Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Locks

What do you use to secure your bike? At first I was thinking about one of those brake rotor locks, but I'm leaning more towards a cable through the frame and front wheel (and possibly stationary object if available).

What say you?

How much work is involved in cutting the disc lock off vs. the cable? Would seem to me the disk lock is fast and easy to apply with the same level of security.

The cable around a tree etc. would stop them from picking it up with a tow truck or whatever and hauling it away. Then again if they want it so bad to bring a tow truck they probably have heard of bolt cutters too.

I would go with the disc lock if I was going that way.

In the days when I had a bike which didn't have an alarm, I used a chain through the back wheel. It was at a place that didn't have any 'furniture' to put the chain around. I also put it over the driver's seat, so there was no way I could get on and ride away without taking the chain off, and the experts who apparently know say to keep the chain off the floor so there's nothing hard for them to use to saw it off. Over the back means it's kept of the floor.

However carrying a chain around is a pain.

I have a disk lock that I use on the America when I'm away for more thna a couple of days, but it wouldn't work on my 125 - hence the chain.

Go with the disk lock idea. It's easier to carry around, and as secure. Just get a reminder device. They are easy to forget about....

It depends how much security you need.
I carry a cable & a disk lock on the road but the disk lock it easy to use.
BE SURE TO GET THE ORANGE CABLE SO YOU DON'T TRY TO RIDE OFF WITH IT.

Xena Disc Alarm
This one has an alarm so you don't try and ride off with it still attached.

usually when a bike is stolen it is picked up and loaded on a truck of some kind. it is rare that someone takes the time to hot wire a bike and ride it away. so if your not locking it to a tree or something, its almost pointless. 2 guys can pick just about any bike up and its gone in 30 seconds. i dont think there is a big market for our bikes, not like h.d. or a crotch rocket and, i think theft is somewhat rare?? so there really isnt much you can do other than secureing it to something solid. even then if somebody wants it bad enough.....its gone. it dont matter much what you do, a thief i once new told me, it has to be simple and quick, (like i said, pick it up, put it in a truck, gone that quick) deterents are good, but dont expect much, if you live someplace where thieves are all around,....get a garage!!!!!! better yet....move!!!! hahahahahaha 2 people i hate more than most anything are thieves and liers and usually where there is one there is the other

I have a cable lock that self coils into a nice small package. Mine uses a key but I know it can be had with a combo lock.

I use a Kryptonite EV disk lock:



and I have a Kryptonite Barbed Wire Cable (20mm):

Choose carefully if you're buying a disc lock. I failed with 2 before I found one that fitted our discs. I use a DL + Hardened chain, but again a decent chain won't go through the back wheel of a Speedmaster. That means you can only chain the front wheel, so unles you're securing to eg. a post, there's no advantage over a DL. Cables are a last resort to my mind. They're too easy to snick through.

i use an alarm picked up off ebay. it's called "SPY" i think, or something similar. it locks the starter on the bike if the alarm is triggered only way to unlock the starter from that point is to turn off the alarm. it'd be a big headache to load it and try to pull the wires and whatnot later.

i feel pretty confident with leaving it under my carport when the girlfriend and i are both at work. i think the actual alarm system was like 40 bucks or so.

thorn

Face facts, locks only keep honest people honest and only deter lazy thieves. Pros carry expanding foam spray to defeat alarms and bolt cutters for locks and chains then they can team rush any cycle in 30 seconds. I like the Xena alarm because it'd be hard to ride away with it still attached, the Stapler kit has an attractive price and as long as you attach the lanyard you'll be fine.

You're not going to stop truly determined thieves. With all things, not just motorcycles, if they want it they will get it. So the lazy ones (probably the majority) are the ones I want to stop.

I have a lock on my rotor you can't cut with a bolt cutter but that doesn't stop them from picking it up and carrying it away.The one I use looks like this and fits my rear rotor.
http://www.masterlocks.com/Models.asp?Target=No.%2037%20Padlocks

Hmm
I just leave the key in the bike.

Hmmmmm, well, my insurance is full coverage and it's paid up.

I use a disclock with a bungie cord strung from the lock
to the starter button.

Look, no lock is perfect.
But if it serves to deter the casual thief, it's doing it's job.

When i say I use it thats kinda an over statement. It's in my tool bag. For the most part it stays there.

The best theft-deterrent features on our bikes are,

It's not a H*rley

It's not a GSXR

Those are the two thieves most want to steal.

Bloody great chain and a bloody big padlock and alarm when I'm out. At home just the fence and the bloody big dog.

Yeah, that's not really going to help when I'm away from home.

Sorry, thought Dwight's offer had cancelled your trip

Just the California part. I'm still going to Henderson for my cousin's wedding.

Yeah, that doesn't really help when I'm asleep in my hotel room.

i use chain and good quality padlock on the disc, the padlock is a lot cheaper than a disc lock and just as strong!
wayne

Okay smartass comment on my part, but my parking space is right outside my bedroom window.
Actually there has been a rash of bike thefts by Russian gang types around here (I've heard), so I use Street Cuffs. I cuff the fork to the bumper of my Jeep...makes it a pain in the a** to steal either one of them. At work I park in front of the station next to three Hardleys, a Shadow, and a weird Honda chopper thing...if 6 cycle-riding Army guys aren't good security, nothing is
When I'm out somewhere and have to park for a while, I pretty much just make sure I'm not leaving anything worth much in the bags...got used to a topless Jeep with security being crossed fingers.

Okay, I cheaped out, but I used some things I learned here and elsewhere online to make a somewhat educated choice. I picked up a shrouded Masterlock padlock with a regular key system, not one of those round-key barrel locks that can be picked with a ballpoint pen. Then I got a 6' plastic coated 10mm thick steel cable, also from Masterlock.

Now I know a determined thief will only be deterred for about 10 seconds. As I said in a prior post I just want to deter the lazy and/or unprepared thief. With the cable I can lock it to a stationary object if available and still go through the frame and front wheel.

I'll combine this with the other strategies mentioned here. I'm not super-paranoid - most thieves probably don't even want a Triumph, but as I said before I didn't want to do nothing cuz I'd feel real stupid if it did get stolen. Now I'll just feel massively ticked off.

Realistically you're just stopping the "grab and ride" joy riders. Any of these are only minor deterents and basically you can purchase the least expensive item that is easy to put on and remove. Alarm is good because at least it draws attention. Not that anyone really looks or cares... With Disk Locks don't even need to pick up the whole bike, I hear they just put a skateboard under the front wheel. Cables and chain are usually nothing that bolt cutters or a cordless grinder with a cutting wheel can't get through in about 5sec.

Just make sure your insurance is paid up...

You can get through the cable type with a Leatherman in about 30 seconds.

back in the old days (hahahaha) i used to put a padlock on the drive chain. that way it couldnt be rolled away. but if you do that, and have a few beers, it can end up being...not so pretty.(dont ask hahahaha)and i had a buddy that chained his to a tree one night and after a few beers hahahahahaha lets just say, from a viewers point....it was halarious. but the padlock on the drive chain was an oldtimers theft deterent and my bikes were never stolen?? i think i like them locks that go thru the brake disk (or around drive chain) that have an audible alarm so that even if they pick it up it sounds off. that way i guess if i were at a motel i would know it was happening and could respond but thats about the only time i think it would be worthwhile??? I HATE THIEVES!!!!!