Motorcycle Antitheft Security

[sinkoman]

I"m trying to figure out ways to secure my motorcycle down when I park it in less-than-perfect locales.

So far i've got a Masterlock made disc lock, a Kryptonite made U-lock, and 4 feet of 3900 pound test steel chain that I want to somehow turn into an anchor to use when i'm at school.

I can't figure out how to secure it down when i'm in public though. The chain is way too bulky to keep with me at all times, the U-lock is generally too short to be useful, and i'm assuming that cable locks are easy to pop in half with a set of bolt cutters.

Any ideas?

 

[Uriel]

or

 

[sinkoman]

I just noticed that the Disc Lock is of the circular key design, the sort that could be picked with a bic pen a few years ago.

Should I be worried about this, or would this undoubtedly have been sorted out by now? I bought the lock just today.

 

[Que-Ever]

Tie a string from your bike to the trigger of a shotgun placed in a nearby tree. I've illustrated a handy diagram for illustrative purposes-

BTW, our stupid pictures are our way of saying we can't help you and we're sorry for your problem.

 

[MJ12]

Tie a string from your bike to the trigger of a shotgun placed in a nearby tree. I've illustrated a handy diagram for illustrative purposes-

ooo thats good



"I've illustrated a handy diagram for illustrative purposes"

 

[Dog--]

Put the chain through the spokes on the wheel, and wrap it tightly around the handle bars, that way they a) can't go, because there is a chain in the spokes and b) can't steer because you've got a tightly wrapped cahin around the handle bars.

If you want to be extra cautious, find something near by, chain it up like I just said, then put another chain through the rear spokes, and around, say, a tree or something. That way they can't go, steer, or move the bike itself.


If you'll wrap it around the handle bars it'll have to go around them more then 2 times, it should be easy enough to find a way where they can't turn.


Or you could put a boot in the spokes so it can't move, and just take the spark plugs off of the engine, so they can't hot-wire it.


If you've got a REALLY long chain, you could do the first 2 things I mentioned (front/handle bars chained, and using the same chain on the back spokes and around a tree) although that'd take ALOT of chain..

 

[sinkoman]

Put the chain through the spokes on the wheel, and wrap it tightly around the handle bars, that way they a) can't go, because there is a chain in the spokes and b) can't steer because you've got a tightly wrapped cahin around the handle bars.

If you want to be extra cautious, find something near by, chain it up like I just said, then put another chain through the rear spokes, and around, say, a tree or something. That way they can't go, steer, or move the bike itself.


If you'll wrap it around the handle bars it'll have to go around them more then 2 times, it should be easy enough to find a way where they can't turn.


Or you could put a boot in the spokes so it can't move, and just take the spark plugs off of the engine, so they can't hot-wire it.


If you've got a REALLY long chain, you could do the first 2 things I mentioned (front/handle bars chained, and using the same chain on the back spokes and around a tree) although that'd take ALOT of chain..

The issues with the chain are that it's not only heavy as hell, but it's not designed as a bike chain. It's just some chain I purchased at a hardware store (the heaviest grade possible btw), and then plan to use with one of the dozens of padlocks I have surrounding my house. I refuse to pay 80 dollars for a heavier chain that can be clipped with the same pair of bolt cutters.

I really can't see myself carrying this thing with me though. I don't have saddlebags or a boot of any sort on my bike, other than the tool pouch on my bike (which I already use to hold my wallet, change for meters and drinks, and disc lock), so I need to keep it in my backpack to take it with me, and as I was riding home from the hardware store with the chain, my U lock, and my disc lock in my backpack, I really felt like sawing my arms off. My shoulders were dying!

I can't imagine carrying that thing everywhere I go.

(btw, add me on msn)

 

[Que-Ever]

How heavy is it? You might be able to wear it like a belt.

 

[Dog--]

Well, atleast get a lock that you can clamp on one of your spokes, because one of the number one reasons (in my opinion) that criminals steal certain kinds of bikes is because they can wheel them away/on the back of a truck. If the wheel can't even turn, they probably will give up, unless they've got a bolt-cutter, in which case use a thick lock. With the added effect of taking the spark plugs out, they won't be able to roll your bike away, or start it, but for added effect, it'd be good to use a light bicycle chain or something to tie it up to something.

Also, I don't know if your bike has a key or not, but take it out when you don't use it, I find (around here, anyways) with crotch-rockets and dirtbikes, people tend to weld the key to their bike (in place), so it doesn't fall out while riding. Although, if you don't take that particular bike off-road, you shouldn't need to weld your key in place :\ You'll be in luck if the key on your bike stops the ignition all-together, but for most bikes the key just locks the steering.

I know welding a key in place sounds stupid for some of you, but it actually helps and *prevents* accidents while off-roading. Although it only prevents accidents when the key locks your steering, if it stops your ignition, the key falls out, your bike turns off, no big deal, but if it locks your steering, the key falls out, and, uh-oh, you can't steer while going 90 down a dirt road!

 

[repiV]

How heavy is it? You might be able to wear it like a belt.

That's an incredibly dangerous thing to do...I would hope for obvious reasons. And if you fall on your back with all that shit in your backpack, you'll break your back too. If you're going to carry things like that, use a tankbag or topbox...

