Author Topic: Bike security - what do you guys do? (Read 2205 times)

loonymoon · « **on:** May 01, 2007, 01:50:08 AM »

After my new (to me) 250 Aprilia scooter was nearly stolen this weekend from outside the front of my house I was just wondering what steps you guys take to secure your pride and joy(s)?

I had bought a Xena alarmed disc lock on Friday and it saved my scooter from the theives. I also had my old disc lock, the steering lock and a cover on the bike. On Sunday morning at 4:20am I wake up to the sound of the two warning beeps of my disc lock alarm. then as the alarm proper begins to sound I hear two voices and the sound of running footsteps and a bang that sounds sickeningly like a dropped scooter!! When I woke up proberly I went downstairs and had a look outside. The cover was off and my scooter is resting against the wall of the house.

It seems like my £35 Xena disc lock has saved my bike from the opportunist scumbags and easily paid for itself within 2 days of ownership - highly recommended by me!! I don't know whether that particular model (which is the cheapest one Xena do) would fit an SOHC as the discs are thicker however Xena do a very wide range of locks of many different sizes, and they have a fitment guide on the site.

From now on the scooter will be kept in our garage/carport thing as I've managed to get the landlord to take all his rubbish out so I can get the scooter in there. I will still keep the alarm on it though!

For my CB350, it's kept at my parents place in a much more secure garage with motion sensor. I usually keep a cable lock on it.

74cb750 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2007, 03:52:50 AM »

Seriously,
I rely on my neighbors to keep an eye on my place.
Everyone around here knows each other and all have weapons.
peace,
michel

Jonesy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2007, 04:32:28 AM »

My uncle's method was to never wash the bike and let it get really scuzzy looking. Then, he'd always park it next to the cleanest, shiniest Harley he could find... (He lived in Detroit during the 70's and it was never stolen!)

loonymoon · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2007, 04:58:36 AM »

Quote from: Jonesy on May 01, 2007, 04:32:28 AM

My uncle's method was to never wash the bike and let it get really scuzzy looking. Then, he'd always park it next to the cleanest, shiniest Harley he could find... (He lived in Detroit during the 70's and it was never stolen!)

Cool, I'll just have to steal a nice shiny Harley to park my dirty scooter next to outside my house..!

Rocker · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2007, 06:17:29 AM »

While out riding you will always run into other riders and talk bikes. Sometimes they ask where you are from. I always say the wrong town. Sure the metro Atlanta area is HUGE with close to 5 million people but I am still not taking a chances. I also part my bike in the garage and rarely leave the garage door open for the world to see what I have.

nickjtc · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2007, 06:26:32 AM »

1) Don't own the most 'wanted' motorcycle, which will reduce the chances of it being desirable
2) Park in a garage or at the very least under a cover
3) If parked outside investigate a ground anchor if there is nothing solid to chain it to
4) have good all-perils insurance

Frankly, unless you own a K0 and the thief is very knowledgable I suspect that our bikes are not high-priority targets for thieving scum bags. Having said that it goes without saying that you have to take basic measures to secure your pride and joy against the opportunistic joyrider or wideboy who sees it as an opportunity for some cheap thrills or a couple of hundred dollars of free parts.

CrisPDuk · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2007, 07:20:32 AM »

I live in a cul-de-sac (see the Neighbours thread), we all know each other, and we all look out for each others stuff, and kids

We also all tend to be able to spot people who have no legitimate reason for being on our road, and deal accordingly

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2007, 07:33:46 AM »

Park the bike on my garage overnight and when I can - and when I am out and about park it so I can keep an eye on it (if at all possibile)..

loonymoon · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2007, 07:59:47 AM »

Quote from: CrisPDuk on May 01, 2007, 07:20:32 AM

I live in a cul-de-sac (see the Neighbours thread), we all know each other, and we all look out for each others stuff, and kids

We also all tend to be able to spot people who have no legitimate reason for being on our road, and deal accordingly

