Uni bike thefts

**Zealot** · 14th August 2008, 23:40

Originally Posted by jim.cox

I'd like to stick something like this...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=170955369

under the seat of my bike

Then we would know where to go "visiting"

Maybe you guys could set up a sting...

That won't work. GPS requires line of sight - hence it can't work in caves, or in buildings.

It works by time of flight for a signal to/from three or more satellites. If you whack it under the seat, it won't be able to get a signal to the satellites.

You'd have to have an external antenna mounted somewhere creatively.

**jim.cox** · 15th August 2008, 09:53

Originally Posted by Zealot

That won't work. GPS requires line of sight - hence it can't work in caves, or in buildings.

It works by time of flight for a signal to/from three or more satellites. If you whack it under the seat, it won't be able to get a signal to the satellites.

You'd have to have an external antenna mounted somewhere creatively.

Seat base on my bike is fibreglass - GPS radio frequency penetrates that quite fine thank you.

And an external antenna is also possible

**Murray** · 15th August 2008, 10:30

Originally Posted by skidMark

Havn't you guys heard of disc locks? they are $25-$40

SM

Where can you get them at this price in Hamilton and pardon the ignorance but is there a one fit all????

**motorbyclist** · 15th August 2008, 12:25

Originally Posted by jim.cox

Seat base on my bike is fibreglass - GPS radio frequency penetrates that quite fine thank you.

And an external antenna is also possible

will struggle to get through a van though, same for a steel roof

**firefighter** · 15th August 2008, 13:21

everyone keeps on mentioning rolling it away when theres a disk lock on- surely one front AND back would prevent this altogether? (besides the whole thief disk lock removal) it would surely be a pretty good deterrent if they saw they'd have to pick the whole thing up rather than just the front?

And that GPS thing looks pretty bloody good, can't be all that hard to disguise an aerial, and it should work through a van or garage- I have a GPS watch for running which gives me accurate co-ordinates (at worst 10m) and it gets a signal from inside the house before I start, so I imagine that thing would produce a far more signifigant signal than my watch.....perhaps just having the aerial in a pain in the arse place to get to inside the fairing where it's unseen- ie they won't find it witout really pulling the thing apart-would be bloody obvious doing that on the side of the road...

**Dargor** · 15th August 2008, 15:55

Originally Posted by Murray

Where can you get them at this price in Hamilton and pardon the ignorance but is there a one fit all????

I know waikato yamaha have some cheap disk locks. Yes they usually they are one fit all.

As for disk locks not being good enough, well then any form of security short of an armed guard isn't good enough. Sure all security can be passed but all you need to do is make the job hard enough that the theft leaves your bike alone. Remember thieves are lazy, that's whey there thieves.

**skidMark** · 15th August 2008, 15:57

Originally Posted by Murray

Where can you get them at this price in Hamilton and pardon the ignorance but is there a one fit all????

One size fit all and any bike shop can get them for you, on trademe too.

**skidMark** · 15th August 2008, 16:00

Originally Posted by firefighter

everyone keeps on mentioning rolling it away when theres a disk lock on- surely one front AND back would prevent this altogether? (besides the whole thief disk lock removal) it would surely be a pretty good deterrent if they saw they'd have to pick the whole thing up rather than just the front?

And that GPS thing looks pretty bloody good, can't be all that hard to disguise an aerial, and it should work through a van or garage- I have a GPS watch for running which gives me accurate co-ordinates (at worst 10m) and it gets a signal from inside the house before I start, so I imagine that thing would produce a far more signifigant signal than my watch.....perhaps just having the aerial in a pain in the arse place to get to inside the fairing where it's unseen- ie they won't find it witout really pulling the thing apart-would be bloody obvious doing that on the side of the road...

My point is...NONE of the bikes stolen...have had a DISK LOCK fitted... just the key turned to steering lock, so they break the steering lock and roll the bike away...

If they used disc locks they cannot be rolled away...

they would have to break off the disc lock first...and that takes time...and noise...

If not they would have to start carrying into vans etc...at this stage they use cars...guy jumps out...and rides / rolls it away, they do not load them up at the uni....

**Bend-it** · 15th August 2008, 16:13

Why not just use a normal padlock? Obviously one that is able to fit in the hole on the brake disc... Costs alot less...

**skidMark** · 15th August 2008, 16:44

Originally Posted by Bend-it

Why not just use a normal padlock? Obviously one that is able to fit in the hole on the brake disc... Costs alot less...

Yep i spose that would suffice, but the padlock has area the can be cut that is not near the disc with bolt cutters etc, disc lock has the big solid casting, a fuckload harder to get to the pin.

I'm not going into too many details due to the chances are the thiefs do read KB... Ie...posting about stings etc is kind of pointless.

**Bend-it** · 15th August 2008, 17:01

Stunned silence at my incredible brilliance, or stupidity?

I (just having bought a new bike), was thinking of getting a disc lock, and the "normal padlock" idea just happened while reading this thread, so I was wondering if it's been done, or won't work... seems like a simple solution...

**Patar** · 15th August 2008, 18:38

Originally Posted by Bend-it

Stunned silence at my incredible brilliance, or stupidity?

I (just having bought a new bike), was thinking of getting a disc lock, and the "normal padlock" idea just happened while reading this thread, so I was wondering if it's been done, or won't work... seems like a simple solution...

If owners of bikes with disklocks can easily forget that their disklock is on, then surely an inconspicuous lock will be missed by the thief and hence the thief will still try to roll it away, possibly causing damage to your brake callipers/disc.

Most disc locks are fairly brightly coloured so that would-be thieves see them and think "naa".

**Zealot** · 15th August 2008, 18:53

Originally Posted by jim.cox

Seat base on my bike is fibreglass - GPS radio frequency penetrates that quite fine thank you.

And an external antenna is also possible

That's true, a seat is rather thin, and being non-metal you don't have a faraday cage effect. It might be ok, but I'd make sure you could fit an external antenna before buying one.

Metal cases are a pain - my swipe card for uni doesn't work through my aluminium card holder... meaning I can't leave my wallet at home, or I have to take it out of the holder every time instead of waving my pocket at the door.

I really should get a disc lock...