motorcycle security
Discussion
croyde said:
I want that Litelok 3 as it took the Bennet's bloke 4 discs to grind through it.
One cut tho, so more discs for the second cut.
But order now and it's 30 days for delivery and once they have the money there may well be other delays. Shame.
I've now got 3 disc locks as well as a monster chain. Right faff but has to be done.
i took the plunge and ordered , hopefully there is no delaysOne cut tho, so more discs for the second cut.
But order now and it's 30 days for delivery and once they have the money there may well be other delays. Shame.
I've now got 3 disc locks as well as a monster chain. Right faff but has to be done.
Dog Star said:
One thing worth noting - I’ve a Makita battery angle grinder, and I recently chopped up an old trailer frame - basically angle iron. I had a stack of batteries. The (genuine) 5ah batteries lasted a couple of minutes, tops. I’d say with a big Pragmasis or Almax you’re probably safe, and if you’ve two on there they aren’t getting through, unless they’ve a rucksack full of spare batteries.
well i had a pragmasis 19mm and i thought i was safe with that , but they got through that before , hopefully the 25mm is alot harderHugo Stiglitz said:
I won't leave my bike anywhere out of sight.
Fullstop.
I couldn't care less if its insured.
I commute to a secure carpark and if I go inside a shop its right outside the glass window.
I won't even go to the toilet unless it's very quick.
This is my issue too - people say “oh well it’s insured”. All well and good, but as happened to me and Mrs DS a decade ago - we had three cars and three bikes. Two bikes (they didn’t get the third) were stolen, one each. So for the next five years we had both drivers / riders on all six policies having to declare an unrecovered theft. Nightmare. Fullstop.
I couldn't care less if its insured.
I commute to a secure carpark and if I go inside a shop its right outside the glass window.
I won't even go to the toilet unless it's very quick.
I’d argue that insurance loadings on theft are a bit harsh - I was pretty good with security before, but now I’m absolutely bonkers about it to the point of utter paranoia. I live in a nice area, but nevertheless my home and garden are like a fortress now, I won’t leave anything and bikes are kept in sight and chained - even if I’m paying for fuel. I think a lot of people who’ve had a bike stolen are likely to be much more security conscious. I also don’t buy the “you’re a higher risk because the thieves will return to steal the replacement bike; that is I’m sure a bit of an urban myth. I’ve never heard of this happening.
One thing I did note - bike insurance is much much “harder” on claims - have a motorbike claim OR a car claim and they hammer you for much more (and more often than not (Bennett’s being an exception) for five years) whereas car insurers don’t s
t their pants to anything like the same extent, again car or bike. Dog Star said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I won't leave my bike anywhere out of sight.
Fullstop.
I couldn't care less if its insured.
I commute to a secure carpark and if I go inside a shop its right outside the glass window.
I won't even go to the toilet unless it's very quick.
This is my issue too - people say “oh well it’s insured”. All well and good, but as happened to me and Mrs DS a decade ago - we had three cars and three bikes. Two bikes (they didn’t get the third) were stolen, one each. So for the next five years we had both drivers / riders on all six policies having to declare an unrecovered theft. Nightmare. Fullstop.
I couldn't care less if its insured.
I commute to a secure carpark and if I go inside a shop its right outside the glass window.
I won't even go to the toilet unless it's very quick.
I’d argue that insurance loadings on theft are a bit harsh - I was pretty good with security before, but now I’m absolutely bonkers about it to the point of utter paranoia. I live in a nice area, but nevertheless my home and garden are like a fortress now, I won’t leave anything and bikes are kept in sight and chained - even if I’m paying for fuel. I think a lot of people who’ve had a bike stolen are likely to be much more security conscious. I also don’t buy the “you’re a higher risk because the thieves will return to steal the replacement bike; that is I’m sure a bit of an urban myth. I’ve never heard of this happening.
One thing I did note - bike insurance is much much “harder” on claims - have a motorbike claim OR a car claim and they hammer you for much more (and more often than not (Bennett’s being an exception) for five years) whereas car insurers don’t s
t their pants to anything like the same extent, again car or bike. This is not intended to be a smug post at all, I live in the NE of Scotland and (fortunately) just cant relate to the mindset that you guys down south and in big Cities have to adopt to keep your st safe. There is a fair bit of bike crime in Edinburgh but sounds nothing like London and the surrounding area.
I'm impressed at your resolve, but it just seems incredible to me that you don't feel safe leaving the bike and going for a coffee or something like that.
t safe. There is a fair bit of bike crime in Edinburgh but sounds nothing like London and the surrounding area.I'm impressed at your resolve, but it just seems incredible to me that you don't feel safe leaving the bike and going for a coffee or something like that.
bad company said:
The Selfish Gene said:
That said, in 5 years I've had two attempts to actually bike jack me in central London - I do ride every day, and always on nice nearly new things, but if they really want it - you have to be prepared to not leave it and / or protect it.
