Bike security

[Charlie]

Not to sound paranoid, but to the unlucky bike owners who dont have a garage (I know, poor choice in houses is the first problem) - whats the best way to keep your bike secure outside at home???
Do the insurance companies have a tizz if its not locked in a garage? Do they have other criteria for outside stored bikes?

[Death 'N' Taxes]

As my bike is stored in a carport rather than a lockable garage there is an extra $1,000 on my excess if it is stolen (rather than the normal $300 excess).

I just use the Kryptonite Barbed Wire chain with a disc lock and secure it to the carport.

You can also go for the in-ground locks (the one's sunk into the concrete) - I'm sure someone here will be able to tell you more about those.

Depends on your insurance coy. My old insurance coy didn't even ask where it was stored or if it had an alarm.

[The Stranger:Me]

I got a 15' Kryptonite wire strop ($50.00), and a Xena disk lock alarm ($129.00) from haldane's the a few days ago. I tie the rear of the bike to a concrete column with the strop and a high quality padlock and set the disk lock alarm on the front.

They recon that it is real hard to cut the strop with a hacksaw and I would imagine it is not easy to cut with bolt cutters as it would tend to crush. I know the padlock is not easy to cut with bolt cutters, we tested one a while back and broke the bolt cutter jaws.

The disk lock looks quite robust and although it doesn't deafen you it sure attracts attention.

[James Deuce]

{snip}
Do the insurance companies have a tizz if its not locked in a garage? Do they have other criteria for outside stored bikes?

Yes. AMI will ONLY insure your bike against theft when it is locked in your garage and has a secondary locking mechanish secured to a concrete floor. However insure your bike with Classic cover (if you're over 30) and even though the Insurance is technically with AMI, that is no longer a requirement. Very odd.

[Coyote]

I'm cheap and just use my old bicycle chain. It'll be ok for stopping people from wheeling it away but you could get to it if you were really determined i.e brought a hacksaw along

[Charlie]

Cheers guys, will sort something out asap!

[Smorg]

I just hire a big black guy named ben to stand next to it and thump people for no reason as they walk past...................hasn't been stolen yet

[vifferman]

Most insurance companies also favour some sort of immobiliser, whether it's a factory one (such as Honda's HISS) or an alarm. However, although many bikes (particularly older models) are stolen by the old "screwdriver in the ignition" method of hot-wiring, if a thief wants your bike they'll get some mates to help them throw it in a truck/van, regardless of any fancy ignition mumbo. A secure method of physically tying it to the spot is going to be effective in those instances.

[Hitcher]

Here are some security tips, starting with the cheapest/easiest:

1. Put a cover over your bike. If people can't see it, they're less likely to get excited by it. Keeps the elements at bay too.
2. Block access to your bike with something large and lockable -- like a car.
3. Use a disc lock.
4. Get a hard-to-cut cord or chain and secure this to some large and immovable object and loop through the rear wheel or chassis of your bike.
5. Have security lighting that bathes your bike in seering light if somebody wanders around during the hours of darkness.
6. Get a really heavy bike that takes more than two people to lift...

[clint640]

Yup, tie it to something solid with one of those big-ass plastic covered steel wire cables & a big lock. Having a security light pointing at it is a good move too.

Has anybody tried those 'lil cable alarm things I saw at Repco the other day? they have a fairly skinny cable & the lock part has an alarm if the cable is cut. They were only about $70, I think I might get one. They were small enough to tuck in the panniers while touring which would be bloody handy as when travelling the bike gets parked in all sorts of dodgy places but carrying my usual dirty big cable & lock is a pain.

Cheers
Clint

[Ixion]

Most insurance companies also favour some sort of immobiliser, whether it's a factory one (such as Honda's HISS) or an alarm. However, although many bikes (particularly older modles) are stolen by the old "screwdriver in the ignition" method of hot-wiring, if a thief wants your bike they'll get some mates to help them throw it in a truck/van, regardless of any fancy ignition mumbo. A secure method of physically tieing it to he spot is going to be effective in those instances.

*Envisages thief and mate trying to load the Whale onto a truck or van* Heh heh heh. There are some things where it's an advantage to have a bike the size and weight (nearly) of an Abrams main battle tank. Li'l Ratty I use a cable around an obImmoveableObject

[Lou Girardin]

Oxford have a new alarm/lock that's sensitive to impact not movement, so it's less likely to false but will scream if someone rolls a bike off it's centre stand.
It's Thatcham approved, freeze tested and 5 minute attack proof.
A snip @ $169.00 inc.

[Wolf]

*Envisages thief and mate trying to load the Whale onto a truck or van* Heh heh heh. There are some things where it's an advantage to have a bike the size and weight (nearly) of an Abrams main battle tank. Li'l Ratty I use a cable around an obImmoveableObject

to whit: the aforementioned "Whale"

[Ixion]

to whit: the aforementioned "Whale"

Well, no. Cos if I'm out on one, the other, by definition, is not there. I suppose I COULD try loading Ratty on behind the Whale, like a dinghy behind a launch.

[Wolf]

Well, no. Cos if I'm out on one, the other, by definition, is not there. I suppose I COULD try loading Ratty on behind the Whale, like a dinghy behind a launch.

Why not just stick Ratty on the aft deck of the K75 so you can use the derrick to lower it over the side?