Secure parking

[DonDino]

I live on the outskirts of Manchester.
When I ride my bike to the city centre, I see bikes parked in all sorts of ways.
Most of them are next to bike rails (I think they were originally meant for push bikes but there's more motorbikes than pushbikes parked there), some are parked just with a disc lock, some chained to a rail, some both. From time to time there is one that is also fully covered when it's parked there.
Yet, I also see other bikes parked outside shops for hours, not chained to anything and not even a disc lock on them.

I myself normally park at a rail and use a chain and disc lock.

What's your preferred way to park securely?
Are town centres really so safe as to be able to leave a bike parked without chaining it to anything?
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First bike: CBF125, Feb. - Oct. 2012
Currently riding: ER-6N since Oct. 2012

[WannaBeDude]

yes no maybe poss.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[mysterious_rider]

I have a shitty beaten up bike. Usually gets left alone .

[nobblie]

No!
Those who don't secure their bikes just probably haven't had one stolen (yet). They'll be more careful once they do

[mysterious_rider]

I've had a bike stolen fella. It does make sense to lock them up, but to be fair all the locks seem all too easy to break through.

[ocatoro]

just think of it this way dude.... if your bike is locked up, which is more likely to get pinched? yours, or the one with no security


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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[J.M.]

[DonDino]

[J.M.]

My bike is brilliant for it

When I'm not using the chain it goes around the side of the bike, resting underneath the grab handle at the back, wrapping around the bike with the padlock resting against the mudguard.

Actually, you can see it in the attached image. It's the thing in the red sleeve.

As for when it's chained up:
https://www.motorcyclesupermarket.com/images/bikes/images/10528.1348317636.lhs.jpg

There's a gap between the thick part of the frame (where the footpeg is) and the semi-circle cutout from the engine just above. That's where it goes through the frame. It also goes through the frame in the V where the pillion footpeg is. From there it goes through the back wheel and under a thinner part of the frame, under the seat and through over the top of the chain guard. Then both parts wrap around the metal pole and I padlock it together.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[RichieZX6R]

Am i the only one that thought of spare tyre jokes when looking at that photo
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[Joncrete Cungle]

I always chain and padlock whatever bike I am out on and stick on a disc lock. The feeling of returning to find my bike stolen, getting nothing more that a crime ref no out of the rozzers, having to use public transport, pay insurance excess and declare the theft & claim for the following 5 years is not something I am keen to repeat.

[DonDino]

Does the spare tyre help with back/hip protection?

I don't have the first gap your bike has, maybe my new ER6 will have something similar. I have the V-shaped passenger footpeg bracket, but it's two easy bolts to remove and off it goes so not much protection.
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First bike: CBF125, Feb. - Oct. 2012
Currently riding: ER-6N since Oct. 2012

[J.M.]

[KLR600]

When I have to ride a motorbike into Manchester City Centre (rare) I park it in the bike bays behind Primark, lock the front wheel to one of the railings and put another chain through the back wheel and over the bike. It's usually pretty packed in that bike park but the traffic wardens in Manchester are ruthless so I never want to take any chances.
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Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
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[DonDino]

[DonDino]

[Shinigami]

Manchester...CHAIN THAT FECKER UP WITH 30 CHAINS!!!!

but seriously, i'd never leave a bike in Manc centre without at least a chain and a disc lock.
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[KLR600]

I should add (as I just remembered) that I've seen a few tramps/chavs sitting on bikes in bike parks. I saw two guys sitting on a Harely that was parked in the bays behind Primark once but they were gone before I got close enough to say anything. It was obvious they didn't own it and I highly doubt they'd of left any details had they caused any damage...

Might be worth getting a cheapo cover too if you're leaving it in Manchester a lot!

I pretty much just cycle into the Manchester these days as I know I can usually leave my mountain bike somewhere quite safe and indoors.
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Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
<My Bikepics Page> <My Yootoobes> <My Websites> <My Photos>
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[SamWise72]

The rule I used to employ with cycling was "Always lock your bike next to a more expensive one which is less well secured". It's not about being faster than the lion, it's about being faster than the slowest person in the group.

Now I motorcycle, and work in Windsor; not many other bikes, BUT, I ride a chinese 125, and one of my co-workers rides a nice customised Yamaha Dragstar 650. I lock mine to a bike rack, his is 10 feet away, secured only (I think) by steering lock.

[tahrey]

Moderately decent-looking bike lock... that's about it.

Better than nowt at least

[Tomzo47]

disk lock and chain to whatevers sturdy enough to keep the feckers off it. Also near something heavy i can use as a weapon if the feckers do try it.
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Ybr 125 > Bandit 650SA > GSXR 600 > Triumph Sprint St1050 > CB1300 > Z1000SX + FJ1200 (written off) > VFR750 >FJ1200