Bike Cover & Bike lock

[Pinhy]

OK..2 things i need to get for the new incoming bike:

1) a Cruiser sized bike cover. Should i just get a cheap one off ebay? from a store like Pep Boys or Wal-Mart? A good one from a motorcycle store? a good one from Ebay?

what is a good one? how much should i spend? I know i want to get one with grommets so i can lock it down. one that comes with a lock would be even better.

2) some type of bike lock. should i get one that ataches to the rotor? a U-lock of some sort? a chain lock? should i be thinking about chaining it to my car which i park next to it?

i really dont know much about either of these topics when it comes to bikes. lots of help would be appreciated including links, pics..etc.

thanks

[finch20th]

cover on ebay is the way to go, get a good one that has a soft side... locks i don't know to much about but the cover on ebay will save you alot of $$$!!!

[inspiron]

If you get a disklock, be sure to get one with the "idiot cable" that you connect to your handlebars. I have a disklock that didn't have a reminder cable, and was in a hurry to get going ... it ended up causing about $300 in damage when the bike dropped ...

Best security I know of ... don't park the bike anywhere where it can be hoisted onto a flatbed, or anywhere that it can be seen from the street. Get a neutral cover, not one that screams "Hey, there's a bling-bling Suzuki under here!"

If you can, try to park the bike in a garage or shed, or at least behind your house where it won't be seen. And be sure to make an example of the first neighborhood kid that even thinks of touching your bike ... hanging him upside down by his toes usually scares off the other kids ...

[stevie c]

Don't try to save money on a lock,there has been a big fuss in the UK recently because locks that were apparently tested and sold secure can be opened in seconds with a disposable pen!!!

Personally I think a good alarm and immobiliser is worth its weight in gold.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by stevie c

Don't try to save money on a lock,there has been a big fuss in the UK recently because locks that were apparently tested and sold secure can be opened in seconds with a disposable pen!!!

Personally I think a good alarm and immobiliser is worth its weight in gold.

Yeah that was all over the US in Sept/Oct 04 too. Kryptonite barrel key locks were the ones that were being picked. Krypto has since changed to a straight key lock and is replacing all those chain, disc and U shape locks thru a UPS call tag system. I picked up a disc lock in Oct for Biketoberfest, registered with Krypto then and have been waiting for my call tag to arrive. Maybe before summer they'll catch up with the back log.

==> Kryptonite Locks

Anyway Dowco covers are really great but your going to be spending $60-$100 for one from them. I just use the cheap $30 Wally World one on my SV. A locking cover won't do **** since you can slice the damn thing open at the top with a nail clipper.

As for the locks get the biggest thickest chain lock you can find. Kryptos NY Chain lock is great.

==> New York Fahgettaboudit

or the one I have now from Motrax.co.UK is awesome too!

==> Motrax Chain

I'd suggest the chain lock cause any bike with a disc lock still can be picked and carried away by 2-4 guys and put into a van or pickup truck in like 30 seconds flat. So at least with the chain if your at bike week and can't get the bike into your 1st floor room you can chain it to another bike or a pole or railing near buy to prevent a carry off. Nearly every bike was chained up at my hotel while up a biketoberfest. Nothing is theft proof but with some many unchained bikes why deal with the added time and effort to torch, and I do mean blow torch, thru a chain at 3am for your bike.

[Pinhy]

thanks guys...i see my error in thinking about the locking cover....worthless really. though it would stop people from stealing the cover itself. cutting it off to steal would be pointless

as for the lock, i am leaning towards a big chain lock. maybe even just go buy a big piece of chain and a combo or key lock for it. only thing is, do you carry it around with you to use when you get where going? where do you put it?

my parking situation is this: i live in a townhouse. no way to get it "around back", not allowed to park it on my screen porch (which i would have to take the bike THROUGH THE HOUSE to get to) due to fire safety codes, ad just side by side parking out front. im thiking i may park it in front of my car sideways instead of in its own spot. might be a little bit of a pain to get in and out, but could really be worth it.

any more info will be appreciated. im going to research ebay today. thanks !!

[Miyamoto]

I live in a condo and have deeded parking that 'supposed to be' secure.
I have a cobralinks chain lock that I have wrapped around my parking divider (crap..its rusted by the rain and I need to get another one).
I also just shelled out some dough on a new Xena disk lock with a built-in alarm/motion-sensor.
I looked online and read some great reviews about it.
Although it won't stop the guys from hoisting the bike up on a flatbed, but it'll sure make 'em conspicuous with the alarm blaring at 110dB non-stop.
I guess I'll let you know how it works out.

[Pinhy]

an alarm probably would be my best investment. so now i ask, who has alarms and what is a decent one but not overly expensive one to get?

