Topic: Theft deterrence and experiences ?

[paul_D]

What is everyones experience with bike theft here ?

What do you do to prevent your bike from being stolen ?

Can we still get theft insurance on these old babies?

[flybox1]

Thankfully no experience here.
Park it inside.
Yes, and it's relatively cheap.

[ekpent]

I see a lot of poor souls on CL running adds looking for their bikes,mostly small dirt bikes and scooters with an occasional crotch rocket.
  A big chain and lock through both wheels or something similar is a deterrent. Are you having to leave it outside ?

[brooze72]

Good advice to park it inside in a private garage, if possible.  I've heard thefts from underground condo parking is high.  Theft insurance is available in ON but usually only if you have an appraisal.

[xsmooth69x]

customize the living crap out of it where its easily identifiable.

big pad lock on the wheel

lojack

kill switch

disconnect one or 2 spark plug caps if they dont just pick the bike up and shove it in a truck

if they want it, they will take it (fast forward to 2:50)

Honda CBR600RR 2007 STOLEN!

[new2bikes-again]

What's the opinion of the steering lock? People never really mention them on the forum. When I asked about repairing mine at the local cycle shop, he laughed! Asked "who would want a 74 CB550"? I said "Me"!

Aren't they a good deterrent?

[xsmooth69x]

steering lock unlock mod with legs and arms

Dude stealing my motorcycle PART 1

[bjbuchanan]

I guess it could help, the steering lock I mean. If I was stealing a bike it would probably make it easier on me, the front end doesn't swing freely, nice good handhold to pick it up

Bottom line is that motorcycles are REALLY easy to steal, regardless of all measures taken. Short of lojack to "maybe" recover it, it is a joke to make them disappear. Keep them close at night and locked up if you can and keep them in eyesight out in public if possible. Maybe a chain and lock

[Powderman]

I'm all for GPS trackers on your bike if it is of any value. As mentioned if the thieves want your bike it will get taken. Some trackers can be had for as little as $175 to upwards of $500. When your bike is worth $40K like mine $500 is a drop in the bucket investment to be able to fully monitor where my bike is. The unit is hidden on the bike so the thieves so see it to know to look for it.
This unit even works nationwide and even if they take your biker into a building to hide it.
http://www.phantomtracking.com/purchase.aspx

[xsmooth69x]

I'm all for GPS trackers on your bike if it is of any value. As mentioned if the thieves want your bike it will get taken. Some trackers can be had for as little as $175 to upwards of $500. When your bike is worth $40K like mine $500 is a drop in the bucket investment to be able to fully monitor where my bike is. The unit is hidden on the bike so the thieves so see it to know to look for it.
This unit even works nationwide and even if they take your biker into a building to hide it.
http://www.phantomtracking.com/purchase.aspx

what did you do to your bike that makes it worth $40k ($40,000) and can i do it to mine

[Powderman]

I'm all for GPS trackers on your bike if it is of any value. As mentioned if the thieves want your bike it will get taken. Some trackers can be had for as little as $175 to upwards of $500. When your bike is worth $40K like mine $500 is a drop in the bucket investment to be able to fully monitor where my bike is. The unit is hidden on the bike so the thieves so see it to know to look for it.
This unit even works nationwide and even if they take your biker into a building to hide it.
http://www.phantomtracking.com/purchase.aspx

what did you do to your bike that makes it worth $40k ($40,000) and can i do it to mine

Lots of rare vintage parts and one off custom parts to make a one of a kind cafe racer. I doubt you could do it to yours. the nice thing is I only have around $10K in mine. If I had to start over and build this bike it would cost about triple that.
I'm not referring to my SOHC but my other bike, the XR Harley.

[xsmooth69x]

im going to dip mine in 24k gold 



vroom vroom

[DJ_AX]

I live in an Apt. complex ... no garage but a carport.
I park mine near the middle of a carport that's about 30 spaces long.
Two weeks ago my neighbors $20k Harley was stolen from the end space. (only steering locked)
(oh man the poor guy is still in serious mourning)
Then just a few days after that my other neighbors CBR600 was stolen from the other side while both my 750 and 550 sat undisturbed with just a simple 3/8" chain and cheap lock.

I've since drilled a 3/4" hole in the wall to install an extra large anchor. Now I keep one bike locked there with a 7/16" chain and an huge padlock.

