Stolen bikes, what's secure?

[toocrazy2yoo]

So, my bike, a C-14 at 700 lbs with a disk brake-alarm, fobs, under cover and not really usable to anyone other than as a tear-down because of the computer, am I making it difficult enough for the bad guys? I get that they can grab CID's R-1, what's it weigh, half of mine? I just don't get it, are they riding them off, tossing them in the back of a truck? How the hell do they do that? I get that they chop them up for parts and whatnot, but what IS safe, anyway?

[Pittenger5]

Insurance.

[MysteriousR1]

I personally would never park my bike outside, to many people see it. I know that is not always a option, but my bikes would be in my kitchen before they're outside overnight.

[Garandman]

Buy a V-Strom: they can't reach the handlebars. Seriously it seems sport bikes, small dirt bikes, and Harleys get stolen, mostly for parts. I don't think your bike is high on the hit parade because of the risk/effort/return.

My wife always used to joke that no one would ever steal my WRX because "Project kids don't know how to drive standards."

Two weeks ago, I nearly caught a kid trying to steal my WRX, who would have stolen my WRX, if he'd been able to figure out how to put it in reverse.....

[crowspeed07]

nothing is secure if they want it they will find a way. just make sure you have insurance and some luck

[Cid369]

So, my bike, a C-14 at 700 lbs with a disk brake-alarm, fobs, under cover and not really usable to anyone other than as a tear-down because of the computer, am I making it difficult enough for the bad guys? I get that they can grab CID's R-1, what's it weigh, half of mine? I just don't get it, are they riding them off, tossing them in the back of a truck? How the hell do they do that? I get that they chop them up for parts and whatnot, but what IS safe, anyway?

WTF you too. Wow this is fuckin crazy dude. When did it happened?

[joeswamp]

I think chaining your bike to an immovable object will slow them down. I've seen security camera footage of bike thieves in broad daylight -- they back up a van and four guys lift the bike inside. Takes maybe 15 seconds.

[ssg]

WTF you too. Wow this is fuckin crazy dude. When did it happened?

He's just asking, his bike is fine...but obviously trying to learn from what has occurred to others.

[ssg]

I think chaining your bike to an immovable object will slow them down. I've seen security camera footage of bike thieves in broad daylight -- they back up a van and four guys lift the bike inside. Takes maybe 15 seconds.

Yeah pretty much making any attempt at keeping your bike - yours, is suitable...because there is always the jackass that does nothing and and just leaves it sitting there assuming the honesty of others will prevail that will get his bike jacked first because it's easier.


That said, I remember seeing another guy's R6 on here (Cambridge, chained to a meter) and he came out the next day to find his Kryptonite NYC chain ripped in half by a torch or plasma cutter or something...so if your bike is needed, apparently they take out the big guns.

[Cid369]

He's just asking, his bike is fine...but obviously trying to learn from what has occurred to others.

Oh ok. I didn't know cuz I'm all fucked up about this whole thing.

[ssg]

Oh ok. I didn't know cuz I'm all fucked up about this whole thing.

Yeah I can understand, hopefully insurance comes through for ya soon and you can just focus on the road ahead.

[BluGixxer]

Unfortunataly, a lock is only to keep an honest man honest, and out of temptation.
The only true way of protection is out of sight out of mind, if the thief doesn't know its there, he/she can't steal it.
And if it is that importanat, get good insurance
Yrs ago,there was a car at a car lot surounded by other cars,target car had no gas, no batery,locked,w/hoodlock,in a lightedbusy area, Thief "hotwired" and moved 4 cars to get to target car,took batery and gas from inside building somehow, and drove off.
If a thief wants it bad enough , its his.

[Erebus]

There's no such things as secure if it's parked outside. There's just "really easy to steal" and many degrees of "more difficult to steal". If they really want it they will get it.

I would think a good heavy chain through the frame, wheels, and something that doesn't move with some kind of alarm system would be the best bet. The chain will slow them down and the alarm will attract attention. Two things they really try to avoid. Might be enough to discourage them into selecting an easier victim.

It's like having a big, mean looking dog. It's not that they can't deal with a dog but it's easier for them to move on to a house without a big, mean looking dog.

[Hammerspur]

What is secure?... Very little of any value.

