Security Systems for your bike

[Fjm]

Hi Forum Members,

Just canvassing ideas/thoughts on how you guys typically secure your bikes.
I used to use a Kryptonite lock on the front brake as well as the steering lock on my old bike. What do you use?

I am also toying with the idea of installing the BMW OA alarm system and would appreciate your thoughts and experience with installing this particular unit on your bike.

Thanks.

Cheers,
FJM

[Jedi5150]

At home it stays in the garage. On trips I park in high-visibility areas (when in towns) and as close to the tent as possible when camping. The unfortunate truth is that bikes are easy vehicles to steal. I think choosing the best area to park in will be as helpful as any theft-type devices.

[nylife]

There is lo-jack as well as the new security system from viper that does the same except you can actually see in real time where the bike is on the map.

The question i have is a bit of topic but on the same subject how much electrical strain will the alarm put on the battery?

[ka5ysy]

The great news is that BMW's are not high on the list of "must steal" with the bad guys. The HD stuff and various crotch rockets are the main target.

LoJack is the only system that is directly used by police agencies. LoJack had the good sense to give the direction finding gear to the police, and it really works. If you notice police cars with a group of 4 or 5 small whip antennas in a square pattern on top or on the trunk lid, that is a unit set up with the LoJack tracking receiver. It gives a line of position or direction of the signal based on some fancy electronic switching of the antennas. With any two bearing lines, you can plot the location of the beacon by simple triangulation and identify the bike.

The battery draw on the LoJack is a few milliwatts for the receiver, and it is recommended that if you park for a long time, you have the bike on a battery tender. The transmitter is only activated when LoJack sends the turn on command to the receiver if the bike is stolen. This feature alone makes for a lot less worry about battery life. Typical cost to install is about $1,000 or so.

Only problem I see for you is that LoJack is not shown as currently available in Australia.

[deilenberger]

I try to remember to take the key out of it.

And if in a chancy area - I try to park next to something more attractive for a thief - which is almost anything that doesn't have a Roundel on it.