Topic: Avoiding having to make a "stolen bike" post...

[DJ_AX]

Are you over in the landings in westland?

Nope... ... lol .. I'm probably in the least sketchy apt complex in the area.

[slowjo]

Is there a lock that will fit a stock CB750 front brake disk?

[zabzob]

If they want your bike bad enough, they'll get it... so true.

A guy I work with had his Yamaha R6 stolen from his home. He had it parked at the back of the carport, against the wall, with a heavy chain attaching it to a post. His car was parked in front of it. Thieves used four wheeled car jacks to jack up the car and roll it out of the way. They then cut the lock and took the bike. Seems like a lot of effort for a medium priced bike, but I guess they're easier to conceal and sell than a car.

[hondaface75]

Im curious about the disk lock for a 750 too. Ive heard of them, but for modern bikes I figured, where the disk is much thinner than one off a 750. Id like to get one of those, anyone tried one yet?

[Redrider969]

Is there a lock that will fit a stock CB750 front brake disk?

Good question, and an issue that hadn't occurred to me.  I checked, and the depth of the throat needs to be at least 73mm or about 2.9" to work on the disk on my CB750K5.  So far, I haven't found anything that deep.  However, I did find something called a "Kryptonite New York Lock 14P Disc Lock" at Dennis Kirk.  It's listed under Harley accessories.  Here is the web address:
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=&store=&catId=&productId=p408913&leafCatId=&mmyId= 

It works a little differently from other disk locks in that it attached through one hole and protrudes towards the outside of the wheel, so that it would hit the fork leg if the wheel is rotated.  It looks like it would work with a CB750 disk, but I'd call and ask first.  In any case Dennis Kirk has always been good about returning things if necessary.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Front wheel off in 3 minutes, less with a battery powered sawzall.  Jump started and riding in 30 seconds. Why waste the money?  False security is rampant, I suggest detaching from material things as the ultimate solution.  Just figure they needed/wanted it more than you. 

[Lostboy Steve]

I'm not going to read this whole post. I'm just going to say that's what GOOD insurance coverage is for. I know people who have had full dressers stolen off their driveway with disc locks and whatnot. If they want it they'll have it unless you're standing there with a shotgun 24/7 and even then they might take you with it.

[malcolmgb]

Yes, 2 men, 1 van/truck, 15 seconds & bike complete with locks gone.

[Redrider969]

Yes, 2 men, 1 van/truck, 15 seconds & bike complete with locks gone.

Very true.  But that doesn't suggest we should do nothing.  Each precaution taken increases the skill level, the level of determination and the equipment needed to steal the bike.  I don't have any stats but I suspect that the majority of bikes stolen are relatively easy "targets of opportunity" rather than well-protected.  At least that appeared to be true in the two cases I described earlier.

My philosophy is to make it easier for a potential thief to steal someone else's less well protected bike.

[malcolmgb]

Not suggesting we do nothing merely agreeing with the previous posting.
My bikes are in a locked garage both with locks around wheels, the garage door has some brambles trained in front of it and weeds growing along the ground left undisturbed to give the impression of little use.

[Redrider969]

Wow, that's an extremely well protected bike.  I would suspect  the odds of your bike being stolen out of your garage are close to zero.  Makes me feel like an amateur when it comes to bike protection...

[VTCBike750]

Maybe I should camouflage my bike with some shrubbery

[DJ_AX]

They do make alarms for bikes too... anyone out there got 'em? Know someone who does? Thoughts?

[CBGhia]

My buddy had a Honda 954 or whatever and a SV650.  The Honda had a big ass chain, forks locked and a cover.  The SV had nothing.  His 954 was stolen out of the parking garage at his apartment complex.   They will take it if they want it.

[malcolmgb]

Wow, that's an extremely well protected bike.  I would suspect  the odds of your bike being stolen out of your garage are close to zero.  Makes me feel like an amateur when it comes to bike protection...

It never feels that safe, my garage is away from the house and I get plenty of scratches to my hands moving the brambles to open the door.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

You know, the odds of anyone on this board having a bike stolen are pretty slim.  The puddle of gas, tools strewn about, and the carbs sitting on the bench are a real turn off.

