Bike security when parked up

[keithy]

Hi folks bike security is a major worry for me when off the bike and sightseeing, the only option that i can see is one of the very heavy oxford chains thro the frame and around something immoveable. At present it is on the centre stand and the steering lock is on. What do you use / recommend?

[MT350]

Chain is good but also fit a cheap alarm or alarm disk lock

Noise will often send them running :-)

[Heakle]

Use an old bike cover with the chain, lock and alarm. Most thieves will not fool with an old cover that is locked down to see what is under it to steal. If they do the motion alarm will go off.

[Moo.]

Most chains can be cropped, the more secure are those over 16mm link thickness as bolt croppers to snip these are very expensive.

I find a decent disk lock at either end and an old cover is pretty good

[stephen.stallebrass]

Almax Immobiliser chains are uncropable but they're quite big and heavy.

Use a disc lock and cover it up... if it's out of sight it's out of mind!

[pebble35]

For the last 10 years around Europe I have always used a heavy duty Abus lock and chain (through bike frame and a piece of heavy street furniture) as well as a good disc lock and steering lock.

Awkward to carry and a pain to keep on locking/unlocking the bike - but then I've never had a trip ruined by a bike going missing mid journey ..................

[Chris_Barrable]

The gist of all this is try to makw your bike the least easy target. Layers and differing type of security eg disk lock + cable + alarm + cover + etc make the average opportunist scumbag go to the next easiest target. Most importantly don't let the thought of theft spoil your day. Do what you can reasonably & have insurance, then just get on with it. Alternatively just keep riding 24hrs a day !

[Kayjay]

An old torn worn out cover is a simple but effective way to make a nutcase to move to another bike to steal. Apart from locks n chains. Tie the cover with a few broken strings. It works. On my ride from India to UK, Germany is one of the only countries where one does not touch anothers bike. I forgot my Garmin 660 Zumo GPS on my Enfield for a full day at a public parking and when I came back in the evening it was still there. I could not believe it.

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by Kayjay

Germany is one of the only countries where one does not touch anothers bike. .

Well there's touch and touch. I've not had anything stolen from a bike in Germany but several times I've gone to pay for fuel in a service station only to come back and find the bike's been pushed some distance away so someone in a (usually) 4x4 can get to the pump. Sadly my German isn't good enough to express my annoyance and streams of invective in English just gets a shrug of the shoulders.

[oldbmw]

Some what bucking the trrend , I recently bought a bike in the UK and rode it back to France. First job was to remove the B$$$$D datatool alarm. Now I know that means the bike will get stolen next time I visit Germany but even so, it will mean that, I at least got to enjoy the bike for some of the time. Wouldn't ride it with the alarm, too much hassle.

[Threewheelbonnie]

Alarms are pointless. Totally agree with cutting it out.

In London even the police ignore wailing alarms, they are just too frequent. If you do hear your own alarm what will you do? Pull out your six shooter, leg go a couple of shots and spend the next fifty years in prison while poor old kevin-the-chav- thief gets free counselling for having his freedom of expression interrupted? Electronic alarms are the single most common reason to call out recovery services. On our glass and nail covered streets tyre technology is doing better than alarms.


Andy

[John A]

I hate disc locks, only tried once to ride off with it still fitted, will not use them again.

I hate alarms for the reasons already mentioned, plus I'm sure more riders have been left stranded by them than have stopped them being stolen.

If they want your bike they're going to have it, and usually I'll guess they'll be on the look out for bikes that get parked in the same place for a couple of days, with less security than others. All that more security does is make it take a little longer for them to get your bike and / or make another bike look more desireable.

Been to Europe loads of times and have the bike in the UK and follow some simple steps:
If there's secure parking, use it.
Park it next to another bike that is more desireable / valuable.
Don't park it in the rough looking areas.
Always put on the steering lock, and, leave it in gear.
Always remove anything that looks valuable eg tank bags / GPS etc.
Use hard luggage, it might only delay someone in the know by a few seconds, but the casual thief won't know.