New bike in Dublin. What anti theft measures do you use?

migualo

Hi,

I recently purchased a new roadster bike that I will be picking up in the next couple of weeks. It's a 700cc sexy looking bike so thieves will for sure try to take it.

I'm only living in Dublin for a year but I've read tons of stories of bikes getting stolen and I'm very concerned about it. I read that a ground anchor plus an almax chain is a basic measure. Also, to be careful with underground parkings cause many bikes gets stolen in these.

What other measures would you use? Would an alarmed disc lock? Any brand that is good and thieves don't know their way around it? Also, I can ask the dealer to fit an alarm on my bike? Is it really worth or thieves don't have any issue with disconnecting it?


Is parking on the street using all these things together safe enough???

Cheers,

Miguel

jameshayes

you'll find people not too disclosing with giving their security information away on the internet - to potential thieves..

alarm, chain, ground anchor, near cctv - but understand, if they want it bad enough, they'll take it

migualo

I'm not looking for personal information. Just general advice on what is more reliable, what brands are better, what ways do the thieves operate in dublin so I know the safest way to store my bike, etc. Not specifics for each person.

The_Chap

The way thieves operate here is no different to anywhere else - as James said if they want it, no amount of security will stop them

All you can do is enough to satisfy yourself and make sure it's insured for where it will be kept

prunudo

Be extra careful parking it in underground carparks. There's been a fair few robbed while stored in these, even from ones which are supposed to have 'secured' access.

Wonda-Boy

jvan wrote: »

Be extra careful parking it in underground carparks. There's been a fair few robbed while stored in these, even from ones which are supposed to have 'secured' access.

This +1000

arybvtcw0eolkf

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

This +1000

This +10,000,000,000,000

If they want it, and its in an underground they'll likely get it.

rowanh

I have a Xena disc lock, it was ok for a few months and then started going off the whole time for no reason. I have had the module changed a few times for free but it lasts for a few months and then starts going off again, wouldn't recommend them at all.

Del2005

migualo wrote: »

Hi,

I recently purchased a new roadster bike that I will be picking up in the next couple of weeks. It's a 700cc sexy looking bike so thieves will for sure try to take it.

I'm only living in Dublin for a year but I've read tons of stories of bikes getting stolen and I'm very concerned about it. I read that a ground anchor plus an almax chain is a basic measure. Also, to be careful with underground parkings cause many bikes gets stolen in these.

What other measures would you use? Would an alarmed disc lock? Any brand that is good and thieves don't know their way around it? Also, I can ask the dealer to fit an alarm on my bike? Is it really worth or thieves don't have any issue with disconnecting it?


Is parking on the street using all these things together safe enough???

Cheers,

Miguel

You can't install a ground anchor on the street, luckily they usually have lampposts. Problem with parking on the street is people climbing all over it or just damaging it, parking so that it can't be interfered with by joe public makes it easier to steal.

Make sure any alarm fitted has an immobiliser and is insurance approved, I got a decent refund a few years ago when I told them I had a Meta alarm fitted, and it has to be professionally installed. The more layers of security you have on it the less likely it is to be stolen. Invest in a decent cover, if they can't see it they might ignore it.

If they really want it they'll get it no matter what you do, so have at least fire and theft cover on it.

unattendedbag

Put it into a locked and alarmed garage or a steel shed out the back. Underground car parks and street parking are terrible for keeping a bike. Could you have piece of mind if you went away for a week and left it there.

Hotblack Desiato

Have a read of this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057402374

Wossack

theft insurance

Cienciano

What you said yourself OP. Almax chained to ground anchor or something else solid and a good disc lock. I park in an underground car park, nothing secure about them cos scummers jjust need to follow a car in. But it's obviously better than on street, and keeps the bike out of the elements.

Fiskar

Out of sight is out of mind. The less the bike is seen parked up the less likely you are to have it stolen. Mine is in the garage which is now behind a set of wooden gates on the drive so that when the garage is open no one can see what is in there.

listermint

No problem with the Xena. My favourite lock and would recommend. It has a piercing siren.

DJDylan106

Im only on a little 125 but it's my pride and joy. Locked in a reinforced steel shipping container ( which is alarmed to the house ), alarmed padlock on the door under a steel lockbox, and thats just what its stored in. Bike itself has an alarm + immobiliser and plastic covered steel chain through the forks and front wheel, to the rear wheel of my dad's bike.

