Q.Ways To Prevent Bike Theft

One of the biggest fears that plagues a rider’s mind is getting his/her prized possession stolen. This is depressing, but that is the harsh reality. These bike thieves can go to any extent if they want to steal your ride. Yes, making your ride completely theft-proof may not be possible, but every single security feature you use buys you little more time as it takes the thief a few more minutes to disable. So, having a combination of locks would be the best for your motorcycle, as the thief will have a tough time to break the security features one by one. [B]Wire Locks: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n15577[/ATTACH] PC: Amazon.com[/B] After steering-head locks, wire locks are the most basic locks one can buy to secure one’s motorcycle. Good quality ones will set you back by at least 500 bucks. I use a Btwin brand wire lock and it feels pretty solid. Also, note that the keys should be dimpled as they are slightly difficult to pick the locks or duplicate the keys. These locks are better than the locks with the traditional keys or numbered locks. Wire locks are versatile enough to lock your helmet as well. One of the effective ways to secure the motorcycle is to use the wire lock across the wheel and the frame of the motorcycle. [B]GPS Trackers and Security Systems: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n15578[/ATTACH][/B] PC: Amazon.in These are all high-tech solutions and can be very effective, but are complicated and require proper installation. Ensure your battery and electrical circuitry is compatible with these systems. Messing with the electrical circuit will cause the battery to drain, fuses to blow off and a host of other problems. Go for reputed brands like Xenos, Autocop, Phoenix, etc. Some of them come with usage plans for features like online/ SMS tracking. Certain motorcycle manufacturers offer security features as an option and it is advisable to go for that. [B]Disc Locks: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n15579[/ATTACH][/B] PC: webbikeworld.com This type of lock latches on to the ventilation holes of the disc. They are compact, inconspicuous and are easy to carry. Some variants also come with a built-in alarm which triggers when someone tries to tamper with it. The ones without alarm are cheap and you can get them in most of the motorcycle accessory stores. I got a basic one without the alarm. It cost me around 300 bucks. It was built to a cost and the brand was unknown. Still better than not having any, right? Good ones like Xena will cost around Rs. 8,000. Yes, safety does come at a cost. The only disadvantage is that if the thief is desperate enough, he might just remove the wheel and lift the motorcycle! Another problem with this lock is that you might just forget that the lock is on and if you try to ride away with the lock on, then things might get nasty. The brake disc and the lock will be damaged and it will be another headache to replace them. [B]Fork Mounted Wheel Locks: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n15580[/ATTACH][/B] PC: indiamart.com As the name suggests, fork locks are usually mounted on the front forks of a motorcycle. This is also available in most of the motorcycle accessory shops. But make sure it fits on the forks of your motorcycle. The ones normally used in commuter bikes do not fit my Royal Enfield Thunderbird. So, make sure you get the right size. These locks prevent the front wheel from rotating and unfortunately it suffers from the same disadvantage as disc locks: risk of the wheel being removed and the bike stolen. But the thing is, removing the wheel is not an inconspicuous act and it takes some time and tools to do. So if your bike is in a reasonably busy place, then chances of theft are low. But if your bike is parked at a place where there isn’t much human activity, then you will have to go for other efficient alternatives. Here are some tips to ensure your bike is safe: * Invest in a good heavy-duty anchor chain, ideally something that is more than 20 mm in diameter and is made of hardened steel. * Use the chain to secure the bike’s frame with something solid, preferably above the ground. * Make sure the chain is taut and there is no space for using leverage. Secure the chain with a sturdy padlock. Go for the ones with the minimum shackle length and that are made of hardened materials. Good padlocks will cost upwards of Rs. 1,000. Securing your motorcycle with all these may be effective, but takes a lot of time and effort. It is a good, old-school way to secure your bike when you are going out of town or something. * Keeping the bike covered will also prevent people from fiddling around, at least in busy places. If you have any other tips, please add it to the thread below. Cheers!