Author Topic: External motorcycle locking devices. (Read 6124 times)

honda_dog · « **on:** March 15, 2015, 06:32:41 PM »

Does anyone out there use an external lock system for their bikes? My son is staying at college this coming summer and would like to take his CB750 with him. Since we do not know his living arrangements, yet, (garage or not) I thought I would do some checking on external locking systems (cables, rotor locks, Kryptonite locks, etc).

There are son many to choose from.... anyone use anything like this and what are the pros and cons?

Thanks for any help.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2015, 06:38:38 PM »

Locks are for the honest people. Theives will find a way to take anything if they want it bad enough.
I use a good rotor lock if I have to leave the bike out over night. You might also consider getting a GPS tracking system. Vehicle mounted GPS trackers are expensive, but there are some fairly cost effective bicycle options available.

Here are a few options.
http://postscapes.com/gps-bike-tracker

scrapvalue · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2015, 07:46:13 PM »

I would suggest he buys a low budget bike no one would want to steal. Like a Yamaha.

MCRider · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2015, 08:02:05 PM »

Man that brings up a good point. I wouldn't leave it outside of a garage. And I woud insure it for a bunch.

The bike in my avatar was built 4/71; cafe'd in 4/72; stolen 6/72.

honda_dog · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2015, 06:05:20 AM »

I'm looking into alarm systems, and the GPS option is worth looking into, also...

i hate to tell the kid "no", so I'm trying to look at all the options.

MCRider · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2015, 06:29:59 AM »

Quote from: honda_dog on March 16, 2015, 06:05:20 AM

I'm looking into alarm systems, and the GPS option is worth looking into, also...

i hate to tell the kid "no", so I'm trying to look at all the options.

Yeah, I hate to be so cynical. I certainly took my CB750 everywhere I went when I was younger. So to answer your question: Set the fork lock, set a disc rotor lock and a cable lock over the seat and read wheel. A cover would help too, out of site out of mind.

honda_dog · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2015, 06:33:00 AM »

Quote from: MCRider on March 16, 2015, 06:29:59 AM

Quote from: honda_dog on March 16, 2015, 06:05:20 AM
I'm looking into alarm systems, and the GPS option is worth looking into, also...

i hate to tell the kid "no", so I'm trying to look at all the options.

Yeah, I hate to be so cynical. I certainly took my CB750 everywhere I went when I was younger. So to answer your question: Set the fork lock, set a disc rotor lock and a cable lock over the seat and read wheel. A cover would help too, out of site out of mind.

When I was in college, my '78 CB750 went everywhere I did. To class, parked outside my dorm and my apartment with only the fork locks..... ahh, times where so much simpler then. I thought the same thing, multiple locks, and yes, I will insist he covers it, which we already have a nice Nelson Rigg cover for it.

MCRider · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2015, 06:53:20 AM »

Yeah, especially cover those 4 pipes. Dead giveaway.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2015, 09:16:07 AM »

Regarding disk locks, Id' just like to point out the possibility of forgetting to remove it before trying to ride off, and having it smack into stuff.

If you use one, you might want to add one of these:

mystic_1

honda_dog · « **Reply #9 on:** March 16, 2015, 09:19:38 AM »

Quote from: mystic_1 on March 16, 2015, 09:16:07 AM

Regarding disk locks, Id' just like to point out the possibility of forgetting to remove it before trying to ride off, and having it smack into stuff.

If you use one, you might want to add one of these:

mystic_1

Good idea.

andy750 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2015, 10:25:02 AM »

I use a krypotonite cable lock on my VStrom when parking overnight in the City of Boston (when not at home). I would not leave my CB750 parked overnight though. But it all depends on the area that you are parking in. If your sons parking on campus then should be no issue and a regular cable lock will be fine. If he was in NYC or some other big city he might want to get a lock that goes around a lamp post or fence to prevent someone putting locked bike in a pickup or van. A cover also helps as if you cant see it then you wont think about stealing it

The trouble with disc locks or front wheel locks as has been pointed out it removing them before driving off - i have bent a few front fender struts this way

good luck
Andy

honda_dog · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2015, 10:37:14 AM »

The hard part is that he doesn't know where he'll be living, yet..... so I'm trying to do some "birdogging" to see what people have used and how effective they are. I appreciate all the comments, so far. I guess if worse comes to worse, I'll sink a 4" u-shaped steel post in concrete on his front lawn to give him something to lock it to....

flatlander · « **Reply #12 on:** March 16, 2015, 11:12:51 AM »

Quote from: honda_dog on March 16, 2015, 10:37:14 AM

I guess if worse comes to worse, I'll sink a 4" u-shaped steel post in concrete on his front lawn to give him something to lock it to....

you think you're kidding but it's true, you need to lock it to something solid to deter the 2 or 3 guys with a van that are gone with your bike in less than a minute if it's only got an disk lock, alarm etc.

i throw a chain through the rear wheel and one of the shocks if i leave i have to leave it somewhere temporarily and want to stop opportunists. the more determined, better prepared guys will come with a van. best thing is to not leave the bike outside. if you have to, lock it to something and cover it up.

