How do you lock your bike up... suggestions appreciated [Archive]

WildBoarMouse

5th July 2005, 19:16

Right... If you keep your bike in the garage the whole time, or if you park it up only to walk into a shop, or to sit down within sight of your bike; how do you go about locking it up for those times where you anticipate leaving it out for more than a few hours. Not over night... Just for a few hours e.g. while you're at work during the day

If I'm away from the bike for any period of time, I'd like to be able to stick a chain lock on the bike... but have nowhere to carry the bloody thing. The area under the GSX seat is certainly big enough for a disk lock (so long as it didn't fall through onto the road during travel) but is way to small to fit any kind of decent chain lock. I'd rather not carry a back pack around just to avoid these situations.

Disk lock's are great... so long as you don't forget they're on there and mangle your own bike :brick: They're also a little less visible to a potential thief who may manage to mangle your bike by not realising it's on there either... yet still trying to make off with the thing.

Has anyone got any suggestions? The must be a few people out there that have come up with a good compromise! :yes:

onearmedbandit

5th July 2005, 19:27

I'm not in the habit of leaving my bike unattended for more than 5 minutes, but if I have to I at least lock the steering lock and arm the alarm. As it's very rare for me to leave it, I haven't taken any other steps to protect it. When it's parked in the garage, its locked, alarmed and my truck is parked over the doors so there is no way of entering or taking the bike if entrance is gained. (If my cage is broken into, the factory immobiliser kills the computer so it ain't going no-where).

On the subject of disc-locks, you can buy ones that have a motion-activated siren, to remind you or a thief, also there are those that come with a 'key' that you put into the ingnition on your bike, stopping you from starting the bike before you remove it, hopefully reminding you at the same time why it's there, ie you disc lock is still on.

bugjuice

5th July 2005, 19:29

I've got a disc lock for my bike. You usually get a bright yellow/orange sticker to put on the dash/triple clamp somewhere, and that should remind you, and warn others. Normally, they come in a pouch, you can attach the pouch solid to the bike somewhere, like to the frame etc..

I also leave the bike in gear and flick the kill switch, just to make it that little more tricky.

There are some cable locks that wrap round real tight in a coil, until you unwrap them, they're quite space savvy

Ixion

5th July 2005, 19:31

Well, you always presumaly have the standard steering head lock, and ignition lock.

That's probably enough to deter casual joyriders.

Beyond that, the big problem is that it's not too hard to chuck a bike on the back of a ute. So disk locks etc don't really help that much.

I always try to fasten the bike to something immoveable. A lamp post , cage if you're in a group that includes one, a building , something.

How I do that differs bike to bike. The Whale has heaps of luggage space. so here I use the steering headlock. Then I have a stronge special purpose chain and padlock (hasp is recessed so you can't get bolt cutters on it) , which I put through the front wheel and round the frame. Then I have a strong steel strop , about 1 inch diameter and 8 foot long. This goes through the frame and to something fixed, as above. Secured with a honking big U lock that also locks through the back wheel.

Li'l Ratty, I can't carry this.So I have a smaller flexible wire strop that I lock the frame through a fixed thing, Then steering head lock, and a disk lock. that;s all light enough to stow in my jacket pockets (they're quite large), or in my bag.

DingDong

5th July 2005, 19:38

Impossible to fully protect your bike... but if only for a few hours you can put a small pad-lock through the bottom of the chain (if you got one) just befor the rear sproket, and as long as your chains not stretched the chain will jam if someone pushes it, or break, if someone rides it off hard... if you take off normally and not like a mad man, I'm sure you'll notice before you stuff your chain...

I take no responsibility for any damage to you or your bike should you take any of my advice... I'm not an authority in this subject :devil2:

DingDong

5th July 2005, 19:42

....so here I use the steering headlock. Then I have a stronge special purpose chain and padlock (hasp is recessed so you can't get bolt cutters on it) , which I put through the front wheel and round the frame. Then I have a strong steel strop , about 1 inch diameter and 8 foot long. This goes through the frame and to something fixed, as above. Secured with a honking big U lock that also locks through the back wheel.

