Motorcycle alarm info please

**Starky307** · 26th May 2009, 19:04

Originally Posted by p.dath

If you have a garage do you really need an alarm as well?

I have a friend who had an alarm fitted to his bike. If he doesn't go riding every week the battery tends to go flat now. Very annoying for him. No, it's not the battery.

He's looking to rip it back out now. Don't know what kind of alarm it is.

This is a good point about the battery drain caused by the alarm.

Has anyone else experienced this sort of trouble?

**Icemaestro** · 26th May 2009, 19:51

Any comments on what to fit to a cbr250r? cheapest thing that will take the insurance premium down?

**p.dath** · 26th May 2009, 20:51

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

Any comments on what to fit to a cbr250r? cheapest thing that will take the insurance premium down?

Don't know about your motorcycle insurance, but mine only cared about weather it was stored in a locked garage or not.

So don't expect your premium to come down.

**Morcs** · 27th May 2009, 12:05

I had a cyclone C-11 installed by a shop on my RVF.

I washed my bike on a sunny sunday.
Rode to work on a sunny monday morning, alarm blew up.

Recommened getting a fully waterproof unit.

**Indiana_Jones** · 27th May 2009, 12:06

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

Any comments on what to fit to a cbr250r? cheapest thing that will take the insurance premium down?

How much are u paying? My insurance was like $30 for full cover on the CBR250. I doubt any alarm was gonna bring that down at my age.

also does anyone have an Alarmed disc lock? An Oxford or Xena one?
Are they any good etc?

Cheers

-Indy

**Silage** · 27th May 2009, 13:51

Originally Posted by steve_t

I recently got an alarmed disc lock. Anyone wanna comment on their experiences with these - good or bad?

I have one I put on the bike when parked unattended in public or while at work. Overall they must be better than an unalarmed disc lock but not loud enough for me to hear it from my office (50m in sight).

Secondly, mine was going off all through the day randomly. Then realised that they have different sensitivities depending on how much metal is between the bars of the lock. So I was locking it on the top of the disc and now hang it off the bottom and don't get false triggering but is still quite sensitive to any movement.

The "cheapest" alarm I have used consists of an on/off switch, a mercury switch, a fuse and a length of wire. Take a lead off the battery, through the fuse to the mercury switch (that does not connect when bike on side stand but does connect when near upright) to the switch hidden but accessible on the bike to the horn. Bike goes on side stand, switch on - no noise. If anyone stands the bike up - horn sounds. Not too flash but cheap.

**Kinje** · 27th May 2009, 14:32

Originally Posted by Silage

I have one I put on the bike when parked unattended in public or while at work. Overall they must be better than an unalarmed disc lock but not loud enough for me to hear it from my office (50m in sight).

Secondly, mine was going off all through the day randomly. Then realised that they have different sensitivities depending on how much metal is between the bars of the lock. So I was locking it on the top of the disc and now hang it off the bottom and don't get false triggering but is still quite sensitive to any movement.

The "cheapest" alarm I have used consists of an on/off switch, a mercury switch, a fuse and a length of wire. Take a lead off the battery, through the fuse to the mercury switch (that does not connect when bike on side stand but does connect when near upright) to the switch hidden but accessible on the bike to the horn. Bike goes on side stand, switch on - no noise. If anyone stands the bike up - horn sounds. Not too flash but cheap.

Thats clever...way cheaper than the ahem cough cough that I spent to do pretty much the same job.

**crazyhorse** · 27th May 2009, 15:13

My SV650 came with an alarm - great idea I thought. Except you cannot help it when people just have to stroke the bike - and it goes off! Yes it came with two settings, but after a while it just kept going off randomly, so disconnected it.

Alarms can actually make you paranoid too - not sure I would ever get another one - easiest option is to ensure your bike. Classic cover are very reasonable - cheapest I have found.

A radar detector would be more useful than a bike alarm...... My thoughts only

**Indiana_Jones** · 27th May 2009, 16:55

Guess I'll give a disc lock alarm a go, if it proves to be a hassle, just take the batteries out and it's a normal disc lock.

-Indy

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th May 2009, 17:12

http://www.caralarm.co.nz/go2/Mongoose_alarms_MCR500/

**Starky307** · 27th May 2009, 18:56

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

My SV650 came with an alarm - great idea I thought. Except you cannot help it when people just have to stroke the bike - and it goes off! Yes it came with two settings, but after a while it just kept going off randomly, so disconnected it.

Alarms can actually make you paranoid too - not sure I would ever get another one - easiest option is to ensure your bike. Classic cover are very reasonable - cheapest I have found.

A radar detector would be more useful than a bike alarm...... My thoughts only

I like the idea about a radar detector.

My bike sleeps inside the garage, the house (and garage) are alarmed when no one is home so it is only when on a overnight ride, for that I will invest in an alarmed disc lock and put the rest towards a radar detector.

Thanks to all posters for all the comments about experience with alarms.

**p.dath** · 27th May 2009, 19:00

Originally Posted by Silage

The "cheapest" alarm I have used consists of an on/off switch, a mercury switch, a fuse and a length of wire. Take a lead off the battery, through the fuse to the mercury switch (that does not connect when bike on side stand but does connect when near upright) to the switch hidden but accessible on the bike to the horn. Bike goes on side stand, switch on - no noise. If anyone stands the bike up - horn sounds. Not too flash but cheap.

I like this the best! No battery drain. Will give an inexperienced thief a bit of a scare. Doesn't stop them putting it on a trailer or truck, but hey - great value for money.

**Indiana_Jones** · 27th May 2009, 19:03

Originally Posted by p.dath

I like this the best! No battery drain. Will give an inexperienced thief a bit of a scare. Doesn't stop them putting it on a trailer or truck, but hey - great value for money.

Nothing will if they really want the bike, just to stop the oppertunists.

-Indy

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 27th May 2009, 23:27

Hi,

I've got an alarm on my bike. Had it disconnected today.

Reason is that it keeps draining the battery. A fully charged battery seems to be drained after about four days (even with the alaram not activated).

Anyway, would only re-connect it if there was a spate of bike thefts in my area etc. For now it won't be draining my battery anymore.

If your bike is an garage then you should think about alarming your garage door before the bike. Unless you have to park it in dodgy areas when you go out. In this case then a lock (with or without an alarm) is preferable to just an alarm.

On a side point - just read a UK bike mag which rated bike locks. Oxford XL Hardcore came top, followed by oxford monster and oxford nemesis.