Bike Security opinions

[Blingmasta]

In preparation for picking up my 95 GS500 in a mere four days (I've been waiting for this Saturday for the last 7 months, so needless to say I'm totally pumped) I've already bought all my gear, and signed up for the MSF course, but I need to know if my security setup will work. I've got a covered area right next to a lit door, it's more like a garage really, cause it's a room under the apartment building that is open to the outside. It's also inside the courtyard of my apartment complex, and it takes a little bit of getting to from the street (I don't care of course; that jsut makes it harder to take out of there) and it's well out of site to anyone who doesn't come directly into this covered area, because pretty much nobody but me will use this door. But my security consists of this cable lock http://lockitt.com/onguardlocks/cables.html
(It's the 34.95 one) it's crazy thick and looks pretty secure. I also got a bike cover cause people on this site said out of sight, out of mind, and that sounds brilliant. I'll be loopin that cable around my frame and a thick steel handrail that is sunk into the ground to stay. Y'all think this will work well? write me back. By the way, the parking spot is about 50 feet from my patio, and I can see it iby looking out my window, dont' know it that changes anything, other than the fact that for about the first week I'll just be staring at it (for security purposes of course :lol: ). So that's it. Tell me anything else I should do within a reasonable price range, I'm a cheapo college student.

[davipu]

buy a shotty, and walk around outside with it at night

[roguegeek]

I just went through this same thing:
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15517&highlight=

[SCROOGE]

I just went through this same thing:
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15517&highlight=

Good thread.  

[Cal Price]

My bike is left in the open right outside my house, on a busy road, I have a similar set up, decent mid range chain and lock to a groundbolt that I set in the concrete when resurfacing a couple of years back. You can get obsessive about this sort of thing, a mate of mine says the best security is a realy grotty bike cover with slug trails and a couple of plastic bugs glued on. He may be right.

[se7enty7]

EVERYWHERE I park is under surveillance.  
work an school are under 24/7 surveillance.
and at home it's in the garage (my house has an alarm as well)


Anywhere I go (mall, wal-mart, wherever) I park where I can find CCTV camera.  when I park at gas stations my eyes don't leave my bike.



It sucks, but people are assholes nowadays.  these types of measures, imo, are neccessary.

[xtalman]

I run a cable through the frame and around a bicycle rack.  I use a 6' Abus cable, is the one you're looking at long enough? Especially if you want to cover the bike.  If I were to do it over, I'd probably just get a good chain instead.  They're more secure, but much heavier, but I never take the cable with me anywhere anyway.  I just leave it locked to the bike rack.

For a '95 GS500, everything you suggest is probably sufficient (mine is a '96), but if I had a new 600cc+ sportbike, I'd want something like Pablo's bikebrace with axle guards and a ground anchor/chain combo to thread through the frame somehow.

[Blingmasta]

I figured that this cable would be stronger than a chain. Hmm guess I don't know what I'm talkin bout. But yeah, I thought a 6' cable for awhile, but, the only thing I have to loop it around here is that handrail, cause I thought 6' was a little overboard (ok, the real reason was price). So good, my security system is pretty acceptable it seems may put some peices of duct tape on the cover just to be sure

[red_phil]

You could also spill a little old grotty opil on the ground just next to where your gonna keep it. Add a little rusty Iron filings to taste.

Careful not to get the oil on your tyres whilest it's still wet though.

[Michael]

If professional thieves want it, they'll get it.  But what you've got sounds like it will deter the casual thief.  Just remember to always lock what you can and never leave the keys within reach.  Sounds obvious, I know, but you'd be surprised how many people lose their cars because they left the keys on the hall stand and someone just opened the door and grabbed them.  Another dumb thing is to hide a spare key outside the property.
Fortunately the GS500 is not high on the list of desirable bikes for the pros, so if you make it hard for the joyriders and dickheads, you should be fine.

[furball]

If you are keeping the bike outside and available to anyone, I would look into a cover that can lock onto the bike...Many covers have locking grommets on the bottum....I would also look into getting a pair of disc locks....I would get one regular disc lock and one Xena alarm disc lock....if the bike is moved the alarm will go off....100dB alarm....

I would put a disc lock on the front and rear disc....and the bike would be VERY tough to move....You can also look into a bike alarm with a 2 way pager system....as soon as the bike is touched you'll get a page and an alarm will sound....DEFINITELY THE BEST.....but can get pricey....

Had a detached garage once and they broke in and stole my wifes 250 Ninja....and two helmets....If the disc locks were on they wouldn't have gotten it at all....They only managed to make it a block away and dumped it.....got the bike back but it was a mess.....had to replace a lot of plastic and the ignition was trashed.....Just lock it up as much as your budget allows....

I just moved to a townhome community and have no garage yet....I have a cover with a lock and dual disc locks....but still am debating the two way pager....be careful and safe with....

[Blingmasta]

Cool, I'll prolly get a disc lock this summer, and I was thinking about at least making two holes in the cover so I could loop the cable through it when I lock it up to keep people from taking it off, Course, they could just cut it off no problem if they really wanted to. But I DEFINITELY dont' have enough money for a pager system, and is there really any reason to get two disc locks? if they can get one off, they can prolly get two off as well.

[xtalman]

If you get a 6' cable lock or chain, you can loop it through the frame and front wheel, and a pole or bike rack.  I've done it many times.  I've also been able to put the bike cover (mostly) over it.  Only one side of the engine was exposed.

[Blingmasta]

I already bought the 3.3 foot one I linked to earlier. I think that if I could go back I would buy the 6 foot cable, but this one may still work, only 2 more days and I'll find out for sure.

[Cal Price]

Michael had a good point well made, if a pro thief targets your bike or that Rembrandt you have hanging in your hall next to the Van Gough the chances are that a pro will get it. On that basis all you really need to worry about are the opportunists, - joy riders etc,.

The same principle applies to any security, your target has to be just a little more difficult than the one in the next street or a little less attractive. I think what you are doing is probably enough for that.

[furball]

Basis for two disc locks....if you only have one...they can roll the bike away by just lifting one wheel off the ground....if you use two then they pretty much have to pick the bike off the ground and carry it away...and at 450 lbs that may be a bit difficult...

I definitely would suggest two...and look into the Xena alarm disc lock as one of them...as soon as the bike moves the alarm sounds...just be overlyprotective....better safe than sorry...

[Blingmasta]

Yeah, I realized that after I posted that, but again, while I want to be safe as possible, the money ain't there. Any more security stuff I buy has gotta be in my price range, and Xena's too pricey for me.