some people like me are really paranoid about parking their bike on the street, especially because I tend to park in downtown cincinnati ( if you're from the queen city you understand). I'm tempted to get a cover and a disk lock, anybody have experience with this?


http://www.xenasecurity.com/home/current/lock_us/

i've got one of these http://www.xenasecurity.com/product/motorbikes/alarm/XZZSeries/XZZ6LStainlessSteelPlated/page1/
VERY sensitive and LOUD. it pretty much beeps EVERY time i go to take it off. but, i think it's better to have one to deter thieves.

i've also got one of these as well: https://www.kryptonitelock.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?cid=1001&scid=1002&pid=1168

i didn't have a safe place to park my bike when i was in brooklyn; so that's why i had all of these locks. now that i moved across the river, i still have the disc lock on, but i barely use the chain/lock.

g'luck! cheers!

Someday when I've got a nicer bike I may put an alarm on it. I'm only half as worried about someone stealing at as I am about kids sitting on it to impress their friends. I really don't care for people to tough my stuff. A cover is a good deterrant, and an alarm would give you good piece of mind. Just be respectful of your neighbors. Don't use anything overly sensative or loud, especially if you're parking any farther than right outside your window where you could easily shut it off. I say that for your neighbors sake, but also for the wellbeing of your bike. Every time I hear a car alarm going off outside I want to throw a brick through the car's window, but I'm pretty self controlled. A lot of people aren't, so that's what I think of when someone say something like drincruz. I understand wanting a loud and sensative alarm to deter thieves, as long as you keep in mind that an alarm that's TOO loud and sensitive will also encourage an annoyed neighbor to push your bike over in the street.

I have LoJack on mine which only helps in the actual event but the savings insurance will have paid for it by the time the loan is up. I also have a disc lock but not one with an alarm. My bike and my roommate's bike were sitting out one night he had a 97 CBR600RR and guess who's was taken. It was done within 15ft of our window with us there playing call of duty.

In essence if they want it they will get it.

Mary

I have a Scorpio 500i w/ perimeter sensor. I got it for $120 from my local shop because they gave me a 15% discount for a year after buying my bike there, but the point is I love the alarm, and would def buy it again. It's worth it for the added piece of mind if nothing else, and if you're really worried, then you can always get a higher model with the fm transmitter so you can go beat the shaZam! out of whoever is messing with your bike. The perimeter sensor is the only thing I'm not sure is worth it, since people who walk by will often set it off. I commute on my GS to work all the time, so an alarm was essential in my opinion. I also chain it to a pipe at my apartment complex with a case hardened boron manganese chain beneath my window, and then cover it and lock the cover as well. The only trouble I've had so far is some punk cut up my cover, but my wife stitched it up for me and you can't even tell it was vandalized now.

http://www.forwardmotionmc.com/p-2667-scorpio-oem-500i-factory-style-plug-in-security-alarm-system.aspx

the cost of my bike doesn't justify a solution more than a cover and a disk lock. if I had a 500f, or something that cost a pretty penny, it would be lo-jacked and maybe have an alarm on it, but I'm just wondering if these still work. i feel sorry for someone who tries to take my bike, because it has more material value than anything, but still, it is keeping honest people honest.

I have the Xena xx-10 alarm lock. works great, It goes off if the wheel moves more than a few inches (I've done it on accident) its VERY LOUD. Very good investment.

I just got my bike running, the thing is a junker.  I cover it while it's parked, but I live in a small southern college town.  Hell, my steering lock doesn't even work.  There have been a lot of robberies lately, but I still just don't think it's worth it for me to go to the trouble of locking it up all the time.  I don't even have comprehensive on it; if it gets stolen, I'm just out the 400 for the bike and the 300 I spent on it.  If I lived in a larger city or a rough neighborhood I would probably just put a disc lock on it.

i live in the queen city and completely understand what you mean and have been thinking of getting some kind of security device but then again the bike only cost me 600

I have a Xena disc lock. It constantly gave a false alarm on a previous bike I put it onto. Changed it at the shop and the replacement did the same. Read online, that a lot of other people had the same issues so took the battery out. It's not like a crim doesn't know how to silence such an alarm anyway. And then, even with such a disc lock, if it ain't changed down your bike is only 20 seconds away from disappearing as this video shows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96QM-lzLM8

So you think... I'll use a chain... right? Guy in the UK thought the same thing. Came down in the morning to find the bike gone and a small pile of metal shavings where a battery-powered grinder had been used.

