Bike theft and security devices

[racerhead]

Hey everyone Ive tried a search but cant find what Im looking for.
Basicly what I want to know is bike theft a big problem in NZ and what do you do to prevent it?

[jim.cox]

Hey everyone Ive tried a search but cant find what Im looking for.
Basicly what I want to know is bike theft a big problem in NZ and what do you do to prevent it?

Two locks, a chain and a large dog...

[Eng_dave]

Standard, but I park in secure car parks so... I pay in rent.:done:

[Quailboy]

Disc lock and the standard steering lock when its parked in public, and the same when at home in the locked garage.

Never enough for a determined thief.

I also try, when at home, to keep it out of sight from the street so that nobody comes past that will possibly steal the bike later; also keep curtains up in the garage.

[vifferman]

Basicly what I want to know is bike theft a big problem in NZ and what do you do to prevent it?
A big problem? Only for certain models (e.g., Harley, maybe Triumph too, possibly Italian bikes and/or some sprotsbikes) and only in certain areas. Dirt bikes are often stolen too, as they're difficult to identify.
Is it a big problem? In the last 35 years, I've had one helmet stolen from my carport, and one bike stolen by joy riders when I was working late at night and didn't shut the garage door.
I use a disk lock (a cheap, crappy one), but only very rarely. At home, it's in a locked garage with sensors on both doors and an IR sensor in the corner. No lock, and I usually lock it and don't leave the keys in it. I have left the garage door open all night a couple of times, so that tells you the type of neighbourhood I live in.

[racerhead]

A big problem? Only for certain models (e.g., Harley, maybe Triumph too, possibly Italian bikes and/or some sprotsbikes) and only in certain areas. Dirt bikes are often stolen too, as they're difficult to identify.
Is it a big problem? In the last 35 years, I've had one helmet stolen from my carport, and one bike stolen by joy riders when I was working late at night and didn't shut the garage door.
I use a disk lock (a cheap, crappy one), but only very rarely. At home, it's in a locked garage with sensors on both doors and an IR sensor in the corner. No lock, and I usually lock it and don't leave the keys in it. I have left the garage door open all night a couple of times, so that tells you the type of neighbourhood I live in.


Ok thats good to hear because in some places in Ireland if your bike didnt have every single piece chained to something solid it would be stolen eventually. Although where I live at the moment I could leave the keys in it for a week and no one would touch it. That and insurance companys give big discounts for certain security devices. Hopefully Ill get away with having a disc lock on the bike(must remember too always take off before riding away:rolleyes:)

[scracha]

Hey everyone Ive tried a search but cant find what Im looking for.
Basicly what I want to know is bike theft a big problem in NZ and what do you do to prevent it?

Not much. Datatags/alphadots aren't common. Frame/Vin numbers seem to never be checked.

[Dare]

Hey everyone Ive tried a search but cant find what Im looking for.
Basicly what I want to know is bike theft a big problem in NZ and what do you do to prevent it?
I use a chunky disk lock, I've left the bike overnight in plain view from aotea square and nothing yet. The way I see it is if you dont chain it down all its gonna take is some boys and a ute and your bikeless. and even if it is chained down your gonna need some heavy duty stuff, most brands wont stand up to a good pair of bolt cutters regardless of how secure it's 'mean't' to be.

[vifferman]

Insurance is key, and they'll give you a lower premium if the bike's stored securely overnight, and if it has some form of immobiliser.
The safest thing to do is never go out - the maniacs on the road are much, much more of a risk than the thieves are.

[Point n Shot]

Put a disc lock on and don't leave it where you can't see it. Otherwise don't take it out. lol.

