Best way to lock a bike if you can't chain it to anything

[Jamey]

If you have to park a bike somewhere and it's not possible to lock the bike to something (ie the ground or some immovable object) then what's the best way to chain it up?

I'm guessing that simply passing the chain once through the back wheel and then locking it isn't the best method, right?

So what's the preferred one?

[HD]

Tie it around the bike then hook it round your waist
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Thelostone]

If you can also include some fixed point on the bike maybe rear subframe or footrest hangers as well, but this will depend on the bike, a lot of the time it will just have to be the wheel only.

Keep the chain off the ground. If a thief can put one arm of the bolt croppers on the ground and lean on the other arm they can apply a lot more force. Similarly the chain should be tight enough that the thief can't move it to a more advantageous position but not so tight that it stays in place as they apply force.

[Ingah]

Through both front and rear wheel. It's harder to lift then (they'll need to lift both ends of the machine which takes an extra pair of hands - i.e. makes it a 3-man job instead of a 2-man job).
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-- Ingah

[Fairies attack]

I have a big loop lock, that gets passed through the front wheel then through itself. The rest is taken to the back of the bike where it goes through and oxford lock that goes through the back wheel and over the seat, with enough tension to just pull down on the seat a little bit.

Can't you find another place to park your bike where you can lock it to some street furniture?

[Jamey]

Sadly I live in a flat with no outdoor space and the motorcycle parking bay on my road does not have a lamp post or any other street furniture alongside it.

[0l0dom0l0]

You've got 2 types of bike thieves.

Type one are opportunistic. They will wonder along a line of bikes and will go for the one that isn't locked at all. Normally they brake the steering lock and wheel the bike somewhere quiet and attempt to hot wire it. Depending on their level of success they will then either ride the bike away or just abandon it.

In this instance having something like a disc lock will avoid them being able to wheel it away and normally they will just go for something else.

Type two are planned thieves usually with a van or more equipment. There will be a group typically a few of them just lift the bike straight into a van and drive off. Here a disc lock is no good and so chaining it to something helps and also leaving it where it is busy helps too.

In response to your question if there is something to chain it too, I will chain my bike to it, if not I just put a disc lock on it as even if I put a chain to itself, if a type 2 thief comes along it will make no difference to them but the disc lock scares off type one thieves.

Hope that helps.
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[superstacker]

If you have a few bikers down your street, can't you agree to loop your chains through each others? This way you have the best of both worlds, so long as you only loop through the chain and not through the actual bike.

[Jamey]

So does that mean it's basically pointless me even bothering to buy a chain and lock at the moment, then?

Basically I'm currently planning to buy a used Kawasaki Versys (prob 2008 or 2009) soon after I pass my Mod 2 (hopefully this Wednesday, touch wood).

Said Versys will have to be stored out in the street as I have absolutely no outdoor space.

Here are some photos of the bike bay in my street:


From the left:

https://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2793/img1303ge.jpg


Dead-centre:

https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5930/img1304d.jpg


From the right:

https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3783/img1305b.jpg

As you can see it has no lamp post or anything to chain a bike up to.

There was a suggestion of installing my own ground anchor but I'm not going to do that because there's a good chance of the council removing it, taking the chain and padlock with it (because if I don't leave the chain in the anchor another bike owner will come along and start using it) and leaving me out of pocket.

[Martay]

A big, very angry dog. The sort with big teeth and a growler

If not, like they said ^ through the wheels and frame so it cant roll. Rear is best, as the front is easily removed and lighter to lift
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[G]

Could you make an anchor - something like a large plastic barrel filled with concrete to tie it too? You could put in several different loops (use plastic tubing) so other bikes could use it too. Of course they may still come and take it; but it shouldn't cost you a massive amount.
In the past I've also wondered about getting a cheap van and using that. You would have to make sure it was decently imobalised too, as well as keeping it MOT'd and taxed. But, you'd also get somewhere dry to work on the bike .

[Jamey]

When you say "through the frame" can you explain a bit more? Bear in mind I'm new to all this. I don't know exactly which bits constitute the frame here.

[Jamey]

Hmmm... How big would a plastic tub need to be before it could be considered "immovable" when filled with concrete?

I wouldn't want to put anything barrel-sized out in the street tbh. And I'm guessing a bucket isn't large enough.

[0l0dom0l0]

Is that right outside your house?

I would get a bike with an alarm, as A it will reduce your insurance and B you will be able to hear it inside the house, then just disc lock on the front with a chain through the rear wheel and over the seat.
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[Jamey]

[G]

Yea, you'd definitely need a bit bigger than a 'bucket'.

A quick google shows concrete will normally weigh about 65kg for a cubic foot.

So if you could say make something that's 1' x 1' x 3' you'd have yourself the weight of a second bike which wouldn't take up TOO much room. Now, sure they could break it up etc; but it's going to be a chunk more noise and hopefully be enough for them to move on to something else.
Stick a few holes in in so others can use it too and you've now got quite a lot of hassle for potential thieves.
Depending on how close you, the pager-style alarms are also definitely worth considering.

[0l0dom0l0]

[Jamey]

Hmmm... I don't really like the idea of making an anchor point myself tbh. Obviously I want my bike to be as secure as I can manage but for various reasons the thought of making my own anchor doesn't appeal right now.

Are these the alarms you guys are talking about?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Motorbike-Scooter-Security-Alarm-120db-9V-/170704802206?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item27becc919e#ht_2382wt_1187

I think I saw a couple of people mention them in threads on here when i was searching stuff previously

[DrDonnyBrago]

If I had to park there frequently I would have two disc locks and a very loud alarm. Without digging up the street there isn't much mroe you can do.

Is there another bike bay nearby with better security?

[Jamey]

[G]

I would go for a pager one like this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorbike-Motorcycle-2-way-Pager-Alarm-Immobiliser-Remote-Start-shock-sensor-/400244797260?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item5d3072ef4c - remote start good for scaring people at work, if you can make it work with a modern bike.

[Jamey]

Hmmm... That looks alright. have emailed the seller to ask how much to fit to a Versys (no way I'm doing it myself, I'm hopeless at that kind of stuff).

[Recluso]

[willis1337]

That's a very wide pavment. Any chance you can stick it on the pavement near a lamppost under a cover, or outside the front of your house on the pavement tight up against your front wall, again under a cover (then you could put a ground anchor in your front wall). The more dirty and inconspicious the cover the better.

Alternatively call up the council and ask if they can put in a rail or a post (with a small sign saying motorcycle bay) by the bay so you have something to lock bike to? May happen if you ask right department nicely and happy to wait a bit.

Failing all that I would fill a small bin with cement with a chain through it and leave in bay for you / others to use. Council may remove but if its heavy enough doubt if they'll bother. Wouldn't claim ownership of it, if asked just say it appeared one day and you are using as its there.