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Motorcycle Security
We planning a 4 month trip through Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Germany) on our 2009 Goldwing and I'm wondering if I need to take any special security precautions like one of those heavy duty hardened steel chains. We're going to be pulling a trailer with all our gear so I am fairly weight conscious.
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Yes
Hi, unfortunately yes is the answer, i have friends that have had their bikes stolen in Holland and Spain, better safe than sorry. Andy
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Take the precautions you can. Don't leave the bike without locking it. Don't leave anything on the bike that is not secured. Incidentally, the highest theft rate of motorcycles is in highly developped countries like (in no particular order) Spain, Italy, France where there are a lot of bikes and the resale is garanteed. |
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Europe is the worst of all continents I'm afraid. The more security the better. |
Your're riding a Goldwing with a trailer... you can't be that weight conscious?
This is my suggestion, obviously minus the ground anchor: Quote:
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Chain or disc lock
Thanks for all the replies. The theme is definitely consistent - make sure your bike is secure. My weight concern is because we have a motorcycle tent trailer that is fairly heavy which means we have to watch the weight of our contents. Stephen sent some great info on the Almax chain but then ended by saying that he only uses the Xena disc lock alarm when touring. My biggest concerns are when we are out sightseeing or out for dinner. At night the bike will be close at hand in the campground. Any thoughts?
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Most bike thefts in cities now don't even bother with taking the lock off, they just nick a van, pull up and load the bike. Alarmed disc locks are a good plan and if using a chain lock remeber to lock it up in such a way that the chain (especially the padlock) isn't sitting on the ground - this makes it a hell of a lot harder for any thief using a club hammer and cold chisel (common M.O.) to get through it.
Annoyingly councils in the UK don't allow people to install lie-flat ground anchors in front of their houses but then they can be generally anti-bike |
That's a serious chunk of chain! But.....any pro can easily defeat it, right? Battery powered grinders can't be any more rare in England than the USA.
You've got to decide who you're defending against. It is an opportunist who's just looking to steal anything which isn't tied down? Or a professional motorbike thief, who knows what he wants and is willing to go to a certain amount of trouble and expense to get it? The first you can defeat with almost anything; the second.....uh uh. If you've got what they want, your lock, chain, alarm and immobiliser are unlikely to stop them for long. The standard-issue private Guatemalan security guard with the pistol grip shotgun might be a deterrent, however, as long as he remembers whose side he's on. Mark |
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Steal to order: Comes in a van with untracable plates (CCTV will send plod looking for a similar vehicle in perfectly legal use 500 miles away), has plumbers nitrogen and an angle grinder. Steals new Ducati's, BMW GS's with the full TT set up, Harleys with paint jobs etc. Not interested in a X years old wing with a trailer. Amature scrote: Steals the van full of builders tools, tries a chisel on good chains, just makes a mess. Still wants flash bikes. Kiddies: Want a quick thrash on your bike, use bricks and screwdrivers, can't open a good chain. Street scum: Only want your phone and GPS, can't open locks much better than a B&Q padlock. You won't stop anglegrinder man, but chances are he won't bother you. Tip: Don't use the ignition lock, scratters break that first then see the chain and **** off. A screwdrivered ignition will ruin your day. Take care but don't worry. Andy |
Please steal my bike.....
I had a very stupid moment when in Paris last year at the start of a months tour with my gf on an old pan european. We parked the bike opposite the hotel with alarm, disclock and hardened chain and padlock secured to a pole. We left for the day to do the tourist thing and about eight hours later when enjoying a pint i realised i'd left the keys in the saddle release lock!!!!!!! After a high speed dash back i found the bike in the same place minus the keys, the disclock and the padlock. The chain was left in position around the pole and the front wheel for some reason but thankfully the immobiliser had done it's work as i had the fob in my pocket apart from the keys. Don't underestimate the power of stupidity......:oops2:
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I read somewhere a cover is good for security. I went out and bought one..... first day the dogs all used it to pee on....damn dogs! :thumbdown:
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This is funny. Not to of course to the owner, but because I had the same thing happen to me, in my own home driveway.
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