Trackers / Datatag? whats what?

[FLV]

So, if one was to fit a tracker system in order to
1, hopefully deter the lightfigered type from pinching bike
2, hopefully get bike back if it does go walkies
3, make insurance a little cheaper

There seems to be a couple different ones about,

1, Datatag - 99.99 (fitted) 79.99 (mail order)
cant seem to work out if you need to pay a subscription or not.

2, Tracker - 199.99 couldnt decide if this was a fitted price but they wanted a subscription too of £60 according to their website. It would have to be good for that!!!


Anybody know about all this stuff?
Do you need to subscribe with datatag?
Is it really that effective?

Thanks
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parp...brap....parp

[Ingah]

Alphadot is cheaper than datatag - they're both the same thing with Alphadot being the less techy version, lots of little mini dots put on the vehicle that prove that the owner of the vehicle is you - i.e. a tagging system. No subscription although Datatag charges ~£16 for change of owner to update the details, AlphaDot doesn't. They can be removed easily, but the amount varies, as with where they're put. They don't put off joyriders but irritate professionals as they act as evidence of the theft until they can be removed, if they are even all found.
It'll do no real good unless the police arrest thieves on the suspicion of theft, then they can seize the property and look for the mini dots (as the frame numbers etc, the only other evidence of the vehicle being stolen, are usually ground off by thieves).

It does deter professional theft if clearly stickered, but don't get me wrong, if they can be bothered with the extra faff removing the dots and slightly higher risk in the meantime, they'll still have it away.

Tracker does what it says on the tin, there's various versions and features, some which will even text you if the bike moves without you being on it, but the essential idea is that if the bike is stolen then it's location can be tracked and fed to police etc. Won't deter theft at all, in fact it's safer for thieves not to know so that they can't find / disable the tracker. Very likely to get your bike back for you though.

Either way won't stop joyriders ripping around on it and trashing it, they're more for professional thieves.
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-- Ingah

[MarJay]

Datatag, Alphadot and Smartwater are not tracking systems. They will not allow you to recover a stolen bike by telling you where it is. All they do is allow you to identify your property IF it gets recovered.

Nowadays I'd rather buy a tracker and pay the subscription if I have an expensive bike. If not, I wouldn't bother. Just buy a decent alarm and a sturdy chain and lock.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Ste]

What bike is it for?

[FLV]

its for a yamaha FZ6.

Im new to bikes and am trying to figure out the best way to keep hold of it.

It seems at home / GF's place etc, having a hefty chain and something to chain it to is ideal. Get two and leave one at each.

This doesnt seem practical to carry about, if say going into town / citys and going to park it there for the afternoon say. Or even overnight.

Perhaps a disclock helps in this case?

What do you guys carry with you?

Alarms strike me as most useful when you're within earshot of your own bike?
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parp...brap....parp

[Derivative]

Get a top box or a seat bag or something to stick the chain in. This is what I do for my CG, that said I don't know how big the Almax chains are, seems they should still fit in a bag though? You shouldn't notice 5-10kg on a 160kg bike.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Fbyte]

I also vote for a big chain 8)

I do have one of this in my bike:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spy-Mini-GPS-GSM-GPRS-Real-Time-Live-Vehicle-Tracker-/320584221427?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item4aa44f02f3


Some "tracker" companies uses the same model through GPRS.
Nop sure if it would help too much if the bike gets stolen, but at least, I know I can phone the bike whenever I want and have her current position which is always nice (you may forget where it was parked 8)

[dainesefreak]

I have to say that in my experience over the years of two bike thefts and various alarms, that a big chain is the best defence.

Alarms just tend to be annoying. Everyone ignores them, they flatten your battery and generally go off at the wrong times. If you have the bike near you when you park, such as outside the window or in a close garage, then there's some merit. Just don't expect anyone other than yourself to react to it or do something about it.

For insurance discounts I usually use Smartwater (mainly because Honda used throw it on their bikes) and the factory fitted immobiliser. Smartwater is good because there's no etching stuff like Datatag. I've also got a hefty Almax chain that I use with a ground anchor when I'm a home.

[Bloke]

Careful about leaving a chain at a locking place. Friend of mine lost his £1500 road bike (bicycle) because of this. Left a chain around the lamp post outside his office.

After the theft they checked the cctv and found that someone came along in the middle of the night pulled the shroud cover back, cropped his chain and he says that they put a zip tie on it where the link once was then replaced the cover and walked away. Next day he parks up locks the bike and takes a shower over in the nearby gym. Thief comes back, snips the zip tie takes the bike. Bike was gone before he had even started work that day.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[Marmalade]

XDA orbit on tescos payg.
Unlimited interweb for £2 a week, hide phone on bike after registering and installing LocateA from https://www.locateA.net and you can pretty much pinpoint the location anywhere on the planet.
Have phone hard wired to the bike so is always on.
Job done. You can give all friends and family the details of tracking so they can see where you are hooning about and how fast you're doing so and if it goes walking you'll ot just have to hope a signal is grabbed by plod you'll be able to see it's location instantly
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