Wow! How did they try to bike jack you?t on a moped no numberplate, no helmets.This was on way to work at 8am or whatever - looking for commuters. I was on my new at the time Triumph Street Scrambler (the replacement for the one that was stolen).
So you can imagine I wasn't in the best mood. Guy on back of moped showed me his machete whilst at speed alongside me. I think their plan was to get me to stop or just stop in traffic and threaten me or chop me and take the bike.
Lost my temper with that and went full Jason Borne, luckily I had the presence of mind to stop hard at a green light, they kept going and stopped - guy gets off with his machete but luckily a passing police car gave chase.
Second time was quite recently - wet day, on my T7WR (new) and was getting followed for quite a while by a moped two up - passenger on phone. They picked me up on Old Kent road, by the time I was getting other side of Blackheath they had another bike join them (assumed who he was calling) - they tried the pinser movement on me at a red light - but I'd seen them coming for literally 20 minutes so was expecting it. I live around there, so I as they came from either side I gunned it through the red and basically just fcked them off with local knowledge until I felt safe enough to get it into my garage without them being anywhere near me. Sat in the garage with everything off for ten minutes, no bike noises so walked to house.
You just have to be really aware - and to be clear I ride nearly everyday, and always on new things and in s
t areas sometimes. I'm still yet to actually get hold of one of the little
s - I'm assuming they wouldn't be keen on a proper ruck when you start smashing them about. I could be wrong. The only way they're getting my bike is if they kill me though, So they are going to have to really want it,Dog Star said:
The Selfish Gene said:
in London things are that bad yes. Also, on the angle grinder - usually more than one scumbag - anyone that tries to intervene get's hurt. Police never turn up etc
The London stuff is what makes me as paranoid as I am, despite being hundreds of miles away. I wouldn’t take a bike into London. I wouldn’t take myself there, to be fair. Round here it’s dirt bikes. I recently sold my KTM as it was simply a worry in case some scrotes found out I had one or I got followed on it. It’s a weight off my mind that it’s gone (I might have been my usual paranoid, over-thinking self though, as £53 a year fully comp says otherwise).
black-k1 said:
I completely understand why you take such an approach but, while I do take some precautions depending on location (I'd not park at all on the street in London) I refuse to let the thieving scum to turn me paranoid, and spoil the fun of riding my bike.
I can't, just can't. Even if it was a consequence free insurance payout. They can't spoil my ride but they can spoil my sleep, my thoughts etc if they took and enjoyed something of mine. Use a 13mm Pragmasis chain, alarmed disc-lock and Litelok typically when leaving the bike at work, and a 19mm chain and buried ground anchor in the garage at home, plus the aforementioned. Can’t be arsed with a tracker - if it gets pinched then it’s gone. Chances are the recovered bike would be an insurance claim anyway if it needs a new lock set, ECU, etc, plus the other likely damage.
Tam_Mullen said:
This is not intended to be a smug post at all, I live in the NE of Scotland and (fortunately) just cant relate to the mindset that you guys down south and in big Cities have to adopt to keep your st safe. There is a fair bit of bike crime in Edinburgh but sounds nothing like London and the surrounding area.
.
I live in a pretty rural location and I’m still ultra careful, my insurance is peanuts these days. I’ve heard that bike crime is quite bad in Edinburgh, as it happens. I’m sure there was a thread on here about it. t safe. There is a fair bit of bike crime in Edinburgh but sounds nothing like London and the surrounding area..
That’s not the point - I’m the same wherever I go, middle of the Dales, Scotland visiting family or whatever. My security is the same. Drop your guard. Lose the bike. Deal with the hassle for the next five years. No thanks.
2 methods are "out of sight, out of mind" and "more secure than the next one". If someone really wants your bike, they will take it. Some of them will go through you to get it, too.
I've seen a few grinder resistant locks hitting the market. I can only imagine they're going to get more and more popular, too. Something grinder resistant with a theft spray in it would be novel and I'm willing to bet quite effective.
I've seen a few grinder resistant locks hitting the market. I can only imagine they're going to get more and more popular, too. Something grinder resistant with a theft spray in it would be novel and I'm willing to bet quite effective.
Dog Star said:
I live in a pretty rural location and I’m still ultra careful, my insurance is peanuts these days. I’ve heard that bike crime is quite bad in Edinburgh, as it happens. I’m sure there was a thread on here about it.
That’s not the point - I’m the same wherever I go, middle of the Dales, Scotland visiting family or whatever. My security is the same. Drop your guard. Lose the bike. Deal with the hassle for the next five years. No thanks.
