How do you Secure your Motorcycle?

[RhadamYgg]

So, I went partially in to the purchase process for the 08 Ninja 250. I still don't have my license, but they don't have the bike yet, either.

I expressed interest in LoJack - and they guy made up the dollars and stuff - and the end result was - $800 added to the price of the motorcycle!

Now $800 - or $856 after tax - seems a lot to pay to secure a motorcycle that starts out at $3500.

One dealership said get a Kryptonite chain and attach it to a non-moving object and that would be ok - and basically if someone wants to steal your bike they are going to take it - so get the proper insurance and if it gets stolen - file a claim and don't be so overly attached to your bike.

Any thoughts? In the beginning I'll probably just be start riding and end riding at home, but later I want to ride to work, or go places where I'll have to park and the bike will be fairly unmonitored.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

As a follow-up - has anyone had their motorcycle stolen?

RhadamYgg

[jonnythan]

I place blessings upon mine.


And encircle it in a ring of flame.

[Thumper]

At home mine is kept in a garage...elsewhere I sometimes use a disk lock, but most of the time I just lock the front forks and leave it at that. If someone really wants the bike, they'll get it. And if they get it, that's what I have full insurance for.

[Gunslinger]

I went to Home Depot and bought the thickest chain they had, then I bought a good masterlock and locked the bike frame to a post on the side of my house. I also try to lock the fork most of the time. Hopefully someone will see that chain and move on to something else.

Not that the Ninja isn't a nice bike, but for the price of a Lojack I bet you could get theft insurance on it for a couple of years. Will Lojack pay for your bike if it's recovered but it's been dumped and/or stripped for parts?

[blues2cruise]

Lots of options....
here is just one sample....see what they say about guarantee.

http://www.masterlockcycle.com/product_9link.shtml

then have a look at their other locks like the disc locks.

I use a disc lock. It's a mini version of a bicycle u-lock. If I know I'm going to be parking it in a suspect area...I will also use a bicycle cable secured around a post or something and then into the disc lock.


The cable is also handy to thread through the sleeves of jackets and chin bars of helmets if you don't feel like carrying them with you on a hot day for example.

[ofblong]

I went to Home Depot and bought the thickest chain they had, then I bought a good masterlock and locked the bike frame to a post on the side of my house. I also try to lock the fork most of the time. Hopefully someone will see that chain and move on to something else.

Not that the Ninja isn't a nice bike, but for the price of a Lojack I bet you could get theft insurance on it for a couple of years. Will Lojack pay for your bike if it's recovered but it's been dumped and/or stripped for parts?

wow home depot chain *snap* wow I got myself a new bike. it will take a theif just as long to break that chain/master lock than it will to break the fork lock. Better off just locking the fork lock.

[storysunfolding]

except they can lift it into the back of a van/truck in 10 seconds and break the fork lock on their own time. Chain is a better deterrent. I know, I steal bikes for a living

[Bubba]

I use a large Kryptonite "U" lock. Usually lock the forks and wheel together. But as the man said "basically if someone wants to steal your bike they are going to take it".

Your best bet, especially when on a long trip, is to lock the bike up. Cover the bike with a black bike cover that also has a place to lock the flaps together and park the bike in an inconspicuous place. NOT UNDER A STREET LIGHT!

I follow this scenario and haven't had a problem in close to 40 years.

[Skier]

I went to Home Depot and bought the thickest chain they had, then I bought a good masterlock and locked the bike frame to a post on the side of my house. I also try to lock the fork most of the time. Hopefully someone will see that chain and move on to something else.

Not that the Ninja isn't a nice bike, but for the price of a Lojack I bet you could get theft insurance on it for a couple of years. Will Lojack pay for your bike if it's recovered but it's been dumped and/or stripped for parts?

wow home depot chain *snap* wow I got myself a new bike. it will take a theif just as long to break that chain/master lock than it will to break the fork lock. Better off just locking the fork lock.

If they have to break multiple security devices to get your bike, the chances of it being stolen have gone down. Thieves can and will get past any security you put on your vehicle: you just want to make sure you aren't the most desirable and least secure bike around.