Unfortunately our street is a bit of a thoroughfare from a nasty estate on the otherside of a footbridge at the end of the street, to the main road. There's been lots of petty and mostly opportunistic theft on our street. They never wanted my Yamaha majesty scooter though - can't have been on the wanted list!! However the Aprilia Leonardo 250 seems to be! Wish I'd seen their faces when the alarm went off - I don't think they were expecting that judging by the way the scumbags ran! Wish I'd had my wits about me enough to get to the window and see them running away as I could have given some descriptions to the police.

sparty · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2007, 08:34:31 AM »

I have a special "switch" that I install on all of my bikes which prevents it from starting even if I leave the keys in it. You have to know where to find the switch to allow power to flow. When in public and the bike is parked for a long time, I use a disk lock and lock the steering also.

Sparty

siter81 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2007, 10:45:53 AM »

No worse feeling than having a bike stolen from you.Back in 85 my 82 Gpz 550 was stolen from me.I awoke at two am to the sound of my bike being ridden away.I call 911 and gave a precise description of it and direction the bike was traveling.An hour later a police officer shows up at my door to take a report.3 days later they find the bike,minus all my go fast parts.I ended up trading the pieces for a car and didn't ride again for 15 years?

All my bikes are in the garage and in the alarm zone.

Siter81

dusterdude · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2007, 12:39:11 PM »

rottweiler

Soos · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2007, 01:05:52 PM »

Well, beyond the poor paintjob, and dirt I just about refuse to remove, I use a disklock, and the steering lock if in public areas.
At home and work, I use the steering lock, and park out of direct sight from the roads.

Not that the '79cb650 is a high theft bike, but you never know.

l8r

Soos · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2007, 01:33:28 PM »

And parking next to a shiny newer bullet bike or harley never hutts as well!

l8r

333 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 01, 2007, 02:43:51 PM »

When I worked for a dealer, we had a customer that was a courier in downtown Washington D.C.. Every couple of years he would buy a new courier bike and the first thing he did was to make it look nasty. Duct tape, a small dent in the tank... The bike was in tip-top shape inside the motor, excellent tires, but nasty looking otherwise.

ieism · « **Reply #15 on:** May 01, 2007, 02:48:42 PM »

I park it in first gear. If that doesn't prevent them from rolling it onto a trailer, nothing will.

You can steal my bike, but I will curse you.

tramp · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2007, 02:24:48 PM »

never stop driving it(hard to steal a moving bike)
if that won't do keep the bike a little dirty and always cuss and swear at it when you get off
nobody wants to steal a trouble bike

my78k · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2007, 04:54:46 PM »

Steering lock plus disc lock plus a u lock on the back tire...they want it bad enough they will still take it!

mrblasty · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2007, 09:55:20 PM »

I call the snake charmer

Hope · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2007, 08:27:40 AM »

I rely on Toto to protect my bike

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #20 on:** May 03, 2007, 08:59:09 AM »

But that would only work in Kansas, right?

Shenanigans · « **Reply #21 on:** May 03, 2007, 01:22:33 PM »

CrisPDuk · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2007, 08:12:26 PM »

Quote from: Shenanigans on May 03, 2007, 01:22:33 PM

I imagine forgetting to replace the fuse could slightly upset you day though

seaweb11 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2007, 09:51:29 PM »

I leave mine in the driveway with the keys in them. Keys in the truck, and never lock up my house.
Hey it's a small Island, kind of like Mayberry in the 50s

Went to the Big city yesterday.....you can have it!!!!!

CrisPDuk · « **Reply #24 on:** May 03, 2007, 10:04:47 PM »

Reminds me of the time I went with a friend to the Isle of Man to look at a rally car. The car was a pukka factory built championship winner. The guy selling it told us he'd always left it at the front of his house, and always with the keys in

that way he never lost the keys

We asked im if he was worrid about it getting stolen, and his reasoning was similar to yours webby, plus he pointed out that everybody at the ferry ports knew both the car, and more importantly who should be driving it

News:

Author Topic: Bike security - what do you guys do? (Read 2205 times)