I purchased one of these (http://www.global-gadgets.com/Motorbike_Alarms-Motorbike_&_ATV_Immobiliser_Alarm.html) 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
anyone? please?
:dunno_white:
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.
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.
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.
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
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
I'm surprised no one has said this. The best security is good insurance.
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 :police: 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
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.
Quote from: platinum_black on August 02, 2009, 12:30:25 PM
I purchased one of these (http://www.global-gadgets.com/Motorbike_Alarms-Motorbike_&_ATV_Immobiliser_Alarm.html) 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 :dunno_black:
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!
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.
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 (http://www.global-gadgets.com/Motorbike_Alarms-Motorbike_&_ATV_Immobiliser_Alarm.html) 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 :dunno_black:
how so?
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.
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?
Go for it then :thumb:
is there any way to test how much it is drawing current wise?
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.
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
I have one that works pretty well with remote start and everything. Just grab a soldering iron and black tape and your good. It's going to come in real handy when it starts cooling off and I actually have to let the gs warm up. :thumb:
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on 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
[/quote
to be honest if you can lift a truck out the way fuckin take it i aint gonna stop you lol]
For 22 quid it's a snip, will buy one myself if any left. Don't listen to the crap about battery draining, just charge it up when required! He he, it ain't a big deal is it. Any deterrent to theft is a must, and for the sake of 4 packs of bensons, you're on a winner. Forget lower insurance for so called 'Thatcham' approved security, it's rubbish and an insurance marketing scam. I leave mine on the street, sometimes use a xena disc lock if it's floating about and cover with tarpaulin, if i can be bothered to muck about. Never had a bike nicked in 22 years and if i do, got insurance. Easy peasy.
Quote from: purplepeopleeater on August 05, 2009, 01:17:58 PM
Don't listen to the crap about battery draining, just charge it up when required! He he, it ain't a big deal is it.
I suppose not, unless it makes you late for work or you are miles from home and stuck in the pissing rain or anyone of several other scenarios where a flat battery would be a major issue....but hey-ho its your choice :thumb:
My cheapo alarms haven't drained my battery even after the bike sits for a few days. I've been harder on my batteries leaving the tail light on ;) Besides, one of the advantages to the GS being carbureted is you can bump start it.
-Jessie
scrap that question i was being a twat lol ok so i am having trouble reading my wiring diagram could someone tell me which wires i am connecting too for this please.
1. Firstly disregard the Relay, as it is not used on modern bikes (95% of UK bikes do not need this)
2. The blue wire goes to the positive side of the starter relay.
3. Find the wire from the ignition switch that becomes live when ignition is on and feeds ignition ECU. Cut this wire and join the pink to the ignition switch side, and the grey to the ECU side.
4. The red wire goes directly to the battery.
5. The black wire goes straight to earth. You may find there are two blacks; you only need to use one.
6. The yellow wires go to each side indicator (left and right)
7. LED and siren plug straight into alarm box with appropriate plugs.
8. The orange wire needs to go to a fuse, which becomes live once the ignition is on. This wire will make the alarm bleep twice after 7seconds as a reminder to set your alarm. It will not automatically set.
I don't know what alarm you have but I have the JSE L668 and it has remote start. Does yours? And mine diidn't come with a relay; just the box, harness, siren, and 2 remotes.
anyone please im totally stumpped
you poor city people. i love being able to leave the keys in my car/bike at night out here in the woods.
however, i, with my extreme disliking of all things theft, start thinking of primitive theft deterrent methods that would stop anyone from picking up your bike. it's easy to stop them from getting on and riding away. but they can pick it up. some nice little spikes fitted to the under side of where ever anyone would try to pick it up would be nice. they'd grab it to put it in a van and loose loss of their hand for weeks! they'd have to be easily removable however. sadly i don't have a bike to look at and see how this would work. but it would be nice if that worked out.
please someone, anyone i need help.
Quote from: KasbeKZ on August 09, 2009, 04:14:20 AM
however, i, with my extreme disliking of all things theft, start thinking of primitive theft deterrent methods that would stop anyone from picking up your bike. it's easy to stop them from getting on and riding away. but they can pick it up. some nice little spikes fitted to the under side of where ever anyone would try to pick it up would be nice.
haha, they teach that class at the community college down the street. "How to get sued-101", seriously though, if you can be sued for shooting someone who broke into your house with a gun, you can get sued for anything. The key is just to take a grinder or a chisel to the bottom of your subframe, just to rough it up a bit, you can't really get in trouble for being half way through an honest project on your subframe, eh? I think they'd probably grab the bottom of the forks and the swingarm anyway.
My wife brough home a moped since we live in the city and she only works 15 blocks away, but any time that thing is in my way in the basement I just pick the back end up and slide it out of my way, I don't even bother taking it off the centerstand to roll it somewhere. I hope it never happens but I'm pretty ready for her to call and say "Will you come pick me up? someone stole my moped!" already.
Quote
I suppose not, unless it makes you late for work or you are miles from home and stuck in the pissing rain or anyone of several other scenarios where a flat battery would be a major issue....but hey-ho its your choice
that's what breakdown cover is for :thumb:
I suggest take the bike to a dealer and let em wire it up. You have some comeback if there's problems.
Do you know how long it takes AAA, Progressive and other emergency assistance take. Last time Progressive took an hour and a half and when they got there had no clue how to jump a bike. He started to hook Flick up to one of those massive Tow Trucks running! With my AT&T road side they came out and said they "only jump automobiles". My friend has AAA and it took about an hour as well!
Yeah, ask a friend that knows or dealer how much it cost to hook it up. They had some descent cheap ones at the dealer but the install was bit high!
Mary
If your thinking a ground anchor but cant drill into the slab floor for some reason....form up a decent sized box or use a trash can , fill it with rapid set concrete and drop the end of substantial chain in it as it sets. The bigger the better. :thumb:
If someone wants your bike they are going to get it no matter what you do. Chain in concrete cool but there are bolt cutters. My mate has his KTM 990 ADV stolen and he had the latest anchor bolt tech and alarm system money could buy. Police say it looks like the thieves used a "jaws of life" cutter and made quick work of his latest anchor system. (pro job as they knew how to disable his GPS tracking device hidden within the bike)
besides a krypton disc lock I don't bother with security. What I do bother with is making it as hard as possible for them to get my bike out of my yard. They can jump my side gate no worries, cut the padlock to my shed, steal my bike from the shed then.........they are stuck unless they want to dismantle the bike and pass it over the fence. They can get easily in and out of my yard but not with my bike. The amount of noise they would have to make getting my gate open the entire neighbourhood would wake up. Thieves are not going to go to that much hassle and noise to steal a GS500.
Simple security lights and a good solid steel gate with intentional noisy hinges and noisy bolt action locks. Crooks hate light and noise. Combine either one of these 2 into your bike security and you will be ok.
the problem is i am not allowed to do anything to the house or the garden as i dont own the house my employer does and to be honest id like an alarm but i cant seem to figure out the wiring so would be extremely grateful if someone could help me out,
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on 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
Wow. Sorry bro, I'd probably move at that point :o :o :o
please someone anyone i need advice on the wiring cant work it out
I don't know about all of the other features but you can get the alarm w/ shock sensor to work just by hooking up the red wire to the positive battery terminal and the back wire to the negative battery terminal or a good metal grounding point.
-Jessie
Is just about any disc lock and alarm off ebay ok to go with?
my bike will be sitting outside overnight at my dorm during school, and although i can see it from my window, im not going to be looking out my window all night...I'd like to be as safe as i can be.