Hi, a lot of folks here seem to think that alarms (like the factory one my F650gs came with) are a bad idea. But I haven't seen anyone say why they think that.

What's wrong with alarms? ...once you get used to not tripping it yourself...

Thanks,

Troy

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I had some marbles around here somewhere...

I think it's too many stories of them draining batteries or going wrong in the most out of the way places. It's just one less thing to worry about if it's not fitted.

Agreed with the previous post, plus if you´re in a big city, where the possibility of theft is probably the highest, there are usually alarms going off here and there for whatever reason most of the time, so no-one could care less. So unless YOU can hear, that its coming from YOUR vehicle, really not much use.

Hi,
I have no idea if it's relevent to bikes, but the biggest problem with cars/4x4's is when they are linked with an immobiliser. Trying to bypass a factory fitted immobiliser on a piste in N Africa is not something i'd wish on my worst enemy, we very nearly had to abandon the vehicle.

Ride safe
Sam

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http://capetocapeblog.wordpress.com/

Some are affected by Radio Signals and can set the alarm/immobiliser until you get our of range, it happened to us in France. Also what do you do on a long ferry crossing or shipping when the bike is loaded on the boat by someone other than you and the alrm goes off all the way across.

And anyway, alarms are a waste of time as the thieves just roll up in a van, pick up the bike, throw it in the back and they're gone, nobody sees it, nobody hears it (once it's in the van), you're much better off chaining the bike, through the frame, not a wheel that can be removed, to something solid.

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Graham & Elaine

GL1800 Motor Trike 2+2, one here, one there.

http://www.mayflowermcc.co.uk/butlers/

If the alarm goes off, no one except the owner will do anything except wonder what the annoying noise is. Only the owner will run back to the bike, but what are they supposed to do?

Thieves that would leave at this point would be defeated by a big chain. Thieves who know their business turned up in a van that looks likes it's from a repair shop, brought a set of petrol driven grinders, some plumbers nitrogen and the screeching bike is gone in seconds. They carry tyre irons (or worse) for dealing with owners who turn up unexpectedly and complain.

Electronic immobiliers are the single biggest cause of stranded vehicles in the UK. Like any electronic system, when they fail you won't be fixing them at the roadside on your own unless you can simply cut them out of the loom. Tyres are more reliable which tells you just how poor these things are.

If you want to secure a bike get it Datatagged/marked with Smart water/painted an odd colour/covered in stickers to deter steal to order types in "civilised" places. Get a dirty great chain long enough to go round the frame and street furniture to slow down blokes with grinders and stop the average third world chisle merchant. Fill the chain with bike and lamp post, don't leave stops where they can get the grinder in. Secure your luggage with steel netting to slow the slash and grab brigade and remove items like your GPS and camera that druggies and street kids might like to grab. The idea is a layered defence where the worst that can go wrong is a broken key that a locksmith can sort for you.

Steering/ignition key locks BTW should never be used if you have the big chain. Scum will screwdriver the ignition in seconds (your £10000 bikes only built in security is a £0.30 chinese made lock) leaving you with a biggish repair job, but will then fail on the big chain. Let 'em realise the ignition is just in the off position, see the chain and **** off, it won't ruin your day.

Now my garage, that's alarmed. Me or the neighbours will do something about that screaming (call the plod, make enquiries about peoples feelings about large dogs and cricket equipment etc.) while the thieves think about the big chains and tie down points. Another layer of defence, but one that isn't really mobile.

Andy