Bike alarm... really!?

[Feasty]

I've had my FZS600 for about 7 months now, it's got a MetaSystem alarm that came with it - I'm not so convinced it'll stop a determined thief, but it may put off the chancer who sees the indicators flash when it's enabled/disabled.

Anyhow, I've been away on hol's for 2 weeks - longest holiday I've had for a few years. Got back home and comes to this morning, first day at work, bank holiday etc. Nice dry weather, quiet roads and I'm really looking forwards to a blast out. But I can't disable the alarm, the fob isn't working - better still I don't have the specific battery size it needs...grrrr... car it is then.
I immediately ordered replacement batteries, and later on searched for a manual for the alarm as I'm worried replacing the batteries will somehow reset the fob and I'll need to do some skullduggery to get it to work again. Know what I found out?
If the alarm isn't used for 10 days, it goes to sleep and needs waking via a different process of turning on the ignition, pressing key fob etc.

Who the chuffing hell thought it was a good idea to make that a thing!?
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Polarbear]

I suppose there is some logic to it in their minds. Another level of securityy but in reality it's just a gommick.

At least you found out about it before your tore frustratedly into the wiring when nothing worked after changing the batteries.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[xX-Alex-Xx]

idea is it'll save your battery from getting drained. most people don't need it to work for more than 10 days (if your bike is stationary longer than that you really should have more security on it than just an alarm). The immobiliser will work, just not the sensors for the alarm. If someone gets the bike powered on, they'll need to turn off the alarm within about 10 seconds using the fob or it'll go off.

It's not just Meta that do this, my current alarm does the same.
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DILLIGAF

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[Feasty]

I left the battery on a trickle charger anyway so it was never going to drain down - of course I know not everyone can always do that.

Previously, when the alarm is activated and I turn the ignition on that sets the alarm off - the last thing I wanted to do was set the alarm off at 6 in the morning, in my garage - and then the fob not work to disable it! I'd never hear the end of it, from my missus or the neighbours!
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Zen Dog]

I came to the conclusion years ago, that the primary purpose of bike alarms is to irritate the rider.

I'd have had the one fitted to the Street Triple removed if it wasn't a requirement of the insurance. It drained the battery, and automatically switched itself on, so I was constantly setting it off when filling up with fuel, and I had to keep it on an optimate all the time. If I wanted to work on the bike (or just move it around in the garage without having to switch it off and then listen to the beeps of it switching itself back on 30 seconds later every bloody time) I had to put it into "ferry mode". All of this for the benefit that if someone touched it when it was parked up on the street, it would make an annoying noise that everyone would ignore.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Wobbling Dog]

Weren't these alarms discontinued about 10 years ago? Their batteries have a 10 year life apparently

[Amber Phoenix]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Yeah it is

https://abacusalarms.co.uk/alarmshop/bike-alarms/bypass-plug-for-meta-alarms
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DILLIGAF

[Feasty]

Oh crumbs...

And this is where BCF comes into its own, thanks for the tips and links all
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Feasty]

Got me! - I went through exiting the sleep mode by turning on the ignition, it beeped to be disarmed, I pressed the fob... and nothing happened. After 5 secs the alarm went off, and kept going - in an echoing garage that thing is loud!
Thankfully my batteries arrived last night, cue me quickly taking the fob apart to replace them and hey presto all is working again.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[A100man]

[ThunderGuts]

Although no use the actual problem in hand, I have an alarmed disclock (Abus Granit thingy) which is pretty simple and relies on a mechanical key to disarm it. No battery drain off the bike, runs on two AAA batteries which last about 12 months at a time.
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TG.

[DrSnoosnoo]

Urgh I hate aftermarket alarms.

Though I've never had one go and give me problems, I just see it as a weakness; something to go wrong in the future at the worst possible time.

I've had a Datatool one on my ZZR11, never went wrong and luckily, I managed to figure out how to pair an extra fob to it. After I sent the other fob through the washing machine I was glad I did.

I've now got one of those Meta M357(whateverwhatever)V2 alarms with one fob. Can't simply pair another fob with this so if I lose it I'm stuffed. Unless I buy another unit with another 2 fobs. (because the PO lost the little red magic card with a code on it).
I've bought the bypass plug as linked here previously. If it decides to shit itself I've seen where the unit lies and I'll just have to go through the bike to attach the bypass.

Another reason I don't like them is that at some point, someone has tore the original wiring apart, at various places across the loom. So if I have any issues that seem dodgy, I'm gonna have to go looking for where these joins were made in history.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Wobbling Dog]

Removed my Meta M357T-V2 module earlier this year as it was 10 years old and I didn't want it spoiling a Spanish trip. Willing to send on F.O.C if anyone wants it? Has two fobs and the code card.

[grr666]

Yamaha were doing a promotion on new bikes where they would fit a Datatool tracker thingy for free.

https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/gb/en/offers/motorcycle/datatool-tracker/#/

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/security/trackers/datatool-trakking-stealth-tracker

I just emailed Fowlers cancelling mine, don't trust these things to not leave me stuck somehow.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[xX-Alex-Xx]