- This topic has 10 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by Sean_D.
Locks and Security
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March 6, 2010 at 10:06 pm #3740ziberzabaParticipant
What type of locks and security devices do you guys recommend for when I’m out riding. At night, I’ll be keeping my bike in a locked garage, but when I’m at work or out running errands, I’d like to have a little extra security. I’ve seen some videos online, and it only takes some thieves about 10 seconds to get a bike into a van. Apart from a disc lock on the front wheel, are there any other affordable means to keeping my bike secure that anyone would suggest? Note: a cable or chain locks are not always possible in MN where anchoring sources are few and far.
March 7, 2010 at 3:41 am #24816Sean_DParticipant.. one of the Xena XX14 models to be exact. Hopefully if someone did try to steal it the shrieking alarm would cause them to abandon the attempt. I think for the neighborhood I live/work in it is more than adequate, but you never know I guess.
March 7, 2010 at 8:48 pm #24829owlieParticipantYou can also get Lo-Jak for your bike. I think some of the guys around here have taken that route and had favorable results…
March 9, 2010 at 5:00 am #24847eternal05ParticipantHonestly, the disc locks and alarms are only a deterrent to less-than-expert thieves. If you want to see your bike again, a LoJack-style solution is the best bet. Depending on your provider, it may also lower your insurance.
March 9, 2010 at 3:48 pm #24854JackTradeParticipantThey have a wall of electronics-facilitated recoveries, complete with bike specified, and distance at which recovered. Not surprisingly, most of the bikes are the pricey ones…either hypersports (GSXRs) or big power cruisers (VMaxes).
I bet HD dealerships do a huge business in them, given the price/desirability of a lot of their bikes.
March 9, 2010 at 5:50 pm #24857IBA270ParticipantI trust you guys don’t live in CHL land, do you?
March 11, 2010 at 1:37 am #24893kirkParticipantI was about to start a thread on this very subject. I know at least three people that have had their bikes stolen. Bunch of A******S drove up and loaded the bikes on trucks and drove off. I was on Craigs List and saw a guy offering a reward for his stolen bike. Suffice it to say that the area I live in has a problem with stolen bikes. You even have to be careful if you ride with a club. A police officer warned my friend that some local clubs will let you ride with them. Once they know where you live they steal your ride. They use the bike for parts or to practice tricks on.
Anyways, this got me to thinking about how vulnerable my bike is. I have a nice thick U lock that goes on the wheel but that won’t stop someone from taking my bike. I looked at some of the posts and I looked into the products described.
The Xenna lock seems like a nice choice. It’s affordable and it seems effective. I also like the fact that it has its own power source. The only downside I see is it’s sensitivity. It seems that most vibrations will set it off. I’m sure my neighbors would just love this. Has this been a problem for those that own this type of lock?
I also looked at the Lo Jack. It seems very effective but a bit expensive. I also don’t like the fact that it takes its power from the battery. I don’t ride everyday and it seems that it would drain my battery. I also don’t have access to a battery charger so that would be a problem.
Any other thoughts out there? What have you all done?March 11, 2010 at 2:05 am #24894Sean_DParticipantCentral Hockey League?
Since I don’t have a clue what CHL land is.. I am guessing I don’t live there
@Kirk: NO problems with the Xena. Unlike my car alarm, which has a glass break sensor, the Xena takes a fair bit of movement. My car alarm goes off any time a big truck like the garbage truck, a moving truck etc. passes by. But the Xena alarm does require the bike to be moved a bit, not just vibration.Now, I can’t be sure that it wouldn’t go off in some of the parking garages that the floors kind of vibrate on when cars run up and down. That might be enough, but I think not. Because it will just chirp with minor “one time” vibrations, your neighbors shouldn’t find it an annoyance. Not unless someone is physically messing with your bike. You will know in a hurry if you forget to take it off though. I had to try that for myself.
Here is the WebBikeWorld review on it here…
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-lock/xena-disc-lock-alarm/
March 11, 2010 at 2:11 am #24895kirkParticipantThanks for the info Sean. I also saw that artticle and it was really informative. I am leaning towards the Xena so I think I’ll be getting it in the near future. I’m glad to hear that it is not as sensitive as I thought.
Keep the suggestions coming in. I’m all ears.March 13, 2010 at 3:12 am #24938eonParticipantDamn, here was me feeling all smug about parking my bike in an underground garage protected by TWO heavy steel gates. Come home tonight to find out thieves had broken in during the night and stolen someones bike. Apparently they got through the pedestrian door at both gates, wire cutters on the first one and drilled out the lock on the second one. They must have walked right past my bike to get to one in the floor below me. And get this, despite the whole thing being caught on security cameras, the cameras are so lame they cannot even make out the license plate on the bike. At this point they have no idea whose bike was stolen! Apparently the cameras are only there for insurance purposes. Might as well put up an empty box for all the good they do.
I guess my best insurance is having an ugly, heavy three wheel scooter. Not exactly top of the list of bikes to steal (and that actually did factor into my buying decision).
March 13, 2010 at 4:51 am #24941Sean_DParticipant… just goes to show though. If someone wants your bike, car, tv, computer, whatever, bad enough ….
That being said, this Cyclone alarm system looks pretty nice for the money http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNNBUkHWKPw
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