Topic: External motorcycle locking devices.

[knowsnothing]

If college isn't too far away.  Send him off first without the bike and then when living arrangements are set, figure out what you need to do.  You might even be able to sneak a ride and "deliver" the bike to him later.   

[honda_dog]

If college isn't too far away.  Send him off first without the bike and then when living arrangements are set, figure out what you need to do.  You might even be able to sneak a ride and "deliver" the bike to him later.   

Kind of what we were thinking, but I am trying to educate myself on what is out there to use. It's only 1.5 hours away.

[PeWe]

I guess parts ftom a CB750 is very interesting to steal today, in the 80's not. A good tank with side covers OEM style can be stolen and sold for good cash. Alarm might help if it's not very windy and the alarm will wake up when it should not.

[grcamna2]

I like the idea of keeping it in a well lit high visibility place too where folks can look out of windows;the lockable M/C cover is great.

[honda_dog]

Thanks for all the ideas. I agree that a multi-fold security system is in order.

[DH]

If its possible, and the bike doesn't leak oil, drag it inside at night. Non carpeted area, with thin wood kickstand pad.
Don't ask  Don't tell

[honda_dog]

Well, the kid moved into his apartment last night. Well-lit parking lot, but nothing to cable/chain it to. Going to go with a Kryptonite disc lock with the cable and a cover. Obviously lock the forks..... I already bumped the insurance to full coverage. With luck the lock will be here in a few days, then we can see how effective it may be.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I don't think anyone stealing a motorcycle is taking the time to hot-wire it.  Most bike thieves wheel the bike to a truck OR lift it into a truck.  With sport bikes, or smaller displacement bikes, 3 guys can pick up a bike and place it into a truck bed.  With stock 750s, that's not as easy and probably forces them to wheel it up a ramp.  They usually defeat a disc wheel lock or Kryptonite U-lock by picking it, jacking it apart or freezing and breaking the lock. 

I will not leave any of my bikes uncovered on the street, but some folks don't have the option.

[Retro Rocket]

I don't think anyone stealing a motorcycle is taking the time to hot-wire it.

Don, its extremely easy with a 750/4, all you need to do is put some tin foil, or the foil inside a cigarette packet over the fuse box, everything lights up, electric start and gone, its that easy....

[honda_dog]

I don't think anyone stealing a motorcycle is taking the time to hot-wire it.  Most bike thieves wheel the bike to a truck OR lift it into a truck.  With sport bikes, or smaller displacement bikes, 3 guys can pick up a bike and place it into a truck bed.  With stock 750s, that's not as easy and probably forces them to wheel it up a ramp.  They usually defeat a disc wheel lock or Kryptonite U-lock by picking it, jacking it apart or freezing and breaking the lock. 

I will not leave any of my bikes uncovered on the street, but some folks don't have the option.

You guys are bumming me out....

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Glad I replaced the tube fuse blocks on my bikes with newer tech.

More glad I garage my bikes.

[Stev-o]

I agree with you, Don.  They aren't going to bother to pop off a side cover to hot wire it, they will just drag it onto a truck or trailer and be gone in 30 seconds. 

[Retro Rocket]

I agree with you, Don.  They aren't going to bother to pop off a side cover to hot wire it, they will just drag it onto a truck or trailer and be gone in 30 seconds.

You'd be surprised Steve, if you have foil in your hand, it can be done in under 10 seconds, far easier than dragging it onto a truck or trailer, and no other vehicle involved....

[Stev-o]

I agree with you, Don.  They aren't going to bother to pop off a side cover to hot wire it, they will just drag it onto a truck or trailer and be gone in 30 seconds.

You'd be surprised Steve, if you have foil in your hand, it can be done in under 10 seconds, far easier than dragging it onto a truck or trailer, and no other vehicle involved....

Could be, Mick.  But how many drunken idiot crack heads will even think about where the fuse box is on a 1975 CB?  Just saying. 