Ultimately it's about what works for you, the balance between security cost / faff, enjoying your bike and having enough peace of mind - and you've found that, which is good I guess.That’s not the point - I’m the same wherever I go, middle of the Dales, Scotland visiting family or whatever. My security is the same. Drop your guard. Lose the bike. Deal with the hassle for the next five years. No thanks.
But It sounds from your previous posts like it stops you from doing things & going places on your bike, that others are able to enjoy, which seems a shame, for you.
And as much as you (understandably) blame the thieves for making you feel and act in that way, actually it's you making the choice not to do stuff. Meanwhile other people get on and use their bikes, don't worry about it, and the majority are not getting their bikes nicked and are not unduly stressing about the prospect.
Until they come on here and are told that gangs of villains will DEFINITELY be waiting to pounce if they're foolish enough to 'drop their guard'.
I use a biketrac and big f*ckoff chain and padlock (abus granit) on a ground anchor. But this is from the days where the only people who had heavyweight grade cutting kit were the fire brigade.
Arguably you can look at it in terms of the desirability of your bike. My VFR800 is probably an undesirable bike compared to most so fingers crossed doesn't get the attention a more modern/fasionable bike gets.
Where possible though it goes off street into secure parking.
Arguably you can look at it in terms of the desirability of your bike. My VFR800 is probably an undesirable bike compared to most so fingers crossed doesn't get the attention a more modern/fasionable bike gets.
Where possible though it goes off street into secure parking.
I've had several friends have bikes nicked from secure parking (assuming you mean the sort of place with a guy on the gate and cameras etc).
They either bung them, or frighten them - but it doesn't slow a theft.
Also to previous poster - no one is saying DEFINITE get nicked. It's impact versus likelihood, and then the value of that loss.
I could do a Boston Matrix, but can't be arsed - but if you're parking a new , say BMW GS1250/1300 in Central London, you are high likelihood high impact.
If it's some stbox in the outer Hebrides it's Low impact, low likelihood........(comparatively, as one person's bike is as important to that person in my view, regardless of value)
Insurance doesn't care either way.
It's really that simple - having had one nicked, i'll never let it happen again for so many reasons, but mainly because I love biking and don't want to be in a position were some little arrogant takes away my ability due to insurance being too high again etc.
So I never leave any of my bikes anywhere, ever - as others have said. I still get all the same enjoyment that I did before - more really, as I'm never worried.
They either bung them, or frighten them - but it doesn't slow a theft.
Also to previous poster - no one is saying DEFINITE get nicked. It's impact versus likelihood, and then the value of that loss.
I could do a Boston Matrix, but can't be arsed - but if you're parking a new , say BMW GS1250/1300 in Central London, you are high likelihood high impact.
If it's some s
tbox in the outer Hebrides it's Low impact, low likelihood........(comparatively, as one person's bike is as important to that person in my view, regardless of value)Insurance doesn't care either way.
It's really that simple - having had one nicked, i'll never let it happen again for so many reasons, but mainly because I love biking and don't want to be in a position were some little arrogant
takes away my ability due to insurance being too high again etc.So I never leave any of my bikes anywhere, ever - as others have said. I still get all the same enjoyment that I did before - more really, as I'm never worried.
We're in agreement - we all do a bit of mental gymnastics and either consciously or subconsciously weigh up, as said before, cost / faff vs enjoying the bike vs peace of mind.
I'm at peace with the chance that my bike might get nicked, you're not. I think that's the only point of difference and I'm certainly not trying to persuade anyone they should take the same approach I do.
I'm not completely reckless - at home the bike is in a locked garage, pragmasis chain & anchor. When I park it up (for hours, well out of my direct line of sight, in a city centre, or overnight somewhere in a national park car park - shock!) I'll generally, but not always, secure the back wheel with the pragmasis chain. It's a 1250 GSA and it's more likely to get nicked that it would be under your care, but I'm enjoying using it for tasks and in places that your paranoia wouldn't allow you to.
There is a certain frisson of uncertainty everytime I come back to where I parked up - will it still be there? - but hell, I get that everytime I open the garage door, or come back home after a holiday.
I'm at peace with the chance that my bike might get nicked, you're not. I think that's the only point of difference and I'm certainly not trying to persuade anyone they should take the same approach I do.
I'm not completely reckless - at home the bike is in a locked garage, pragmasis chain & anchor. When I park it up (for hours, well out of my direct line of sight, in a city centre, or overnight somewhere in a national park car park - shock!) I'll generally, but not always, secure the back wheel with the pragmasis chain. It's a 1250 GSA and it's more likely to get nicked that it would be under your care, but I'm enjoying using it for tasks and in places that your paranoia wouldn't allow you to.
There is a certain frisson of uncertainty everytime I come back to where I parked up - will it still be there? - but hell, I get that everytime I open the garage door, or come back home after a holiday.
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