Disc Locks

[ibi]

So up until now I've been riding an ex-courier CBF500 and really not cared very much about security because it's pretty unlikely anyone is going to steal it (I've been using an Abus Provogue disc lock).

I'm about to get a shiny Hypermotard 796, and care somewhat more. I've bought an Abus 10KS chain and 34CS/55 padlock for when it's garaged at home (locked to a thick concrete pillar), and want to get a new disc lock as well, mainly for when I'm not at home.

I live in central London, and was considering a Xena lock with an alarm in the hope that it'll attract enough attention to at least make the thieves a little uncomfortable whilst they cut through it. Looking around online these locks seems to have a pretty bad reputation: going off in the night/alarm stops working when it gets wet/Xena don't honour warranty. Has anyone had any experience with one of these?

More generally, what's the consensus on having a lock with an alarm - worth it or not?

Having apparently become an Abus fanboi, if I don't bother with the alarm I'll likely get the Granit Victory X-Plus which looks like a better lock then the Xena.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I am also wondering whether to declare the disc lock to the insurer (eBike). It'll save me about £70 on the premium (making the lock basically free), but they're pretty clear that you are not covered at all if the bike is stolen when the lock isn't in place. I'm basically wondering how anal they are likely to be about this - what happens if I leave it without the lock for 2 minutes to pop into a shop, or something.

Here is a pretty picture:

Edited by ibi on Tuesday 15th May 15:52

[Turbofocus]

Can you use the chain with a disc lock too at work.
For home i use Almax chains as i saw to many other chains quickly cut in seconds.

[Mike600F]

graphene said:

If you say, that you will leave the disc lock on when the bike is unattended, then you will have to follow that. I presume, if you make a claim for theft, it will be something they ask you to declare immediately. However, for the saving of only £70, will you want to commit to that? My disc lock fits under the seat, so it's easy to always have it with me.

I have a lock that i've committed to put on every time i'm away from the bike - come renewal time, thats coming off the policy - pain in the arse.

[Steve Evil]

This page over on the Bikechat forums is a great source of info for security:

http://www.therevcounter.com/content/145-motorcycl...

Your Abus chain will put off the opportunist, but it won't last very long at all against a set of croppers.

As said, if it gets stolen without the disc lock fitted and you said you were going to fit one there's almost zero chance of them paying out.

[sc0tt]

I have an oxford disc lock that i didnt declare and i dont really use. I will use it in london though on my scooter.

[Mad Jock]

I came across this on Youtube recently when checking out new chains for locking my bike.
It looks like it doesn't really matter what chain you have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC3hFr8p2ck&fea...

[Steve Evil]

Mad Jock said:

I came across this on Youtube recently when checking out new chains for locking my bike.
It looks like it doesn't really matter what chain you have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC3hFr8p2ck&fea...

That's the chap who wrote the article I posted above, Almax chains are the ones to go for, they're not going to get through them without some seriously noisy equipment.

[LoonR1]

If you state the disc lock will always be on the bike when unattended then the trip to the shops is included in that even if only for 30 seconds.

Chances are even if you set the bike in concrete all the way the bars it'll still get nicked in London Village. The whole place is a stinking sthole IMO.

[ibi]

So sounds like definitely don't bother telling the insurance about anything - this is what I'd been leaning towards anyway.

The Almax chains look pretty solid, would have liked to see them at least try and cut one of them too

I realise there's not much I can do to stop a determined and properly equipped thief, right now I'm just aiming to make sure my bike isn't the most appealing in the garage

There's nothing to lock the bike to at work unfortunately, hence disc lock.

That page slates the Abus disc lock I was thinking about, without much of a reason - any ideas?

[LoonR1]

I'm no expert but you really need to fin something to lock your bike to. Organised gangs simply lift the bike into a van and drive off, so it doesn't matter how good the disc lock is.

On an earlier post there's a link to a forum where Zanx is the man on all things security. Take his advice and you won't go far wrong.

I still think leaving London is your best option and not just because of bike thieves.

[Hooli]

LoonR1 said:

I still think leaving London is your best option and not just because of bike thieves.