[my78k]

I ride a CX500 and leave the keys in it...still haven't been able to get anyone to steal it!

Dennis

[Redrider969]

Good Point! and one I hadn't even considered.  In those situations I guess the bigger danger might be having our tools stolen!

I've never really worried about having the bike stolen from the house.  I guess that's because I live in an area where not a lot of folks ride motorcycles, and probably couldn't even tell a Honda from a Harley.  When I'm riding around town or commuting to work I routinely use a bike cover just to keep the sun from fading paint and messing up the gauges and I always lock the handlebars.  I take extra precautions when I'm on the road spending the night in a motel or parking the bike at some large motorcycle venue like a racetrack, bike show or during Daytona Bike Week.  Then I drag out the extra locks, chains and cables.  In addition to chaining the frame of the bike to a telephone pole, I've even put a heavy duty cable around the covered bike and lock it with as heavy lock in such a way that it's difficult to get the bike off the center stand.  I know that there is no perfect solution, but I want the potential thief to think "why bother, there's lots of easier targets?"

The down side is the extra weight and the luggage space needed for all the security stuff.  But, everything I use fits easily into a relatively small tank bag for local trips.  When I'm on the road, I usually pack the stuff on the bottom and towards the front of my soft luggage to keep the weight low and forward to avoid possible handling problems.

Please excuse me for being so long-winded on this topic.  Somehow it just struck a chord with me.

[Redrider969]

I ride a CX500 and leave the keys in it...still haven't been able to get anyone to steal it!

Dennis

I've always liked the CX500...  Where do you leave it parked?

[CycleRanger]

Maybe I should camouflage my bike with some shrubbery

I approve of your plan but I think you need a herring as well...

[my78k]

ok I know the CX isn't that bad...lol was just kidding about WANTING it stolen. Although I usually do tleave the keys in it but it's inside the garage. Although more than once I have fallen asleep and left the garage open or have left the house and forgot to close the garage door for several hours and have been lucky and have not had anything stolen.

Actually, theft isn't really all that rampant in my area. The only time I hear of bikes getting stolen are the odd Harley here and there or Sport bikes being stolen for fun and then ditched.

Dennis

[rbmgf7]

I always though you can lock it up all you want but it's just a matter of getting some roller dollies underneath the wheels and the bike is free to move (unless its locked to a fixed object).

In order to help with the mobility sensitivity, I've seen these (makes noise on the page when you click the link): http://www.xenasecurity.com/product/motorbikes/alarm/page1/

Expensive but cheaper then a full system. Only works if your drilled holes in your discs are large enough to accomodate.

[Lostboy Steve]

I installed an automobile alarm / remote start system on my Buell. Mostly for the remote start.  If you don't let your Buell idle for a good 3 minutes you'll be changing the plugs shortly thereafter. It wont start in gear, if you touch the brake it will stall, and if the neutral indicator goes out it will die. It has a nice 10 second wait time so the computer can power up. Either way wtf does an alarm do. Any #$%* who knows how an alarm works can bypass it. The only one that seems to work ok is the factory Harley key fob that comes on the newer bikes.

[Trav-i]

I try to keep mine secure a couple of different ways.  First is the 1/2 3 braid stainless steel cable through the front wheel.  Which with out a cutoff wheel you aren't getting throught it, and it also goes through a plate which is bolted to the curb and the nuts are welded to the bolts to keep them from being removed.  Second is the disc lock the PO gave me.  Third is the blue tarp cover, it doesn't look like it's worth much with just a tarp on it .  Fourth is the fork look, even though it's pretty wimpy why not use it.  Lastly there is me!   I openly carry my .357 revolver all the time, most everyone in my apt. complex gives a wide birth.

[Operator]

One of the best ideas I have seen is looping a cable through the front wheel then running it back to the centrestand, pulling it tight and locking it. It is not readily noticeable and it makes it impossible to get the bike off of the stand.

Inventive to say the least!!