MrLaister Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 So the days are nearing to the inevitable purchase of my YBR 125 for commuting to work. I'm sorting out the place where I will keep it at home at the moment, but don't have a place to keep it under cover - like in a garage or secluded area. I'm worried that a bike is such an easy target for vandalism or just plan robbin'! How can I help stop people getting their hands on my pride and joy? I'd love to hear where you keep your bike if not in a garage and if you've had any troubles doing it that way. Parking at work is fine, being a fort with guard dogs! MrL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 As I discussed in a previous thread yesterday, you need to make it VERY awkward to steal. 2 main types of thief - Those who want to Joyride it and those who want to sell it (as is, or as parts). Point 1 - Get a big-ass chain with a disc-detainer lock. Easiest way to steal a bike is to lift it into a van. 11-15 seconds is all it takes. There are videos of this happening. Easiest way to stop it is to make it immovable. Oxford chains are a good start, Motrax and several other brands too. Chain it to something immovable like a building, lamp-post etc. Make sure the chain is as high off the ground as possible, so they can't use it as leverage on bolt-cutters. Disc-detainer locks aren't that easy to find and you have to know what one looks like: These are very hard to pick and require specialist picks. If your lock key looks like a Yale front door key, forget it - I've picked those in less that 3 seconds with a paperclip!! Get one where the shank is hidden or encased. Point 2 - Cover it. Thieves steal to order so if they can't see what's under the cover, they will look elsewhere. Point 3 - Alarms. These don't stop anything, but DO make loud noises and draw attention. It could dissuade thieves from continuing, or even trying at all if they see the flashing red LED. It also alerts you to the theft and a pissed-off owner with a big stick is a great deterrent! Point 4 - Park it somewhere well-lit. Being seen is not good for theft. I also use a disclock. You have to get in the habit of removing it and many come with reminder cables, but it's one extra point that has to be dealt with. Immobilisers are expensive, don't do much to stop lifting it, can fail mid-ride and really only serve to get you slightly cheaper insurance. We really ought to make some stickies with info like this in the Newbie section.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throttled Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Basically as above... I bought a Motrax combined chain and disc lock, but the disc lock part it did not fit the disc. So I got a Motrax Guvnor disc lock, which did not fit the disc, but it goes over a spoke instead. The chain is attached to the disc lock. I then got a disc lock which did fit and use that as well. The chain is attached to a ground anchor from ebay cemented into the ground. I put gravel around the bike and the ground anchor nearer the fence to make it hard to get big bolt cutters into the chain and get proper leverage. The bike is also covered, is right at our front door and under a street light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Oh - Put the chain through some awkward part of the frame or sub-frame, NOT simply through the wheel. The wheel can be removed and the rest of the bike stolen for parts!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark K Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Which is exactly what happened to my first YBR ... Bike gone, I still have the front wheel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
root Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Basically as above... I bought a Motrax combined chain and disc lock, but the disc lock part it did not fit the disc. So I got a Motrax Guvnor disc lock, The guvna disk lock is too tight to the hub on the ybr , so I filed a few mil off a corner & now fits ok also it will fit on the sprocket ,which makes it a bit more secure, as it's harder to remove rear wheel etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrLaister Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 The first thing I found when I searched for disk detainer locks were lots of youtube videos showing you how to pick them! Not full of confidence about that one tbh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throttled Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 It is a compromise between the bike being secure and not spending ages and getting dirty every time I want to go for a ride or park up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 The first thing I found when I searched for disk detainer locks were lots of youtube videos showing you how to pick them! Not full of confidence about that one tbh... I forget what manufacturers call them, but Disc Detainer is a trade term for them. These are still the most difficult locks to pick or even drill properly. Unless you know how the lock is set up, you will drill out the disc(s) that are needed to turn the latch. Trust me - It's a LOT harder than they make it out in those videos. Plus you need the proper tools. After many months practice and knowing the locks inside and out, mine still take me about half an hour to pick. For a thief, it's quicker and easier to cut a padlock off. It is a compromise between the bike being secure and not spending ages and getting dirty every time I want to go for a ride or park up. It then becomes a compromise between riding home and walking home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrLaister Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 In my researching and internet trawling, I've come across the Datatag company. They look promising as to add an additional layer of security onto the bike. Has anyone else used this service? Is it expensive? I was looking at the rules of parking a bike on the roadside and it said that the numberplate has to be viewable at all times - does this mean I can't cover the bike if I keep it on the street at night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throttled Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I had Datatag installed when I got my bike. It cost abut £60. How effective it is, I don't know, but the stickers on the bike may help deter theft. I believe both the numberplate and tax disc should be visible if you park on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I was looking at the rules of parking a bike on the roadside and it said that the numberplate has to be viewable at all times - does this mean I can't cover the bike if I keep it on the street at night? Probably, but I don't know of a single person who's been done for using a bike cover under such circumstances. I also believe that it's illegal for the traffic warden to lift the cover off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexCW Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Hey - glad I found this post as I'm buying my YBR125 this week too! I'm looking to buy a disc lock, but does anyone have any idea which will definitely fit? I can't find any info that confirms the size of the hole on the brake disc, so have no idea which will be suitable. Cheers in advance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulwhite Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 ""We really ought to make some stickies with info like this in the Newbie section...."" +1 best thing to do is make it so it takes a while for you to get going...... say if it takes you 20min to take all the locks off and get going then no way is any thief going to try and steel it. i used to put 3 heavy duty chains on mine and attach it to a lamp post.....took me a good 10- 15 min to take them all off and get going but it never got stolen!. if your going to put a cover on it then id suggest getting something with reflectors as iv put a cover on mine b4 and the neighbor reversed into it at night when they went to work there excuse was they couldnt see it....(shock!) at the mo my bike is stored off road, and if you could find it then it would take about 20 min to just move it onto the road....then there is the 5 ft fence with locked gate, 2 security lights, obstacle course of scrap metal (and things that make allot of noise if knocked over) like stacks of SMA baby milk tins dotted around in the dark then 2 chains, and a cover........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzy_1980 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hey - glad I found this post as I'm buying my YBR125 this week too! I'm looking to buy a disc lock, but does anyone have any idea which will definitely fit? I can't find any info that confirms the size of the hole on the brake disc, so have no idea which will be suitable. Cheers in advance... I use the 'Oxford Omega Motorcycle Disc Lock' - its heavy duty and fits the YBR nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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