Good advice as always

[Wedg1e]

I don't get this 'using a lock is too much hassle' thing. I mean, do you bother locking your house when you go out? Of course you do and why? To stop some light-fingered chancer walking in and making off with your Ipod/ porn collection/ missus. We all know that if Jimmy the Jemmy wants to be in he will, same as how Gyppo George and his bike-twocking crue will have your ride in the next county before you can say 'd'ye wanna buy a dag', but do you want to make it easy for the spotty teenage masturbators to leg it with your sports bike to rag around the estate and leave in a burning heap behind the wheelie bins at Nelson Mandela house? Of course you fking don't, so stop being an idle tt and use a bloody disc lock. No fecking wonder insurance premiums are like they are.

[Rubin215]

Hooli said:

LoonR1 said:

I still think leaving London is your best option and not just because of bike thieves.

Good advice as always

+100

[Wedg1e]

graphene said:

I agree with you to an extent, and I will continue to use a disc lock regularly, but I think your point of view overstates the deterrent provided by a disc lock against it's inconvenience... well, it does in my case at least. I don't move my house around in the garage or secure car park at work, and house locks are integral, so the that analogy is imcompatible.

You don't wear a crash helmet (or indeed gloves, boots and a leather jacket) to do the housework yet you cope with the minor inconvenience of it whilst riding; it's hardly a major military operation to bend down and twist a key .

Still, you decide your own level of risk, I guess. If my bike is outside my back door and I'm sat on the pot 5 feet away I'll still have the disc lock (and steering lock and alarm) on. I refuse point-blank to give the thieving scum of this world the slightest edge.

[LoonR1]

I think a few ate getting confused between being contractually obliged and wanting to do something. I lock my bikes away and make it difficult for scrotes to nick it. However I wouldn't want to HAVE to do it every single time just in case.

[Mad Jock]

OP, if it's such a hassle, perhaps you should try this:

http://www.roadlok.co.uk/

It depends on whether your bike will take one, just check the models on their list.

[Mellow Matt]

I wouldn't bother with an alarmed disc lock unless you can hear it from where you are working - people tend to ignore alarms.

I wouldn't say that putting it on all the time is such a bad idea - if you put it on all the time you're less likely to forget you've put it on and try and ride off with it still attached.

Also, how would an insurance co. know if it had a disc lock on it if it gets pinched...?!

[ZesPak]

I had a similar idea, in the summer my bike is often on the sidewalk, I can hear the alarm from my bedroom.
I was looking at the Abus Detecto Plus 8000

http://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?ScreenLang=us&s...

Anybody got any experiences with them? I'd love to hear them!

The thing I'm most afraid of is activation by a passing truck/car/lots of wind/...
I'd hate for it to go off every fortnight thus rendering it useless.

[tdog7]

I have one of the Abus detecto disc locks. I bought it after a previous bike was stolen. It's a pretty solid piece of kit, and seems to activate when you'd want it to, ie. if the bike is moved significantly, but not by wind or passing cars. It also looks to me as if it provides far greater mechanical security than some of the other small disc locks on the market. I do think that most people ignore alarms, but it takes a pretty brave bike thief to sit there working with tools to remove a disc lock if the alarm is wailing in their face! It's quite heavy but fits in a good sized coat pocket so is easy to carry around.

I use the disc lock when out and about and at home chain the bike to a ground anchor with an Almax series 4.

As everyone says, if they want your bike bad enough they will take it, we just have to make it as difficult and unattractive to thieves as possible.

[ZesPak]

tdog7 said:

I have one of the Abus detecto disc locks. I bought it after a previous bike was stolen. It's a pretty solid piece of kit, and seems to activate when you'd want it to, ie. if the bike is moved significantly, but not by wind or passing cars. It also looks to me as if it provides far greater mechanical security than some of the other small disc locks on the market. I do think that most people ignore alarms, but it takes a pretty brave bike thief to sit there working with tools to remove a disc lock if the alarm is wailing in their face! It's quite heavy but fits in a good sized coat pocket so is easy to carry around.

I use the disc lock when out and about and at home chain the bike to a ground anchor with an Almax series 4.

As everyone says, if they want your bike bad enough they will take it, we just have to make it as difficult and unattractive to thieves as possible.

Thanks, that piece of info sells it for me, I'll get an Abus Detecto asap.