Li'l Ratty, I can't carry this.So I have a smaller flexible wire strop that I lock the frame through a fixed thing, Then steering head lock, and a disk lock. that;s all light enough to stow in my jacket pockets (they're quite large), or in my bag.

Excessive or paranoid?...

Waylander

5th July 2005, 19:45

Be hard for someone to steal your bike anyway wouldn't it OAB?

Disk locks work but as you said you just have to remember that it's there and not act superior to bikers on less fancy bikes than yours. Had a guy on a ducati somethin or other laugh at me one day when I parked my 250 Rebel next to him once as he was leavin. Then I laughed at him as his bike fell over from the front wheel jaming on the disk lock.

Ixion

5th July 2005, 19:54

Excessive or paranoid?...

Depends on how much you trust people I guess. I don't put everything on all the time, depends on how long I'm going to be away, and the area I'm leaving it in. Even with the full monty on the Whale it takes only a couple of minutes to secure or remove. That's cheap peace of mind. And carrying the gear is no matter on the Whale. It all fits neatly unde rthe kitchen sink.

Li'l Ratty I can securein 30 seconds.

Aitch

5th July 2005, 19:58

and one of those wiggly windy things from the lock onto the handlebars

riffer

5th July 2005, 19:58

A Magnum Security Chain (5-star rating) wrapped around the back tyre and frame and around a three inch thick pole.

When the gargre is finished in a few days (yeah right) add a locked roller door to that. :yes:

But that's just at home...

At work its parked in the basement of the State Services Building, with camera security, swipe-card access and security guards.

Out on the street it's a worry. I tend not to leave it alone too often.

Or, as I did last Saturday week for Trashy's leaving do, I park it next to a newer looking bike (in this case Sels1's BMW) in the hope they'll steal that first :whistle:

roo

5th July 2005, 20:00

heh... when I got my baby and was even more paranoid than now (if possible), i went and got me one of them uber-wicked german disc locks. ([heat/freeze/cut/break]-proof). Coupled with the funky yamaha-speshul-sekure-key-to-komput0r-sekret-password-exchange(tm) (which really only means you fork out $5000 when you lose the key) it deters most theives.
I figure the only people who'll successfully steal it are those who know exactly what it is, where it is, and want it enough.
You probably aint gonna stop those guys anyway, short of hiding beside your baby all day and jumping out with a 12guage loaded with rock salt when they finally turn up. (if you havent dozed off in the meantime...). Or for a reasonable fee, I'll come and watch it for you while you work... :whistle:

Now I just got to figure out how to stop those cunts who sit on her, tweak her mirrors, flick her switches and leave her in gear. The day I catch somebody f*ckin doing that is gonna be a day worth remembering.

crashe

5th July 2005, 20:01

I have a disc lock that goes on the front wheel...
The steering lock, I have never used as it is a awkward place to get at.

I have started the bike up with the disc lock on....it only moves 10 inches....
I am wanting to get one of those windy thingee's that can be attached to the disc lock and then on up to the brake or gear lever as a reminder I have the disc lock on.

At night the bike is locked up in the garage.
No matter where I go, I lock up the bike... unless I am in the fish n chip shop etc etc and then I stand out side with the bike...

I ain't taking chances of any one nicking my baby. :love:

WildBoarMouse

5th July 2005, 20:05

Waylander

5th July 2005, 20:08

On the note of alarms... are they really worth it for bikes?
If you get one with a tilt and shock sensor and the main unit of it is well hidden then yea. If the bike is worth a bit and helps lower insurance cost I believe.

DingDong

5th July 2005, 20:16

Now I just got to figure out how to stop those cunts who sit on her, tweak her mirrors, flick her switches and leave her in gear. The day I catch somebody f*ckin doing that is gonna be a day worth remembering.
This has never happend to me... I hope it doesnt catch on, because someone will die... unless its a hot chick wanting a demo :yes: hugh voice "ooooh yeah.... its fast baby"

boomer

5th July 2005, 22:13

My baby's locked in the garage ( gargre ) at night and at work its parked in a secure park. I've fitted a mongoose alarm which sets its self automatically when you turn off teh engine.

