Anti-Theft: Locks/ Chains / Explosives

[Snop Doog]

Hi all,

I don't have a bike yet, but my first one will likely be an old CG125. I have my gear, now I'm thinking about security. I would like to keep this simple: What locks/chains/proximity mines would guys recommend that insurance companies like and will deter thieves?

Thanks in advance!

[...]

Almax/pragmasis are still the best I believe, throw on a Cyclone V2 alarm off of ebay and something you can chain the bike to and I think you'll be alright.

[ws4936]

Chain, anchor, noisy dog, all good.
Don't declare them to the insurance tho - it's a con.
You get a discount if it qualifies, but then if you pop in quickly for a pack of fags, and your bike is nicked, likelihood is it would have been nicked without the chain and lock that you declared would be on, so they won't pay out, they'll make it a provisor. Also - insurance may go up as you've fallen for the trap of notifying them that you live in a scummy area and your bike needs extra security.

In short, buy them - but don't declare them. Try 2 quotes online, you'll probably find no security is cheaper. But secure them obviously.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

[Northern Monkey]

[DrSnoosnoo]

My CG quote tripled if an almax was declared
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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

[Wonko The Sane]

On my varadero a datatag was a requirement, did declare it on the ZZR but don't think I declared it this year.
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[Amber Phoenix]

I wrote a pretty lengthy article on my blog about this. Have a gander at these bike security tips. You might think some of it is a bit over kill for a 125, but statistically they're pretty high up on the list of stolen bikes - usually kids wanting to have a muck about, use them for a smash and grab or aid stealing a bigger more expensive bike.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Andy_Pagin]

I use an Almax Series III 1.5 metre with a Squire SS65C padlock, which is about the heaviest duty gear you can actually carry around. But it is seriously heavy and bulky. Definitely worth having for overnight at home, providing you've got a hefty ground anchor, and it's worth the expense since it'll probably last a lifetime.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Snop Doog]

@Manatee: Would a Pragmasis 11mm chain do the trick? I'm not experienced with chains as I use an Abus D lock (which I'll also use on my future motorcycle because why not) and a kryptonits flexible cable thing for my mountain bike. As for that alarm system, I can't find it on eBay...

@ws4936: Understood! Security will be kept secret from my future insurer.

@Northern Monkey & snoosnoo: So not declaring anything added £5 but then declaring it tripled the quote... That's very strange, more of a reason for me to compare 2 quotes.

@Arfa: Thanks for that, I'll read over it now.

[Northern Monkey]

Depends where you are leaving it, but 11mm isn't really up to the job.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Snop Doog]

[-Matt-]

Good chains - Almax/Pragmasis.

They're expensive, but assuming you continue biking, get bigger/more expensive bikes look at it as a long term investment as a good chain and lock should 'last a life time' essentially if you look after it and don't leave the bike in ridiculously dodgy areas.

Regardless of what chain you buy - its as strong as what its attached to - leaving it loose around the wheel will result in it and the expensive chain being dragged into a van.

If you have sturdy street fixings like lamposts etc to attach to you're okay with a good chain generally. If you have nothing to attach to - i'd look at a good ground anchor. Ideally something you can cement in, but thats not always an option so get something with raul bolts you can securely fix to the ground, and ideally resin over the top to reduce it being tampered with. Mammoth do some relatively cheap but quite decent quality anchors.

If you have a garage, i'd focus more on the garage security than chains/anchors. I've used decent garage-defenders and never had the garage broken into even in very dodgy areas where i'm sure it was known there was a bike inside. I did have the chain/anchors inside too, but they never were needed and were essentially a waste of money at the time. Plus bare in mind if someone gets into a garage, shuts the door down behind them - even a good chain an anchor won't take all that long to get through in a closed garage with some powertools.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-garage-door-defender-lock-HEAVY-DUTY-SECURITY-SYSTEM-other-colours-/250929287122?pt=UK_HaG_Lock_Safes_GL&hash=item3a6c8d0fd2
Good garage defender - top bridge stops lock tampering unless they're picking pro's.

https://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/All-Products/c-1-73/
Good chains - the difference between 3 and 4 series is about a minute or so extra time if attacked with powertools I believe - realistically if they have the time and effort to go at it with powertools in the first place you're probably going to lose the bike so you might as well get a 3 and save some money.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mammoth-Security-Bolt-In-Motorcycle-Ground-Anchor-Sold-Secure-Approved-/131224449502?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item1e8d9631de
Good ground anchor - double bridge and anti tamper bolts - again resin is worth using over the bolts in regardless.

Bare in mind for the ground anchor and garage defender you need a decent drill and a good day to fit them properly, so factor that into costs, even if it is renting a drill/drill bits if you can't borrow one.

Realistically - an old CG125 isn't going to be prime pickings for a lot of bike thieves - if its all you're going to get/keep for a long time I wouldnt probably spend all of the above money to secure it, as it could easily end up costing half the bikes value. Keep it parked in as secure an area as you can, chain it with something that isn't some abysmal bicycle lock and you will probably be okay. But its always going to be a gamble ultimately. Also as WS mentioned - forget insurance savings, they rarely happen, and it can often even have the opposite effect declaring 'security'.

