Current Bike Security

[Scott0306]

Hi, I am currently considering getting my first properly expensive bike and was just wondering what would be recommended as a good safety product and why? Basically I want user information on current bike security.

 

[vickster]

Where are you leaving it?

Proper heavy gold sold secure d lock, plus a cable or chain for the other wheel... and insurance with the required locks

Generally 10% of bike value on locks is a minimum (so depends what properly expensive means) - the best d locks are £70-100 - Abus Granit X or kryptonite new york/fahgeddaboutit

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Where you are leaving it and for how long is crucial information as @vickster has said. We have expensive off road touring bikes/expedition bikes and where I am happy to leave them and for how long is a completely different story to my road bike which was purchased for the sole purpose of being able to leave it at college (think £299) and even that is left with a £80 lock on it. (All my locks match, so I don't have to worry about which one I pick up in the morning when unlocking the road bike from the touring bikes.)

So if it is being left out side, out of sight for any length of time, you are going to be wanting 2 lots of something really substantial - like motorbike substantial.

We store our touring bikes outside, under the kitchen window. They are locked onto the 4 bike tow bar mounted bike rack, and then locked again with our locks to each other. It's secure for where we are, rural, we could easily leave them unlocked here. No-one even knows the bikes are there, it's totally out of sight and you can't actually get the bike rack out with rotating it onto vertical, so I have no issues with the bikes effectively being on the rack "ready to nick". It would take 4 people minimum to get it out of where it is and that just would not happen where we are - and that is the critical bit "where we are".

For someone in a town/city wanting to leave a bike, it is another matter entirely and the only advice that is practical, is to make your bike look a less enticing 'victim' than another bike. As vickster says - miniumum 10% of the value of the bike should be spent on locks, though I have to say the idea of using £250 of locks per touring bike is frankly ridiculous.

If you have insurance, then you need to check with them and what they require. Most stated "sold secure gold" and some even go as far as "sold secure gold & cat 15".

One bit of advise given to me years and years ago was to use 2 different styles of locks to lock you bike. Apparently, though this may have been then rather than now, most bike thieves only come prepared to cut 1 type of lock (spiral cable or D lock) and bikes with 2 locks are less attractive than bikes with 1 lock.

Also make sure that your D lock is not too large, car jacks can be used to easily remove them if there is space to get the jack into. My brother has legally used this method to recover a motorbike after an RTA where the rider had locked it after the crash and then been taken to hospital. He rang his supervisor to ask who he was meant to recover it when it was locked and was told this method and was horrified at how easy it was.

 

[MrJamie]

If its really expensive, id probably spend the excessive lock money on a second cheapo bike probably off ebay, for when you want to go to the shops etc. I dont think id leave a 4 figure+ bike locked in public.

 

[fossyant]

Dont use cable locks of any tipe, unless just to secure a wheel (then that's not safe). D lock and chain or something like an ABUS Bordo.

I use a NY Fagh Mini, ABUS Bordo for front wheel, and a small cable lock for the saddle (not expensive but don't fancy riding home without a saddle).

 

[musa]

Echo'd for the saddle

If it's an everyday commuter a small lock for saddle. You never know who is eyeing you up and nick your saddle

Not fun riding without saddle and post

 

[BSRU]

Where you leave it is very important, my bikes are either in our garage or at work, I never leave them anywhere else.

 

[headcoat]

Don't skimp on the locks, always worth getting a gold secure one (they are pretty cheap on ebay now). My bikes are either in the shed, locked to a metal shelf unit in there and also to my bike rack and then both locked together. It would be difficult to get the all. My commuter bike is locked the metal railings under our stairs, where we only have access. I probably don't need to lock it up there but sometime the door doesn't shut properly.

 

[Get In The Van]

I have a motorbike chain with padlock, i also have the ground attachments, but due to me moving house in the next few months i haven't fitted them to the garage floor, a d lock and the mb chain goes round a metal post in the garage. plus the garage side door has 2 locks on it
car sits infront of the main door overnight.
if someone wants it badly they'll get it, but it'll take a while

 

[vickster]

My bikes aren't locked up at home, nor in the shed ...only when out. Do not rely on a cable lock, I had a bike nicked within 15 mins on a busy street in broad daylight

 

[e-rider]

First of all, if it's a properly expensive bike (£1000+), don't leave it locked anywhere in a public place - it will be just a matter of time before it's stolen whatever locks you use.
Always lock it inside your shed, garage or house too, preferably to something very strong that doesn't move.
Get a cheaper bike for riding to work/leaving in town etc. and use at least two high quality D-locks (kryptonite M18, NYForgetboutt etc.), plus a good chain. Also learn how to use the D-locks, so that they can't be 'opened' easily.
After having 4 bikes stolen, I finally follow this advice!!!

 

[Zakalwe]

If you spend a hefty chunk of money on a lightweight bike, any lock decent enough to protect it adequately wipes out any weight advantage when you have to carry it around everywhere. Get a cheap bike for the errands and whatnot where it's got to be tied up, take the best one indoors and out of sight at every opportunity.