You cant really stop someone who REALLY wants to steal your bike from picking it up and putting on a truck or van. but a friend of mine always says, "it'll keep the honest people off it". just having a cover (more for weather protection than security), lock and alarm will deter people who say "oooh, look a bike i bet we could all just pick up and put on the truck"

[inspiron]

Be honest, does ANYONE even look when a car alarm is going off? NO!

The best alarm is the one that has a GPS receiver and a cell-phone (GSM in Europe) modem - it sends you a text message to your pager or mobile phone as soon as the bike is moved or shaken. It then transmits the car/bike location so that it can be tracked by law enforcement. The really good ones (for cars) have a separate power supply, so that they keep working even if the battery is removed from the vehicle.

The "cheap" solution is to install a "hidden kill switch" - Google that for an example.

[axel_2078]

I had a hidden kill switch put on my first bike. It was remote activated. Unfortunately, it drew it's power directly from the battery and kept killing it. After replacing 4 new batteries and about 6 fuses (all of which the dealer paid for) over a two week span, I had the dealer's technicians remove it.

[md2lgyk]

As for a cover, steer clear of cheap ones; they don't last. I got a decent one from the Suzuki dealer for around $75. As for locks, alarms, etc., in 30 years of riding I've never bothered with any of that stuff. That's why I have insurance.

If somebody wants your bike they're going to get it. Besides (and please don't take this the wrong way), who's going to steal a 24-year-old motorcycle?

[md2lgyk]

Oops, my bad. I just re-read your first post and see this question relates to your "new incoming bike." Advice is the same though.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Be honest, does ANYONE even look when a car alarm is going off? NO!

Well If I hear mine going off at 4am, my *** is running for the front door. At home is really the only place I use a bike alarm anyway. And I can see my bike from my bed room window while still in bed. See first Pic my Bedroom is the window just behid the Palm on the 2nd floor.

Phiny I use my chain lock at home and If I'm going on a trip out of town where I'm staying over night I'll take it with the cover but not for short term in town parking. And I always park as close to the front of the lot, if not on the sidewalk if they don't have motorcycle parking available so the constant flow of traffic would deture anyone from doing anything to my bike.

So far I've been lucky and nothing has happened to my bike. It's only an SV and not as desireable as a GSXR or R1 but it's still a motorcycle someone could just steal to ride and trash it for fun.

But look around your parking place for a light pole or sturdy tree to chain up to at night. My is chained to the palm behind it in pic 1, Pic two is the just the motrax chain looped thru another heavy chain that goes around the Palm Tree behind it.

[watto]

G'day Guys n Gals,
I was going to buy a disc lock for my bike some time ago and the bike shop owner suggested I get a security padlock and a heavy duty cable, with swaged ends, instead of a chain. He believed that a thick cable is far harder to cut with bolt cutters than a chain, especially if it is covered with a plastic tube that is too large for the average bolt cutters to get around. He also suggested I get some small pieces of pipe cut to fit over the loop of the padlock, again to prevent bolt cutters from cutting the lock.

It all sounded like a good idea but I never leave the bike anywhere it's going to get stolen. I take it out of my garage, ride it and it goes back in the garage.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by watto

G'day Guys n Gals,
It all sounded like a good idea but I never leave the bike anywhere it's going to get stolen. I take it out of my garage, ride it and it goes back in the garage.

You think that simple garage door lock is gonna stop someone from gettin in there to steal your bike?? Do you have windows in your garage too??? Never under estimate someone who wants your stuff.

[stevie c]

Originally Posted by md2lgyk

As for locks, alarms, etc., in 30 years of riding I've never bothered with any of that stuff. That's why I have insurance.

My insurance company is happier to cover me if I have security in place,that includes an approved alarm.

[inspiron]

Bolt cutters? How retro ...

The modern thief uses ice spray (liquid nitrogen) ... when most metal is cooled down to below -200°, all you need is a quick blow with a hammer to shatter it.

[viper94bite]

I made my own with my first bike. I went to the hardware store and bought a 6' length of thick rubber coated cable. The guy could barely cut it when using the floor for leverage with the bolt cutters. Put loops in the end and put a lock that I know is hard to get off on there. (took 4 guys with sledghammers, hacksaws, and recip saw. to get one off a solid door. and it took quite a while) Anywho I wrap it Through the rear wheel, swingarm and frame. It is a lot lighter then a chain. But now I realize it is a pain in the butt to hassle with. Besides as someone already said that is what insurance is for.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by stevie c

My insurance company is happier to cover me if I have security in place,that includes an approved alarm.

Well **** just leave the damn keys in the ignition then if your covered!!!





Oh yeah hope your not sportin a $500 or $1000 deductable on your bike.

[Pinhy]

yeah...i would rather not walk out to find my bike missing even if it is covered.

(nexus, was that english you typed up there?? haha)