honda_dog · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2015, 01:27:51 PM »

Quote from: flatlander on March 16, 2015, 11:12:51 AM

Quote from: honda_dog on March 16, 2015, 10:37:14 AM
I guess if worse comes to worse, I'll sink a 4" u-shaped steel post in concrete on his front lawn to give him something to lock it to....

you think you're kidding but it's true, you need to lock it to something solid to deter the 2 or 3 guys with a van that are gone with your bike in less than a minute if it's only got an disk lock, alarm etc.

i throw a chain through the rear wheel and one of the shocks if i leave i have to leave it somewhere temporarily and want to stop opportunists. the more determined, better prepared guys will come with a van. best thing is to not leave the bike outside. if you have to, lock it to something and cover it up.

Yeah, but I really wasn't kidding about the post.

martin99 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2015, 05:21:48 PM »

Quote from: mystic_1 on March 16, 2015, 09:16:07 AM

Regarding disk locks, Id' just like to point out the possibility of forgetting to remove it before trying to ride off, and having it smack into stuff.

If you use one, you might want to add one of these:

mystic_1

I've been using disc locks for years. One day a couple of summers ago, for the first time ever, I forgot to take it off. The bike did a quarter revolution of the wheel before I got dumped on the ground. Lost a pod, broke the ball off the brake lever, but the most damage was to my pride. I just happened to be in the work carpark at a time when all my colleagues were going home

BobbyR · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2015, 05:27:46 PM »

I found this article. Kind interesting since one of the guys was a professional Motorcycle thief.

https://rideapart.com/articles/ask-a-motorcycle-thief

honda_dog · « **Reply #16 on:** March 17, 2015, 03:23:51 AM »

Interesting article, thanks.

70CB750 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 17, 2015, 05:18:50 AM »

Quote from: martin99 on March 16, 2015, 05:21:48 PM

Quote from: mystic_1 on March 16, 2015, 09:16:07 AM
Regarding disk locks, Id' just like to point out the possibility of forgetting to remove it before trying to ride off, and having it smack into stuff.

If you use one, you might want to add one of these:

mystic_1

I've been using disc locks for years. One day a couple of summers ago, for the first time ever, I forgot to take it off. The bike did a quarter revolution of the wheel before I got dumped on the ground. Lost a pod, broke the ball off the brake lever, but the most damage was to my pride. I just happened to be in the work carpark at a time when all my colleagues were going home

I think majority of people who lock their wheel done stunt like that - me too

honda_dog · « **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2015, 05:38:16 AM »

Luckily, all my bikes stay in a locked garage, so I've never used any locking devices. That's why I'm so clueless as to what works and what doesn't. I'd probably forget to remove the disk lock, also.....

BobbyR · « **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2015, 06:11:08 AM »

Mine stays in my Garage. When I ride I sometimes park it and forget to take the keys out of the ignition. I am getting more concerned about people taking parts off the bike, now that the market has grown.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2015, 11:55:18 AM »

All disklocks I have seen come with a coiled yellow wire which attaches to your bars. No chance of forgetting to remove it.
I use one of these.

honda_dog · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2015, 12:37:49 PM »

Thanks, I'll look into those.

ev0lve · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2015, 06:40:39 PM »

Hey there fellows - I'm looking at this thing

http://skylock.cc/

but it seems to be ~~WiFi~~ Bluetooth only. Anyone know if there's something similar with cellular capability?

"Actually we are bluetooth only, we increased the range to be 50 meters and are possibly tripling or quadrupling that with a range extender. A cellular option is something we are looking at down the road for enterprise customers. -Team Velo Labs"

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2015, 07:30:56 PM »

I like my Kryptonite 'New York Chain' Real Heavy Duty and even though I keep my bike outside All the time I've never had a problem.
I like that link that BobbyR posted about the former professional cycle thief... I remember reading from another man's thread a few years ago here on this forum who only posted once;he said something about a secret ignition disabling 'kill switch' type device that would always stop him or other cycle thieves.
The man was saying how his standard way of ripping people off was "always 'hot-wire' the bike and ride away just like it was his bike"...which was the most effective way for him and the other pro bike thieves.

I would install a secret ignition disabling 'kill switch' if it was me working to keep my son's bike safe and secure honda_dog.

honda_dog · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2015, 05:24:12 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 17, 2015, 07:30:56 PM

I like my Kryptonite 'New York Chain' Real Heavy Duty and even though I keep my bike outside All the time I've never had a problem.
I like that link that BobbyR posted about the former professional cycle thief.I remember reading that when the man first posted it;he said something about a secret ignition disabling 'kill switch' type device that would always stop him or other cycle thieves.The man was saying how he would always 'hot-wire' the bike and ride away just like it was his bike...which was the most effective way for him and the other pro bike thieves.
I would install a secret ignition disabling 'kill switch' if it was me working to keep my son's bike safe and secure honda_dog

The "kill switch" sounds like it's worth looking into. Maybe the lock and chain, also.

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Author Topic: External motorcycle locking devices. (Read 6124 times)

scrapvalue