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How do you protect your bike from theft?

speeddemon2588

speeddemon2588

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Apr 21, 2012
Messages
322
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California
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Hello All,

I'm officially heading out to California tomorrow, and for the first time my bike will be living out in the open. Granted it will be a "secured" underground lot but still. So I am panicking about it getting stolen. I bought about 2m worth of 3/4 inched hardened chain and I plan on getting an alarm. Alameda is supposedly the safest area on that side of the bay but I doubt I can relax like I do in Indy

I'd like to know how my fellow riders secure their bikes from d-bags out to cause trouble?
 
I use a GPS tracker so I can locate my bike any where, any time with my phone as long as the bike has a signal. it also has a shock alarm, so if my bike is moved it sends me an SMS with it's location. I get one every time I go for a ride.

Scorpio GPS tracker

Kenma Australia: Performance Motorcycle Accessories, GPS Tracking Device

I rarely leave it out in the open, especially with all the visible mods I have.
 
Replacement insurance with riders for all documented modifications. Best theft policy you can have. If it is stolen, insurance replaces it and all the mods. To me, my bike is a material item that can easily be replaced as evidenced by what I'm going through right now. ;)
 
Harden The Target

If a thief really wants it, they will have it. That being said, I try to make it as hard to get as possible since, lets face it thieves are lazy bastards. If they weren't they'd work for possessions like normal people. When I am at home it is parked in the garage with the steering locked and positioned so it can't just be easily rolled out between the cars. On a trip it is always locked (even if I am in sight of it) and when riding in groups the bikes are locked together to make stealing them much more of a pain in the ass. Simply locking the steering makes the bike harder to just wheel away, and as basic as that is, when a thief has his choice he will take the easier option. Make the thief work, they don't like that.

 
FZ1inNH said:
Replacement insurance with riders for all documented modifications. Best theft policy you can have. If it is stolen, insurance replaces it and all the mods. To me, my bike is a material item that can easily be replaced as evidenced by what I'm going through right now. ;)
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't do anything to secure my bike outside of the usual. No chains or sensors or padlocks. If they want it, they can get it regardless. Insurance will pay me out and I get to shop for a new bike! Can't beat that :)
 
Best thing to do is to keep the insurance current. I usually make sure I take the key with me as such I never use the kill switch to shut off the engine. If I'm parking it in an area that may be sketchy then I will use the disk lock I keep under the passenger seat. I have GIVI side cases so I lock up my helmet, GPS and raingear in those.

Bottom line is If someone wants it they will get it, but make it a bit more difficult.
 
You should be perfectly fine in Alameda, its the surrounding cities that you'd worry about, esp certain parts of Oakland hahaha.

But like someone above said, if they want it bad enough, they'll take it but from what ive encountered or read about, most bike thieves aim for the super sport bikes, since they are more common on the road here.

also, if its underground parking, find out if they have cameras and if they do, see if you can park the bike within the cameras range and lock the bike up with chains every night.

I hope your worries wont get the best of you because weather here in California, esp in the bay area is great right now! Last night while doing errands with my wife, we passed by a huge group of riders (30+) enjoying the nice cool night breeze...Almost made me bust a U turn home to get on my bike and join them LOL.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone. After almost a week in my hotel in Fremont, I've calmed down a bit. I also bumped up my coverage and bought a disk lock. Based on the article Clyde posted, its shocking how pointless it is worrying about it.
 
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