I'd really like to get a 19mm chain in the near future. My research suggests that is the best security.
Something like this ... Almax Immobiliser ... http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/prodtype.asp?CAT_ID=70
However shipping from UK to US is

Insurance in my area for theft is an additional $300 per 6 months... That's about the cost of the chain and a good lock ...
This one looks ok for the US... http://lockitt.com/Lockitt/product/SPMCCH/CHPS1915.html

I've read a lot about stealing motorcycles in the last couple of weeks... to me that seems the best option.
That and having a "less desirable" mc.

Here's some good reading on the subject ... http://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/t5shp/ex_thief_chopshop_operator_ama/

[greenjeans]

Does anyone remember that thread where the ex bike thief was trying to come clean.   Went over all aspects of theft of motorcycles etc etc.

The main thing I got out of it was disc brake locks on the rear wheel does the most good.   Those NYC kryptonite locks were good too - he advised, if at all possible, to keep the chain and lock where it couldn't be put directly on the ground.   If chains or locks are on the ground, a pair of bolt cutters can get
significantly more leverage.

Steering locks are easily defeated, but you may as well try to slow them down as much as you can.

I also have a hidden switch on mine.   Took a while to hide it where it wasn't too noticeable, but it gives me a little piece of mind.

I also take a 1/2" cable and lock with me everywhere I ride.   It is short enoungh (3 feet I think) it barely will fit through the rear wheel and frame and
on top of the seat for all to see.

Good luck.

[CapeCafe]

Having lived in downtown San Diego for a number of years with just street parking outside, I learned how to keep thieves off my bike.  Like everyone has said before, they are going to take it if they really, really want it.  Most motorcycle thefts are crimes of convienience.  They don't care to start it.  They will roll it away or lift it into a truck or van and be off to TJ before you know its gone.  The best deterent you can have is a big ass chain through the wheel and visable.  If they see the chain they are going to continue down the block to the guy who has the steering lock, alarm set and lojack on. They can simply lift it up and slide in the back door.  Alarm can be screaming and no body is going to pay attention  That bike will be parts before he knows it gone.  If it looks like it will take effort to free it, they are going to pass it up unless its in a spot where they can spend 5-15 minutes attempting to get it free.  I simply covered my bike so they couldn't easily tell make and model and ran a kryptonite chain with a huge padlock to the closest meter or pole.  We had lots of bike thefts in my neighborhood, and the one thing they all had in common was not being chained to something.  My bright red Ducati 900ss was never touched in 4 years of street parking.  could have been luck, but I like to think I just made it a little harder for them.

[dave500]

put a fake vomit on the seat,or police crime scene tape around it.

[mono]

i always use my head lock, but we have exceptionally lazy thieves here.  unless something is begging to be stolen they'll leave it alone usually.  also, most people around here are still kind of scared of motorcyclists (non crotch rockety motorcyclists).  we have lots of bike "clubs".

the only things ive seen listed as stolen on CL are really decked out modern bikes - harleys, 'busas, etc.  and still  that's quite rare.

[Duanob]

I use the steering lock and a bike cover. It keeps the honest people honest 

[flybox1]

a BFD can get the job done 

[bluesoverlord]

You could put a Hell's Angel sticker on it.....but then you'd probably have worse problems.

Never mind.

[Gordon]

I use the steering lock and a bike cover. It keeps the honest people honest 

+1

Bike covers are not given enough credit when it comes to deterring theft.  If they can't even see what the bike is or what kind of security measures they'll have to defeat before they can take the bike, they're going to be much more likely to just move on to the next target.  Looking under a bike cover not only takes more time but also alerts you or others who know it's your bike to the suspicious activity.   

[cosmicvision]

I've heard of people ganking things you can pop off without tools, like a seat or side covers, which is a jack move in itself. But overall it seems like our old machines are low on the desirability scale for theft. As was mentioned above, the hopped up modern bikes seem to be the ones to get chopped & flipped.

[mono]

yeah most people don't want to catch a GTA case for a $2K bike

[lucky]

Here is a serious deterent.

[K3Owner]

'Lucky' is right on the money. Place alarm on bike that triggers when it's moved and always stay in earshot. When it triggers, remove side arm and use appropriate force. If life appears threatened, lead may be necessary.

When I first moved to the South, I was told that if the bike broke down, walking up a long driveway for help was a life threatening thing - stay on the road. People here are protective of their property and the law is a little more on their side.

That said, I am surprised I still have my side covers.