[adam1194]

i juat use a disc lock.
Although when i was looking for my 1st 250 one of the guys whos hyosung i was looking at said that some dude tried to nick off with his bike, but he got about a meter and the disc lock hit the caliper and he dropped the bike.
this was outsiude pak'n'save in albany.
Morons think hey can take what they want, its not fair, yet the fines and jail terms arent severe enough to make people stop thinking everything is there for the taking.
I wouldnt ever leave my bike unlocked regardless of where its stored, never know who has been eying it up waiting for the right oppertunity.
my 2c

[slofox]

My insurance policy insists it be in a locked garage at night. Which it is. Although I came home last Sunday evening and found I had left the effin garage wide open with the light on and the bike just sitting there all afternoon..great.....Fortunately the garage is round back and under the house - NOT visible from road - and in view of the neighbour (who doesn't do bikes.....)....all was still there.......

[rat biker 08]

Old bike if thay can get it going thay can hav it :scooter: but thay have to kick start it :sweatdrop

[westie]

I have installed a gorilla alarm which has a pager. it will tell me if someone has touched the bike or
hit the bike or
tilted the bike.

It pages me up to half a mile away.
So when some cock tried to check it out(possibly steal it) one night in my garage the pager sitting on my bedside table went off.

Steering lock
Solid rear wheel lock
Immobiliser
you'd think it was pretty safe though

[vgcspares]

As already said it depends on the bike and where you live. If the tea-leaves don't follow you home then they'd have to see it from the street, which is why insurers want a locked garage. Note the emphasis on "locked" though, becuase there's been the odd theft where the doors (even to the house) were left unlocked ...
As to how much of it is going on, I started a thread asking if anyone had any numbers and consequently don't think they do, so my estimate of 100-200 pa is probably somewhere near. It's going up though (as it always does when times get hard).

[Pedrostt500]

I have a wire cable and lock set made by master lock, brought it from Mitre 10, the cable is about 3 mtrs long and covered in plastic, I just leave it permanently on the bike then, when I need it I just snake it through the frame and around some thing permanent.

[Ducman]

I just have a crap bike. Even left the key in it overnight parked on the street. It's depressing..

[Road Guardian]

Personally, If I had a bike worth it, I would purchase a GPS tracker, which has a sim car reader, and a GSM phone chip in it. Have it linked to a silent alarm, so that when some one drives your bike, or moves it while the alarm is on, the device sends a txt to your phone, giving you GPS co-ordinates.

http://www.ferrit.co.nz/11240290.html

Also you can call it, hang up, and it will send back a txt with its location, and it can record sounds.
So if your bike has been stolen, you can find where it is, and get the police to help recover it.

Apart from data dots, are there any other ways of recovering direct information of where your bike may be???

The only probelm is that you have to find a place to hide it, so that no one could find it.

[jim.cox]

I just have a crap bike. Even left the key in it overnight parked on the street. It's depressing..


would not recommend that

in my experience even crap bikes get stolen

and then you have NO bike :(

[Tank]

I use the steering lock every time I park (and cannot understand those who do not).

When out I will also use a big ass alarmed Xena lock.

To triple sure - I ride a DL1000 V-Strom. Its way to heavy for a thief to lift and far too ugly for them to want to actually steal it.

[klingon]

I refuse to answer your question about security measures - I know you're fishing for my Volty! :bash: On the other hand I'm currently using the best security system of all... the motor in pieces all over the floor. :(

Twice recently I've been involved in rescuing broken-down bikes from the side of the road. Both times I was amazed how quick & easy it was for two people to just load them up onto a trailer and drive away. One of them (Triumph Daytona) even had its steering locked throughout the procedure.

IMO all you can do is take basic, sensible security steps (the specifics will depend on the value of your bike), have full insurance, and try not to let the worry about theft spoil your enjoyment of owning a bike. :scooter:

[joshy28]

Well i think my insurance bill will be large, i only have a carport.

However, i just bought a cheap alarm that ill install, also ill get a cheap disc lock. I also have a thick, thick bike lock that i will use as well when i have it home over nights. I live in Meadowbank so hopefully me niegbours havnt turned from wealthy buisness types to hard core gangstaz wanting to steal my freshly bought GN250 lol.

I am new to riding so i need all the practise i can get, without someone pinching my bike!!!