[Retro Rocket]

I agree with you, Don.  They aren't going to bother to pop off a side cover to hot wire it, they will just drag it onto a truck or trailer and be gone in 30 seconds.

You'd be surprised Steve, if you have foil in your hand, it can be done in under 10 seconds, far easier than dragging it onto a truck or trailer, and no other vehicle involved....

Could be, Mick.  But how many drunken idiot crack heads will even think about where the fuse box is on a 1975 CB?  Just saying.

You had to bring crack heads into it Steve, thats a lay down misere   

[Terry in Australia]

Why would a crack head steal an old CB750? Most of the bikes stolen in Oz are either stolen by pro's (especially collectable bikes and Harleys) or by kids who joy ride 'em to death. Most of the drug addicts here stick to stealing cars because they're generally easier to steal and much harder to fall off...............  

[honda_dog]

I guess the bottom line is... you roll the dice, you take your chances. Without the benefit of a locked garage, using a disc lock, cable and cover are probably the best we're going to get. Those, along with full coverage insurance, I feel as comfortable as I can.

Back in my college days, I left the bike outside all the time, sometimes for days at a time.

I can't tell the kid he can't have a motorcycle at college.... he's worked hard to get his license and he's a very responsible kid. Hopefully, nothing bad will happen, and he'll have a good summer riding.

[ev0lve]

Cover it up and lock it to the ground if you're going to - checking out the options for GPS, Bluetooth etc

I'm coming to the conclusion that the only real deterrent for a bike outside is if it's hard to figure out what it is and a super pain in the ass to just throw it in the back of a truck and drive off.

Other than that I'm resigned to the fact that if someone wants it bad enough - it's gone.

[grcamna2]

I guess the bottom line is... you roll the dice, you take your chances. Without the benefit of a locked garage, using a disc lock, cable and cover are probably the best we're going to get. Those, along with full coverage insurance, I feel as comfortable as I can.

Back in my college days, I left the bike outside all the time, sometimes for days at a time.

I can't tell the kid he can't have a motorcycle at college.... he's worked hard to get his license and he's a very responsible kid. Hopefully, nothing bad will happen, and he'll have a good summer riding.

+1 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No one would have thought twice about stealing a CB twenty years ago, but they are a hotter commodity these days.

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, as I said, "collectible" bikes are the preserve of professional bike thieves, not crack heads.

Ever since my wife's car was stolen from a shopping centre car park I've always used steering wheel locks on my cars, they're not that hard to defeat, but they provide a visual deterrent, so most thieves won't bother with my car, they'll just move on to the next car that doesn't have a steering wheel lock fitted. I haven't had a car stolen since.

BMW used to provide a really good cable lock with their "R" series bikes, that fitted inside the top frame tube when not in use, once again, it wouldn't be too hard to defeat for a pro, but most thieves would just look for an easier bike to steal. I've got a big "Rock Lock" U lock that I bought 25 years ago, it's another visual deterrent, but it's a big heavy thing, and useless unless you've got side cases or a top box to store it in.

And of course, what's stopping a drunk or drugged dcikhead from just pushing your bike on to it's side and damaging it, if he can't steal it? A friend of mine parked his BMW K1100LT outside a gun shop. When he took off his helmet a druggie sidled up to him and asked him for money, and my friend told him to piss off. When he walked back out of the shop the BMW was on it's side, which resulted in $3K worth of damages. Sadly the scumbag was nowhere to be seen...........

[BobbyR]

No one would have thought twice about stealing a CB twenty years ago, but they are a hotter commodity these days.

I am more worried about pieces being removed than the whole bike. I think a cover would help make the bike less identifiable to people just cruising around and also protect the bike form the weather.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sadly, some one stole one of my side covers (about 5-6 years ago) at IMS -- the big motorcycle show.  So nice to know that a fellow vintage enthusiast would steal rather than buy his own side cover.  I still wish I could have caught him!

[LesterPiglet]

You guys not have anything like datatag in the US?

http://www.datatag.co.uk/consumer.php

[rtbmrgl]

You might want to think of something different than this.