Best Bike Security?

[fineout]

My fiancee just got relocated to L.A. so I'm going too, obviously taking my bike with me but since we'll be living in an apartment going from a house with a garage and L.A being super sketchy in general I'm really nervous about the bike being stolen. What do you guys use (especially you guys in downtown boston and worcester) that makes you feel ok with your bike? I was looking at some of the caliper locks with the built in alarms but is there anything else that works well?

[cdovego]

I did this for almost 10 years, the best you can do is...


1. Full coverage
2. Stop caring, if they want to take it - they will.

[carsick]

V-strom.

[Falko]

Moto Guzzi.
I leave the keys in mine all the time.

[scottieducati]

The basics are multiple locks (disc and cable, at minimum) and you can think about a lo-jack if you want, but I tend to agree that in general if they want it, they'll get it... just be insured for it and know you're covered fully (e.g.: especially disclose and make sure you're covered for any $$ aftermarket parts)

[aldend123]

Only thing I'd care about is deductible and if you're in a remote area where you can't relatively quickly call for a ride home. I'd have such a hard time going through the extra steps of chains or disc locks each time you want to ride.

Keep a screw driver on the bike and take the clutch lever off if you're nervous.

[MattR302]

Kinda off topic but can you register a non-California emissions model vehicle in California? This would affect whether or not OP could bring his bike with him.

[cdovego]

Clutch lever is a good idea but keep in mind most of these are picked up by a couple of dudes and thrown in a van.

I've watched more security cam footage of these guys in action than one motorcyclist ever should.

It's mega quick and they'll cut anything you've tried to tie it down with. No cares about disc locks or throttle locks. Lo-jack is also disabled quickly and often times they have the inside of the van insulated so the signal is hard to grab by Lo-jack. Doesn't really matter because they've usually disabled the Lo-jack before you call it in.

The more you know...

- - - Updated - - -

Kinda off topic but can you register a non-California emissions model vehicle in California? This would affect whether or not OP could bring his bike with him.

More than 7,500 miles is the magic number unless it's changed recently.

[fineout]

Oh crap.. My bike will be fine I have 12k on it, but my new GTI won't.. Anyone know the legality of keeping them registered in ri if I'm renting the House out here but still owning it?

[scottieducati]

LOL, you will NOT last long in CA trying that game....

[martia]

Get a motion alarm with a pager on the key fob and park in a well lite area. You can also put a cheap phone and turn off the ringer and enable the GPS tracking so you can find your bike.

[RandyO]

grunge

[Garandman]

Clutch lever is a good idea but keep in mind most of these are picked up by a couple of dudes and thrown in a van.

That's why the V-Strom isn't an idle suggestion: they are too tall to fit in a standard cargo van unless you remove the windshield and mirrors. Probably true for any adventure bike.

[tsorfas]

Garage ftw
If not an option full coverage.

[MattR302]

That's why the V-Strom isn't an idle suggestion: they are too ugly that nobody would want to steal them. Probably true for any adventure bike.

Fixed

Juuust kidding. I've considered downsizing from my DR350 and FZ6 into one adventure bike.

[fineout]

Well while I don't have a vstrom my bike is a versys so arguably uglier and about as big. Going to get a cable lock and a caliper lock today, poor bike is getting shipped March 8, and I won't be there until April.

[nick5446]

Get a disk lock and a chain and know that it is probably getting stolen at some point. A Versys probably is one of the safer choices. The supermotos and supersports tend to go quickly.

Regarding the 7,500 mile thing, yeah, they're sticklers about it, but keep your RI registration and license as long as you can. By the time you switch it over you'll probably have enough miles. I think I kept my MA license and registrations for about a year after I moved.