And yet still... if I hear a noise during the night you'll be sure ill be out the back armed with a weapon of choice in the case that some unlucky f*cker may be trying to get hold of it. :cool:

( considering the bike isn't insured for theft, I take a lot of time to make sure it won't be stolen... As you can see )

martin gillespie

jameshayes wrote: »

you'll find people not too disclosing with giving their security information away on the internet - to potential thieves..

alarm, chain, ground anchor, near cctv - but understand, if they want it bad enough, they'll take it

A Loose strong chain to something that cant move or be cut trough , Almax series iv uber chain and lock , a top dog in chain lock combo also oxford Hardcore xl chain plus a disc lock.if some one at work has a bike lock the to each other and never lock the wheels only ALWAYS THE FRAME.
HOPE THUS HELPS.

zubair

Lots of good advice on alarms, anchors and locks etc. I'll add that a motorbike cover is also a deterent for street or underground parking.

Cienciano

And always put on your steering lock.

Wonda-Boy

Lads in fairness the oxford hardcore chain series LOOKS the part but it is in fact quite a low quality chain and lock. I had one on my bike for years, google it getting cut its piss easy. Dont get me wrong its better then nothing....

Almax is the only way to go TBH if its in plain public sight, that and a decade of the rosary and a splash of holy water.

Streetwalker

Put a tracker on it. Plenty out there now can be got for small money. That said in itself you then have to get the bike back. You'd imagine just ring the Gardaí and telling them where it is would be enough but it's not. Know a lad who had to rob his own bike back believe it or not.

Streetwalker

martin gillespie wrote: »

A Loose strong chain to something that cant move or be cut trough , Almax series iv uber chain and lock , a top dog in chain lock combo also oxford Hardcore xl chain plus a disc lock.if some one at work has a bike lock the to each other and never lock the wheels only ALWAYS THE FRAME.
HOPE THUS HELPS.

You can get through most top of the line chains in about 60 seconds with the proper angle grinder. Yes a good lock and chain will keep wacko and his group of tracksuit wearing scumbag friends from nicking your pride and joy but the professional will have the bike in the van in less than a minute from the second they arrived on scene.

I have a pewag chain with a rock wall hardness of about 63 and this is about the best in the business. Will laugh at a set of bolt cutters and you will need an industrial strength angle grinder to get through it. I've been told it can take up to 5 minutes for this to be cut.

Del2005

Streetwalker wrote: »

You can get through most top of the line chains in about 60 seconds with the proper angle grinder. Yes a good lock and chain will keep wacko and his group of tracksuit wearing scumbag friends from nicking your pride and joy but the professional will have the bike in the van in less than a minute from the second they arrived on scene.

I have a pewag chain with a rock wall hardness of about 63 and this is about the best in the business. Will laugh at a set of bolt cutters and you will need an industrial strength angle grinder to get through it. I've been told it can take up to 5 minutes for this to be cut.

That's all well and good till they come into the house looking for the keys, I know several people who've had to sell nice cars because of scumbags breaking into the house for the car. Make it secure enough to deter all but the "professionals", at the end of the day it can be replaced.

martin gillespie

Del2005 wrote: »

That's all well and good till they come into the house looking for the keys, I know several people who've had to sell nice cars because of scumbags breaking into the house for the car. Make it secure enough to deter all but the "professionals", at the end of the day it can be replaced.

WATCH THE ALMAX VIDEO ON YOU TUBE , you wont get trough these in 60 seconds , UNLESS you lock to a secure post ect.
Years ago i would go into town on my DT125 lc with four locks , as they could not take it they tried to burn it on a few occasion , even with security staff nearby. Mad but true

Del2005

martin gillespie wrote: »

WATCH THE ALMAX VIDEO ON YOU TUBE , you wont get trough these in 60 seconds , UNLESS you lock to a secure post ect.
Years ago i would go into town on my DT125 lc with four locks , as they could not take it they tried to burn it on a few occasion , even with security staff nearby. Mad but true

Which is why they don't bother going for the chain they go for the keys.

KT10

Ideally, one of these...

franer1970

listermint wrote: »

No problem with the Xena. My favourite lock and would recommend. It has a piercing siren.

No problems with Xena XX14 for me either. Six months and still going on original battery, despite being armed nearly all the time.

Got it because siren and shock sensing on standard BMW alarm are hopeless - you have to actually lean the thing over before it'll go "off" i.e. make a few pathetic beeps.

CJhaughey

Physical security is good but in the event of it being stolen a tracker is a pretty reasonable way of finding it again.
http://www.fastbikesmag.com/fastbikes-forum/showthread.php?t=441

Doylers

CJhaughey wrote: »

Physical security is good but in the event of it being stolen a tracker is a pretty reasonable way of finding it again.
http://www.fastbikesmag.com/fastbikes-forum/showthread.php?t=441

Can anyone recommend a place that fits GPS trackers? Don't know if I want to play with electronics myself and kill the bike :P

Wonda-Boy

Is it just me or does anyone else prefer not to get a bike back if it was robbed? I would rather just get the insurance money then get a bike back in bits that some scumbag rallied all night!!!

