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:

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.

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.

it is

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.

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?

This will fin them:

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.

+100

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.