Locking your bike when you're in the pub/cafe!

[Bonham]

Hey!

I couldn't really be any newer to biking...! New bike delivered yesterday and first spin out this morning, dodging the showers!

I'm lucky enough to work from home (even when we're not in a pandemic!), and do have a car, so my bike will very much be a plaything - high days and holidays!

I'm just wondering what people do about locking their bikes when they're popping into a pub/cafe/lunch stop? I assume, if you can see it, that's ok, but if the car park is round the corner etc?

What about popping into a newsagent for fags for 2 minutes, or whatever?

I've got an Oxford Nemesis chain which weighs a ton, and I don't particularly fancy carrying that round all the time! However, the padlock is also a disklock, so carrying that won't be an issue.

Is it worth me picking up something a bit lighter to carry round, or am I worrying too much? I do tend to overthink things...!

I have done a search, but couldn't find anything relevant!

Cheers!

[brad93]

I usually just use the steering lock and also a disc lock. Disc lock fits under the rear seat so don’t need to have it on me. If someone’s going to nick it these days they’ll either grind your chain off in broad daylight or just pick the bike up and put it in a van. That said though I don’t really leave my bike in random car parks / out of sight. Obviously different if you live in London etc...

[julian64]

strange you should ask as I'm just making something now for just that. I have a sim808 chip on a small board. my plan was to have it call/text me if the alarm on the bike goes off.

Its working on the bench, the only problem is I'm wondering whether I should get a slightly more upmarket one that will text me with the GPS coordinates or whether thats a bit overkill.

I think you can buy somethign quite cheap from chine thats small and does the same thing.

[airsafari87]

It depends where you live and where you're parking.

Where I live is fairly safe. I regularly leave mine parked in town for a few hours at a time without anything other than the normal steering lock. Plenty of of other bikes are parked around it without additional security as well.

If I was in London or say Manchester then it would be chained up to the max with a very bitey rottweiler full of Red Bull chained.

[thatdude]

If I chain my bike, I try and chain it to something and keep the chain as taught as possible (minimal amount on the ground). I pass the chain through the rear wheel and the swingarm cut-out.

If I cant chain it to something, then I run the chain through the rear wheel and over the seat, locking it up that way. Again, nothing on the ground and taught too.

A front wheel is a bit more easily removed than the rear wheel, and a chain on the ground is basically on a world-sized anvil.

If the thieves want the bike enough they'll find a way to have it, but the key is to deter the 99% of thieves who are opportunistic / lazy and dont want to have to work for it.

FWIW, I carry my chain around in a Kreiga tail pack thing that straps down onto the pillion seat.

[Bonham]

Thanks guys!

I DO live in London, but i'm hoping i'll be doing most of my riding outside the M25!

I think disklock/steering lock for short stops will do - It's not like I can sit inside anywhere at the moment anyway - I imagine most of my stops will be st coffees in petrol station forecourts!

[crankedup]

Years ago my lad had his nearly new Yamaha R1 nicked. It was chained at the wheels but they simply lifted it into the back of a pick up truck, all caught on CCTV, took them only seconds.
Happily the police recovered the bike several weeks later along with some 4x4 motors in an industrial estate lock up. Bike was perfect and unridden

[anonymous-user]

crankedup said:

Years ago my lad had his nearly new Yamaha R1 nicked. It was chained at the wheels but they simply lifted it into the back of a pick up truck, all caught on CCTV, took them only seconds.
Happily the police recovered the bike several weeks later along with some 4x4 motors in an industrial estate lock up. Bike was perfect and unridden

I think this is the thing, unless you can chain it to a floor anchor or similar most bikes can just be picked up by a couple of blokes,

[Bonham]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

I think this is the thing, unless you can chain it to a floor anchor or similar most bikes can just be picked up by a couple of blokes,

Oh yeah, but I suppose I'm asking for when you're just popping in somewhere for lunch, pack of fags etc. If you're gonna be in and out in 2 minutes, or can see your bike from a window or whatever.

Where's the line? If i'm away from my bike for an hour, of course, I'd chain the st out of it... but is there a point you wouldn't bother? If you're out in the sticks, country pub or whatever?

[Gixer968CS]

I've been looking at these contraptions that lock around the throttle grip an pull the brake lever in. Some have an alarm inside. Same effect as a disc lock but less risk as you can't forget it and ride off with it attached. Anyone used one? I'm tempted. Like this:

https://prglobalstore.com/products/motorcycle-safe...

[TheInternet]

Is that not quickly defeated by relieving fluid pressure? Eg. At bleed nipple/pipe union.

Edited by TheInternet on Thursday 2nd July 06:39

[BobSaunders]

Just make sure the insurance covers whatever you are locking it with (to a minimum). No point listing all the chains you have on the insurance if you lock it with a disk lock which is not covered as a minimum requirement.

[Bonham]

Gixer968CS said:

I've been looking at these contraptions that lock around the throttle grip an pull the brake lever in. Some have an alarm inside. Same effect as a disc lock but less risk as you can't forget it and ride off with it attached. Anyone used one? I'm tempted. Like this:

https://prglobalstore.com/products/motorcycle-safe...

That looks pretty good! Probably quicker than a disklock too!

[Bonham]

BobSaunders said:

Just make sure the insurance covers whatever you are locking it with (to a minimum). No point listing all the chains you have on the insurance if you lock it with a disk lock which is not covered as a minimum requirement.

Yeah, i've not declared anything. Would've saved me a tenner or so - hardly worth it.

[carinaman]

Gixer968CS said:

I've been looking at these contraptions that lock around the throttle grip an pull the brake lever in. Some have an alarm inside. Same effect as a disc lock but less risk as you can't forget it and ride off with it attached. Anyone used one? I'm tempted. Like this:

https://prglobalstore.com/products/motorcycle-safe...

£25 with some pop up that may offer a discount

[CallorFold]

Steering lock plus Alarmed Disc lock has always been sufficient for me (outside of London) if the bike is out of sight.

Some of the disc lock alarms are pretty loud so if you're anywhere nearby you'll likely hear it go off. Equally the Disc Lock itself should be reasonable deterrent.

If I was leaving it somewhere out of sight for more than a few hours I'd preferably chain it to something.

[caley64]

I got a similar device from here
https://www.rydestore.com/ryde-throtlock-motorbike...
It's not going to stop your bike being lifted into a van but will stop it being pushed away.

[bogie]

If I can see it or just going into a shop/petrol etc for a few mins then just put the steering lock on.

If at an event or leaving parked up anywhere for any length of time, then I have alarmed ABUS disc lock that lives under the seat.

When home its in a locked alarmed garage with big chains to ground anchor.

Otherwise its insured and dont worry about it ...you can only do so much.

[S2r]

I just popped away from my old GSXR 750 for a couple of minutes, left with just the steering lock on and it had been taken by the time I'd got back. This was many years ago but even now if I'm out then I either tend to park where there are other like minded soles who'd notice a scrote trying to take it, or not let it out of my sight.

I've had a bike reversed over in a pub car park (police said that as it was on private land, there was nothing they could / would do about it) so I don't take them to the pub anymore with the added benefit that I can have a few pints!

[Fenland Plodder]

Pub, disc lock, trying to look the part as you swing your leg over and ride off...with the disc lock still on. If it’s going to happen anywhere, it’ll be in front of a crowd in a busy beer garden. And then you need to find a new pub to drink in.