How to best secure my bike?

[roguerower]

Now that I'm upgrading from my GS500 starter bike and buying a new Triumph, I want to make sure that it's properly secured. Now I understand that if a thief wants the bike, they'll get it, but I want to make it as difficult as possible.

Until I sell my GS I can lock the bikes together using their rear swingarms, but once the bike is sold I gotta come up with a different option.

Option 1: There's a small tree about 3' away that I could run a chain to,the only problem is that it has, at most, a 3" diameter. I'll use the same shitty cover that's been on my GS. I've also been looking at a bike lock and maybe a alarm/immobilizer down the road.

Option 2: Looking online, I found the Kryptonite Stronghold Anchor that would be great, except for the fact that (1) it looks like it's meant to be installed in concrete and my parking lot is asphalt and (2) I live in an apartment complex so I either go through them and potentially get rejected or just install it and hope they don't care.

Option 3: The complex does have carports available but none near my apartment, so I can lock up the bike but I won't be able to see it from my apartment.

Option 4: Buy a couple of metal plates and use that as an "anchor" to increase the weight of the bike and make it harder to lift and make it more awkward to move (since it only weighs 416lbs wet).

Thoughts?

 

[Imp]

A lot of bikes appear to be stolen by 2 big guys picking the thing up and loading it into a cube-/mini-van.

Chains and locks can be cut, but at least it'll slow people down. You could try an alarm, maybe someone hasn't become desensitized to it and will look.

 

[RGUN]

You already have the facts, if a thief wants it, they are going to take it. Cutting through a chain is easy, I probably wouldn't bother. My car is near the top of the stolen list, and I know two people that have had their (similar) car stolen from their driveway at night, so I installed a GPS tracking system. $150 per year for unlimited tracking and perimeter breach notification. You will know the moment your bike moves if you werent on it when it moved.

Take a look into it. The one I use is Blackline GPS, I believe the components are made by Escort.

 

[tomj1]

I went through a lot of this when I lived in philly. Bums kept steaking my cable locked bike cover, probably to use as shelter. I used a yamaha folding lock(which I don't think is made anymore, kind of like a folding kryptonite) with a large pipe tee over the locking part. This was looped thru a 3/4" clevis that had a 4' rod with mushroomed head pounded into the ground thru a 3/4" hole I drilled into a public sidewalk. (If you act like you know what you are doing, nobody will give you a hard time)I also had a silent pager alarm under the seat triggered by a motion sensor, and a pellet gun by the window. This all worked great through numerous attempted thefts including a sledgehammer attack on the lock. Now battery operated cutoff wheels make keeping your bike harder. If I was doing it these days I'd probably use a disc brake lock and one of these http://www.thebikebarn.net/security_physical.html
and weld it to a large metal plate if I wasn't able to attach it to the ground. Be aware that scrappers will try to steal your metal plate; 3 4x8 sheets of exterior 3/4" plywood screwed together might do the job just as well. attach the lock bracket with carriage bolts with large washers under their heads, then hammer the threads where they come thru the nuts. If someone tries to unscrew the nuts the carriage bolts will spin.
t

 

[JulesMaximus]

You're keeping your Triumph outside? Get a garage would be my best advice. Bikes just look like hell after a few years outside.

When I dropped my bike off at the dealer for the 15,000 mile service there was another SV650 parked right behind mine and it looked like a 2007 or 2008, pretty much stock but you could tell this bike was parked outside all the time. It just looked like hell. Mine still looks brand new.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Get insurance, and stop worrying so much about it.

 

[roguerower]

You're keeping your Triumph outside? Get a garage would be my best advice. Bikes just look like hell after a few years outside.

When I dropped my bike off at the dealer for the 15,000 mile service there was another SV650 parked right behind mine and it looked like a 2007 or 2008, pretty much stock but you could tell this bike was parked outside all the time. It just looked like hell. Mine still looks brand new.

