Bike theiving, why so easy to hotwire?

[Ribenapigeon]

Been a lot of bike thefts in Aberdeen recently. A lot of the bikes are new models less than five years old and from major manufacturers but the thieves seem to have no problem getting the bikes running so they can go joyriding. Why is it so easy to hotwire bikes?

[grr666]

Exposed engine/electrics/ignition
Duuuh!

/Thread
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[mentalboy]

Really?

Ask yourself which of these three you prefer to gain unauthorised access to alter the wiring and think about your reasoning!


1) The Bank of England
2) A Volvo
3) A motorcycle

[MCN]

Incompetent security.
Incompetent parking.
Incompetent incompetence.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[c_dug]

I agree with what the others have said, I'm unsure why immobilisers aren't a requirement on bikes though, my understanding is that the requirement for cars to be fitted with immobilisers has pretty much stopped that sort of thieving of cars.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[hellkat]

I have trouble remembering to take off a damn disk lock, I'd be fucked trying to remember to disengage an immobiliser.

hk: My bike doesn't work, call the RAC *waambulance* ...
RAC Man called out at 2.30am: It's your immobiliser, luv.
hk: Oh ... *blush, squirm*
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[MCN]

Rock the Kill Switch to the 'Off' position when you park up.

If the daubuhrs who post on here about 'their bike can't start' are flummoxed by simple tech then the scroti should be too. (They're from the same Species init.)
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Rogerborg]

The traditional wisdom was that every bike stolen and parted out / wrecked / burned out / shipped to Elbonia results in a new bike being sold.

So, are you or have you even been in the market for a new bike? Do/did you rule bikes out because of ropey security?

If the answer is "no" to either of those, then why would bike manufacturers give a wet fart about improving security?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[zark]

[Slacker24seve...]

I was able to remove my datatool alarm when I was pissed. It took me a while, but I reckon it's a 5 minute job tops when sober.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[stinkwheel]

Last bike I had stolen was fitted with a 12 lead immobaliser. Didn't stop them bypassing it and going joyriding.

I think the only way you'd really stop them joyriding is if the key was an integral part of the ignition system. Then you have the fun of having to replace the entire ECU if you loose the key.
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“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.

[goto10]

[Rogerborg]

HISS appears to be taking it seriously, although God help you if it malfunctions or you loose lose the key.

Again though, is it a deciding factor in new bike purchasing? Triumph, for example, sold loads of bikes even with notoriously poor security.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[goto10]

[Undinist]

Would it be hard to fit an extra switch to the ignition circuit? Wouldn't that be more reliable than an aftermarket immobiliser?
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[weasley]

[J.M.]

[Polarbear]

My Trophy has a 'need the key' immobiliser fitted as standard by Triumph. While I'm sure it does the job, just thinking about the cost of a spare key has me sweating!
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[bladeblaster]

probably the main reasons immobilisers are much less common on bikes is that on the whole they are pretty useless in themselves. OK it may deter the odd scrote joyrider, but if someone is actually nicking your bike chances are they will just lift it into the back if a van.

Ground anchoring, etc is much more effective for bikes than immobilisers.

Not quite so easy to chuck a car in the back of a van, lets be honest if you can;t start it, you probably ain't nicking it. With a bike all you need to be able to do is physically lift it, once you have done that you have all the time in the world to re-program keys, ECU's whatever, from the comfort of your scrote lair.

[Mudshark]

[Rogerborg]

[ScaredyCat]

[bladeblaster]

[Baffler186]

[goto10]