No thanx, would have no confidence in that machine anymore.....

Cienciano

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Is it just me or does anyone else prefer not to get a bike back if it was robbed? I would rather just get the insurance money then get a bike back in bits that some scumbag rallied all night!!!

No thanx, would have no confidence in that machine anymore.....

Depends. If it was wheeled down a road and never started, grand. But I know lads that robbed a ducati 998, stuck it on a brick and gave it full revs to see if the engine would blow.

CJhaughey

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Is it just me or does anyone else prefer not to get a bike back if it was robbed? I would rather just get the insurance money then get a bike back in bits that some scumbag rallied all night!!!

No thanx, would have no confidence in that machine anymore.....

What if it was taken in a van? Not started and you would still be able to get it back.

Wonda-Boy

CJhaughey wrote: »

What if it was taken in a van? Not started and you would still be able to get it back.

Yeah that would be fine....just aslong as it had not been redlined all night.

KT10

Doylers wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a place that fits GPS trackers? Don't know if I want to play with electronics myself and kill the bike :P

If you're looking for a professional solution, I can send you a number for a contact who does our fleets of vans, he's ordering in GPS units for us on the bikes, apparently very high spec.

€300 fitted I think and €170 a year for the tracking service.

I'm himing and hawing about it, want to see one working before I pull the trigger.

Hotblack Desiato

Too easy to defeat trackers I think. Unlikely to work well in a van (faraday cage) or other hiding places like steel containers, underground car parks.

Cuddlesworth

I remember working near the flats in Ballymun and seeing a couple of Gardai riot vans pull up one day. The Gardai, with a couple of council workers, emptied the lock ups at the bottom of the flats. The amount of bikes that came out was unreal. A couple of hours later the lads started filling them back up again.

My bikes worth 2k. I'm not sticking a tracker on it, putting cameras on it or attaching a ton of alarms to it. It has a Almax chain to a ground anchor. That's all its worth.

CJhaughey

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Too easy to defeat trackers I think. Unlikely to work well in a van (faraday cage) or other hiding places like steel containers, underground car parks.

Yes that is true, but that one in the article had a last known position feature where the last position known is given.
GPS commonly give signals through the tin roof of a car, they don't block as much as you'd think.

KT10

CJhaughey wrote: »

Yes that is true, but that one in the article had a last known position feature where the last position known is given.
GPS commonly give signals through the tin roof of a car, they don't block as much as you'd think.

Yeah but you can pick up a GPS jammer fairly easily...

Its a bit above the average scrote looking for something to rally around, but a pro out looking for a bike to order...

KTR1C

I have a GPS tracker, alarm and immobiliser. Its also in a fairly secure garage with cameras. The tracker also uses the phone network for backup and when its pulled out of the bike will transmit its location for up to 10 days.

Saying that, like a couple of others here, I dont want it back if its been stolen. I will however break the legs of the scrote that takes it.

cerastes

zubair wrote: »

Lots of good advice on alarms, anchors and locks etc. I'll add that a motorbike cover is also a deterent for street or underground parking.

Out of sight I suppose, I dont put the cover on my bike when its parked, not that I had one to protect its value, the exhaust is hot and it seems like Im only going to melt the thing or start it burning.
Im still not so sure how much of a deterent it is? I suppose it might mean someone has to go to the extra hassle of checking to see if its worth stealing, but if they already know who parls what there anyway??

I was already going to post a thread about bike security. While locking my bike to a post, someone suggested to me how anyone would anyone move it even if it wasnt locked, and that I was wasting my time. On the face of it, it doesnt seem easy, but I prefer to lock at least one wheel. Again my chain is heavy but being no name rubbish, so its just to deter for appearances and to slow down all but the determined, in which case they'd probably have it unless I had all but the best of lock/chains.

Cienciano wrote: »

And always put on your steering lock.

I do but is it worth anything? I only do it to make it more inconvenient for someone that might attempt to take it or slow them down enough that I or someone else will notice or intervene, again I can only see someone taking it to joyride it and not for desirability, and of course the inconvenience to me.

KTR1C wrote: »

I have a GPS tracker, alarm and immobiliser. Its also in a fairly secure garage with cameras. The tracker also uses the phone network for backup and when its pulled out of the bike will transmit its location for up to 10 days.