Motorcycles are eye-candy and visibility is a major risk for theft.
If you park outside regularly, even at work say, and your bike is not always in your view or observable by others who you trust, some opportunist will realize the potential and "case" the scene to plan the harvest.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't out to get you!

I live on a secondary main drag in the 'burbs, instituions for the 'socially impaired' a few miles away in one direction, low-rent district many of the same clientele hails from a few miles off in the other. I work at the former.

I try to never work on/maintain either of my rides out front, washing, etc.
Instead I ride or push them around to the backyard where some privacy (secrecy?) is afforded.

Both of my bikes have garage door openers hard wire mounted with convenient push button switches readily at hand. As I approach my driveway, switch is keyed, I pass through opening door with minimal hesitation, hit the kill button and re-key the door to close behind me for the shortest possible starring role to the by-passing general public.

Here one moment, gone the next... just like f-in' Batman heading into his cave...

AND, I live with three big dogs!

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/FRF91) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

Two different types of locks will deter thieves as well. Thieves are generally looking for the quick grab and or are prepared for 1 type of lock. So a disc lock and chain it to something.

[DuncanMoto]

From what I was told, by a boston LEO, the true professionals don't bother to unlock it.
They just toss it in a van and go. They're chopped up within minutes.
Those same criminals do not bother with bikes chained to anchored objects and LoJacks do not phaze them.

[Cheese]

From what I was told, by a boston LEO, the true professionals don't bother to unlock it.
They just toss it in a van and go. They're chopped up within minutes.
Those same criminals do not bother with bikes chained to anchored objects and LoJacks do not phaze them.

A van, two steel pipes and 4 guys. They run one pipe through the front spokes and the other through the rear spokes. The four of them grab the ends of the pipes, lift the bike into the van and they're out of there in 15 seconds or less. Steering and caliper locks don't slow them down at all.

[Garandman]

From what I was told, by a boston LEO, the true professionals don't bother to unlock it.
They just toss it in a van and go. They're chopped up within minutes.
Those same criminals do not bother with bikes chained to anchored objects and LoJacks do not phaze them.

And most sport bikes will fit in a minivan.

Brooklyn: guys pull up at 3:08 in the video, they are on the move again at 3:36 and there are only two of them

YouTube- ‪Honda CBR600RR 2007 STOLEN!‬‎

[chowda633]

Unreal... Always the same people stealing bikes seems like.

I got a lot of questions about insurance might just start another thread on it but I have 175 dollars a month in insurance on my Busa. They don't know its turbo'ed and I have over 20k invested and I am saving all the receipts. I also have a half million in life insurance out too. Covering my ass on all ends on this! So say it does get stolen and I produce all the receipts the have to cover it right? I went with Progressive because they are a big company. If it gets stolen hell... I will just build a bigger and better one!

[scottfromboston]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Minivans are tangible evidence of evil.

And most sport bikes will fit in a minivan.

Brooklyn: guys pull up at 3:08 in the video, they are on the move again at 3:36 and there are only two of them

YouTube- ‪Honda CBR600RR 2007 STOLEN!‬‎

[Billy]

Nothing is safe. The two best things you can do is have good insurance and try to park your bike inside. If inside is not an option then buy a chain and run the chain through your frame and lock it to an non moveable object.

[Cheese]

You never know if methods really work or whether you just got lucky but on group rides where I've had multiple bikes parked outside overnight, I've had good luck parking 3-4 bikes together with their front tires touching (picture a clover pattern) then running a cable lock through the front wheels. Obviously the cable can be cut, but hopefully thieves will move on to an easier/quicker target.

[Cambridge K]

That did not look like a soccer or hockey mom in that mini van.

[Garandman]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Minivans are tangible evidence of evil.

If you said that about SUV's I'd be with you. Minivans are teh awesome when you have kids. Tons more room than SUV's, sliding doors, decent mileage. The V-Strom is much too high to fit, though.

When I see the Hausfraus (or guys) in their SUV's, one question always comes to mind: "Who do you think you are fooling?"

Are there theft statistics available for bikes? Someone posted on a V-Strom forum and it does not appear that one has ever been stolen in North America.

[obsolete]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Minivans are tangible evidence of evil.

Minivans suck.