Anti-theft tips and equipment
Is your precious bike in the hands of thiefs? Could you even think about that? Here are some useful precautions and accessories for reducing the possibility of such a horrifying event
"Hey, my bike has been stolen!"
This will be a tough moment. Don't sit and wait for it to happen. Take precautions now! But
let's face the truth: there's no any absolute protection against a professional thief, if
such a fellow is running your territory. They have powerful tools and they use methods
that sometimes you couldn't even imagine. They can break every lock and de-activate
burglar alarms. If they fail in that, they can simply take the bike on their van. Of
course, the density and the habits of the thieves vary from one country to another.
So, what's our bike future? Is it absolutely true that we loose our beloved bikes some
day? Of course, not. Chances are small, if you take the right precautions.
Precautions against thieves
1) Bike insurance against theft. Very important. Of course it depends
on the type of the contract and the good faith of the company.
2) Safe place for parking the bike all of the day and night. It is vital
for your bike not to be left on the street and not to be visible. Of course, you can't
always find a safe parking place. In that case, tight the bike
from the frame to a fixed point, using a really good chain or wire rope.
3) Use many-many locks. Particularly when you leave the bike on the
street or outside of the cinema, the pub or your friend's house. Better is not to use a
single type of safety lock. Use high quality locks and don't think about the cost of them.
Think the cost of a new bike. Additionally, try to imagine, if possible, any thieving
method and modify your anti-theft methods appropriately.
4) Install a burglar alarm.
Of course, a professional thief can easily bypass the immobilisation of a bike. But don't
be disappointed. The more locks and alarms you use, the more chances that the thief will
leave your bike untouched in order to go to another not so well locked one. Of course, do
not use alarm only. No one else is interested when hearing the siren. Use at least one
additional lock (NOT ONLY THE STEERING LOCK! IT'S COMPLETELY USELESS) and stay in a place
you could hear the siren. Preferably, install a pager that remotely urges you when the
alarm is activated. They are small, handy, they have small power consumption and their
range is some hundreds of meters.
Anti-theft equipment
Disk brake locks. They are small and handy. But if you start to move
the bike without removing them, you will be forced to install a new (and costly) brake
disk, or a transmission gear. Avoid those types that can be cut by a bolt cutter or they
are not made from hardened steel.
U-locks (Shackles). They are useful for frequent use,
like the disk locks. Watch out for their thickness (safest are the 16mm types) and, of
course, the manufacturing material. You can't make big damage to the motorcycle if you
start moving without unlocking a U-lock. In case you are VERY aggressive, bike will fall
down and the crashbars will protect it (crashbars? where are
the crashbars?).
Italian TAs (from 1997) are equipped with a shackle socket on the luggage carrier.
Normally, it is made to accept a 12 mm thick shackle (e.g. ABUS 54HB). However, you could
use a 16 mm type (like ABUS 58HB) if you insert only the one side into it. In that case,
take some precautions (e.g. using a thick self-adhesive tape) to avoid scratching the
passenger handle.
Some brands offer a special socket that can be installed on the side. You may not be able
to use such a product in case you have already installed side luggage mounting plates.
OXFORD makes a socket for installing on the rear mudguard but you must avoid it (any real
good shackle is heavy enough for that mudguard).
Wire ropes. Suitable for chaining the motorcycle to a fixed point, thus
they are better than shackles. They are easier in use when compared to chains. Usually,
they are covered with steel rings to prevent cutting by a bolt cutter (at least a portable
one). But always buy from a good, not cheap brand.
Chains with locks. Among the safest possible choices, if the chain and
lock are real tough ones. They cost more than other types of anti-theft locks. The
key-lock must not leave room to use a lever to break it. They are really heavy and they
must be covered with PVC, in order to avoid damaging the paint.
Prefer the devices that have passed tests from known national and international
organisations. Again, avoid cheap, no-name products. Better try to ask the advice of a
professional locksmith.
Alarms. An
additional help against theft.