Saying that, like a couple of others here, I dont want it back if its been stolen. I will however break the legs of the scrote that takes it.

even if its hit with a hammer and dunked in water?

KT10

cerastes wrote: »

I do but is it worth anything? I only do it to make it more inconvenient for someone that might attempt to take it or slow them down enough that I or someone else will notice or intervene, again I can only see someone taking it to joyride it and not for desirability, and of course the inconvenience to me.

Think of it like this, if your bike is parked next to another bike, and you have a chain and disk lock on, the steering lock on, and the other bike has just been parked up and left there, which one will the scummer go for first?

Any measure, no matter how small, could be the difference between a scumbag thinking to himself, "I'll have that." or "Not worth the effort."

I worked in Naas years ago and a guy had his beautiful R1 nicked on the weekend the Superbikes were in Mondello. I got the CCTV footage for him, no security measures, not even the steering lock, what can be seen on-screen was:

Lad walks up to bike, picks it up off the sidestand, rolls it 10 feet forward to the curb.
Transit van had appeared, rear doors open as bike approaches, 2 lads hop out, grab the front and lift it into the van.
Front in, one lad helps the first guy lift the rear in, doors close, van drives away.

All this happened in, literally, less then 10 seconds. :eek:

cerastes

KT10 wrote: »

Think of it like this, if your bike is parked next to another bike, and you have a chain and disk lock on, the steering lock on, and the other bike has just been parked up and left there, which one will the scummer go for first?

Any measure, no matter how small, could be the difference between a scumbag thinking to himself, "I'll have that." or "Not worth the effort."

I worked in Naas years ago and a guy had his beautiful R1 nicked on the weekend the Superbikes were in Mondello. I got the CCTV footage for him, no security measures, not even the steering lock, what can be seen on-screen was:

Lad walks up to bike, picks it up off the sidestand, rolls it 10 feet forward to the curb.
Transit van had appeared, rear doors open as bike approaches, 2 lads hop out, grab the front and lift it into the van.
Front in, one lad helps the first guy lift the rear in, doors close, van drives away.

All this happened in, literally, less then 10 seconds. :eek:

I was just referring to the steering lock in use on its own, I use it but guessed it could be overcome easily.
My own opinion is every added measure helps as a deterrent, or to slow someone down.
I hope Im not jinxing myself, but I lock it to poles where it could be lifted off (although I dont see how without difficulty and hopefully a bad back for anyone that tries) and even just a chain around the wheel where there is nothing else. It almost feels pointless but better for my piece of mind that if someone does anything, Ive done as much as I can, and they at least have some work for themselves or hopefully they do themselves an injury and drop the bike on themselves.

Cienciano

I posted this before, but an ex bike thief did an ask me anything on reddit:
http://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/t5shp/ex_thief_chopshop_operator_ama/

