 50% of bikes stolen are scooters, so watch out you newbie riders! make sure you lock them up, and to something solid.