Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Alarm

Has anyone seen this before? My first instinct says "junk". My second instinct says it wouldn't be too costly of a mistake unless it blew up my bike.

It makes my Triumph alarm rather expensive.

Could be a good alarm. A couple of us here have this one and it's in the same price range. For me it has worked flawlessly for a couple of years. Cheap isn't always bad.

I've been using the same alarm as Piper for more than 2 years with no problems, bought from the same guy. He gets them direct from the factory in singapore, is honest, and gives good after sales service (I bought a spare remote for mine off him when I lost my keys). I've also installed 2 more in other bikes with no issues.

I've also installed an alarm very similar to that prike one in a friend's kawasaki. It developed issues after six months and started flattening the battery.

I'd go with the cheetah one, if for no other reason than I've got the wiring diagram to fit them to our bikes on my website. The link is in my signature.

I can supply you with the correct plug to fit straight into your bike..no need to cut any wires! Check it out in the Vendor section and on ebay. Good luck with the alarm..like everyone says cheap is'nt always bad..an alarm is relatively basic electronics. Mine cost approx $45 in the UK and seems fine.

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I've got the wiring diagram to fit them to our bikes on my website

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Yep. Couldn't have done it without your help!

Fitted the cheetah alarm with the tilt sensor to my 07 speedy, worked it out before i knew we had instructions on this forum (darn) its brilliant, does all i want and the insurance company liked it too, dropped the premium by 55 bux aust, so i,m happy, cheers all, Tadpole

+1 for the Cheetah Motorcycle Alarm, fast shipment and thanks to Sandman an easy install.

Had it for over 2 years now and no problems at all.

Like the x-tra bonus funktion of being able to use it to scare the ****** out of pedestrians pressing the remote in my pocket while driving by....

Ditto here had it on for about two years now now problems at all.

Yeah. I don't understand the plug any more than I do the wire instructions.

Does that Cheetah Alarm go off if someone stands the bike up? Is that what the shock sensor does?

Yes. It's sensitive... And has an immobiliser function as well.

There's two models of the cheetah - both have a shock sensor, a current sensor to detect ignition on/hotwire, and an accessory wire. The expensive one also has an "intelligent" tilt switch as well (it's a separate plug in module). The idea is if you leave a bike on either the side or centre stand the "intelligent" switch will detect a change in it's position if moved. However you then need to find a place to mount an extra module about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and our bikes don't have centre stands so don't need the "intelligent" switch. There's a low-tech solution - I used the extra "accessory" wire with a cheap ($2) mercury tilt switch.

The accessory wire's there for things like hard bags or fairing compartments etc that you want the alarm to protect by installing extra switches. Just wire one side of the mercury switch to the wire, and connect the other side to the bike's frame/battery negative then use some double-sided tape to stick the switch under the frame's spine. You'll want to play with the exact position of the switch so you can stand the bike halfway upright before it goes off, or you'll have problems when you park on a hill. There's instructions & pics for this on my site.

The shock sensor's adjustable (and can be disabled with the remote) but even at it's most sensitive you can get around it by moving the bike carefully. It's really only to protect against someone vandalising your bike. So yes without some sort of tilt a very careful thief could potentially wheel your bike away. Putting a disk lock on too will of course make it that much harder, but they're a pain if you're on and off the bike a lot.

Given long enough anything (even humidity) will drain the battery. However if it's in good condition and fully charged you should be able to get away with a week. (Having said that my 3 year old battery will only last 3-4 days without a run.) If you're worried about it just don't fit the LED - chop it off and tape up the end of the wires. You could even put a small switch in one of the LED wires to give you a choice. Something to think about is that if you're only riding once a week or less you should install a power socket on the bike (triumph have an expensive one, but it's a standard bmw part and you can pick them up all over for much cheaper) and use it with a battery tender to keep it topped up.

This doesn't look like the switch on your page, but will it work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1

Umm I'm not familiar with that design but it looks like it should work. Just ask the seller if it's a glass case or a plastic one? If it's glass I'd avoid it. Mercury's not the healthiest thing to have floating around loose.

Weird thing is that I just did a search on a big US electronics site and couldn't find mercury switches - maybe the FDA banned them there or something. It's a litigious country you live in after all.

I worked as a mobile electronics installation technician for 2 years to put myself through college. I have used the merc switches that are on your link, martlet and I have never had any issues with them not functioning properly as long as the wiring is secured properly. What they are is a small glass tube with a tiny amount of mercury inside of it encased within a larger bubble of plastic to keep it safe from breakage. Sandman, you are right as far as the FDA ban... they stopped us from using them about 12 months ago due to the harmful nature of mercury. The new ones use a ball bearing that rolls in a tube to make the connection.

Mercury switches. Talk about overeducated, everyone wants to have those mini fluorescents. Save the environment. Right. They contain mercury. Already mercury advisories have been in effect for years if not decades on fish.

So Matt, I would take the wires off the cheetah plug (release the prongs) and insert them into the new plug? Meaning all I would use is the plug blank?

Sorry I have to ask, but I have to ask!

Most of what I spent my time doing was installations of alarms and remote start systems on cars for the cold Nebraska winters.

Funny enough there isn't that much interest in "those mini fluorescents" in my area. People around here must either have enough taste to know better or lack the kind of scratch to waste on that type of thing.

Sorry about trying to be helpful when I can and share a touch of my useless knowledge... I'll keep to myself from now on knowing full well that every post i've read over the last three years lingering on this forum has been nothing if not forthcoming and educational.

I bought the Cheetah alarm 3 years ago and installed using your (sandmanns) instuctions and its worked brilliantly ever since. I added a mercury switch for movement a few months later as they didnt have these on the early alarms. Best investment i ever made. Dont waste your dollars on the genuine ones. The battery in the remote switch is still working after all this time and its a daily rider.

I also have a genuine Triumph datatool alarm that I was lucky enough to buy new (all original packaging)off ebay for less than $200 AUD. I then just followed the instructions and plugged it in. Have had it now for 6 months and only had to replace the batteries in the remotes. The reason for this I suspect, is the alarm was sitting on a shelf for 2 years or so cos no one wanted to buy it for $500 (approx). Anyway, I'm happy with it particularly knowing when I tour and stay in pubs etc I'll always be close enough to hear it go off if anyone wants to play funny bugg#rs.

Mat..My alarm worked out at $45!! The plug is about $14. Actually I think I have sent you one..correct?
Steve

Yep. Ordered it a few days ago.