Thing is, I'd expect the average thief to have a sodding great bolt cutter to break chains and padlocks. Well, if I was enough of a bastard to go around nicking bikes, I certainly would! I just looked on eBay, and you can get 48" croppers for £72, never mind the 42" ones used in the video. That's not much investment for something that seems to be able to defeat most recommended chains in about the same time as it takes your mate to open door on a panel van and heave someone's pride and joy into it.

Neosophist wrote:If somebody wants to steal your bike they will just come along with a van and shove it in the back and drive off

Like so.

(YouTube video link)

Any half decent cheap imobiliser that makes noise, wired correctly should make it a pain for the casual joy rider theif to steal which is probably the biggest threat to these bikes.

Best thing you can do is get an almax or the protector 19mm chain and a ground anchor for at home and affix it to something difficult to move out and about.

That video is fucking ridiculous!! haha
Yeah, I'm after a cat 1 alarm/immobiliser because it seems to be the best option. I've actually found one that looks promising (http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/prod ... duct=demon) and is available for <£100.
Stored in a garage at home; the garage has a car parked in front of it, so to get my bike out of there, they'd need to break in and move/steal the car, too - I'm looking for this mainly for when I'm out and about and don't have my chains with me (I have an Oxford Hardcore XL (chain and padlock - I use this one when parked outside at work) and a Motrax chain and padlock (I use both if I'm leaving it outside for long amounts of time.)) because there is obviously going to come a time when I need to leave it parked up for longer than half an hour, like going into town, and I haven't got my bag with my chain(s) in.

dgunthor wrote:i wouldn't bother with an alarm personally - took it off my RVF400 as it was a pain in the proverbial.

I'll try the one I'm looking at - hopefully won't be bad. but I'm sure putting up with an annoying alarm is better than having to buy a new bike...
And where my bike it parked when I'm at work, there is a jewellery store down the road, so I'll check out if there are any cameras nearby, but it's a relatively safe town. I actually know of some bike thieves personally but they mainly steal peds and 125s and don't operate in town centres, and, unless they're as stupid as they look, they don't operate in the middle of the day.
Thanks, garyboy, but that sounds a bit too technology-dependant with the pre-paid SIM cards and stuff. And thanks to everyone for your input!

ant_v4r wrote: Yeah, I'm after a cat 1 alarm/immobiliser because it seems to be the best option. I've actually found one that looks promising (http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/prod ... duct=demon) and is available for <£100.

That link states

The Datatool Demon is quite simply the best compact self-fit system you can buy for your bike.

You do realise that any self fit system is not covered by Thatcham? Also the Demon is only an alarm, it does not immobilise.

I can do you a Cyclone V2 for £25 delivered which works as an immobiliser as well.

I reckon that all you have to do is make your bike a bit harder to steal then the next one. There are plenty of bikes easy to steal where I work.

The most bollocks is that no-one cycles to my work and yet the motorcyclists are forbidden from locking up to the racks!

thunderace wrote:You do realise that any self fit system is not covered by Thatcham?

Well, the stuff in the video that IS doesn't seem much use! lol

CMSMJ1 wrote:I reckon that all you have to do is make your bike a bit harder to steal then the next one.

Like the Billy Connolly sketch about the film crew on safari?

thunderace wrote:You do realise that any self fit system is not covered by Thatcham? Also the Demon is only an alarm, it does not immobilise.

I can do you a Cyclone V2 for £25 delivered which works as an immobiliser as well.

I most certainly did not! I don't even know what "self fit" is. And as an alarm, it sure as hell isn't gonna get itself out the box and sit up inside my pillion seat!! hahaha
I've just looked into the Cyclone website... I then googled "best motorbike alarm" and the one I thought about getting now was listed as #2! (By MCN - number 1 being the Acumen Cat21 alarm)
Here's the one I'm now looking at - http://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/shop/me ... mobiliser/
As good as the Cyclone V2 seems, I've seen some negative reviews about it, too. And it wasn't rated by MCN at all (not that I use their judgement as a bible or anything!)

speedy231278 wrote:

thunderace wrote:You do realise that any self fit system is not covered by Thatcham?

Well, the stuff in the video that IS doesn't seem much use! lol

That's very true! haha but those are chains, so maybe their standards are lower for them

For any alarm or immobiliser to be covered by Thatcham (and accepted as Thatcham approved by insurance) it has to be fitted by an installer who is approved by and registered with Thatcham (read overcharged customer)

thunderace wrote:For any alarm or immobiliser to be covered by Thatcham (and accepted as Thatcham approved by insurance) it has to be fitted by an installer who is approved by and registered with Thatcham (read overcharged customer)

Yeah, I'm getting one that is and going to Birmingham to get it fitted when I'm available. I'd probably pay to get it fitted anyway as I'm not so good with electrics, so I may as well pay to get it and get some discount on my insurance to pay back in the long run!
On a different subject, is there a thread for borrowing items off people who live near to you? or maybe getting help from said people?

Try RS Audio & Alarms on the College Road if you're going all the way to Birmingham for it