There are a few threads about keeping your pride and joy safe and secure at home, alarm systems, baby monitors, ground anchors and big chains and locks. That's all good stuff I'd be interested to know what security measures you use whilst out and about. My Sprint must have had somebody attempt to nick it in the past, as the steering lock is missing (the bit on the frame the lock pin engages with!) but even so, a steering lock on its own isn't enough these days, so I am wondering what might be a handy method of securing it whilst out. In the past I used to use a big chain and padlock wearing it like a bandolier when riding, but having seen the damage it can do to a rider when (Godz forbid) they come off, I'm kinda wary of that nowadays. Could use a rucksack I suppose. .. So. . I'm thinking disclok, or/and one of those brake lever handle clamps. Disclok would have to be alarmed I think. Are there any that you would recommend? What do you use? What's the best way of carrying the thing when riding? I'm thinking if it's easy to carry, it's not likely to be much in the deterrent stakes..... Again, rucky, I guess. Security at home is not so much an issue, thankfully. Our location means that anybody attempting to get in would be seen and heard before they even got near. . But even so, it's chained up. Paranoid, much?
I use 2 disc locks........one on front and one on back. Still only a deterrent but maybe they'll move on if it is going to take them twice as long to get both off.
Keep in mind folks that in some circumstances thieves won’t bat an eyelid how many disc locks you have they’ll come mob handed and lob your bike onto an old mattress in the back of a van then take their time grinding your disc lock off in the comfort of some shed/garage away from prying eyes. I use an oxford padlock and chain and carry it with me if I’m parking the bike where I can’t see it for more than a few minutes, securing it to something solid like a steel railing, lamp post etc. It goes in a small camera bag fastened to my rack but would be easily carried strapped to the pillion seat.
I get where you're coming from, I'll take my chances that no matter how mob handed they come they won't lift 350kgs
Im not being complacent, but do you think location has a part to play? An example of crime here.. Front page news in the local rag few years back, "Shop Window Chipped" .As in, somebody had thrown a bag of chips at it! Still going for security though. Even though its an older bike, and maybe not the tidiest, it's mine, and it means a lot to me already. Which brands of disclok? An alarmed one? I've been looking at Oxford stuff... They seem well rated.
Given that the front wheel is easy to access, I use an Abus Victory-68 on that one as it’s almost impossible to cut through. I then use a regular Oxford disc lock on either the back wheel or the sprocket. Unfortunately, riding with a really heavy chain just isn’t practicable, at least without installing a topbox. However, the two locks mentioned plus the steering lock is hopefully offputting enough that the scum will look elsewhere.
Call it by its name... Liking that. Time to do some Eblagging by the looks of it. There's nowhere local that I can go and look at stuffs, there's a bike shop in Wick, he's very interested in selling you clothing, or a new Aprila, but that's about it. Thanks for the recommendations so far. I think I will pop for the xena alarmed disclok mentioned by @Dozers Dad for starters.. If its noisy that's got to be good! @littleade, how do you carry the disclok for the rear and the front? Got to be quite weighty I guess. .. Some of the locks I have looked at come with carrying brackets, but most reviews say they are made of toffee.... Like the sound of the monimoto tracker... Especially since its not a battery guzzler.
That's a cool bracket @Dozers Dad, what have you fixed it to? Am I right in thinking the rear peg bracket? I think the big plus with having a bracket is you don't go out and leave the lock at home Dimensions would be handy, thanks! What metal did you use for it? I think I might have a bit of stainless knocking about somewhere that could do the job. Shouldn't be too brittle, do you think? Always got plenty of Birmabright alloy knocking about too... How heavy is the lock?
That's a really neat solution. I'm going to be busy I was wondering about the weight purely for stress on the bracket but if yours has lasted years, I see a bit of old Land Rover floor plate in my Sprints future That's a good idea. Thanks for the link
Absolutely, you have shown me exactly what I'm needing. Brilliant! Thanks for your help and pointers. Heading away back to ebay now to spend some monies!
