Trackers

[Robthepiano]

Hi all,

First post on any motorbike forum although have been a biker for years.

Just bought a Honda CG 2001 as a second bike and runaround. Had an identical one nicked years ago so have ordered an iTrack mini on amazon. Where is the best place to locate it? Also, if I was to order the hardwiring kit as well is it fairly easy to install? Otherwise i'll just use the internal battery.

If you have any other security advice I'd be very grateful. I have a ground anchor and good abus lock although for out and about I'm a bit stumped as this model doesn't have a steering lock and hub brakes so it's limited. Could possibly put disc lock through the spokes I suppose...

Thanks in advance.

[sickpup]

It should have a steering lock attached to the bottom yoke.

[Teflon-Mike]

Steering lock isn't in the ignition key barrel, but a seperate lock on the bottom steering yoke.
Oft damaged, esp in theft attempts; check both the lock is there nd the catch plate the lock-pin engages with on the steering stem.
And you have a key for it! Ignition barels often replaced, but the steering lock isn;t so keys dont match, so lock just gets removed.
Replacement lock sets though, are available and not too expensive. Check evil-bay... think the last one I bought cost about £35 or so.

Other security... out and about... well, anything is better than nothing.
A-N-D have to say but I am no fan of 'passive' electronic security.

What do you hope that a tracker will do for you? Are you going to go running down the road after it when a couple of scroats have hot-wired it by pulling the black and white wire out the bottom of the ignition barrel? (That's all it takes, BTW, one wire!)

End of the day; if they really want it, they are gonna have it, and there's not a lot you can do. Best locks in the works wont stop them waiting for you and bumping you on the head when you have the keys in your hand, will it?

Drum brakes make a convenient and easy disc-lock a bit redundant, b-u-t... in days of old when most bikes didn;t have discs, yeah... a lot got nicked! (I actually put the first disc lock on the market, after suffering thefts! but still!)

Remember anything is better than nothing.... and there is a lot to be said for simple and low tech. Like I said, if they really want it, they gonna get it. Doesn't matter how unpickab;e your lock is, wont stop them bopping you on the bonce for the keys; ALL it ever going to do is make it a tad less easy, so how hard do you want to make it for them, and how hard will that make it for you?

A U-Lock is 'something', but unless you can chain the thing down to something hard and immoveable like a lamp-post, its not really doing much more than a steering lock and they can still lift the thing into the back of a van.

A lock and chain is good. But only if the chain will stretch to something hard and immoveable like a lamp-post.. that tends to mean long, and that tends to mean heavy, and dang inconvenient to lugg about.

For convenience, I have to say that a half decent 'Security Cable' the sort of wire rope with a pair of eyes spoliced in the ends, you can get for reletive pennies at the hard ware shop for locking ladders and chit to the garage wall, are a) pretty cheap b) reasonably practical to cart around and c) better than 'nothing'...

If it stops them easily wheeling away or lifting into the back of a van... they might look for an easier target else-where....

But that is my recommend; a simple cable lock and padlock, you can scrunch up to fit in a pocket and is long enough to go round frame and lamp post or whatever, that's practical enough you will take it with you and will use it.

The tracker? Personally I;d chuck it in the bin! Let alone fret about the power supply. It wont stop them even trying to take the bike away, let alone doing so.. ALL it will do is let you find the wreckage after they have had thier jollies and knackered the thing so you probably dont want it back anyway... or find the tracker on the floor outside the lock-up they stripped the thing at.....but if it makes you feel 'safe'.... I guess it cant hurt any... but not my idea of 'useful' security. Your call.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[dynax]

I have one of these https://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/shop/ncs-c-11-talking-motorbike-alarm-and-immobiliser-system/

it won't stop them taking the bike if they really want it, but it will draw attention to them, and it makes one hell of a noise when going off, also try to make battery access difficult so less able to disarm it easily or install a back up battery if there is room, plenty of small ones about from places like toolstation for a few quid

PS, don't keep the keyfob for alarm with your bike keys, have them separate, so if you do get bopped on the head, you can activate the alarm and more than likely they will just drop it and run
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Mike.
Bikes: Xena, Bridget,Florence
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmihUc0xXxYbR4_0l-F1FzA/videos?view_as=subscriber

[Robthepiano]

Thanks guys. Found the steering lock. Didn't think to look there...

I'll take the tip of the cable. I have a good abus granit lock I use for my FZ6 but it's too cumbersome to carry around for the CG.

I suppose I was hoping to bury the tracker somewhere inside the bike - the itrack micro I was looking at alerts you as soon as it's moved and I guess if it wasn't hardwired means they can't disable it with the ignition. of course you're right if they want it they'll get it but I guess I would hope it could be retrieved before it's a wreck.

Noisy alarm is a good idea, might look into that. I remember my bandit battery being drained a lot though and CG battery is even less powerful I think.

Really hoping I can hang on to this. it's a lovely bike and I was gutted when I lost my first one.

Thanks.
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Rob

[MCN]

Look at Almax and There is another UK company who Specialise in bike security. Their name escapes me.

https://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/

These are the only two companies I would use.
Then others are oversold/overmarketed/overrated Schysters.

Oxford.. Avoid.

Krypton Avoid.

To be crop proof the chain section needs to be min 16mm and of certain material with specific properties.
e.g. Hardened links fail in a hammer test.

Nothing is secure if someone has no limit on time spent in an attack.
The theory of security is simply to make things difficult and time consuming for a bandit.

Fancy hi-tech stuff is not always the best.

Edit: https://securityforbikes.com/

Pragmasis UK company.

Both highly recommended and very good at advice. No hard sell.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.