Biggest deterrent is... it's a GS500. If a disc lock makes you feel better, use it. Can't hurt. Just avoid the Kryptonite ones with the round key hole as they're too easy to crack.

Michael

Quote from: mister on April 15, 2010, 06:36:24 PM
It's not like a crim doesn't know how to silence such an alarm anyway.

It's called chewing gum, just put it over the speaker hole.  And defeating the disc lock itself is as simple as unbolting the rotor or setting the front tire on a skateboard.  If a thief wants your bike he's going to get it.  Your best bet is to put your money in a good insurance policy.

-Jessie

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on April 15, 2010, 07:04:57 PM
If a thief wants your bike he's going to get it.  Your best bet is to put your money in a good insurance policy.

+1 

Guy lives in a security controlled building. Has own garage in basement with remote garage door. Bike alarmed. Came down one morning to find his precious Harley was gone. Crooks got by the security entry, managed to open his garage door, deactivated the alarm, pushed his heavy-ass bike up the steep entranceway and 400 yards down the street before starting it and riding off never to be seen again.

Yes. If it's Your bike they want, they Will get it. So insure it!

Michael

My philosophy with the GS is similar to my philosophy with my previous car.  Drive a beater and park near a bimmer.

I should probably get a disk lock or slap my U-lock on the wheel, but as Jessie said if they want it they can just pop your wheel up on a skateboard.

Xena xx14 and large chain to lock to pole.


....O yea, and a stick of C4. So if they steal it I just follow the BOOM! j/k

It doesnt matter if I only spent $100 on my bike, its still my investment. Its definately worth it to at least deter  theives. you can get locks for $20, no alarm but a disk lock. yes, if someone wants your bike they could pick it up and put it in a truck. But if they dont have a truck they would have to ride it away, if theres a disk lock, thats all but impossible. even if your bike isnt important to you, the lock can still be used on another/future bike. if you paid for it why not even try to protect it. you know if someone stole your bike, regardless of cost, youd be pissed  . a lock is cheap insurance.

Im sorry if Im rambling but this is one of those things that just irks me. No offence or pointing fingers intended. 

i figure a disc lock would be great for my situation because it is a beater. Its not expensive enough to get a pickup truck and cart it away, it would either be a roll off or they would steal something else. Somebody else parks their bike at the apartment I stay at, and I guarentee his costs more than mine, by about a grand so the situation makes sense.

Quote from: PachmanP on April 15, 2010, 08:24:35 PM

I should probably get a disk lock or slap my U-lock on the wheel, but as Jessie said if they want it they can just pop your wheel up on a skateboard.

I'm half tempted to try it, but I'm pretty sure a skateboard would crack in half with 200lbs right in the middle of it, plus it'd be really hard to push away since it would be hard to steer, you'd have no turning radius, plus you wouldn't have a brake anymore. It might work if you were going straight up into the back of a van, but to try to actually push it somewhere would be ridiculous. You couldn't put swiveling caster wheels under just the front because the bike would fall over unless you were super strong.

At the end of the day all the security devices do is deter the opportunist theif.

If a professional theif has spotted your bike, they'll more than likley take their time, plan it all out and 'pop' no more bike. Its a sad word we live in unfortunately. Ghe best thing to do is get insurance for it, unless if like mine it looks tatty and undesirable.

Even then I still use a strong chain and lock, not worth the effect of an alarm.

Conoral11

It's like locking your car doors. You've seen in movies or commercials where a guy walks down a row of cars, pulling up on handles until he finds one that's unlocked and steals IT instead of one that's locked.

Quote from: tt_four on April 16, 2010, 06:17:53 AM

Quote from: PachmanP on April 15, 2010, 08:24:35 PM

I should probably get a disk lock or slap my U-lock on the wheel, but as Jessie said if they want it they can just pop your wheel up on a skateboard.

I'm half tempted to try it, but I'm pretty sure a skateboard would crack in half with 200lbs right in the middle of it, plus it'd be really hard to push away since it would be hard to steer, you'd have no turning radius, plus you wouldn't have a brake anymore. It might work if you were going straight up into the back of a van, but to try to actually push it somewhere would be ridiculous. You couldn't put swiveling caster wheels under just the front because the bike would fall over unless you were super strong.

One under the front wheel, one under the kickstand