Hmmm. Mace. My understanding is that is classed as an offensive weapon and if you use it its a stay in the big house. I believe is in the same class as a firearm. So, another case of the scrotes getting a better deal than the victim. No doubt the aforementioned scrote could sue you.. .
lots of good advise, but if they really want your bike, nothing will stop them. I had my GSX1000 taken last year when it was close to 3 months old. I used 2 disc locks, steering lock and a 14mm chain from the back wheel to a metal post. The cut the chain using an angle grinder and left the disc locks in place. The picked the bike up and loaded it in to a van. This was done whilst people walked passed and watched. Camera's captured their stolen van, and they didn't touch any of the other 15 bikes. They did take 4 bikes that day and every one was locked and well secured. I still do the same today but I also have a tracker fitted. I do still ponder if its taken do I really want it back. But from talking to the insurance guy that turned up, he advised they professional teams don't want to do much of any damage to the bike as it huts how much they need to spend fixing later. They leave them as they are somewhere quiet and see who turns up. You normal joy rider will always ignore a well secured bike and go for the easy scooter or commuter that's easy to start and may have no locks as all. Or as I often see, pad locks for garage doors used. These snap with minimal effort.
To be fair, it's the same with anything. If the scrotes want to take it, they will. No amount of deterrent will keep them at bay. I just want to stop opportunistic scrotes. I doubt much would beat the organised crimes, they are out with a shopping list, b45t4rds. Kind of soul destroying isn't it? Makes you wonder why you try and have anything nice.
Can't imagine much bike crime in Sutherland? Not unless the sheep have got organised, and one on the bars, with a partner on the gearshift !!! Seriosly tho, in D&G I know of about 3 bikes nicked over the past 8 years. Not like English cities where that many go per minute. Decent alarmed disklock and maybe a chain and you'll be fine. Never even bother to chain mine up in the garage, and the KTM doesn't even need a key to start it
Def is a section 5 firearms restriction, always tell my lady friends carry a small aerosol of something smelly, Impulse, anti perspirant etc. no reason why a chap can't do the same, spray that in the eyes obviously when threatened using reasonable force in the circs, STINGS LIKE FECK!!!!!!!
Can't beat a Bloody Great Hard-Core Chain, and I park near lamposts or Groundanchors when I can. I carry it my top-box on the Sprint. On previous bike (Yammy XS1100 SF) I used to wrap it around the pillion grab-rail. Too heavy for a rucksack - it'll do your back in, and wearing it like a Bandolier will cut you in half Oh, and a tracker
I don't have a rack or top box.... Was trying to find a rack, but they seem to be made of pure weapons grade unobtanium and hens teeth. I asked Sprint Manufacturing if they do them, but seems not. Might have to find a box. .. Was weighing up the grab rail. . Looks easily damaged, alloy with a paint top coat. Some sacrificial corrosion starting. Don't know how it would like a chain. Unless it was lagged too. When I used to carry a chain I was young and stupid. Now I am old (and still a bit dim, I have to admit), I've seen enough accidents to be a bit more circumspect. So, the disclok has despatched today. That's a start! Will make a Dozers Dad bracket for it when it arrives Looks like snow next week, so I'll be glad to get making stuffs if I can't get out. Though snow is fun in the ol Landy
I don't bother. It's rare I leave the bike anywhere other than work - locked keycode access - and I am generally nearby when I do. Garage at home has doorguard and alarm and the bikes all have monitored trackers fitted. I get a phone call, e-mail and text before I get chance to get my helmet on if I forget to switch the ignition on when I wheel any of them out of the garage!
Thats what the link earlier in the thread with the uchoob video was demonstrating. If it relies on a sim card, and needs a mobile signal, what happens in poor signal areas? (like here )
5G wtf's that? Im lucky if I get 1bar on the phone here... Too many hills in the way. Bt broadband.. 1/2mb line speed. Living in the wilds has good points, and bad ones . The good outweigh the bad however. Tracker would be good for when I visit the heady metropolis that is Wick... . Ahhh, Wick and Thurso. The highlands answer to Sodom an Gomorrah. Though, that could be Brora and Golspie....
It does use sim, but also has gps and rf tracking. If moved without ignition on transmits to a monitored base - not many areas without signal that are so large that it wouldn't register soon after moving.
Interesting. I know EE have the contract for emergency calls on the A9, and they have just put two new masts up "in our area" but I don't know if they are on stream, certainly no signal from them yet. Keep getting messages saying there's disruption in our area from EE too.
