I put my man smell on any articles of clothing for starters. Make it so nobody is going to want to run off with your hat or gloves, etc. I've got a bicycle lock cable for my leather jacket. I don't carry any expensive tools, only older one's nobody would want, or easily to replace if someone does want.

Bottom line, don't carry anything too valuable and hope nobody wants your old stuff.

That said, you can always opt for the more expensive lockable/removable saddlebags, which may offer you more protection.

As far as the bike goes, I would hope your employer has some form of security, possibly cameras, etc.? You can also get one of those locks that clamps down on your front brake rotor - but the caveat is that if you ever forget that thing on there, you can do some major damage to the bike if you try and drive off with it.

Hope that helps!

 

I've got a bicycle lock cable for my leather jacket.

Good idea! I hate carrying my jacket around when its hot outside.


'97 Spirit 1100

 

locks on the bike do no good unless you've locked it to something through the frame. Going to work I keep stuff in one saddlebag, using ghost brackets, and just carry the one bag in with me.

 

Simple, Lock the doors and take the key, same as with a car. I take my key with me and never leave anything with the bike that I can't afford to have stolen. If saddle bags have valubale contents they come with me. Never heard of a car that CAN"T be broken into and looted or being stolen. And you want SECURE a motorcycle. Short of a dedicated ARMED guard, there is no way to secure ANY vehicle.

 

Lock the fork, a Kryptonite lock to prevent the wheel from turning, take valuables into your job. Make sure your insurance is paid up and that it's from a reputable company. Let's face it, if someone wants your bike and if they know what they're doing, they are going to have your bike and it won't take them long to get it. So deter the causal thief and nitwit kids.

 

Theft insurance on a bike not worth atleast 10k is much too expensive IMO.
For me to get it. I'd pay in 3 years more than the bike is worth.

 

I've always covered my bike. That way they don't actually see what kind of bike is there or what they can take. You can also padlock the cover on if need be.

 

Much good advice here, IF a thief wants it - he`ll get it...
I don`t keep anything on the Bike that I can`t replace, IF I wanna make sure I keep it ~ I take it with me....
My choice fer the next Bike is a tourer, it will have locking compartments to help ward off thieves...

Good Luck,
"D"

 

As they say a lock only keeps an honest person out.
But I have saddlebags that lock and use a lock on the front brake as well as lock the front fork.
And take the key with me. Have that on expandable cord and attached to other keys in pocket so I cannot forget it.
But if they want it they will be able to take it they will just have to work a bit more for it.

 

with the bike locked to the bike itself, around here, 3-4 people pull up, pick up the bike, put it on a trailer or in a pickup and they're gone. Takes less than a minute.

 

...install an electric fence charger with a remote switch. Plain and simple

 

park in a visible location....

 

You can buy a disk lock that has an alarm built into it. 120 decibels. !!!! Check them out on Motorcyclegear.com. The alarm will go off if you move the bike or tamper with the lock. You wont drive away with this on your bike, because it will pierce you ears like crazy!

 

Here is an example of one.

Bully Locks Billet Steel Disc Lock Alarm :: MotorcycleGear.com

 

Thats the beauty of my ammo cans.locks on them and the box is pretty tough.

 

Thanks for all of the responses, guys! I assumed that security in a parking lot was pretty similar to driving any car or truck. I have a locking fork on my 2012 Phantom, and just put locks on my saddlebags with a locking release so I can take them into the office if I put anything of value in there for any reason. Thanks again, guys!

 

All Very good points... I lock the stearing head and use a Kryponite disc lock

I'll add this to the "Visable Location" advice.
You said it was a privately owned and operated lot. You didn't say if there was a lot attendant.
At my work I park in full view of the guard shack. And I always stop and say hi when I walk by before I badge in. I know them and they know me, and they keep an eye on our bikes.

So if there if there IS an attendant at your location park near where they hang out
and be sociable with them, Once they know who you are and what you ride, They will
automatically spot anyone near your bike that's not suposed to be there.

If there is no attendant, just make sure you park visablly in the open, Not where someone could be messing with your bike hidden by a bunch of cars or what ever.

 

I don't worry about it to much. I don't leave things in the bags I can't replace. If someone is determined to steal the bike and I am not out there they will take it. It may take several to take it because it's heavy. I do the same with my car or truck I don't leave anything in them either.

 

I always try to park next to a Harley...

 

That point came up in a thread awhile ago and I checked the insruance figures and Honda bikes are now the most stolen motorcycles, probably sport bikes, but HD's were like third on the list.

Anyhow, I have hard cases on my bike and it would take a thief about 3 seconds to break into them and over on the HD forums there are tons of posts from people complaining that some joker did a thousand dollars worth of damage getting into the bags that had maybe $40 worth of stuff in them.

Personally I have this small cable/motion alarm called a Voltage Valet that I use. If someone rummages around in a bag it goes off and I can secure my jacket and helmet to the bike. That and I don't keep valuables on the bike.

 

I just throw my bags over the back seat and tie them in place with bungeecords and take them with me when I go..

My mate Doc Savage used to sprinkle radioactive dust all around his bike then he could follow the footprints and tire tracks anywhere..

I think that might be going a bit far..

John.

 

I always try to park next to a Harley...

I knew it was only a matter of time.:mrgreen: But while humorous, that's probably the best advice of all.

 

Locking up your bike at HOME

What’s a good inexpensive way to lock up the bike at home?

Mine is inside a garage, but the friggin garage door doesn’t lock.

Inside the garage I lock the steering column.

I was wondering about maybe going to Home Depot and buy12 ft of real strong chain, and some plastic tubing to sleeve over the chain. Then lock that plastic-coated heavy chain all through the bike with a mongo huge padlock I bought years ago and never used.

Only thing is, there’s really nothing inside the garage to secure the chain to, so I guess I’d be just chaining the wheels & frame together and hoping that deters thieves (lotta Mexican gang thieves here).

 

Locking up your bike at HOME

What’s a good inexpensive way to lock up the bike at home?

Mine is inside a garage, but the friggin garage door doesn’t lock.

Ummm...Why wouldn't you spend your money and effort into locking your garage door? I mean...that seems like the most effective measure. This could be as easy as a 1/2" metal tube that runs up the garage door & secures to the top & bottom panel hinges to prevent someone from opening the door more than a few inches.

No? How about a Master Lock Padlock and a gate lock from Menards or Home Depot for like $30?

If you're feeling Zazzy, maybe an electric garage door opener from Sears for $100?

 

Nobody steals Honda Shadows.

 

Holy old thread! Don't reply to a three year old thread, start a new one!
As long as someone did, cable lock through tire and frame and nothing in your saddlebag you can't afford to lose. I use to leave mine unbuckled. If i came back and it was buckled I knew a sneaky thief had stolen something. I would ride all the way home before I checked-just like Christmas.

Dingo.

 

Dingo,
you a sick puppy.

I know- it takes one to know one, but you a sick puppy.

 

The links in my signature are there for you to gather information from many sources and many motorcyclists...
AMA is my first choice of links, as it contains many years of advise...

From these links, as well as HSN members suggestions, I carry cable, lock, insurance and choose my parking spot according to the suggestions...
I lock the front disc with a lock visible and a string coming up to the clutch lever, so I do not forget to remove it...
I also run a cable through the rear wheel, incorporating the swingarm AND a pole or fence or another Bike into the mesh...

I know this thread is two years+ old, AND I had commented then = but I just had to comment my thoughts on new suggestions for newcomers...

I live in rural GA, thieves KNOW I got a gun!
I leave the empty holster strapped on the handlebars in plain sight