Bike alarms - thoughts, experiences

[travellingwest]

Wondered what the hives' thoughts and experiences are when it comes to bike alarms? Are they worth it, do they work and if you've had experience of that, in what circumstances. Does the weather set it off eg heavy rain or wind. Ultimately, does it deter thieves (obvs I have a good D lock too)?

Any recommendations appreciated also.

 

[ianrauk]

Anything that makes a scrote think twice about stealing your bike as apposed to someone else's has got to be good imvho.
A Very good lock, or two and an alarm can only help keep your bike more secure.

 

[wiggydiggy]

You mean as in an alarm that goes off if your bike is moved whilst locked?

I can see some value if you want something to alert yourself, if your camping or sat near it whilst in a cafe for example. Camping security is actually quite a nice idea - a bit like the old story of tying a piece of string to your big toe and tying that to your bike in case someone tries to take it.

 

[Drago]

Sadly it won't make a scrote think twice.

 

[travellingwest]

Sadly it won't make a scrote think twice.

As with most things that are illegal Drago, the average thicko who is an opportunist might be put off by too much effort to secure the item that doesn't belong to them. The professional scrote however, will have all the tools, know-how and speed on tap to be off with said item before you've had time to shout Oi!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Although the average thief may not think twice

If the alarm is obvious then it might just may them take the one next to it rather than yours

same with locks - for a well equipped thief they can cut almost any lock
but if the bike next to your has an easier one that they can cut quicker - it MIGHT make them think about the other one

 

[fossyant]

When we had 'issues' with our work bike storage (the doors sometimes wouldn't lock) I used an alarmed 'Rolson' padlock. Just secured it to the bars. If the bike was knocked, it would beep. If it was knocked again, the alarm went off. Would be a decent way of alerting yourself if bike packing.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I've had one on by bike and on my tadpole recumbent (ie one on each).

Mine have been of the type where when the bike is moved is sets of a quieter warning sound and only if the movement continues does it go full blast alarm.

I set them when I leave the cycle unattended which for me is normally outside a shop/supermarket whilst I'm shopping inside ie likely others wandering in and out of shop and not left for long periods.

When on cycle tour (full camping gear) I do often take higher risk leaving panniers on the bike when going in to supermarkets (in France, Germany, Belgium and Netherlands).

I've never heard the alarm go off full blast and never noticed any interference with the bike. I have no idea if they have ever given the initial movement warning (as I'd not have heard whilst inside shop).

I used to use an Abus Alarm Box (bit weighty but very solid, very loud and no thief would be able to remove it quickly). Over the years the "set" button got a bit gritted up (still worked but gritty) and in trying to clean it out I dismantled and could not get back together!
I'm now using Knog Alarm & Finder which is iPhone/Apple based and does include a tracker tag (an Apple iTag) though I'm only interested in the alarm functionality.

Mine have always been fitted in a moderately hidden place to potential thief would not see and move-on. My (maybe flawed) logic being if they set it off they'd have to start looking for where it was located before setting about destroying it all delaying them giving me longer and increasing the chance of a passer by doing something.

 

[PaulSB]

Yes, I have experience and plan to alarm each of my bikes. I don't fully agree that it won't make a scrote think twice. Yes, the scrote won't think twice in the attempt but the alarm itself should either deter him from continuing or be enough to alert me.

My main use is for security at a cafe stop. While we always keep the bikes in sight I know we're not actually watching them. The purpose of the alarm is to alert me to interference with the bike. Create enough time to get outside. I also set the alarm while the bike is in the garage.

The alarm linked below gives one gentle bleep when the bike is moved, this is really a reminder to me as the user. A second movement sets off an earsplitting alarm. It is very sensitive to movement. I've ridden with mine in all weathers.

My buddy was able to unlock a digital cafe lock without setting it off but he knew the bike was alarmed and it took him a couple of minutes of very careful movement. If he'd then picked the bike up the alarm would have sounded.

It's an ugly beast but can be hidden under the seat, in a bag etc. I think it's worth £15 to see if it works for you.

Cruxer Bike Alarm with Mount,USB Rechargeable Wireless Anti-Theft Vibration Alarm,110db Volume and Sensitivity Adjustable Sensor Burglar System with Remote for Motorcycle Mobility Scooter Caravan: Amazon.co.uk: Automotive https://share.google/P8Curke7VSNra9R9u

 

[Drago]

As with most things that are illegal Drago, the average thicko who is an opportunist might be put off by too much effort to secure the item that doesn't belong to them. The professional scrote however, will have all the tools, know-how and speed on tap to be off with said item before you've had time to shout Oi!