It has to be outside since I don't have access to a proper garage. Option 3 states that I can store it under a carport but I won't be able to see it from my apartment, and I'm pretty hesitant about that. It'll be under a cover but that's it. When I move in 6 months or so I'll be sure to make sure I think about this when I'm looking for a place.

Get insurance, and stop worrying so much about it.

It will be fully insured. Just because it's insured doesn't mean that I can't think of a way to make it harder to steal.

Snip

That's kinda along the line I was thinking of taking with the metal plates or ground anchor. My only concern with the anchor was it not being able to anchor properly to asphalt since it's meant to be anchored to concrete.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/74/2785/ITEM/Kryptonite-Stronghold-Above-Ground-Anchor.aspx

 

[tomj1]

that kryptonite anchor is good for about 45 seconds under a cutoff wheel...
the thing I mentioned attached to a 4x8 sheet of something would be much more of a hassle..
t

 

[roguerower]

that kryptonite anchor is good for about 45 seconds under a cutoff wheel...
the thing I mentioned attached to a 4x8 sheet of something would be much more of a hassle..
t

That's why I'd attached the chain to the swingarm. Any way you look at it, a thief that wants it will get it. The trick is how do you prolong them long enough for someone to see something going on?

I'll look into your idea. Dunno bout 4x8 sheets, but maybe a 2x6 or something like that would work.

 

[tomj1]

4x8...or 3x6...the bike takes up close to that amount of room standing there anyway. might also bolt it into one of those concrete parking lot bumper things:
http://midstateconcrete.com/product/147/Parking-Lot-Bumpers.html
on the angled part so you can still get the wheel in.

 

[jaha2000]

Get a small storage unit close to your apartment?

 

[roguerower]

Get a small storage unit close to your apartment?

Whoa. You sir are a genius. There's a Public Storage literally right next to where I live and I can get a 5x5 for $35/mo. Would make it a little more difficult to go ride as a spur of the moment thing, but since I usually only ride on the weekend due to work, this solution solves multiple problems.

 

[FiLeZz]

When I lived in an apartment years ago, I just drove the bike into the apartment.

 

[jaha2000]

Whoa. You sir are a genius. There's a Public Storage literally right next to where I live and I can get a 5x5 for $35/mo. Would make it a little more difficult to go ride as a spur of the moment thing, but since I usually only ride on the weekend due to work, this solution solves multiple problems.

When i had my bike thats what i did cause i did not want to leave it outside. Like others have said, if somebody wants to take it when its sitting outside, i dont really care what you do, they are going to take it.
The storage unit at least has the gated deal, the door and best of all, somebody cant see it when they drive by. Like you said, a bit of a pain in the butt, but hey makes it safer right? I used to put on all my gear and ride my mountain bike to the unit, people probably though i was crazy with a full face and leathers on riding my mountain bike.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I thought you had a garage??!


Get full coverage and never let it lapse. Be mentally prepared to come out one morning with your bike gone.


I'd try to park it in a place that would make it really tough to get out (ie slide through two parked cars and park in front of one?) along with a scorpio alarm (2way remote, so your pager goes off if the bike is messed with). For a daily driver chaining them down is a PITA.


Personally, I'd get a place with a garage ASAP. There are apartments with attached garages, be prepared to pay ~10-20% more for it.



Almost everyone I know who has tried to keep a nice bike in an apartment has some sort of horror story behind it... From getting pushed over by drunk idiots to theft to vandalism..

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Whoa. You sir are a genius. There's a Public Storage literally right next to where I live and I can get a 5x5 for $35/mo. Would make it a little more difficult to go ride as a spur of the moment thing, but since I usually only ride on the weekend due to work, this solution solves multiple problems.

FYI many of these won't allow a 'wet vehicle' inside (ie with fuel and oil)


Also I've heard of more than one 'setup theft' where someone picks up on a bike that's left through the week in storage like this


Many apartment complexes have garages you can rent too..

