Alarms?

[Rob]

So again I have done the search thing and again come up empty handed. I am thinking of using my bike to travel back and forth to LA. I would be leaving the bike for a week or two at a time. Inside of a parking lot but I can't find anything but a Bicycle rake to chain it to. I have a Disc Lock also but would like something that will make some noise and maybe make the bike un ride able it taken. Any ideas?

 

[FJRBluesman]

Motorcycle insurance.

IMHO If they want it bad enough, they'll get it. I find most alarms alarmingly annoying. No one pays attention to them and they cost you money and give you the false security that it's a deterrent.

Some expensive alarms call you and tell you the vehicle is being ripped off or tampered with. That doesn't help much when you're out of town.

My worthless .02¢.

 

[mattster31]

+1 with what FJRBluesman said. Theft Insurance is the only way to actually protect your investment. I have a Scorpio alarm but really it's just a fancy noisemaker. That and a disklock may deter the average thief, but if they really want it, they WILL get it.

 

[HaulinAshe]

I own one, a Scorpio i900. Nice alarm as alarms go.

1. The proximity sensor does NOT create a shield of protection. You can walk up quickly to the bike, grab something and run off without ever setting off the alarm. Someone or something large has to linger a bit and let it chirp a few times, before the alarm actually goes off.

2. I have yet to attach the ignition kill. If they want it bad enough, they'll get it. And I like not having to overcome an alarm fault out in the boonies. Although, the unit has worked flawlessly since seven months ago when I installed it.

If I was parking the bike someplace like LA, I'd opt for damn good insurance coverage, MoTow from AMA to get a ride when it's stolen, a good cover to lessen the visual temptation, and a cable or rotor lock so it's not too easy to roll it away.

My $.02 too

 

[OldBoy123]

Rob you ask for "ANY IDEAS"?

Alarm,locks,low jack. It just slows them down.

Which is a good thing.

Lets say you put a Disklock on both front and back.

Then a big chain through the wheels and frame.

How long would it take them to rip it off?

Can you count 123? Thats all four-five guys need to lift it into the back of a truck.

You need to lock it to something. Well lit area and use a comanation of different locks.

Point is make them work hard to get your bike. They may look for a easy target.

Oh about Low Jack. Most of the time you find out after your car,motorcycle is found and return to you.

Its trashed,Total loss. But hay you got it back.

Thats my two cents worth.

 

[HotRodZilla]

"Any ideas"? Yes...Forgo the alarm and put your bike in a storage unit. A small one that will barely fit the bike. It's like renting a garage and most are pretty secure. Don't put it in a fancy air conditioned unit, just your basic storage place with a gate and a lock on your unit. It'll be cheaper than an alarm and the peace of mind will be well worth it.

 

[krashdragon]

"Any ideas"? Yes...Forgo the alarm and put your bike in a storage unit. A small one that will barely fit the bike. It's like renting a garage and most are pretty secure. Don't put it in a fancy air conditioned unit, just your basic storage place with a gate and a lock on your unit. It'll be cheaper than an alarm and the peace of mind will be well worth it.

Yup...best idea... A 5X8 OR EVEN A 5X10, and there's tons of them around.

Even jacket and helmet.

I would suggested getting one with good security, then if something does happen, your insurance co wont' argue.

Mary

 

[Rob]

I have given thought to pretty much all these ideas. I am glad I am thinking the same as everyone else. I have good Theft Ins and Damn Skippy I have GAP Ins. I guess the best I can do is lock it and hope for the best.

Thanks I appreciate the input.

 

[lnewlf]

Put a Gorilla paging alarm on mine--$136 on Ebay shipped..It's fairly unobtrusive once you get the right level of sensitivity. But as they said-if they want it they'll get it..A battery powered saw will cut thru a New York chain quickly..I guess insurance is the best bet..

