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Theft Prevention/Deterrents

Britny

Britny

Bad Daughter
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Location
Oaklamd
Moto(s)
1996 VFR750, 2013 CRF250L
Name
See above
Moving to SF in 1 week! :banana
Trying to figure out how to keep my bike from getting stolen on the mean streets of Parkmerced :laughing

Seriously though, what locks are best? What's the difference between the types of locks? Is Lo-Jack worth it? Should I get a cover? So much paranoia!

And yes, I have theft coverage, but I'd rather not have to use it.
 
Ummm, There isn't such a thing as a bike lock that deters a real bike thief.

They have the small metal cutting tools, they need, and a fellow thief to toss the bike into a van.

I even know of a guy that lived in an apt. complex, that buried a steel bar loop in his garage floor...
with a heavy logging chain,and lock, in preparation for coming home with his new bike.

He brought it home, locked it down, in his closed garage..Next morning it was gone.

I'd say, do what you can, to deter the opportunist spur of the moment, casual thief...
And pay the big bucks for real insurance.
 
First you must accept the sad reality that the steering lock is for show only and not a significant theft deterrent. Given enough time and privacy bike thieves can get thru most any security system.

With that said....

One end of a heavy cable/chain looped thru the swingarm or frame and the other end looped thru a water/gas pipe or signpost is a good protection baseline.

Lowjack won't prevent theft but there's a very good chance you'll get your bike back and the thieves might get caught.

Full coverage insurance almost makes you financially whole after the initial heartbreak.
 
Keep a bag of fresh wet doggy doo doo (or human doo doo) on you. When you have to park the bike, smear the poop all over the bike and make sure to leave a fresh visible turd on the seat.
 
Put a bill from Alices on your bike where a theif will see it. This will repel any real theif.:rofl:rofl
 
Besides insurance, put on a bike cover (silver, not black) and park in a high traffic area. A silver cover increases visibility and aids in not getting knocked over by non-attentive drivers in reverse. This is anecdotal of course - Chain lock and brake-rotor lock only work against joy riders. Real MC thieves have the tools to defeat everything. They use a dolly and can have the bike in the back of a U-haul truck in 40 seconds. Once in the enclosed truck and moving, they work on the GPS locator. These thieves are an operation. They are a gang of several guys and have a chop shop to disseminate their ill-gotten loot. The target bikes that worth their time are HDs, Italians, and Goldwings.
 
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you are going to get 100 different answers

my rule of thumb is to make my bike less attractive then the bike next to it and full coverage insurance for when, not if, it gets stolen.

disc locks, yes plural - 1 on front and 1 on rear

chain to something non moveable as well
 
I wouldn't waste your money on Lo-Jack. It has no deterrent effect and from what I've read there aren't enough good hiding places where a thief won't just disable it. Better luck with an alarm and locking to a solid object
 
I second the loud motion type alarm. Something to draw attention if someone is screwing with it.
 
A sign, conspicuously placed on the cover in a location that is easy to see:

"Smile for the camera, it will look a lot better than your mug shot."

Whether you have a camera or not. The perp would never know.

Dan
 
Paint what ever you own matte black. Dent the gas tank.
Chop the exhaust in half, rip the seat cover.

And make sure you have full coverage.
 
Due diligence is a steering lock and a non-branded cover and of course the chains as mentioned. Other than that and full insurance, you can't fight fate.
 
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