Security Advice

platinum_black · August 02, 2009, 12:30:25 PM

I purchased one of these a while back and was wondering if it is worth fitting to my bike or not, i know that sometimes these things can be a hinderance more than a help, any advice would be welcome thanks

platinum_black · August 02, 2009, 03:27:28 PM

anyone? please?

XealotX · August 02, 2009, 04:21:55 PM

Are motorcycle thefts a problem where you live? Is it for a GS500? Newer or older? Does your bike look nice or is it mostly rust and scratched plastic? Is the bike left outside or stored inside at night?

Personally, I wouldn't bother with it...but your circumstances might be completely different.

Dr.Sparkie · August 02, 2009, 05:23:38 PM

if you set it so that it goes off in the middle of the night when my grampa farts three states away, I will hunt you down like the dog you are.

otherwise, if you feel you need securitah, it looks spiffy... just mount the siren where it cant be got at without trigging the alarm.

08GSSteve · August 02, 2009, 06:49:09 PM

I use to have one of the disc lock types with the alarm added. Was great till a gust of wind moves the bike ever so slightly and sets the alarm off. Rain use to set it off as well. No matter what sensitivity I set it at the bloody thing would still go off.

BaltimoreGS · August 02, 2009, 07:48:21 PM

I have alarms on all of my bikes. All are cheap Chinese made ones I got off ebay. I never hooked up any of the extra features like starter kill (don't want to cut the factory wiring harness) and just rely on the shock sensor. I've found some are more sensitive than others. None of the alarms have an adjustable shock sensor. I have one on my '01 that is annoyingly sensitive and is set off by wind, rain, sunlight, an ant coughing... That one is rarely used unless I leave the bike in a bad neighborhood. I have one Chinese disc lock alarm that I really like. It is not overly sensitive and has yet to go off unnecessarily. My only complaint is that it is not very loud.

Bike theft is a real concern in Baltimore. They will steal even the oldest P. O. S. that you couldn't give away otherwise. The latest trend is stealing a minivan, chucking out the back seats, then going and stealing motorcycles with it. If my $30 alarm scares off one theif I think it was worth it.

My 2 cents...

-Jessie

mister · August 02, 2009, 08:48:59 PM

You mean just like in this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96QM-lzLM8 - of guys crusing by at 15 seconds in minivan, backs up, cases bike, other guy hops out and bike is gone within 20 seconds.

Only a chain would'a stopped that one. Disk lock alarms can be silenced with a can of shaving cream and or quietened with duct tape.

One guy in the UK would chain up his bike at night. Came back in the morning to a pile of metal shavings where a battery-powered grinder had been used.

Security is about Deterring a thief from taking Your bike. if they really want Your bike, you will not stop them.

Throw on a disklock, get a motion-sensor alarm and chain it. If the chain aint practical, get the alarm and disklock and don't leave your bike for too long

Michael

Skeets · August 02, 2009, 10:54:41 PM

I'm surprised no one has said this. The best security is good insurance.

Toogoofy317 · August 03, 2009, 08:03:15 AM

hmmm, well i got good insurance! But, mine also came with LoJack at least they have some gaurantee. Although, it won't warn me (newer units do now) it will tell the

where it is. And most burglars won't think about a GS having one! I also have a disc lock that I use and I sandwich it up against the curb with my car where I live! Can't wait for a garage!

Mary

tt_four · August 03, 2009, 08:53:20 AM

I don't understand, aside from cost, why more vehicles/bikes don't come with a gps chip in them somewhere. It could be hidden anywhere, probably not cost more than a couple dollars to make, and then you/police could always track your bikes location. Good thiefs would be able to pull the bike apart and find it, and destroy it, but that still gives you the time it takes them to grab your bike, transport it where it's going, and have to tear the entire bike apart before they find it. A car would be nearly impossible, but even on a bike you could hide the thing inside the airbox, or inside one of the subframe rails, under the seat padding, just about anything.

Anyway, the biggest benefit to an alarm is probably a slightly reduced insurance rate. I've always felt fine just putting a disc lock on my bike, but I've also never left my bike anywhere for an extended period of time or over night where I thought I'd have to worry about it.