Im still worried though and have been considering a lock but i dont trust myself to remember its on as i drive away :weird:

thehollowmen

5th July 2005, 22:16

Well, 3 days after I got my baby, I found her on her side.

I had a disk lock on too.

$700 worth of damage and parts still being ordered.

So, when I get the cash, I'm gonna fit an alarm. Go for an alarm if you can.

FROSTY

5th July 2005, 23:31

my xj is always in the gargre or in my sight. Anyhoo who would wanna stteal a 1983 bike when they could steal a crotch rocket.

Pixie

5th July 2005, 23:53

I don't lock my bike.I hide behind a nearby tree,cradling a Purdy. :devil2:
Oh..The powder on the handgrips? ..Anthrax

Pixie

5th July 2005, 23:54

my xj is always in the gargre or in my sight. Anyhoo who would wanna stteal a 1983 bike when they could steal a crotch rocket.
I wager,that if you chained a turd to a lamp post,some bastard would steal it.

Ixion

5th July 2005, 23:57

I don't lock my bike.I hide behind a nearby tree,cradling a Purdy. :devil2:

If you can afford a Purdy you must be rich enough not to have to worry about having something as small chnage as your bike stolen [envy] :devil2:

Monsterbishi

5th July 2005, 23:58

I use a disclock, always with the front parked inwards, so it's impossible for me to ride off with the lock on.

Beyond that, I'll just park next to a nicer looking bike, so they'll go for that first :-)

zadok

5th July 2005, 23:58

I've always just relied on the steering lock.

Pixie

6th July 2005, 00:02

If you can afford a Purdy you must be rich enough not to have to worry about having something as small chnage as your bike stolen [envy] :devil2:
It's the principle
I don't consider my bike to be small chnage,either

Zapf

6th July 2005, 01:53

I had a Kriptonite disc lock for the front wheel and a cable for the rear. Travelled the mainland and north island.

now I put the disc lock on the rear and cable on the front. As the disc lock won't fit the front brakes anymore

SPman

6th July 2005, 06:54

I don't bother locking mine - if someone wants to nick it......they will.
Its such an orphan, who would want to , anyway? :whistle:

placidfemme

6th July 2005, 07:34

Usually if I leave my bike, I only put on the steering lock, but when I'm at work we have an underground basement with 24 security and cameras... so I've never really had to worry about this...

notme

6th July 2005, 10:16

DISK LOCK - and one of those wiggly windy things from the lock onto the handlebars

Mike @ Mt Eden m/c gave me one free....but I doubt they cost more than $10 and are well worth it!
Reminds you so you don't try and ride off with the lock on, and warns potential thieving bastards too.....

notme

6th July 2005, 10:20

If you get one with a tilt and shock sensor and the main unit of it is well hidden then yea. If the bike is worth a bit and helps lower insurance cost I believe.

Get this....and don't ask me for the "logic" behind it!

My premiums went down 45% after gitting an alarm. Yes, they were almost halved! I double and triple checked, and even got the call centre person to get her supervisor to send me a letter to that effect, so I had it in writing.

Weird, but hey I'm not complaining!

steved

6th July 2005, 10:37

Get this....and don't ask me for the "logic" behind it!

My premiums went down 45% after gitting an alarm. Yes, they were almost halved! I double and triple checked, and even got the call centre person to get her supervisor to send me a letter to that effect, so I had it in writing.

Weird, but hey I'm not complaining!
Wouldn't take long for the savings to pay for the alarm yeah? Bikes must get stolen a lot (and alarms must be highly effective) with that sort of drop.

Waylander

6th July 2005, 10:40

Wouldn't take long for the savings to pay for the alarm yeah?
Yea, easily.

Bikes must get stolen a lot (and alarms must be highly effective) with that sort of drop.
Not really a good thief will either disable the system or ignore it completly and just load he bike in a van. The insurance companies see it as an attempt by you to make it less likely to be stolen and give you a break. Same as they would if you always parked in somewhere where it can be locked down or watched over all the time.

ManDownUnder

6th July 2005, 10:46

Lou Girardin

6th July 2005, 10:48

Disc lock if it's out of sight, until I get the alarm fitted.
Park it in front of the car in the garge at night.
Disc lock and cable lock at night when touring.
Paranoid? You bet. Working for car security co's do that to you.

