Tracking devices

[Weedy]

In this months "Bike" magazine, they mention a tracking device that's activated when you're bike is stolen and the police track it via GPS.

It says there's an annual subscription of £60 and the price tag of getting it and having it fitted is quite hefty.

Anyone got/had one of these? What make? Any good? Did it work? etc

Cheers,

Weedy
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<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[carvell]

Are you sure it's by GPS?

https://www.tracker.co.uk/home.php

Trackers have been around a long, long time.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Weedy]

That's what bike says? :S They give the website as www.uktracking.com
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<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[carvell]

The only two motorcycle ones have nothing to do with GPS. Suspect a basic lack of research on Bike's part!

Also, with the £60 one, you have to call them up and tell them your bike's been nicked.

I've seen them used, if an equipped (look for 4 aerials in a square on the roof) police car is in the area (assuming they've got the receiver on...) then it'll bleep in their car and you'd hope that they might either try and locate the vehicle or get some help to look for it.

The entire system relies on a police car being in the area of your bike, HQ don't get a little bleeping dot on their screen showing them where your bike is.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Weedy]

I think Bike are telling porkies!!

SO, with those developments in mind, are they worth it?
____________________
<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[carvell]

See my edit above, you posted too quick.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Weedy]

Hmm, so it all depends on how much you love your bike I guess! And if you're willing to pay out the fees

Thanks
____________________
<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[Villers]

For the price tag, plus the subscription, I'd want a hefty saving on my insurance. But thats not going to happen is it?

To be honest, I would imagine once it had been nicked then I wouldnt want it back AT ALL. Once its gone your insurance is up the spout, things are happening to your bike you dont know about and your bike will end up with a stolen and recovered logged against it. If I had to choose between having a shit insurance rating and a brand new bike against a shit insurance rating and a recovered bike with a history I know which one I would take anyday.
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[trevoriv]

As far as cars go the recovery rate for vehicles fitted with Tracker Monitor, Horizon and Echo is almost 100%. The only problem with bikes is that chances are by the time the police get to the bike it will probably have been binned. Some of the recovery times are <10 minutes and the Echo has the ability to stop the engine remotely.

With the new government road charging schemes being planned all vehicles will soon have a tracking device of some sort.

In my eyes they are worth it if you have a high value vehicle that is more likely to be stolen to order as you are pretty certain you are going to get it back and as it's been stolen to order it should still be in one peice. A vehicle with a Tracker system on it will be recovered but if it has been nicked for a joyride chances are it will be in a poor state when it is recovered.