Security isn't a dirty word

[japes1275]

Good point, at the end of the day it's just a bike and can be replaced.

Is HISS that good then?

[Yeti]

Seems to be but now it's been around a while I don't doubt those that know what they are doing, know what they are doing. But yeah seemingly it will stop an oik with a screwdriver and set of snips dead in the water.

Don't worry about it. It's like worrying about dropping your bike. (leave worring to those that do it best... normally your Mum/parents!) Assume you will, and it will and everyday it doesn't is a bonus and a little ray of sunshine and you will enjoy yourself so much more out and about on the bike.

[Zenarchy]

If do a search on youtube for 'Zanx' - that's a guy from another forum I visit. He's made it his mission to test out all sorts of chains and locks. From what I can gather there are only a couple of manufacturers selling them in the UK that have managed to withstand his tests or gets his approval.

Almax is one of them (Almax Security Chains Limited), and I think
pragmasis was the other (Protector and Squire Chains from Pragmasis).

Some of the 'gold' standard thatcham approved and sold secure chains he crops in a matter of seconds (last I heard he was pushing to try to have them to beef up their standards of testing etc). Though his tests are probably more representative of a determined thief rather than a passer by chancing their arm with a screwdriver.

The chains are big, heavy and bulky to be riding around with, but a lot of people seem to swear by them. Might be more convenient to use at home though they do sell a bag that can be strapped to the bike somehow to carry them too.

I use a disc lock on mine when I'm out and about, combined with an alarm on the bike. The disc lock I use is a Motrax Vishas. Again, on the recommendation of the Zanx fella (and seems to be backed up by a lot of people who use them). From what I remember he said that was one that he couldn't get off.

Some of the cheaper disk locks seem to be quite useless. Seen a few pictures of people who've managed to break or shatter them quite easily (sometimes by accident by just pushing the bike while forgetting they've had them attached). Some of the cheaper ones can be opened with any key or even with a pen top too.

If you're parking your bike relatively close to where you're staying there's an alarm you can get fairly cheaply that'll page you if anyone interferes with it (can also be done silently I think so you can catch them at it).

Motorbikealarm.co.uk. motorbike alarm / motorcycle alarm online shop! WE ALSO SHIP WORLDWIDE! | Motorcycle Alarms/ Motorbike Alarm and Immobiliser Systems - www.motorbikealarm.co.uk

even has a sort of forcefield thing I read so you can set it to alert you when someone is too close to it (though I don't have first hand experience with that so not sure how well it works).

They offer some cheaper alarms that include an immobaliser too that are quite easy to fit (though you probably won't get an insurance discount if you buy one of the cheaper ones and fit it yourself). It might be possible to wire in the imbobaliser without the alarm if you didn't want the alarm function perhaps.

[jarl]

Again, Almax Movies - Almax Security Chains - Video Content

Phone them up for a discount!

[davsato]

agree with whoever said an alarm is only noticed by the owner- people just dont want to get involved theses days.
a few years back when i had just converted my XT to a supermoto and everything on it was brand new and it looked the dogs bollox, i took it to a bike show and parked up, using my krypton disc lock and then promptly losing the key. i had to go back in the show to a tool stand, borrow his biggest bolt croppers and go and sort it out.
my point is that in broad daylight i walked up to an obviously new or newly customised bike, surrounded by dozens of bikers who know all about bike thieves and complain bitterly about the police never doing anything etc, gnashed through the lock (it wasnt easy, im a big bloke and they were 4' bolt croppers, big up for krypton locks) got on the bike and took the blokes croppers back. nobody even hardly looked let alone challenged what i was up to, so much for the "brotherhood".
i would have at least asked what i was doing, and got a sheepish "im a ****, i lost my lock key, but its my bike heres the ignition key" etc- or a few umms and ahs- it doesnt take many dodgy answers to some simple questions to ring alarm bells and take a vid or a pic with the mobly.

oh, and as soon as id got through the lock i saw the key in the grass by the front wheel. doh!

[davsato]

Some of the cheaper disk locks seem to be quite useless. Seen a few pictures of people who've managed to break or shatter them quite easily (sometimes by accident by just pushing the bike while forgetting they've had them attached). Some of the cheaper ones can be opened with any key or even with a pen top too.

yeah you can do that with those small stubby keyed barrel locks, 5 pin and 7 pin (like a hardly ablson ignition barrel, oh dear!) can be opened by shoving the clear plastic end of a bic pen into it, ive seen it done in a demo and you wouldve sworn the bloke just used a key, it was that quick.
thats why no thatcham approved lock has these anymore.

[StumpyFingers]

Good point, at the end of the day it's just a bike and can be replaced.

Is HISS that good then?

When I got my bike insured and told them it had Hiss they said HISS was one of the best.

[francis_geoff]

I think that all the security devices will not stop someone who is a good thief. The best you can do is deter them. Chains, disc locks, HISS all work as deterents, but where you leave it is the most important point. If the bike is overlooked by a dozen residential windows it will make the thief think twice, if it is overlooked by a wharehouse that is shut at night expect your bike to be missing in the morning.

[StumpyFingers]

A good deterrent is to park in view of a CCTV camera, as long as it is working, then if it does get tampered with there is a chance of you seeing the perps and getting an ID.

[japes1275]

It seems to me to be a catch 22 sort of thing when finding somewhere to leave it. If you leave it in full view, say at the front of a hotel, then it is going to get seen by any dodgy types but is difficult for them to steal it without being seen. On the other hand, if you leave it 'round the back' it's less likely to be spotted but if it is then the thieves have a much easier job.