 

[roguerower]

When i had my bike thats what i did cause i did not want to leave it outside. Like others have said, if somebody wants to take it when its sitting outside, i dont really care what you do, they are going to take it.
The storage unit at least has the gated deal, the door and best of all, somebody cant see it when they drive by. Like you said, a bit of a pain in the butt, but hey makes it safer right? I used to put on all my gear and ride my mountain bike to the unit, people probably though i was crazy with a full face and leathers on riding my mountain bike.

Potentially, it would be right next door so I would look ridiculous for a limited amount of time

I thought you had a garage??!

No garage. When I moved in I didn't have a motorcycle nor had I even thought of buying one. My GF mentioned it one day and that got the brain thinking and eventually opened the wallet. Going forward I will make sure that I pay extra for one, but for now I'm screwed.

Get full coverage and never let it lapse. Be mentally prepared to come out one morning with your bike gone.

It'll have full coverage (lowest quote ATM is 2k/yr w/ Allstate).

I'd try to park it in a place that would make it really tough to get out (ie slide through two parked cars and park in front of one?) along with a scorpio alarm (2way remote, so your pager goes off if the bike is messed with). For a daily driver chaining them down is a PITA.

Not a daily driver. I used my current bike as a DD for a while but ended up having to replace tires because of a nail puncture from my jobsite. Not a problem on a cheap 130 rear but those 180s are expensive. The other problem is that where I park is in clear view of the main road so anyone can see the bike.

Personally, I'd get a place with a garage ASAP. There are apartments with attached garages, be prepared to pay ~10-20% more for it.

No dice on the garage. There are garages in the complex but they're tied to those specific apartments. The carports near me are all filled up. The nearest one is a couple of apartments over with no clear line-of-sight between my apartment and the spot.

Almost everyone I know who has tried to keep a nice bike in an apartment has some sort of horror story behind it... From getting pushed over by drunk idiots to theft to vandalism..

FYI many of these won't allow a 'wet vehicle' inside (ie with fuel and oil)

I'll have to talk to the unit manager.

Also I've heard of more than one 'setup theft' where someone picks up on a bike that's left through the week in storage like this

Again, if they want it, they'll get it. Just trying to make it as difficult as possible.

Many apartment complexes have garages you can rent too..

No dice. See response above.

 

[Pariah]

Paint it pink and put streamers on the handlebars.

 

[jaha2000]

2K a year for bike insurance? how old are you? I was paying less that 400 a year for full coverage for my daytona 675

 

[JulesMaximus]

Storage unit sounds like a good idea.

 

[JulesMaximus]

2K a year for bike insurance? how old are you? I was paying less that 400 a year for full coverage for my daytona 675

Yeah, mine is about $30/month for full coverage on my SV650.

 

[roguerower]

2K a year for bike insurance? how old are you? I was paying less that 400 a year for full coverage for my daytona 675

23, male, 8 months riding experience, 1 speeding ticket 1.5 years ago (75 in 65 on highway), no accidents. Pay $65/mo for my GS. Geico wants $2400, Progressive wants $3k, rest are way out there.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

23, male, 8 months riding experience, 1 speeding ticket 1.5 years ago (75 in 65 on highway), no accidents. Pay $65/mo for my GS. Geico wants $2400, Progressive wants $3k, rest are way out there.

Check state farm; they're usually the cheapest if you're under 25.

 

[jaha2000]

Check state farm; they're usually the cheapest if you're under 25.

Agreed, and the way the do bikes is different than everybody else. They dont do classes (sport, touring, HD) only by displacement.
So a 600 CC Supersport is the same as a 600CC cruiser.
Was great when i had my sportbike, i have gotten rid of them now that i have the Supermoto.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Agreed, and the way the do bikes is different than everybody else. They dont do classes (sport, touring, HD) only by displacement.
So a 600 CC Supersport is the same as a 600CC cruiser.
Was great when i had my sportbike, i have gotten rid of them now that i have the Supermoto.

That seems like a stupid way to do it. It is the plastics on sport bikes that make them expensive to repair and so easily totalled.