Buying a bike with an alarm?

[maxp]

Whilst looking at used bikes, i've noticed quite a few have alarm systems fitted.

Personally it's something i've always stayed away from - i've read too many stories about them immobilising the bike on a wet day, draining the battery, and going off if the wind blows the wrong way.

Also the thought of some numpty with no electrical experience hacking away at an expensive wiring loom fills me with dread.

What are your thoughts on motorcycle alarms? Judging by their seeming popularity I feel I might be a bit unfairly prejudiced against them.

[waffles]

I bought a bike with a datatool alarm fitted which was fine but a bit of a hassle to deactivate when disconnecting the battery. I have heard of people with poorly fitted alarms that cause problems. It's not something that I desperately want on a bike as I have a tracker system that I will fit instead. It won't put me off though.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Knacker]

Whilst perusing the history that came with my recently purchased Gsxr the first owner paid £175 for a Alarm to be fitted...2 invoices for Roadside collection at £75 a time there was a subsequent charge for an Alarm to be removed £185
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Shinigami]

i've a cheap alarm on mine but it's literally just connected to the battery directly and that's it, probably easily disabled or removed but still a deterrent for those who don't know it has one, there's nothing visible to indicate there is an alarm or that it's armed
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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.

[Amber Phoenix]

My bike came with a Meta 375 alarm/immobiliser, not been too bad. The control unit did die last year. Apparently the internal battery on these has roughly a 10 year life span, then it starts to play up. For me this was really quiet beeping and siren, but can eventually lead to permanent immobilisation...

In the end, I just swapped control unit, like for like, dead easy, working grand again now.

Obviously check the seller has all the codes/keys/docs to go with the alarm.

Being in London, bike crime capital, anything that might hinder a bike thief has got to be a good thing. But that only true whilst the thing works, does what it's supposed to and doesn't hinder you.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Az]

If you don't want an immobiliser or have issues with it, remove it?

An alarm certainly wouldn't put me off buying a bike.

[RhynoCZ]

If you've got a garage, you don't commute on the bike and you just ride for the joy of it, then the alarm is pointless battery drainer.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I'm not bothered either way if it's a decent alarm. If it's a cheap crap one, then I'd be wary.

I've only ever had Datatool System IIIs and they've been fine. I haven't and wouldn't pay for one to be installed though.
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[NooBish-AbbZ]

when i bought my SV i had an alarm fitted. I was always so nervous about leaving my 125 anywhere even when it was chained up. Now I'm not as nervous and happier to leave it places. Still like to check it's there though :p
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SV650S - Feb '14-March '19
XJ6N- Apr '19 -Present

[LaurenceR46]

I'd never own a bike without an alarm. There are many security benefits especially with certain alarm systems. Most are crap but do your research and install a good alarm system (YOURSELF) or if you really have no clue and do not want to learn then get someone who really does know what they are doing do it.

It seems like a lot only care for the money and don't care if it breaks in the future.

Vampire taps do not last long if you want a proper connection use solder unless it is not an important connection.

They can be removed easy as well with a bit of knowledge - hence why fitting it yourself can be better as you can use some tricks and make it harder to figure out (pass on these details to the next owner!).


The factory fitted one that came with my Yamaha was absolute balls you could walk around with the bike and it wouldn't go off so that was the first thing to go. Personally I like proximity sensors and alarms that are so sensitive they go off when someone taps it because I don't park in places where anyone should be touching my bike.
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Yamaha R6 (R46) Rossi Replica Edition

[ws4936]

Doesn't bother me. Now. I put a cheap £30 Norman Cook alarm on the GPZ, and never had a problem with it...except one day after work, in torrential rain the key fob got totally saturated. Couldn't arm the alarm...but was home. Used the other key fob, and started dismantling the wet one. They're both waterproofed and working again. 6 years on and still works well!
Heard similar stories of fancy alarms on fancier bikes...but if it's installed properly, you shouldn't really have a problem. Hopefully.

Got a data tool on the zx, and never had an issue with it.

Touch wood
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Scotsman37]

Having an alarm with the little flashing light on it is a great deterrent to wannabie thieves, and why they will want to steal an easy target rather than one that requires them to disable it without drawing a crowd/eyes of bystanders that could become a witness in a court action if caught by Police!

Just a flashing light on will not deter it requires a working alarm because they will try to bump it or stand it up straight to see if the alarm is actually working or drive by it with their thump thump music to trigger it?

You do get alarms that have the ability to alert you that the bike is being tampered with at that moment on your fob alarm device, and then you know when to start running towards your bike!

Advanced V3 Motorbike Alarm and Immobiliser System

https://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/shop/advanced-v3-motorbike-alarm-and-immobiliser-system/

https://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/advancedV3pic1.jpg

https://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Advanced-remotes.jpg

•2 way communication system keeps you aware. Should the alarm be triggered then the pager / remote control will vibrate and make a sound, even if you are 3 miles away!! These will aso display the status of the bike, i.e ignition on

[weasley]

Datatool System 3 alarm/immobilisers are the work of the devil apparently. They strand you, flatten your battery and generally fail at the worse possible times.

I had one professionally fitted to my bike about 10 years ago and it seems that I got one made on the day that the workforce were having an off-day. Through incompetence, negligence and generally bad quality control, I appear to have got one they made perfectly. In 10 years it has behaved exactly as the instructions said it should. The two fobs still have their original batteries in (as does my bike). And the ultimate proof of performance.... my bike has never been nicked.

It wouldn't put me off a bike per se, but I would want to see the fitting certificate (and maybe have a look over the wiring and connections m'self) before deciding.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[sickpup]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[stinkwheel]

I landed up stranded in Melton Mawbray on New years day with a bricked bike thanks to a shoddily executed immobiliser fitting.

It had been fitted to my brand new bike by the main dealer.

They had cut one of the wires going into the CDI, presumably with the intention of routing it through the immobaliser then changed their mind, twisted the bared ends back together and wrapped a piece of fucking MASKING TAPE round them.

18 months later, the ends of the wire parted company. It took me two days to find it because it was hidden under a rubber boot.

18 months aftert that it got stolen and was recovered being joy ridden about with the immobaliser bypassed.
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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.

[andys675]

lots of the later datatools for more popular bikes simply plug into existing connectors on the bike, all triumphs have this for instance

my mate fits them and one customer was giving him tons of grief over problems with an alarm he had fitted, turns out the customer had squashed and earthed the indicator wires when fitting an R&G tail tidy
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[ws4936]

[mailee]

I have always been against electronics on vehicles, just more to go wrong and usually when you are miles from anywhere. give me a good old mechanical bike every time.

[Pol Anorl]

Found out my gsx has an alarm. no keyfob but the whole thing is there burried under passenger seat just been disconnected from the battery
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[talkToTheHat]

A nudge sensor keeps cats, childen and tourists off of the bike, and might notify you that a thief is at work if you are within earshot. Would not use without mechanical security.

Immobiliser circuit should be factory fit or not at all, working sround creative immobiliser wiring is not fun.

[Charlie]

I've always thought they where rubbish but the meta systems I have got is pretty good. I wouldn't choose to fit one but having it has made quite a difference to my insurance...
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[arry]

[iooi]