Any Motörbike riders here?

Fusionista

Wish there was an easy answer to this.  Security devices will only prevent casual/opportunistic theft.  I am not fatalistic, but if someone wants your bike they can cut through any metal and lift it into the back of a van in seconds. There are some fancy radio devices which will tell you where your bike is after it has been stolen, but that solution is not cheap and it comes on top of insurance. 

If you have an ordinary bike, insurance will pay you for any loss, although not for any inconvenience.  If you own an expensive bike, the only cost-effective solution is to keep it in a secure area. Personally, unless  I can be sure of that at either end of a journey, I don't ride. I want to ride to Goodwood this year, but concerned as to where I am going to leave the bike all day, so will likely drive.

If anyone has any better ideas, I too am all ears.

boogieman

If I'm out on the bike and need to park it up for a short while I just stick the chain through the wheel and put the lock on. I don't bother locking it to anything. Figure that someone has still got to cut the chain first to ride it off. I agree it is a pain, better than losing my bike though.

Fusionista

motorcycle theft in the UK remains unchanged at around 35,000 thefts a year

http://www.mtrackonline.co.uk/mtrackrecoveryfo.html

 

http://www.automobile-security.com/buynow_bikesafe.html

 

http://www.acutrac.co.uk/tempest-cat1-system---fitted---10158-44-p.asp

 

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews68684.html

strumjoughlamps

I have a ground anchor next to the front door if I am bitting and bobbing around all day or if I get home from a wedding shoot late.. Most of the time though it's in the garden locked gate and with a Mammoth chain.. When out and about its an alarmed disc lock.

cruxiform

With regards to alarms, I'll ask one question. The last time you heard an alarm going off did you run at full speed like a superhero towards it in a bid to save the owner from getting his/her property stolen?  No, of course not. Nobody else does either, so a bike alarm going off isn't going to make the slightest bit of difference.

The only security that is proven to work with motorcycles is a decent lock and chain attached to something solid. A chain through the back wheel doesn't stop it being lifted into a van. What thieves hate is taking time to steal your bike and making lots of noise doing it. Both of which they will have to endure if they come up against a good chain and lock. It saddens me that when I see 'bike stolen' threads on biker forums that so many have left their bike alarmed but not locked to anything. Alarms don't work. Period.

At home I have 2 quality chains through a ground anchor which is cemented 3ft into the ground. It took some time and money for this security measure but it's worth it IMO. I carry a chain to lock my bike up to something solid if I have to leave it. It still amazes me how people can sometimes spend loads of money on fancy gear then have a disc lock for security then are surprised when their bike is stolen.

strumjoughlamps

cruxiform said:

With regards to alarms, I'll ask one question. The last time you heard an alarm going off did you run at full speed like a superhero towards it in a bid to save the owner from getting his/her property stolen?  No, of course not. Nobody else does either, so a bike alarm going off isn't going to make the slightest bit of difference.

The only security that is proven to work with motorcycles is a decent lock and chain attached to something solid. A chain through the back wheel doesn't stop it being lifted into a van. What thieves hate is taking time to steal your bike and making lots of noise doing it. Both of which they will have to endure if they come up against a good chain and lock. It saddens me that when I see 'bike stolen' threads on biker forums that so many have left their bike alarmed but not locked to anything. Alarms don't work. Period.

At home I have 2 quality chains through a ground anchor which is cemented 3ft into the ground. It took some time and money for this security measure but it's worth it IMO. I carry a chain to lock my bike up to something solid if I have to leave it. It still amazes me how people can sometimes spend loads of money on fancy gear then have a disc lock for security then are surprised when their bike is stolen.

if I hear a house/car/bike alarm going off I always have a gander and question any suspicions I might have, I know not everyone does but even if I am in the minority I certainly am not alone..

I park in high pedestrian areas such as the middle of town(one of the perks of biking) and security controlled car parks, I would like to think that while an alarm is going off someone is trying to break a disc lock off and then a steering lock to push it away(alarm still going off) or lift it into a van.. that someone is going to question it or call 999 or something....

im fully insured with low excess and no security devices on file so I shall take my chance, sometimes I will fill my top box and backpack with shopping so the weight of my Mammoth chain isnt a consideration.

Tone71

I`m looking at removing my alarm and immobiliser, its a pain in the ass and a battery killer.

Myranda

I prefer Arai - the shape seems to fit my face better

BenSirAmos

Of course, when I started out, you didn't have to wear a helmet.

underdog

I bought this before Christmas, not been on it yet, not ridden for 18 years but looking forward to spring when I will get out on it.

boogieman

Harley? Or Japanese clone?

underdog

boogieman;170455" said:

Harley? Or Japanese clone?

It's just a 125 intruder, the last owner done a lot of work on it, and a very good job he did. Got it for a good price so couldn't resist. My wife still hates me for it though.

octatonic

Massive looking V twin for a 125.

Looks cool.

I'd like a big V-Twin at some stage but it couldn't be my only bike.

What would people's '3 bike garage' look like?

I'd have:

Sensible Commuter: Honda Hornet

Super Sports: Fireblade

Sunday rider: Triumph Rocket III or a Harley Softail Breakout CVO

Fusionista

underdog said: My wife still hates me for it though.

My wife hates my guitars and my bikes, even my car, which she won't drive ("It's too powerful" - tell that to the Chelsea tractor brigade) and my cooking (which is actually not bad, just I specialise in the exotic, while she prefers 'English' fare).  

Such a general issue: it's got to be symptomatic of wider gender issues as well as individual relationships.  Curiously, I don't give a tinkers what she wears, what she drives and I sure as heck never criticise her cooking.

underdog

Yeah I think the bike hate is passing (for now) partly because it's tucked away out of sight and partly because there's a new expensive guitar to hate this week.

The bike is purely for fun, I don't need it at all, but it will be used for the little runs I do throughout the day when kids are in school etc I just really wanted one again.

octatonic

Fusionista said:

underdog said: My wife still hates me for it though.

My wife hates my guitars and my bikes, even my car, which she won't drive ("It's too powerful" - tell that to the Chelsea tractor brigade) and my cooking (which is actually not bad, just I specialise in the exotic, while she prefers 'English' fare).  

Such a general issue: it's got to be symptomatic of wider gender issues as well as individual relationships.  Curiously, I don't give a tinkers what she wears, what she drives and I sure as heck never criticise her cooking.

I think I'm pretty lucky then.

Mrs Oct rarely criticises me and doesn't mind the house being filled with my guitars and motorcycling bits.

I've had a bunch of people say 'Your wife lets you have an amp THAT BIG in the living room'- or something similar.

cruxiform

I'm lucky too, my Mrs is cool about the guitars and the bike. Likewise, I'm cool about the things she does. I have friends who have to beg their wives just to get out for a ride on a Sunday. I'd hate to be in that kind of relationship.

Fusionista

cruxiform said:

 I'd hate to be in that kind of relationship.

By the time you're in it, it's too late.  Not that I wasn't warned either.  "It's a kind of madness."

octatonic

cruxiform said:

I'm lucky too, my Mrs is cool about the guitars and the bike. Likewise, I'm cool about the things she does. I have friends who have to beg their wives just to get out for a ride on a Sunday. I'd hate to be in that kind of relationship.

Word.

If only my girlfriend was as understanding.

cruxiform

Fusionista said:

cruxiform said:

 I'd hate to be in that kind of relationship.

By the time you're in it, it's too late.  Not that I wasn't warned either.  "It's a kind of madness."

I did lol at that.