FEINT

6th July 2005, 11:06

mine is parked in garage locked up. If I ride my 636, i don't leave it out of my sight, if I ride my CB400 I leave it anywhere.

I usually try to park in a car park where there is security etc.

Disc Lock
Steering Lock
Grip Lock
Leave in Gear
Turn off FUEL (remember to switch back when leaving)

The new sports bikes with underseat cans have NO storage, so pretty much I have to carry a grip lock in the jacket. :(

notme

6th July 2005, 11:24

Another good thing to do is have a flatmate with a cruiser - if like SlashWylde they have bigarse bags on the cruiser then you have approximately one metric shitload of storage space....so you can take a long chain or cable type lock and lock the bike to each other if you're touring....or a midget in a security guard's uniform! :rofl:

Wolf

6th July 2005, 11:36

Generally just the steering lock - used to use a D-lock as well but it was a hassle lugging it around. At work we have underground parking and security staff so that's a bonus.

Flyingpony

6th July 2005, 17:17

I use a bright yellow Kriptonite disc lock for the rear and ignition lock.
It's parked at night in my garage. If away from home for a few days, also disable the ignition but I won't tell you how, where or how many points. Sometimes I even get myself :whistle:

Works out-of-sight parking, the bikes beside me only use ignition locks or don't bother at all and they're all bigger CC'd and more desired than my FXR150.
It will be a very dumb thief if mine gets stolen.

7th July 2005, 05:59

.
.
Very rarely take my bikes to work. When I do, steering lock is on and a long wire rope/padlock thingy around the back wheel and up over the pillion seat (cowling removed). We have a bike park right outside my work so I check on it several times during the day.

When we're away overnight/on holiday, we park both bikes together and lock one wheel of each together with said wire rope/padlock thingy.

Most of the time the bikes are locked in the gargre, and most of the time when we do day rides we park them where we can see them from the cafe etc.

.
.

Lou Girardin

7th July 2005, 08:29

I don't lock my bike.I hide behind a nearby tree,cradling a Purdy. :devil2:
Oh..The powder on the handgrips? ..Anthrax

They're a real purdy weapon!

Gixxer 4 ever

7th July 2005, 09:45

Try not to leave it unattended in town. But steering lock when I do. After all I have insurance. But at home it is locked down to the floor. I cut a hole in the garages concreate floor and drove a steel standard and threaded a thick bike lock around it then concreted it in. That forms the loop and then I us a bike chain on to that.

vifferman

7th July 2005, 10:05

I've nothing to do, so I'll chip in with my unnecessary bit'o'bollix.

My bike either lives in the gargre at home (sensors on both doors, and IR sensor on the wall), and I disk-lock it if I'm going away for a few days, or in the gargre in the gargre at work (Yes, we have a gargre, complete with door, inside the parking gargre). The latter is equipped with security doors, so it's safe, een leaving it there for a few days (which I did once, when I had a flat tyre, and another time, when I ran away from home for a few days...)

If I go anywhere else, I'm not usually parked for long, and I usually use the disk lock. I don't have one of those 'reminder thingies', as although I'm mental, I never forget to take it off before riding off. But just in case, I keep the disklock in a small bag under the seat, and when I take it out to put it on the disk, I put the keys in it, in my pocket as an aide memoir or whatever.
I've thought about getting abike alarm though, solely because my insurance excess is $1500, and I can't afford to take that kind of a hit if anything happens to the bike.

scumdog

7th July 2005, 12:29

Most of the time I shut the gargre door when the bikes inside, if I'm down the street I always take the key out when I park it.

I had a disc lock once but a chiropractor fixed it.

Lou Girardin

7th July 2005, 13:01

Most of the time I shut the gargre door when the bikes inside, if I'm down the street I always take the key out when I park it.

I had a disc lock once but a chiropractor fixed it.

You've sure got a lid on crime down there sherrif.
You wanna move up here and sort out our varmints? :yes:

mikey

7th July 2005, 13:14

get your starter motor an angle gring anything in it that looks imp0ortant.

now no body can steal my bike.

