Keeping my bike secure

[bigweb]

Total noob questions here but I need some help on how to keep my bike from being stolen.

I passed my test on Saturday and pick up a brand new Harley Street Bob special in the next 24hrs.

How do I keep it safe both when I park it at home or elsewhere ?

At home it will be parked in a garage but very often there won't be anyone in the house and I work away a lot so a visible deterrant might be good as normally it will just be my GF and little boy in. When one of us is in a car will generally be blocking the garage.

Also when I park it in town what's to stop someone just pulling up with a van an throwing it in the back?

[bogie]

I believe standard Harley have a immobiliser/alarm which helps when used with the steering lock

Get a big chain, say 16mm or bigger and anchor for when at home in garage

Use an addition disc lock when out and about, and if you commute and leave it somewhere regular each day, get another big chain and lock for that location

http://securityforbikes.com/

[Dog Star]

I got the lot stolen from my garage in 2014; I have everything now pretty well nailed down.

You might want to consider any or all of the following....

- proper (not some cheapo) alarm system on the garage if it's detached (mine is). I've got door open sensors, impact sensors on the doors, PIRs and even impact sensors in the roof in case they try to get in taking the tiles off
- ground anchor (a good one, not some cheap ste).
- really massive chain and lock - google "securityforbikes" for these and the anchors; I use Pragmasis/Squire and Torc.
- alarm on bike
- tracker. Spend as much or as little as you like
- extra personnel doors or windows? I had mine bricked up.
- don't keep tools that can be used to steal the bike in the garage - eg angle grinders
- make sure the electricity is unuseable (prevent use of power tools)
- garage door - unless its a massive *steel* shutter it's vulernable; consider beefing the whole thing up - make sure that the door cannot be forced or bent upwards or crushed in from the sides
- improve the number of locks - I have 7 per door arranged to provide multiple redundancy
- hidden CCTV - overt cameras are no good as the fkers will just wear hoods and cover their faces
- keep the outside lit at night. All night.

I live in a nice place in a nice area but my garage is secluded, I still worry myself sick and can't sleep at night at the thought of getting it broken into again. My paranoia is absolutely through the roof.

When out and about - it's impractical to carry an Almax so a disc lock and a smaller chain and always secure to an immovable object. Personally I just don't let the bike out of my sight.

[lindrup119]

Dog Star said:

I got the lot stolen from my garage in 2014; I have everything now pretty well nailed down.

You might want to consider any or all of the following....

- proper (not some cheapo) alarm system on the garage if it's detached (mine is). I've got door open sensors, impact sensors on the doors, PIRs and even impact sensors in the roof in case they try to get in taking the tiles off
- ground anchor (a good one, not some cheap ste).
- really massive chain and lock - google "securityforbikes" for these and the anchors; I use Pragmasis/Squire and Torc.
- alarm on bike
- tracker. Spend as much or as little as you like
- extra personnel doors or windows? I had mine bricked up.
- don't keep tools that can be used to steal the bike in the garage - eg angle grinders
- make sure the electricity is unuseable (prevent use of power tools)
- garage door - unless its a massive *steel* shutter it's vulernable; consider beefing the whole thing up - make sure that the door cannot be forced or bent upwards or crushed in from the sides
- improve the number of locks - I have 7 per door arranged to provide multiple redundancy
- hidden CCTV - overt cameras are no good as the fkers will just wear hoods and cover their faces
- keep the outside lit at night. All night.

I live in a nice place in a nice area but my garage is secluded, I still worry myself sick and can't sleep at night at the thought of getting it broken into again. My paranoia is absolutely through the roof.

When out and about - it's impractical to carry an Almax so a disc lock and a smaller chain and always secure to an immovable object. Personally I just don't let the bike out of my sight.

Jesus. All you're missing is a couple of automated turrets and some Dobermans.

I do understand the feeling of paranoia though.

[Prof Prolapse]

At home. An allegedly uncroppable chain, combined with a suitable lock and ground anchor (sunken one).

I also have a massive Rottweiler, the reaction by some of the scum to him is astonishing.

I don't generally leave the bike unattended when I'm out, but a disc lock if I had to.

It's all a time game though. They can always have away with it.

[Dog Star]

Prof Prolapse said:

It's all a time game though. They can always have away with it.

Absolutely - I consider the whole arrangement to be like the layers of an onion. The trouble is that very often once they're inside the garage all is lost, they can pull the door to and get on with their nefarious activities unseen.

[andburg]

Garage is on house alarm
Bike is alarmed and immobilised itself
chained to a ground anchor that you can't access with the bike in place

If we go anywhere for a prolonged period the other half's car is parked in the garage blocking access or its reversed to to the garage door to prevent that from opening.

Out in the wide world...i have nothing extra because HD only provide enough storage space for a fag paper.
I really do need to pick up something and fashion some way of storing it though

[2wheelsjimmy]

andburg said:

I really do need to pick up something and fashion some way of storing it though

Might be able to use as a disc lock. Very small and light.
http://securityforbikes.com/proddetail.php?prod=Un...

[2wheelsjimmy]

I've got biketrac tracker.
If anyone moves the bike an inch, it'll set it off. Really sensitive.
I can't even wheel it out the garage without key in ignition, for I'll get a phone call.
Nice peace of mind when it's locked up out of eye sight.

Keeping the bike out of sight is a good policy at home. Don't leave on your drive etc.

