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Really the most effective way is " Out of sight, out of mind " . Keep it hidden away when you park it at home.

I've actually been using my 30" Kryptonite bicycle cable lock lately, run through the brake disc and wheel and locked to a pole or fence. Rolls up into a small coil and is easy to transport, but it prevents someone from just pulling over, picking your bike up and throwing it into the back of a van. No lock is foolproof, but it's all about making them work for it or go find another bike that's just locked with a fork lock. With the fork lock, cable lock and theft insurance, I sleep pretty good at night.

Skier wrote: 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.

Bingo! Unless you have an unusually desirable bike, having security devices (a lock, a chain) will just convince the thief to move on to a bike that isn't secured.

Like I tell my friends when we're hiking in bear infested wilderness areas, "I don't have to run faster than the bear, I only have to run faster than you!".

Most of the time, my bike is parked in my garage, or a busy/secured parking lot, so I just use the fork lock. If parking in an unsecured area I usually bring along a Kryptonite U-Lock.

There are definite advantages to not having a desirable bike.

My bike may look nice...but it's only a 650 V-Star....not exactly high on a thief's lost to steal.
Kind of like my car....nobody wants to steal a Tempo.

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.

Exactly right. I am under no illusions that my bike can't be stolen.

Thumper wrote: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.

One of the other dealers I went to recommended this. Pay a little extra for insurance, lock the forks, etc.

I did see one system for replacing the starter with one that won't work unless an RFID fob was nearby. It was only like $150, so that isn't too bad.

RhadamYgg

Gunslinger wrote: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?

We didn't go in to details, but they said that LoJack covers soem of the replacment cost for the motorcycle - but I don't know if that is only if the bike is never recovered or what.

One dealership didn't trust LoJack - said that not all cop cars have the receiver and that is how it works.

RhadamYgg

blues2cruise wrote: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.

That looks really nice - and a good idea about locking up the helmets and stuff, because in the heat I turn in to a real wuss.

RhadamYgg

Magna wrote:Really the most effective way is " Out of sight, out of mind " . Keep it hidden away when you park it at home.

Oh, it'll be in the garage when I'm at home - its when I'm out and about that I'm concerned.

RhadamYgg

I only ever left my Jacket with my bike once... on a heavily patrolled main drag in Sylvan Lake....Locked up of course, with the saddlebags and helmet locked too.

I wouldn't do it anywhere else though... It's not the theft I'm concerned about, it's the vandalism. I always find dried spittle on my bike, and I don't want to find anything inside or on my 470 dollar helmet, let alone my jacket.

I'm on the hunt for a backpack that holds helmets, as the Joe Rocket one won't fit my XL head. Best bet so far is the Dakine Apex - holds helmet thru the chinbar, and it can hold my jacket or skateboard too!! You gotta check that bag out-it's made for mountain bikers...

As for locking my bike, at the moment I only use the steering lock. Nothing substantial to lock to yet, heck, my landlord even snagged my nicely made aluminum plate to park on the grass. So I doubt a Hilti would fly. Eventually I will get an alarmed disc lock. Not so much to ward them off, but to let me know when I need to kick the "O Ring" of anyone who touches my bike. I especially don't like people looking at it...makes me paranoid. Would like the one that chirps at anyone leaning over it but money money........