6 Ways to Secure your Two-Wheeled Steed Against Theft
There are many options and countless variables that make securing
our bikes very difficult against a determined thief. With that in
mind, this article will suggest some (in my opinion best) methods
for securing your bike in public places. Other locations (like your
own garage) will be saved for a separate article.
It would be very easy for an organized group of bike-thieves to load a heavy-ass motorcycle onto a tow-truck and drive off into the sunset leaving you stranded like a girl who refused to put out. What we can do to prevent that is to send them a message basically saying “move on, nothing to see here, pick an easier target”.
These methods should be used in combination and not considered enough all by them selves.
Here are few suggestions that might work for you.
Method #1
One easy and yet overlooked method of securing a motorcycle is to simply cover it up. Your bike will be insulated against heat, rain and other unfriendly elements, but perhaps more importantly; it will be hidden from the prying eyes. Bike thieves usually target specific bikes (Harleys are a common target since they can re-sell them in Europe for three times the selling-price due to incredible demand) but you bike - I am sure - could make their list as well. Not being able to see what bike is under the cover will – at the very least –slow them down. They would be required to lift the cover in order to see the bike which makes your bike less desirable then the one that’s not covered.
Method #2
While it may not stop a determined thief – but then again, nothing will – having your bike chained to something is definitely a good idea. Note that I said “chained to something”. Having a wheel-lock or a chain that’s not fastened to something can be quite useless in preventing theft when the bike can be picked up and loaded into a van.
Check out youtube link at the bottom of the article.
Method #3
Alarm.
Method #4
Low-jack
Method #5
Use some un-common sense. Always try to position your bike in such a way that it would be impossible for someone to pick-up the bike and toss it onto a truck. Some parking lots will have ample space between cars and a dividing wall, use it. At my job, there is plenty of room underneath the stairs leading out of the parking lot. There is enough room for a bike to get out and in but if someone tried to pick it up it would be a giant pain. Also, there is a lot of foot traffic in the area which means more eyes on your bike. Be friendly to people and they will keep an eye out for anyone lurking around your bike without you even asking them to do so.
That’s all folks. I have left out one very cool way of securing the bike – consider it a challenge - and I am counting on you to fill in the gap…add your ideas and suggestions to the comments and you get 100 points redeemable for absolutely nothing other then my love and devotion.
youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96QM-lzLM8
Salute
It would be very easy for an organized group of bike-thieves to load a heavy-ass motorcycle onto a tow-truck and drive off into the sunset leaving you stranded like a girl who refused to put out. What we can do to prevent that is to send them a message basically saying “move on, nothing to see here, pick an easier target”.
These methods should be used in combination and not considered enough all by them selves.
Here are few suggestions that might work for you.
Method #1
One easy and yet overlooked method of securing a motorcycle is to simply cover it up. Your bike will be insulated against heat, rain and other unfriendly elements, but perhaps more importantly; it will be hidden from the prying eyes. Bike thieves usually target specific bikes (Harleys are a common target since they can re-sell them in Europe for three times the selling-price due to incredible demand) but you bike - I am sure - could make their list as well. Not being able to see what bike is under the cover will – at the very least –slow them down. They would be required to lift the cover in order to see the bike which makes your bike less desirable then the one that’s not covered.
Method #2
While it may not stop a determined thief – but then again, nothing will – having your bike chained to something is definitely a good idea. Note that I said “chained to something”. Having a wheel-lock or a chain that’s not fastened to something can be quite useless in preventing theft when the bike can be picked up and loaded into a van.
Check out youtube link at the bottom of the article.
Method #3
Alarm.
Method #4
Low-jack
Method #5
Use some un-common sense. Always try to position your bike in such a way that it would be impossible for someone to pick-up the bike and toss it onto a truck. Some parking lots will have ample space between cars and a dividing wall, use it. At my job, there is plenty of room underneath the stairs leading out of the parking lot. There is enough room for a bike to get out and in but if someone tried to pick it up it would be a giant pain. Also, there is a lot of foot traffic in the area which means more eyes on your bike. Be friendly to people and they will keep an eye out for anyone lurking around your bike without you even asking them to do so.
That’s all folks. I have left out one very cool way of securing the bike – consider it a challenge - and I am counting on you to fill in the gap…add your ideas and suggestions to the comments and you get 100 points redeemable for absolutely nothing other then my love and devotion.
youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96QM-lzLM8
Salute
19 Comments
One tried and true method to deter thiefs is to have a really ugly-ass bike. Trust me, it works ;)
On the other hand if you want to park a nice bike in a public area (while traveling or just around town for whatever reason) try to put the bike where it cannot easily be seen. In NYC this would likely necessitate paying for parking, which would add some security. Otherwise try to park inside courtyards, behind the house you are visiting etc. There may also be parking options for bikes that are behind barriers that a van cannot get past.
Great advice. I remember when Cannondale bicycles where "hot" a few years ago. (I use to do a ton of bicycling in my younger days). The only way to keep your Cannondale from getting stolen was to paint the frame to disgust the brand. Kind of defeats the purpose of "showing off" your nice $1500.00 bike but at least you didn't worry about some punk cutting the chain and stealing it.
Also paying for parking always works, and of course parking it where it can not be easily seen.
Just my 2 pesos.
I think carol knows someone who parks his vtx1300c in his condo over the winter. She may even have some pics to share.
1. Park it where it can be seen.
2. Cover it up. Some one snooping around a covered bike will draw attention
3. Put a wheel/disc lock on it which is brightly covered
4. If possible chain it to a pole of something that isn't going anywhere.
5. Lock the steering column
If you have a lightweight sportbike, chaining it to something is even more important. Do the rear wheel or the thru the swing arm if possible. Some have been know to take the front wheel off and take the bike since a front wheel is easy to remove and easy to replace.
my 2 pesos
Also there are many alarm systems that are owner installed, have remotes, like a pager to alert you if someone is tampering with the bike, as well as sirens triggered by movement or proximity alarms, and cost as little as $149, i.e., here: www.internatrix.com/ as well as many others.
Another suggestion is to engrave your SS# on major bike parts to aid in identifying it if it ever gets recovered from being stolen, in case the thief grinds off serial #s and VINs.
The owner of the group is Mark Bentley and he makes a nifty device to secure a motorcycle. www.yanchor.com
It def looks like an interesting idea, I wish they had something like that in all parking lots....
http://www.yanchor.com/news.html
http://www.yanchor.com/about2.html
http://www.yanchor.com/2.html
Also check out the video!
Click here to sign up now.