I don't tend to bother with security on my bike, sometimes a basic disc lock depending on where I leave it. As it's generally small capacity bikes and scooters that get stolen...perhaps not the most sensible course of action admittedly.
Bottom line is, if someone wants your bike, they'll have it. You want to make it too much effort...a disc lock should be enough. Use a cover too, often the thieves have a shopping list and if they can't see what bike you've got they just can't be bothered. Covers can reduce theft by 50%.

 

[Dog--]

A criminal who just wants any bike to sell, and not have a list, will see a covered bike and think "Hey, this guy must be pretty loaded, he covers his bike! Don't see covers too often!". Around here, anyways, no one covers their car unless it's a good car and they don't want crap on it.

Wait - idea - go in the mud, and make your bike muddy as hell, and ride it to where ever, a criminal sees your bike, and he'll think it's crap because it's dirty (yes, it happens. "If it's not clean, it's garbage!" is a mindset stupid criminals are in).

 

[sinkoman]

My bike has a steering column lock already, and i'm not stupid enough to leave the keys in the ignition :|

And there's no chance of an "accident" happening offroad with my key in the ignition. When it's in the ON position, it locks into place, and no amount of pulling will get it out until you turn it to the off position. To lock the steering, you first need to turn the key off, turn the steering column fully to the lock position, depress the key (the ignition will seat down like a button if you do it right), turn it to the "lock" position, and then slightly tilt the steering column away from the "lock" position, to allow the lock to snap into place, then, while holding the steering slightly away, snap the key ALL the way to the left.

The key slot is both the ignition lock and the column lock.

I ALWAYS lock my steering column, even if i'm leaving my bike just in the driveway to get a drink. If i'll be gone for more than ten minutes, I try to find somewhere to use my U lock to snap my bike to a fence or something, and now that i've got the disc lock, i'll be adding that to my security regime.

The U Lock seems mostly useless, because the only things I can attach my bike to via it are really flimsy bike racks, which are usually only bolted down to begin with. It's so damn irritating to have to scour the parking lot for a rack when I want to leave my bike, and half the time, the complex i'm parking in won't allow me to leave my motorized vehicle on a peddle bike rack.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe i'm getting a bit too paranoid about security. I'm just really scared that my bike will be an easy target, since it's really really light, considering that most "lift-and-load" attacks involve 500+ lbs streetbikes, and my little dualsport only weighs 260.

The main thing hitting my mind right now is "what the hell is this disc lock, ignition lock, U lock around the spokes, and steering column lock, gonna do against 5 healthy hawaiian dudes and a truck?"

 

[Dan]

Put a blasting cap in the gas tank, and wire it to a gyroscopic motion detector.

 

[sinkoman]

Ok, how does this sound.

I'll keep the chain at my parking spot, and use it to tie my bike down while i'm at school (since that's when i'm away from her the longest), then i'll keep a cable lock tied down to my carrying rack, and use it alongside my disc for when the disc alone is inadequate (while i'm at work).

HOW'S THAT SOUND?

 

[kineaesth]

Confusing. But, sycophantically, AWESOME YOU ROCK MAN.

 

[Que-Ever]

That's an incredibly dangerous thing to do...I would hope for obvious reasons. And if you fall on your back with all that shit in your backpack, you'll break your back too. If you're going to carry things like that, use a tankbag or topbox...

That's why I asked how heavy it was, numbnuts. Obviously he can't d othat if it's ten pounds or something.

 

[repiV]

That's why I asked how heavy it was, numbnuts. Obviously he can't d othat if it's ten pounds or something.

It's irrelevant how heavy it is. Carrying any tough solid object in a backpack or round your waist on a motorcycle is a stupid thing to do, full stop.
In the backpack, it will break your back just as good no matter how heavy it is, and round your waist, if you come off you're also colliding with a big ****off chain, which also has the potential to catch on things.

 

[Robert-]

Tie a string from your bike to the trigger of a shotgun placed in a nearby tree. I've illustrated a handy diagram for illustrative purposes-

That's probably the way to go.

 

[sinkoman]

It's irrelevant how heavy it is. Carrying any tough solid object in a backpack or round your waist on a motorcycle is a stupid thing to do, full stop.
In the backpack, it will break your back just as good no matter how heavy it is, and round your waist, if you come off you're also colliding with a big ****off chain, which also has the potential to catch on things.

I spose it'd be equally bad to have a book or two in my bag

Oh well, i've already got some bungees to tie round my bike so I can put the bag on my rack.

And yeah, the chain is at LEAST 10 pounds, more like 15-20.

 

[repiV]

I spose it'd be equally bad to have a book or two in my bag

Oh well, i've already got some bungees to tie round my bike so I can put the bag on my rack.

And yeah, the chain is at LEAST 10 pounds, more like 15-20.

Yeah, that's the best way. Especially if they're hardback books.

I picked up my new bike lastnight, carried spare mirrors he had etc. in a backpack, as I had to get there on public transport...would have been very painful if I came off though.

I'll take some pics of her later. She's a beaut! And a bargain to boot.