Bike Security

[London_ed]

Hi, I have just passed my CBT and I am currently looking for a 125 to build up my experience on the roads.

I live in London and it has just dawned on me that my local council (Westminster) charges motorcycles for parking!

Also when I do pay for a motorcycle permit I understand I will not be able to park in front of my door. Instead I will have to use a designated motorcycle bay which is not on my street but two blocks away by the main road. The whole area is built up with terrist housing and a few flats so no garage for me.

My concern is that this motorcycle bay will not necessarily be safe and if I do buy a decent, bike it will be open to nightly attempts of theft until somebody actually succeeds.

What kind of security would you recommend?

[FURBAR]

You can't park outside even with a permet WTF !!!! .... do the bays have solid place for a chain ...
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Fuk um !!

[Paxovasa]

Hello and welcome.

Does your property have a small front garden or a rear garden, that you can park the bike in?
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[London_ed]

The motorcycle bays have metal hoops in the ground to pass chains etc through. And yes We have a small garden a the front of the home but there is a small wall that divides this garden and the garden itself has plants and roses that I do not want to damage. It is small enough to walk over but too tall to try and lift the motorbike over.

[blurredman]

Do you live in ground flat?
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Paxovasa]

Do you have a gate or a gap in the wall to walk through?

I would rather have my bike parked in my front garden then having a few plants.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Bendy]

When I lived in Westminster a resident's parking permit let you park in the on-street parking with all the cars. As this ran along the street outside the houses I forked out the money for a permit rather than keep my bike in the nearest bay, which was at the end of the street. My neighbours were pretty decent about leaving me a big enough gap so I could park by the only lampost and thus chain my bike to it.

I don't know if things have changed now? If you've got residents car parking outside your house, it could be worth looking at.

[London_ed]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

If I lived in London and rode a 125 I'd put it in my hallway.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Bendy]

[FURBAR]

For me, 20 quid permet variable reg parking and bikes free ...
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Fuk um !!

[pinkyfloyd]

[FURBAR]

Ha, i thought you may notice, but i'm security obsessed being TPO .. and i did not say elo to the fucker ..

Anyway .. your only jeolous caus i beat you to it !!!
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Fuk um !!

[pinkyfloyd]

[FURBAR]

I so should be getting of me fat arse and doing some stuff ... but cnc4 pc game has just turned up !!!
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Fuk um !!

[Ingah]

Almax 3 / Almax 4 / Pragmasis 16mm chain through the frame of the bike to an immovable object. Yes, they are expensive, but they are the only chains i trust.

Anything less and bolt cutters'll have it off quickly and quietly.

An alarm is helpful in addition to the physical security - just draws anyone who gives a stuff's attention for a second (few people i must admit, but it only takes one good samaritan), makes the thief feel nervouser, and if you can hear the alarm in your house, win! Wouldn't rely on one.

Datatag/AlphaDot will increase the faff factor of selling on the parts of your bike for the professional thief. And the risk of keeping the parts, as they can't just grind off the frame number and say it's their bike if cops raid them.

Old cover if you can be bothered as no one knows if it's worth nicking or not til they've looked underneath, or seen you park.

That's should cover most to all of the security items i'd consider for overnight parking.
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-- Ingah

[SweenyT]

Hi London_ed, in addition to a chain, bike cover, datatag etc don't forget a disc lock.

I live and work in London and don't go anywhere without my chain and/or disc lock. You can get an alarmed disc lock. I sometime only use a disc lock if I'm not going to be anywhere for less than an hour or parked outside a mates house and I can see my bike as it won't stop anyone picking the bike up and taking it but you might hear it go off depending on where your bike is parked.

Oh and be careful parking on the streets in London as well cause a**holes that can't drive like to knock bikes over now and again and drive off! (Sorry recent bad experience )
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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new

[HD]

Knock down the wall and squish mummy's roses. Thats what I'd do
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3