basically you want it to appear to take a long time to steal. $100 disc lock on rear wheel, $150 chain/lock combo through hard parts not chain and not wheels, if it has to be a wheel put it through the rear one, lockable bike cover, and keep your steering locked
Lojack is pretty good for recovering bikes from beginners, but I want to keep mine from being stolen in the first place.
copy/pasta below! As far as the first post is concerned
1) Mostly supersports. They are the most commonly crashed and generally the easiest to find (left outside in nice apartment complexes) Next would be Harleys and for a brief moment in time the high dollar choppers.
2) Never, ever, never never never, NEVER leave your bike outside at an apartment complex. Especially one with a gated parking garage. The gated parking garage in a mid to high rise apartment building in the nice part of a large city is the number one place for bike thieves to go "shopping." As far as passive devices go I like the NYC fughetaboutit chain/lock from Kryptonite, the thicker of the two. It needs to go through something like a braced swingarm whenever possible. If you absolutely have to put it through a wheel put it through the rear wheel. It takes much longer to swap than the front wheel. Any $100 disc lock will work well, again, rear wheel, locks on the front are more easily defeated, take my word for it. Cheaper disc locks can be quietly, well, we'll leave it at that, cheap ones can be defeated in silence. Lo-jack and Lo-Jack w/early warning are pretty good at recovering the bikes from amateurs and semi-pros, but someone who knows what they are doing will remove the lojack system quickly after clearing the area. Still someone even more professional (surprisingly rare) will have somewhere to check/store/breakdown the bike that is rf shielded. The problem with lo-jack is that it doesn't keep someone from stealing the bike. Even if you get it back in one piece without the police crashing into your bike to catch the thief you'll still likely have a broken upper triple, damage to the neck of your frame (Steering lock), damage to your ignition, damage to the tank lock, possible damage to the tank itself (rareish) possible damage to the trunk lock , and then your insurance company might **** you too. It's much better to not get the bike stolen in the first place. So in addition to lo-jack you want some sort of VISIBLE passive devices to make the thief move on. The paging alarms are somewhat effective, but they aren't linked to the police. Removing electronic devices is obviously more of a mental challenge than a physical one. The quality of the install is a huge factor here. Hide the lo-jack or alarm in or under the airbox and all the wiring within the factory looms and you'll have a good set up. However, almost NO dealer tech is this thorough. It's not his bike, why would he go the extra mile?
3) I think bobbypeel covered the locks and chains well. Very few thieves are this thorough, of the dozens of them I knew over the years I only came across one like this, but I knew someone that had a pair of bolt-cutters that weighed a lot, more than a 45lb plate at the gym, and had replaceable cryogenically hardened teeth. They cost several hundred dollars. The high dollar chain lock sets $150+ are worth it. Even the high dollar braided cable locks are good. They can be cut, but it's a pretty time consuming process.
4) Personally, if it's rashed up, looks cosmetically rough, but mechanically sound. Say grips are worn, been dropped on both sides, but the chain is clean and well-adjusted, tires worn hard on the edges, has any signs of safety-wiring for the track etc. It's lack of value isn't what I'm looking it. It would remind me of myself once upon a time. I think that's probably all he's got, his whole world, it's not pretty, but he rides the piss out of it. He gets a pass.
More for most people, just what takes time. I've known very very few stone cold guys that can sit there for an hour working on a bike. Most people will give it a few seconds, maybe a couple minutes, and if they can't get it they are gone. What is only seconds feels like an eternity when your freedom and life are on the line. Quality disc lock on the rear wheel, quality chain and lock, lockable bike cover and theft coverage on your insurance. For me, lo-jack isn't worth the cost. It's more expensive than theft coverage and after a thief has had his way with the bike I don't want it back. All can fit in a back pack and aren't much of a hassle to carry. Never leave it outside very long day or night. If you have to ground anchors are good like bobbypeel said. I always wondered what was available in a marine application for something like this. Something with a real burly chain/lock.
If you're temporarily parked outside somewhere a good little FREE anti-theft trick, bring a stubby flathead with you and remove your clutch lever. No clutch lever and they aren't riding anywhere. Of course if you do this every night outside your apartment they'll just come back with their own clutch lever.
Also - LOCK YOUR ****ING STEERING - DON'T LEAVE YOUR SPARE KEY IN YOUR TRUNK. I can open your trunk with a butter knife, don't leave me your ****ing key in there, jesus. Happens more often than you think. Also, don't leave your TITLE in the trunk, i've seen this too often too. Steering locks aren't that hard to bypass, but they aren't THAT easy either. Sometimes you get the freak one that doesn't want to break and you'll need to come back with a second person. In that time maybe the owner sees the bike and the thief doesn't get it. Had it been unlocked the bike would be gone.
Again, if you park outside of an apartment and your bike gets stolen, rent a ****ing garage or self-storage unit near by to use as a garage. The thief is just going to wait a couple weeks for insurance to replace your bike and come back to check. If someone tries and fails to get your bike the same thing applies. Move it, they WILL be back.
The majority of thieves aren't that smart and half of those are on drugs, please don't be dumber than they are.

fear_factory84

rent a ****ing garage or self-storage unit near by to use as a garage

They still have to teach me how to do it in Dublin. It seems that nobody have ever build a garage here (and nice houses/apartments too).
But, my quest for an accommodation is still limited to Dublin City Center.........

Cienciano

cerastes wrote: »

I do but is it worth anything? I only do it to make it more inconvenient for someone that might attempt to take it or slow them down enough that I or someone else will notice or intervene, again I can only see someone taking it to joyride it and not for desirability, and of course the inconvenience to me.

Steering lock is worth putting on. You don't have to carry it, it takes half a second to put on. Yours could be the 1 in 20 that doesn't break.

KTR1C

cerastes wrote: »

even if its hit with a hammer and dunked in water?

Probably not but I'll know where it was hit with a hammer and dunked in water

listermint

KT10 wrote: »

If you're looking for a professional solution, I can send you a number for a contact who does our fleets of vans, he's ordering in GPS units for us on the bikes, apparently very high spec.

€300 fitted I think and €170 a year for the tracking service.

I'm himing and hawing about it, want to see one working before I pull the trigger.

Thats robbery for a non work vehicle.

You can fit it yourself and the sim will cost you about 10-20 Euro per year.

BlackWizard

Will it not drain the battery?