Motorcycle Security

After my first Street Scrambler was stolen (yeah, I know!!) I bought a new alarmed disclok and a medium sized padlock and chain and decided to ACTUALLY USE THEM! when stopping off anywhere for a brew or shopping etc. I make sure I fit the disclok and chain the bike to something solid. Discloks are a good deterent IMO but I can guarantee they are feckin' useless left in a bag on the luggage rack!
At home, all the bikes are chained together with a wall anchor in an alarmed garage.

 

I have a disc lock and that’s it…if they want it, they will take it…the lock is only going to slow them down and maybe have them go to another bike. Watched a video couple months back about how easy it was to steal a bike and “break” different locks, chains, alarms, etc. The quickest one, involved two guys and a van…bike had a disc lock and chained to a parking meter. They pulled the van beside the bike, door opened and #1 cuts off the meter pole with a cordless cut off wheel, #1 and #2 pick up bike to toss into the van and off they go…total time was 20-30 seconds…without being chained to the meter it would have been under 10 seconds if I had to guess. Crazy fast how they can pretty much bypass any lock with a cordless grinder or saw.

 

I can remember an article in MCN years ago where the police stopped a van in the early hours of the morning which drove past them making a strange noise. In the back of the van was a nearly new FZR1000 with the alarm going off! Like you say, if they want it and they have the time and the tools, they'll get it.

 

Hmmm.....interesting. I'm of the opposite opinion that you can't have too much security in place. But that comes from being a retired insurance broker, having seen so many examples of theft (not just bikes/vehicles) where clients had not used security. Made me paranoid, probably. But each to their own. Do you lock your house door when you go out, I wonder? It only takes a couple of seconds to break in, so why bother?

 

I'm with you on this. I use the Pragmasis DIB D-lock securing their 16mm chain to their Torc wall mount in my garage at home. Also use their 11mm chain as well. That is also just about light enough to carry with me when I go out on the bike, and the DIB D-lock secures that to anything handy, and can also act as a disc lock. My garage has CCTV cover inside, and I park a car in front of the garage door!!! Pragmasis products have great reviews on MCN, Bennetts Bike Social, etc. They are Motorcycle Gold rated by Sold Secure.
It's true that a thief can still get your bike if they really are determined, but I'd rather make it as difficult possible to get mine, so they can go after someone else's who can't be bothered with security.

 

That's it in a nutshell really. Just make an attempted theft as difficult and time consuming as possible. Short of having an ED209 guard your machine(s), that's all you can do.

 

Current house, yes...last house rarely, even when on vacation for a week we rarely locked it. Breaking into current house would not be recommended, I would know you're probably on the property, as our chocolate lab would be going nuts...the German shepherd on the other hand would be VERY quiet, until you are in the house...at that point, my money is on the dog

 

It sounds like you've got your house security sorted! Maybe you need one of these for the bike, though in a bigger size

 

Should probably be mentioned some insurance companies offer cheaper premiums if you use locks with a particular rating.

 

Just ordered from Pragmasis uk/Security for bikes this discount code is still valid from Bennett’s PRAG2303 safe riding all

 

Our GSD goes nuts to everyone outside our place

 

Don't disregard the cheek of these lowlifes.......

A friend bought a new off road bike (£9.5k) only a month or so ago.
Here is a picture on it's maiden day out with my youngest and I.

First photo below, the bike literally is two hours old.

The bike had only had two outings from brand new, and around 10 hours max usage in his possession before it was stored in his dining room one Thursday night. Two locks were used to secure it.
He was later fast asleep in the room above when someone decided to help themselves.

Next morning, the kitchen was upside down, bike gone and the patio doors wide open.

 

I use a similar set up with an added u-lock for good measure, as you say just to make it as difficult as possible

 

My advice would be get the best security you can afford, I won't post my own security, however I have mentioned before on the forum that anyone attempting to break into my garage/house will be in for some serious pain, and a trip to the local hospital, and it is all perfectly legal. 30 years working in the Criminal Justice System (a new career after calling it a day as a mechanic), this has made me extremely aware of the lengths criminals will go to in stealing peoples property, and I have unfortunately seen the very worst of this, at times it ha sled to tragic consequences, and nearly always it is the victim. Even to slow these people down with any security has to be a good thing, I personally don't get why people spend a huge amount buying their pride and joy and then baulk at paying another few hundred pounds on security. On the same theme be very careful about posting details regarding your pre ride out destinations, an awful lot of offenders look on Facebook etc etc and then turn up at said place and if the opportunity arises steal the machine, they usually target solo riders who may leave their machine momentarily to go to the toilet or take a photo nearby, be vigilant and careful folks. Ride safe all from an ageing Rocker.

 

Inspired partly by this thread and having picked up another classic Yamaha 2-stroke last week, I bought these lovelies from Sportsbikeshop.

• Handlebar Lock - I’m not convinced yet but it’s probably a good deterrent when out and about
• Alarm Disc Lock - This is sturdy and lets off quite a screech when the bike is moved (rechargeable via USB)
• HD Chain - You can’t go wrong with a chain and this now joins 2 of my bikes together for a bit more peace of mind

 

Any lock is better than no lock at all. I carry a disc lock under the seat on all three bikes so I always have something. It won't stop the bike being picked up and thrown in a van but it might work if matey parked next to you has no lock.