The other downside to an alarm, is when I'm laying in bed and someone's car alarm starts going off for 10 minutes straight while I'm trying to sleep, I've got to restrain myself from going out and smashing their windshield in with a bat. If you buy a bike alarm that's too sensitive, I wouldn't be surprised if someone with less control than myself ends up pushing it over in the street from too many sleepless nights thanks to your bike alarm. A knocked over bike is still better than a stolen bike, but I tend to think that an alarm has more of an affect on your neighbors than it does bike thiefs, and I try not to make other people have to deal with my problems.

sledge · August 03, 2009, 10:34:17 AM

Quote from: platinum_black on August 02, 2009, 12:30:25 PM
I purchased one of these a while back and was wondering if it is worth fitting to my bike or not, i know that sometimes these things can be a hinderance more than a help, any advice would be welcome thanks

Did you get some jump-leads at the same time?......you are going to need them if you fit that alarm

cboling · August 03, 2009, 11:48:01 AM

I have always thought about getting a stun gun and re-wiring / re-building it to act as a security device. Have a hidden / keyed switch that you turn on when parked. If a thief tries to take the bike, car, whatever......ZAP! right in the schnoz! That would be a hoot!

tt_four · August 03, 2009, 12:00:49 PM

Quote from: cboling on August 03, 2009, 11:48:01 AM
I have always thought about getting a stun gun and re-wiring / re-building it to act as a security device. Have a hidden / keyed switch that you turn on when parked. If a thief tries to take the bike, car, whatever......ZAP! right in the schnoz! That would be a hoot!

haha, not as much fun as riding behind you when you got caught in a quick rain storm and it started short circuiting.

platinum_black · August 03, 2009, 12:24:49 PM

Quote from: sledge on August 03, 2009, 10:34:17 AM
Quote from: platinum_black on August 02, 2009, 12:30:25 PM
I purchased one of these a while back and was wondering if it is worth fitting to my bike or not, i know that sometimes these things can be a hinderance more than a help, any advice would be welcome thanks

Did you get some jump-leads at the same time?......you are going to need them if you fit that alarm

how so?

sledge · August 03, 2009, 12:45:19 PM

The alarm is permanantly on when the bike is not running, its drawing current from the bikes battery and will quickly flatten it. Bike alarms that have a low current draw are expensive and the makers like to advertise the fact they dont drain the battery. This one is very cheap and makes no claims regarding current draw. Depending on the condition of your battery this alarm could flatten it within days. Its very much a case of you get what you pay for.
Check out some of these Thatcham approved alarms.

http://www.motorcycle-alarms-security.co.uk/index.html

At the end of the day if someone wants your bike they will take it regardless, all you can do is slow them up and make it difficult. No one pays attention to alarms and an alarm wont stop someone lifting the bike into a van, but if you see someone attacking a chain/padlock you will notice and ask questions. For this reason I believe a chain a padlock and a ground anchor are the best deterrents.

platinum_black · August 03, 2009, 01:12:44 PM

the problem is the house i live in is owned by my work and i am not allowed to fit a ground anchor plus there is no where to chain the bike up really now i do remember the original ad stating it had a low power consumption and it is also on the side of the box, no?

sledge · August 03, 2009, 01:28:28 PM

Go for it then

platinum_black · August 03, 2009, 01:31:51 PM

is there any way to test how much it is drawing current wise?

Paulcet · August 03, 2009, 04:35:52 PM

Quote from: platinum_black on August 03, 2009, 01:31:51 PM
is there any way to test how much it is drawing current wise?

Yes. Use a current meter (or "multimeter" on current setting) in series between the battery and the alarm.

BaltimoreGS · August 03, 2009, 07:36:57 PM

This thread reminded me of 2 things that happened locally. Travis Pastrana had 4 of his bikes stolen recently. So far none have been recovered but at least one has been spotted. Dirt bikes are used to run drugs in Baltimore. Secondly, the putting your bike behind your car thing doesn't always work. One of my brother's co-workers had his F250 parked in front of his garage. A group of thieves lifted the back end of the truck, moved it enough to open the garage door and stole his motorcycles.

-Jessie

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