Bike Alarms

[chris50cc]

I've recently been looking at bike alarms so that i can lower my insurance when I get my bike in a couple of weeks (50cc). I've come across 2 alarms with different makes but almost the exact same features - One of them being remote engine start and stop - and a £10 difference between them.

I was wondering if anybody has one of these alarms that they could review or if anybody knows the difference between them.
Thanks

Check them out:

www.astrodonalarms.com

www.kryptonalarms.co.uk
____________________
Live to the max
Live for the moment
Live forever!!!

[Sparks!]

[billy whizz]

Remote start and stop? Why??
____________________
Here comes the summer!

[headlamp]

For alarms to qualify for a discount on insurance they have to be Thatcham approved, and there is no mention of this on either websites. Given that a 'good' alarm system costs around £250-300, then I'm not sure these two are any good. I'd shop around a bit more and get one Thatcham approved.
____________________
Using a mobile phone while driving a car should be made a capital offence!

[chris50cc]

Remote start and stop to help against hi-jacking, like being pushed 0ff at lights etc....
____________________
Live to the max
Live for the moment
Live forever!!!

[Slavo]

I have an astrodon alarm, bought from ebay for £40. The only difference to the one displayed on their website is the talking feature, instead I have 5 chirps to warn people off. They are easy to fit, apart from the remote start feature (well, I haven't managed it yet). I am happy with the alarm.

[chris50cc]

Remote start and stop to help against hi-jacking, like being pushed 0ff at lights etc....
____________________
Live to the max
Live for the moment
Live forever!!!

[billy whizz]

Whats the start bit for so the thief does'nt have to trash your ignition lock!
Sorry i dont mean to be an arse but it is funny, it sounds like the sort of thing a chav would die for!!
____________________
Here comes the summer!

[chris50cc]

Slavo would you recommend it then?
____________________
Live to the max
Live for the moment
Live forever!!!

[chris50cc]

Whats a chav? Be an arse if you want, everyone has their own personality....
____________________
Live to the max
Live for the moment
Live forever!!!

[stinkwheel]

I wouldn't use one on a 50, the reason being that they have a very small battery. Any alarm is an active device and so has a constant but low draw on your battery. They will flatten the battery on a modern sports bike if left unattended for any length of time so a 50 stands no chance. Most people with alarmed bikes plug them in at the wall to a battery conditioner when they are parked up.

You can get passive immobilisers which have no current draw as they do not look for the microchip until the ignition is switched on. These will also give you a discount and are cheaper than an alarm. I have a Taurus one on my bike which proved effective when my it was nicked, they couldn't get it started and abandoned it.

Better to spend the money on a good ground anchor and chain, this is a better deterrent to a casual theif. You can get insurance discounts with these if you use an approved one.

You can get alarmed disc locks which have their own battery, they don't get you a discount on your insurance but wont flatten the battery and prevent you riding off without taking the lock off!
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Slavo]

I would recommend it even without the remote start feature. Mine is not connected. Although, I wouldn't pay £80.95 for it as advertised on their website. Scout Ebay, there is someone that sells them brand new for around £40 (average they end at). If you were looking at spending £100+, I'd be more inclined to go for a veto alarm or similar, but they cost to have fitted by a professional fitter approved by thatcham.

[Ste]

The amount that fitting an alarm will reduce your insurance by is not much at all. The cost of getting the alarm is going to be so much more than the amount that you will save on insurance!

Try getting some online quotes from places like Click Quote and get one quote telling it you do have an alarm, then get another quote the same, but without telling it you have an alarm. This will show you just how little value the alarm has.

Features like remote starting and stopping of the bike are not really of any real function for you and your scooter. The chances of you being hijacked and pushed off your scooter and someone then riding it off are pretty much zero! Don't try and kid yourself into that being a reason why you need an alarm which has that feature as the only thing it is good for is showing off!

If you're actually worried about the bike being stolen just get a big chain and chain it up to something whenever you leave it anywhere.

It's really not worth spending the money on an alarm on your scooter, you'll be better off using the money to buy some petrol or better bike kit like better helmet, gloves, jacket and trousers. Chances are you've not worried about getting protective trouser to use on your scooter, but tarmac does have a bad habit of hurting when you fall off onto it, and falling off at 30mph will hurt, and it doesn't hurt any less because it was a scooter you were riding.

Hope this is of some help.

[chris50cc]

cheers guy's.... keep it coming
____________________
Live to the max
Live for the moment
Live forever!!!

[billy whizz]