Security Tips

[Jimmythe1]

Hello all,

Finally one hansom bike is back on the road after a period being without it thanks to some theives.

Not enjoying the experience of having a bike nicked, I was wondering if anybody had some 'tips' to avoid a repeat of last time.

By tips, I don't mean 'buy a fu@k off big chain'!!! I have one of those. (E.g. Annabella told me Sarah made a ground anchor out of a old drum and some concrete - that sounds like a good start).

Much appreciated.
____________________
There's no way to happiness, happiness is the way.

[Annabella]

I will add some detail:

The bike is in a back yard, with a 6' slidey gate, which is padlocked and bolted every night.

There is a lowish dry stone wall along the side of the garden/yard which he think was climbed over to get to the bike last time. We're thinking of putting some trellising up here, and some spikey climbers up it.

The bike is under a car port, and currently chained to one of the upright brick pillars.

The yard is at the back of the house, we sleep at the front, so didn't hear a thing last time - except when the bike went screaming past our bedroom window

This is rented accomodation, so fitting a ground anchor is dubious - we really need something that isn't permanent, but permanent enough to stop the scallies making off with Linford
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[stryker]

Just wondering, was the bike chained when it was stolen?
____________________
Now what?

[Jimmythe1]

To itself yes, but with a pretty cheap chain, biro quality lock picking.

It had a steering lock on too, but I gather by using it the theives can simply smash the ignition barrel and subsequently hotwire the bike easier - so I won't be using that again.

The gate was bolted too mind you.
____________________
There's no way to happiness, happiness is the way.

[stryker]

Really I think there is nothing else that can be done securing wise.

I'd look at fitting:

1) A nice 500watt flood light over the front drive and over the rear parking area.

2) A good bike alarm, or better still an alarm in the house with a wire loop round the bike wheel.
____________________
Now what?

[Smoto Bob]

LOCK YOUR BIKE THROUGH THE FRAME not just the wheels and to something big/or to another bike
____________________
F'it DO WHAT EVER MAKES YOU HAPPY!!!!! Even if it screws over everyone else :p
Titz wrote: "..and my 3rd accident was when this police car....."

[Bendy]

A loud alarm, with a pager if you're too far away to hear it, is worth it's weight in gold. It's the only way you'll ever tell if someone's messing with your baby.

[Annabella]

There is a big light, but the parking area is quite a distance away from the house itself, and we are on the third floor up....

I think we'll have to check the ranges of the pagers cheers for htat Bendy as I fear an alarm on that bike with it's Suzuki standard dodgy wiring will totally drain the battery.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Kickstart]

Hi

You can get solar panels to keep the battery charged up. Probably be OK if the only people who are likely to find it are the ones trying to nick the bike, but not much use if anyone else is wandering round.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[loply]

IMO 3 cheap disc locks at £5 each from ebay is far better than one disc lock at £30 as it looks "Over the top" to a criminal so they cba.

An alarm also?

DIY kill switch?

[yambabe]

For something loud, once again I recommend a personal attack alarm. We get them from the local pound shop! The ones we use are about credit-card size (only thicker) and have what looks like a bootlace with a jack plug on the end of it. When the jack is in the alarm, no noise. As soon as it's pulled, loud noise!

I wedge mine behind the radiator cover of the bike (no fairing on my bike) with the bootlace bit loosely tied to a spoke on the front wheel. As soon as the bike is wheeled backwards or forwards, the lace tightens, the jack pops out & the alarm goes off.

Battery powered, they seem to last for ever on one set of batteries (in fact I don't know what size batteries they take cos I've not changed any yet).
____________________
Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Frost]

Put in a ground anchor somewhere and put a large chain on the bike, allthough it may not stop them stealing it it might make them go for something else that looks easier to steal.

If your worried about them hotwiring it just take the HT leads off it, then put them back on before you need it.

[Shaun]

Glad to hear it finally back on the road!

Personally if I was living in my own place I would keep the bike indoors. If this really isn't an option then the alarm and pager system sounds good, would also be tempted with the personal attack alarm idea, by the time they have figured out what it is thats going off and why you're outside stark naked clutching what you thought was a bat but turns out to be a double ender, scary!

[Annabella]

[BLOFLY 636]

Well after several months searching for a dependable security locking system, I gave up and made my own. Heres the low down on what I did and why I did it.
First I made a base plate from some good thick steel 300mm in diameter and drilled 5 holes, 12mm in diameter and welded a bow shackle that I bought from a 4WD shop in the middle to give me a strong point to lock to. I bolted the plate to my garage floor with Dyna Bolts and Mag Wheel Lock Nuts. I then sourced some 13 or 14mm steel rod and measured a length to slip straight through my front axle and cut it to suit, I welded a 5mm plate 50mm in diameter to one end and drilled a 10mm hole into the other end to allow a padlock shackle to slip through then all that I need to do is climb off the bike, lock the steering, slip the rod through the axle and lock it to the base plate with a Kryptonite chain for good measure. I believe this is a great system as it is extremely difficult to remove the front wheel, cut the chain or padlock or carry the front wheel. I understand that you don't want to mount anchor plate but it is only a few small holes and a quick 10 or 15 minute job to remove the plate with the supplyed lock nut key and then just fill the holes with a silicone based caulk. I have also made another system for the rear wheel but I need to remove the split pin from the rear axle to mount the steel rod through the rear axle, I would also love to make one for the swingarm pivot also but it is only a 6mm diameter hollow pivoting rod to go through on my bike. I hope this didn't bore you too much but one of my biggest fears is walking out with my helmet in one hand and my keys in the other, only to find my pride and joy kidnapped! and I should add that this entire system (MINUS THE KRYPTONITE CHAIN) cost me $80 to make and thats Australian Dollars so that would be about 30 or 35 pound to you guys I think. good luck with your securing
____________________
Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

[instigator]