Wolf

7th July 2005, 13:19

get your starter motor an angle gring anything in it that looks imp0ortant.

now no body can steal my bike.
Don't forget to Aradite the wheels to the pavement or they'll just pick it up and biff it on the back of a ute.

XP@

8th July 2005, 00:01

I leave the keys in the ignition.

The psychic link i have with my bike notifies me when anyone is thinking about stealing it.

sAsLEX

8th July 2005, 00:27

take a big 1.8m Abus armoured chain thing around the rear wheel swingarm and over the seat, could still pick it up and chuck it in a van.

http://www.abuslocks.com/Products/900_170.jpg

Big Dave

8th July 2005, 00:40

I use a manum cable lock if I'm out on the town.
It fits in the saddlebags - or i just wear it like a sash (Miss Biker 1959) - but it works and i feel more relaxed when it's titanium cabled to a post.

Surprised nobody has mentioned these either.
www.grip-lock.com
Excellent part of a solution too.

Big Dave

8th July 2005, 00:41

I leave the keys in the ignition.

The psychic link i have with my bike notifies me when anyone is thinking about stealing it.

you need a new script writer.

Big Dave

8th July 2005, 00:42

Don't forget to Aradite the wheels to the pavement or they'll just pick it up and biff it on the back of a ute.

you need one worse

Wolf

8th July 2005, 10:14

Surprised nobody has mentioned these either.
www.grip-lock.com
Excellent part of a solution too.
That looks cool - harder to forget about than a disc lock. You'd still want to chain/D-lock the bike to something solid, but it looks like it would have great deterent value on top of other safety precautions - put it well and truly into the "too-hard" basket.

I see from the site that Boyds here in Hamilton stocks them.

skidMark

8th July 2005, 10:23

i just put an alarm on mine 2 days ago :devil2: and i lock it up with a keyed bike lock as well :devil2: lets c them try take it now :devil2: the alarm is gunna give them a great suprise

Big Dave

8th July 2005, 11:53

That looks cool - harder to forget about than a disc lock. You'd still want to chain/D-lock the bike to something solid, but it looks like it would have great deterent value on top of other safety precautions - put it well and truly into the "too-hard" basket.

I see from the site that Boyds here in Hamilton stocks them.

Exactly.
Kiwi designed and manufactured too.

Wolf

8th July 2005, 12:01

Exactly.
Kiwi designed and manufactured too.
Cool! I'll look into one when I get my bike back on the road. Rogues and Hawks Suzuki also stock 'em, I see.

Jantar

8th July 2005, 18:19

I leave the keys in the ignition... This is probably the best deterent of all. Any thieves think that its the bait in a sting operation and wont touch it. :rofl:

Wolf

11th July 2005, 11:01

This is probably the best deterent of all. Any thieves think that its the bait in a sting operation and wont touch it. :rofl:
Wander up the street, see the bike with the keys hanging out of the ignition, start looking around suspiciously trying to work out where the camera is hidden...

scumdog

11th July 2005, 11:43

Wander up the street, see the bike with the keys hanging out of the ignition, start looking around suspiciously trying to work out where the camera is hidden...

Had to eventually point out to my bro that the little silver gizmo was not put on the bike by the factory so he had a convenient leave to put his keys and that there WAS a point in being able to remove said keys!!

sels1

11th July 2005, 12:44

Or, as I did last Saturday week for Trashy's leaving do, I park it next to a newer looking bike (in this case Sels1's BMW) in the hope they'll steal that first :whistle:

:Oi:

Just as well I left early and left your one all alone...... :p

rfc85

12th July 2005, 07:36

was in bunnings the other day and they had these things that looked like handcuffs but on a larger scale that had heavy bike chain between the 2 cuffs. they were fairly compact an looked like they would be hard to cut off course you would need something to lock them too but they would fit around the chassis or forks no sweat-only haveing a gn250 nobdy wants to steal it

Wolf

12th July 2005, 14:45

only haveing a gn250 nobdy wants to steal it
Unless they want parts for their GN250. Have you never been in someone's clapped-out car when another car - same make and model, much better condition - goes past? The most uttered words under those conditions are: "Hmmmm, spares..."