[covent.gardens]

Good security = increasing the time it takes them to steal (make it hard for them) whilst at the same time reducing the time they have to steal (e.g. alarm blaring/detection). As a rule I never rely on the chain alone, eg I will chain it up near to a CCTV camera or window where I can see it. Good chain is good, but don't rely on that alone.

[devojunior]

https://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_44_47&products_id=2964

[Ste]

11mm? Nah, go for 16mm or 19mm.

You're never going to make it unstealable, if someone wants it enough then it'll be gone.

[gorillaonabik...]

I go with a gorillalock at home and must get an Almax for 'general' stuff (e.g. girlfriend's place).

https://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/ingear/2_Wheels/Motorbikes/article561066.ece

If a determined thief wants it, then they will get it but it has a foot-long metal post thingy underneath which is cemented into the drive. It has already stopped a 'casual' thief so seems to be good enough.

If a pro wants your bike, they will have it but it's good enough for me and what I really like is that it is as easy to park in my driveway as a car. Specifically, I ride in and the bike is automatically locked.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[Northern Monkey]

[Snop Doog]

Thanks so much for the information guys! I'll save up for an Almax III. I hope the 0.7M one is enough. I don't think I'll be able to get a ground anchor because of the size of my front garden. I may be able to use a neighbours garage as it isn't in use, I don't know if I'll be able to put a ground anchor, or any other device like it in there though. Seeing as it's a CG that I'll be buying I may be able to wheel it through my house into my garden. If that's not an option then there's a tree with a decent width across the road from my house that I guess I could chain the bike to. I have an Abus Granit X-Plus 54 D-Lock that I'd use to put in between the wheel and the rear should. I doubt it would make a difference but as long as it's more security I'm happy. I'm also going to buy the Cyclone V2 alarm.

[-Matt-]

[Snop Doog]

[-Matt-]

Alarmed disc locks wise I can't advise much - the couple i've had have been cheapies off ebay - didn't have much issues with the those ones thankfully, although I know a few people who have found the cheaper options to be utterly useless due to either going off all the time with the slightest bit of wind, or just requiring a sledgehammer to set them off its hit n' miss really.

A good option would be these from what i've seen
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OXFORD-BOSS-ALARM-MOTORCYCLE-MOTORBIKE-DISC-LOCK-/300408660765?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item45f1c0631d
Not at all cheap though - personally i'd much rather put [worst case I expect] half of the cost of that into finding a cheap one that works even if it does mean buying a few different ones.

Fair point about the lack of discs, my CG knowledge is some what lacking it seems I would say though I never intended mine to lock the discs up, as most bikes can be dragged very easily if not chained to something regardless of disc locks. I used mine as a cheap alternative to an alarm - for movement sensing and hopefully detering anyone who starts fiddling with the bike. In which case you could fit the lock to a lot of locations on the bike as long as the motion sensor actually activates as its intended to

As a general thing too, a vented cover isn't a bad idea - protects the bike from the elements a bit, keeps it slightly out of view, and can give you some idea if its being snooped out as if someone is going around looking for potential targets in the area, they'll often pick the cover off and be on their way to return at a later date - which at least gives you some warning its perhaps being eyed up.

As I said beore though though - its a CG at the end of the day - Don't overspend on security, unless its stuff you're sure you'll get use out of long term like a good Almax chain which can be considered an investment. The serious bike thieves won't bother cracking through tons of security to get a fairly budget CG when they can put that time into trying to nick a high value bike nearby.

[Snop Doog]

[Pie-Roe]

[Dave70]

I have a cheapish disc alarm (Can't remember the make off hand) and it did the job when someone broke my steering lock in an attempt to thieve it. Although, they obviously weren't too bright seeing as they didn't notice it beforehand.

After that I went out and bought an Oxford Boss disc alarm, which is pretty decent but, the alarm could be louder (the cheap one I mentioned is actually louder by a fair bit) and it does sometimes go off for no reason. I also have an Oxford chain and although they're not the best, it is pretty chunky and is an added visual deterrent. If I was buying a chain now though, I'd go for an Almax.

So basically my bike is now stored in the back alley (we have locked alley gates here) with two disc alarms on (front and rear), a chain through the back wheel and a Stormex cover on.

It's a bit of a pain putting it all on and taking it all off again every ride (not like the IOM where you could leave it parked in the street with the keys in the ignition and it'd still be there the next day) but, it's what you have to do.

They first tried nicking my bike about 3 months ago and hopefully all that security appears to have paid off as they haven't tried again, so far. **touch wood**

I have also considered installing a ground anchor and Almax chain but, money's a bit tight at the mo. If you can afford it though, I'd recommend doing so.
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2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[kramdra]

My advice, avoid the CG, especially if its a front drum brake model. Designed for india, they are shite and in my opinion dangerous (drum brakes, swimarm mounted passenger pegs ).

I dont think they exist, but what you *want* is a 125 with factory fitted immobiliser, like Honda's HISS. When I asked at honda, nope, they are not fitting that technology on 2013, £5000 125cc machines That may have changed, tho I believe yam make better 125's?


Security.. pikeys has little interest in bikes with a factory fitted immobiliser. A pro has no interest in a tatty older bike that has little resale value. My bike, a tatty CBR6 with immob is perfectly safe from thievery. Ive left it on the road in some shitty areas for 4 years and never used a lock