I banged up villains for near on 30 years, so I know where of I speak.

An opportunist will be put off by the padlock in the first place. Theyre after insecure bikes left in public - opportunists do not take locked bikes - and will stroll up and push it away is if they were entitled and nothing was amiss. An alarm would make zero difference to that scenario as the lack of padlock is their only concern.

A run of the mill thief wont give a sheet about anything except the lock. Not cctv, not alarms, not property marking. There is even evidence (there was a study where many thieves were interviewed) that the presence or the police wont deter them provided the bobby isnt actually right next to the bike. All theyll care about is whether theyre able to defeat the lock in smart time so they can be on their way before people get suspicious. An alarm makes zero odds if they can crack the lock and be on their way in 10 or 15 seconds max before people really twig whats going on, and will happily ride the bike (or indeed motorbike) away with the alarm still audibly wailing.

And then theres the small but significant class of thieves prepared to use disproportionate levels of violence against anyone who interferes in order to achieve their goal. Theyll be tooled up, mob handed, and will often use battery grinders and the like because they have sufficient muscle on their side they don't care about stealth. An alarm to them is as much deterrent as a feather duster.

Those are the 3 main groups, and none will care about any alarm.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The funniest bike alarm is the one provided by Garmin. What happens is that if your bike is moved, it alerts your phone. Unfortunately this means leaving a couple of hundred pounds worth of easily removable GPS on your unattended bike in order to detect movement.

I think there's a flaw in this plan.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The funniest bike alarm is the one provided by Garmin. What happens is that if your bike is moved, it alerts your phone. Unfortunately this means leaving a couple of hundred pounds worth of easily removable GPS on your unattended bike in order to detect movement.

I think there's a flaw in this plan.

Actually, how does it do that? My Garmin connects to my phone by Bluetooth - if it's in range to connect I'd say I can probably see the bike!

Do posher Garmins have their own SIM card for communication long distance?

 

[PaulSB]

I banged up villains for near on 30 years, so I know where of I speak.

An opportunist will be put off by the padlock in the first place. Theyre after insecure bikes left in public - opportunists do not take locked bikes - and will stroll up and push it away is if they were entitled and nothing was amiss. An alarm would make zero difference to that scenario as the lack of padlock is their only concern.

A run of the mill thief wont give a sheet about anything except the lock. Not cctv, not alarms, not property marking. There is even evidence (there was a study where many thieves were interviewed) that the presence or the police wont deter them provided the bobby isnt actually right next to the bike. All theyll care about is whether theyre able to defeat the lock in smart time so they can be on their way before people get suspicious. An alarm makes zero odds if they can crack the lock and be on their way in 10 or 15 seconds max before people really twig whats going on, and will happily ride the bike (or indeed motorbike) away with the alarm still audibly wailing.

And then theres the small but significant class of thieves prepared to use disproportionate levels of violence against anyone who interferes in order to achieve their goal. Theyll be tooled up, mob handed, and will often use battery grinders and the like because they have sufficient muscle on their side they don't care about stealth. An alarm to them is as much deterrent as a feather duster.

Those are the 3 main groups, and none will care about any alarm.

This makes a lot of sense to me. While I'm happily using my alarm when we're out my two buddies and I secure our bikes together with two locks, one through railings etc, one through the bikes. I do feel my alarm gives us additional security in that we are alerted quickly. We're almost always in deep conversation or shooting the breeze so something that creates a WTF moment is valuable.

Possibly the thief will run off, possibly not but at least it gives three guys a few seconds extra to get out to the bikes.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Actually, how does it do that? My Garmin connects to my phone by Bluetooth - if it's in range to connect I'd say I can probably see the bike!

Do posher Garmins have their own SIM card for communication long distance?

It's bluetooth. So as well as being a really bad idea, it's also not very effective. If you have superglued your Garmin to the handlebars and are just nipping in to a shop for no more than a few seconds, it may be OK.

I'm not really an expert on this because I have never tried it. I just read about it in the instructions and thought "stupid idea".

 

[classic33]

Henry Krank Alarm
Has only ever gone/been set off once.

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