 

[CRMH Eagle]

The people in the business across the street love to show off their rides: 3 new hummers with $$$$ rims, new dodge 2500 on risers, and dodge 300m with shiney rims that cost more than my fjr. In the daytime while people were here working thieves quickly broke into one of the hummers and stole a laptop, gps, etc. When the cop showed up to take the report someone asked how this happenned. He said all the new cars with flashy wheels just screams "steal me." He said if a thief can get whatever if the opportunity is right.

Keep reputable insurance on your ride and use common sense.

Maybe most thiefs think our fjr's look like bmw's and are thinking "I don't want to steal that....it cost too much to maintain." ^_^

 

[mattster31]

Maybe most thiefs think our fjr's look like bmw's and are thinking "I don't want to steal that....it cost too much to maintain." ^_^

Very true, I get asked if my bike is a BMW all the time. I have yet to run into someone who knows it's a Yamaha right off the bat........they say, "Really?????". My insurance agent told me the 600cc bikes tend to be ones that are taken, because they are cheaper to insure once they are re-registered on a "clean" frame. Oh........ and they get used as race/stunt bikes. :evo:

BTW I have the Scorpio i500 with remote ignition disable, and a disklock. I am just paranoid because I had my 1987 FZ750 stolen from work when it was a week old!! To top it off I was screwed by the insurance company who told me I did not have theft insurance. Turns out the person who did my policy was fired for stealing from the company......and clients. Lucky for me I got the bike back a few months later (the thieves could not find a frame to swap it to, because it was so new).

I guess I just want to try and avoid the hassle of having to go through insurance in the event of a theft. Call it a false sense of security if you like, but it still gives me a wee bit of "piece of mind" (I do have theft coverage now).

Another thing I thought I should mention. If you get the Scorpio brand alarm, you need to have the ignition disable option. If you don't, the bike can still be started and ridden!! The alarm will sound once it's started (with a big screwdriver in the ignition), but the thief can ride it to an area where he can disable it.

 

[rocketdoc]

Xena disc alarm, used mine for three years, and still going. Back it up with some lead in the chamber and your off!!

 

[Rob]

So now I am wondering. Does most bike Ins not cover Theft? I mean I can't imagine not having it. I do have the bike financed so maybe yours was paid off so you didn't have it covered?

 

[RonBB]

I have the Scorpio i500 with remote ignition disable, and a disklock

Me too. I live in a small town that is really pretty safe. I only use the disklock in other areas, when I expect to be away from the bike for a while, & always on tours at motels. PS I make a habit of never taking my bike to a movie theatre where an observer would know how much time they would have to get away with the bike.

 

[Bungie]

Put a Gorilla paging alarm on mine--$136 on Ebay shipped..It's fairly unobtrusive once you get the right level of sensitivity. But as they said-if they want it they'll get it..A battery powered saw will cut thru a New York chain quickly..I guess insurance is the best bet..

Funny I should read this, I just took the Gorilla alarm off my Meanstreak (somebody! please steal it!!) this morning with the intention of putting it on the FJR. I was in a bit of a rush so I thought I'd throw it under the seat. No go joe. Not with toolkit, flat repair kit and bungie cords under there.

Where did you mount yours?

 

[RonBB]

Where did you mount yours?

On the 05 it was under the seat. On the 07 under the ECU area.

 

[windchaser1942]

I have given thought to pretty much all these ideas. I am glad I am thinking the same as everyone else. I have good Theft Ins and Damn Skippy I have GAP Ins. I guess the best I can do is lock it and hope for the best. Thanks I appreciate the input.

There was a dude in Huntington WV that was faced with a problem similar to the one you outlined so he made it point to park his bike "in front of a parking garage security camera". A few days after doing this his bike made the 6 o'clock evening news....the so called security camera filmed the bike being stolen. The crooks wore hooded sweatshirts, backed their truck up to the bike at an angle the camera could not identify , loaded the bike and off they went! Watching the video on tv was impressive as it was literally only a minute or two before the bike was loaded and they took off.