Disc lock color: bright or not?

[Traveller]

I'm probably going to be picking up a disc lock with an alarm feature on it, but I can't decide on color: flashy or inconspicuous.  If a thief sees it (bright yellow) he may try to disengage it, but if he doesn't (silver) he's more likely to set off the alarm and get caught.

Which situation do you think is preferable?

[Eklipse]

Next time I get one, I'll probably get a bright orange one or something so I notice it and remember to take it off before I start riding. That's a lot more likely than the bike getting stolen.

[Traveller]

Or maybe two locks.  Is that crazy?  Put the first lock on one wheel and make it super obvious with a bright color and one of those reminder cables strung to it, and then a second one in silver on the other wheel so it doesn't stand out as much.  If they manage to disengage the one that they can see, they might think that that's it and set off the alarm on the second one.

Maybe I'm being paranoid.  After all, I doubt that my yellow '99 is very desirable, but I've had stuff stolen from me before, and it does not feel good.

[Eklipse]

You could do that. You can also pick up an audio bike alarm for pretty cheap. I think I have a bulldog alarm, has tip and shock sensor; no starter disable though. I'm sure you could find one with a starter disable and hook it up. I don't know what your budget is, but you could always LoJack it if you're really worried

I also find it helps to put my disk lock on onthe bottom of the disk, so if I forget and try to go forward, it hits before I get any speed at all.

Even with two disk locks and an alarm, you'll still have to contend with two guys and a pickup truck picking your bike up and tossing it in the back.

Just depends on how much inconvenience you're willing to put up with for security.

[tt_four]

I used to have a bright yellow one, and I'd still always forget it was on there. It barely takes any momentum for your bike to jerk to a stop and fall over. I did it a number of times. I usually tried to put it on my disc as close to the caliper as i could, then gently roll my bike forward so it was literally pressing up against it.

You could tuck an inconspicuous one on your back wheel, but chances are you're definitely going to forget about it sometimes. At least if it's on the back wheel it wouldn't do much when it caught the brake disk. Just get in the habit of slowly pulling out of parking spots, whether you KNOW you took the lock off or not. That way when you forget, you'll still be gentle about it.

[Gary856]

Alarms are more for deterrent than for catching thieves. Get the bright color one. Thieves tend to move on to easier targets.

[utgunslinger13]

Alarms are more for deterrent than for catching thieves. Get the bright color one. Thieves tend to move on to easier targets.

Agreed.  Plus the brighter the color, the more likely it will be to remind you to remove it!

[black and silver twin]

if you get a double locking disc lock it would be almost impossible to forcefully remove, the rotor would basically have to be removed and thrown away. the double locking lock, locks the 2 halves together with an eccentric sandwiching the rotor between.

[gregvhen]

i think your over compensating a little bit. most people who steal bikes, know bikes, and they know a GS500 isnt worth much. true, GSs have been stolen, but not nearly as much as cbr's or ninja's or gixxer's

[Bluesmudge]

Agreed, the best thing you can do to deter thieves is to have a GS500. Even better if it is highly modified. Thieves like to steal bikes that are valuable and look like lots of other bikes out there.

[Caffeine]

I stopped using my bright red lock after I got distracted one day by my landlord chatting with me.  We had a couple laughs, then he walked on and I started up the bike and took off.    In a split second I was down on the ground and my left foot came close to being broken because it took most of the weight of the bike.

If you get one, go for the alarm, so at least it will "remind" you when it is on there if you forget!

You really should spend the money on a real alarm with engine kill.