[Frenchda]

Use an anchor, take sensible precautions and make sure its insured with a GOOD COMPANY. Then do not worry about it, if someone wants to nick it they will, no point in losing sleep over it.

[Prof Prolapse]

Dog Star said:

Absolutely - I consider the whole arrangement to be like the layers of an onion. The trouble is that very often once they're inside the garage all is lost, they can pull the door to and get on with their nefarious activities unseen.

I think ultimately all of this is designed to alert you to their presence. If there's no one to alert, or it fails I agree it's game over in or out the garage. After all if a thief grinds through a 16mm chain and there's no one to hear it, does it make a sound?

Its not always suitable, but I really can't over emphasize the effectiveness a well trained dog makes in the right lay out. Even smaller dogs are more effective than any alarm. Bigger dogs can also be a physical deterrent. Mine helped me apprehend a car thief in 2014.

[daimatt]

An anchor and a big chain for me, beyond that I'm more worried they'll break in to the house and threaten my family for the keys. The bike is insured and not worth the trauma of a house break in.

that and my bike isn't worth their hassle.

[catso]

Dog Star said:

- improve the number of locks - I have 7 per door arranged to provide multiple redundancy

7 locks per door...

[Palms]

Wow some people go way over the top imo.
Got a friend that had a very secure rig with alarmed garage loads of locks etc etc, they ended up breaking into his house with his wife and kids in.

My bike stays in the garden in full view of anyone walking past, 2 locks sunken into concrete for each wheel, 2 disc locks and the bike is alarmed.

If they want it they will take it and hence why i have insurance, much rarther they take the bike from my garden than enter my house.

Imo of course.

[mgv8]

Almex chain and lock.
Try to make it hard to get to the padlock (not on ground).
Short park up use disk lock with alerm.
Over night off street is always best.
Tracker and some kind of Data tag is also good.

[bogie]

2wheelsjimmy said:

andburg said:

I really do need to pick up something and fashion some way of storing it though

Might be able to use as a disc lock. Very small and light.
http://securityforbikes.com/proddetail.php?prod=Un...

yes, been using that as a disk lock for 4 years now, fits under seat real easy. Use at home with 16mm chain and take it with me when going out and leaving bike anywhere

My garage is alarmed, with lights that come on. A Hidden Arlo-Q camera:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arlo-Security-Camera-NETG...

sends me email alerts and video of any movement.....which is sometimes annoying when a big spider goes past 3x a night...I have yet to track him down

Edited by bogie on Wednesday 15th June 18:20

[podman]

lindrup119 said:

Dog Star said:

I got the lot stolen from my garage in 2014; I have everything now pretty well nailed down.

You might want to consider any or all of the following....

- proper (not some cheapo) alarm system on the garage if it's detached (mine is). I've got door open sensors, impact sensors on the doors, PIRs and even impact sensors in the roof in case they try to get in taking the tiles off
- ground anchor (a good one, not some cheap ste).
- really massive chain and lock - google "securityforbikes" for these and the anchors; I use Pragmasis/Squire and Torc.
- alarm on bike
- tracker. Spend as much or as little as you like
- extra personnel doors or windows? I had mine bricked up.
- don't keep tools that can be used to steal the bike in the garage - eg angle grinders
- make sure the electricity is unuseable (prevent use of power tools)
- garage door - unless its a massive *steel* shutter it's vulernable; consider beefing the whole thing up - make sure that the door cannot be forced or bent upwards or crushed in from the sides
- improve the number of locks - I have 7 per door arranged to provide multiple redundancy
- hidden CCTV - overt cameras are no good as the fkers will just wear hoods and cover their faces
- keep the outside lit at night. All night.

I live in a nice place in a nice area but my garage is secluded, I still worry myself sick and can't sleep at night at the thought of getting it broken into again. My paranoia is absolutely through the roof.

When out and about - it's impractical to carry an Almax so a disc lock and a smaller chain and always secure to an immovable object. Personally I just don't let the bike out of my sight.

Jesus. All you're missing is a couple of automated turrets and some Dobermans.

I do understand the feeling of paranoia though.

Once you have a garage broken into and bike(s) stolen, the paranoia soon sets in..

I had mine broken into back in the mid 90s and it affects me even now, all of the above is brilliant advice , as also said more than once above and on the thread, once they are in, its a lost battle, concentrate on securing the door/windows etc, everything else is secondary.

[wilbo83]

bogie said:

yes, been using that as a disk lock for 4 years now, fits under seat real easy. Use at home with 16mm chain and take it with me when going out and leaving bike anywhere

Edited by bogie on Wednesday 15th June 18:20

Don't suppose you have a photo of how it can be used with a 16mm chain? Do you put one link through the other and then this through one link similar to the squire Ss65cs? As it doesn't look big enough for 2 links.

[peterg1955]

wilbo83 said:

Don't suppose you have a photo of how it can be used with a 16mm chain? Do you put one link through the other and then this through one link similar to the squire Ss65cs? As it doesn't look big enough for 2 links.

Video here shows how to use it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIO-_yDdaX8

[kennydies]

I use an anti pinch pin that goes through my sub frame:

http://securityforbikes.com/anti-pinch-pin.php

This is then chained to a ground anchor. I believe this is the package I got:

http://securityforbikes.com/proddetail.php?prod=To...

It is easy to secure the ground anchor if there is something solid.

My motorbike instructor got his bikes stolen from his garage during the day he now uses ground anchors and chains each bike to each other