How do you prevent your bikes from being stolen?

I would like to know how you protect your bikes. One rider told me that a disc lock is only used to slow down my bike from being stolen.

Or you apply the rule "don't leave it without your sight"?

I had a gut feeling that 3 strange guys were talking or thinking of borrowing my bike on Sunday at my mom's apartment.

I'm going to Las Vegas on Thnxgiving for 1 nite and have to leave my bike at a parking lot for more than 12 hours out of sight.

Wish me luck & many thanx.

[fierostetz]

Be careful posting your concerns; if it gets stolen now you already acknowledged the risk which I've seen cause insurance claims to be denied.

[klarue]

Originally Posted by fierostetz

Be careful posting your concerns; if it gets stolen now you already acknowledged the risk which I've seen cause insurance claims to be denied.

Whoa! Seriously?

To the original question, I rarely leave the bike in high-crime areas, but the last time I parked it outside in a campground for a couple of days to go back-packing I wound a beefy cable-lock thru a bunch of components. (and made sure my insurance was up to snuff).

[aorpas]

put on two alarmed disc locks. if you only have one put it on the back wheel.

[CheckerdD]

I am of the impression BMW theft is really rare. 1) There is not a big market for pieces of em unlike Harley Motors which can be mounted on custom frames. 2) Most thieves would have to have inside connections at a dealer because the keys are almost unique.

When I go to Vegas I usually stay at the motel 6 on Tropicana and park the bike outside the room. If you stay at a big casino look to see where the cameras are in the parking garage and park in there view. I don't use any lock other than the handle bar lock. I used to have a Kryptonite U shaped lock, but then I learned it could be opened with a bic pen. Dave

[Ceri JC]

Originally Posted by CheckerdD

I am of the impression BMW theft is really rare. 1) There is not a big market for pieces of em unlike Harley Motors which can be mounted on custom frames. 2) Most thieves would have to have inside connections at a dealer because the keys are almost unique.

Agreed. The built in security on most modern BMWs (plus their weight) are pretty good deterrents. They are fairly immune to ride away thefts unless the thief has a proper key. Disc locks only stop ride-away thefts, so I would consider them a total waste of time on an F800GS. In the UK at least, rideaways are the minority for all sorts of bike, unless your bike is a scooter or some lightweight 80s dirt bike you can start using a screwdriver.

Usually, the bad guys pick up the bike, chuck it in the back of an unmarked white van (irrespective of any alarms going) and then tell anyone who challenges them that they are repo men and the owner has stopped paying their finance. Even if the person challenging them then calls the police, they'll be long gone.

Fully comp insurance is the best way of leaving a bike parked on the street and getting a good night's sleep. Chains need to be thick (thicker than is really practical to carry) to deter the pros and ideally attached to a ground anchor or similar. Personally, if I am going on holiday and leaving the bike behind, I chain it up with an Almax chain (they work) and an Anti-pinch pin. Otherwise, it just gets parked up. On smaller/lighter, more easily nickable bikes I carry a medium sized chain and chain it to a lampost and put a cover over it. This won't stop the pros, but it will deter the opportunists and rat boys.

[raider]

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Usually, the bad guys pick up the bike, chuck it in the back of an unmarked white van (irrespective of any alarms going) and then tell anyone who challenges them that they are repo men and the owner has stopped paying their finance. Even if the person challenging them then calls the police, they'll be long gone.

More likely they say "what the fuck are you lookin' at?", before punching them in the kidney and then driving off.

But I agree with the above. If someone wants my bike bad enough, they're going to take it. If I had a little 250 MX bike or something that would end up on someone's trailer and never be registered again, I might be more cautious, but you'd steal and 800 either to joyride it (in which case I don't want it back, thanks, but good luck without the key) or to sell it (which will be difficult with a BMW, even if you part it out - there aren't many out there and the market for "fell off a van" spares is small).

[TAMPAJIM]

Originally Posted by CheckerdD

I am of the impression BMW theft is really rare. 1) There is not a big market for pieces of em unlike Harley Motors which can be mounted on custom frames. 2) Most thieves would have to have inside connections at a dealer because the keys are almost unique.

. Dave

True story. Several years ago I was shopping insurance. My new BMW RT was worth considerably more than my old Harley but the premium was like three times more for the Harley. I asked why that was and the reply was " nobody wants to steal a BMW".

[Garp]

Originally Posted by fierostetz

Be careful posting your concerns; if it gets stolen now you already acknowledged the risk which I've seen cause insurance claims to be denied.

That's pure BS. The Insurance company can't deny a claim just because you knew there was a risk. You have a responsibility to be careful and to mitigate the risk, but buying Insurance is in and of itself acknowledging that there is a risk of theft or an accident, if there wasn't any risk, why buy the insurance?

[ouray rider]

Buy a BMW and leave the keys in it!

[sieg]

I leave my bikes where ever, just lock the fork and maybe the a disc lock if it's a bad area. Like others have said, I figure they steal bikes that the parts are easy to sell (HD) or that make good track bikes, (sport bikes). That's why I do worry about my kids RC51.

[soyanarchisto]

Originally Posted by fierostetz

Be careful posting your concerns; if it gets stolen now you already acknowledged the risk which I've seen cause insurance claims to be denied.

This is ridiculously false.

[Nictrolis]

I got LoJack... I figure it's about as good as anything, and even if I don't get the bike back they'll pay out for some of it. Cheap-ish, and lowers your insurance premium as well? Why not.

[JRWooden]

FWIW, when travelling I always put a cover over my bike it seems to give it a lower profile in the parking lot.

Some parking garages have "odd" free space up near where the attendant sits, I've asked to let them park my bike in these out out of the way pieces of concrete and not been refused. Sometimes They don't even charge to park!

[Ceri JC]

Originally Posted by JRWooden

FWIW, when travelling I always put a cover over my bike it seems to give it a lower profile in the parking lot.

Some parking garages have "odd" free space up near where the attendant sits, I've asked to let them park my bike in these out out of the way pieces of concrete and not been refused. Sometimes They don't even charge to park!

Aye. Last time I asked if this was okay to leave my bike overnight at one of our offices, they directed me to a CCTV covered spot and told the security guard to check on it every hour as part of his outdoor patrols. Sweet!