In general, motorcycle owners put more love and care into their machines.

than car or truck owners. That “love and care” translates directly into

millions of dollars spent on customizations and maintenance. Unfortunately, between

In the United States alone, between 30,000 and 50,000 bicycles are stolen each year (based on

theft rates from 2000 to 2005). And to think that many of these robberies could have

It has been prevented with a little common sense and safety.

Common sense This should go without saying, but don’t leave the keys in

the ignition or engine running when you’re not on the bike! never leave your

ride a bike in a dimly lit, hard-to-see place. Store the bike in your locked garage when

they are home.

padlocks and chains One item every bike owner should buy is a thick

U-lock or chain that anyone can easily see, day or night. It is a requirement-

have, unless it is so large that it is impossible to take it with you. simply wrapping

your chain through a wheel and your bike frame is not enough, you have to

mount the bike to a sturdy post or clamp mounted on concrete. If the bike is not

mounted to a stationary object, a thief could simply pack his bike onto a truck and

drive away.

Electronic Alarms Most modern bicycles (larger than a scooter) have some

form of factory immobilization that prevents casual theft, but such immobilizers

alone will not stop a determined thief. Therefore, it is better to consider an electronic

security system, often called an “alarm”. A good alarm system does more than just

make noise, has a circuit that prevents false triggers, adds secondary points of

immobilization, and a loud siren sounds only when a threat to your bike is real.

Some have digital tilt sensors, shock sensors, and other sensors that activate the system

in action. An excellent electronic alarm from Japan is the CYCLONE 866F:

http://www.kiramek.com. The Japanese manufacturer of Cyclone also offers a 1 way

paging system that instantly alerts you when a threat occurs. The system is also

claimed to be very low power, which eliminates the worry of battery drain.

Two-way pager alarms In the last 3 years, some electronic alarms

they have begun to include two-way pagers. These systems allow you to control both the

alarm and receive notification of threats. Unfortunately, battery life for many of

These two-way pagers are limited to about 1 month, and the pagers

they can be easily broken by a simple drop from the pants pocket. bidirectional

The systems can also drain a bike’s battery quickly unless you ride it every day. Still, for

some people the convenience aspect may outweigh the negatives for some bikes

owners

tracking systems Starting in 2005, some companies have released GPS

bike tracking systems that allow a stolen bike to be tracked. while tracking

systems have merits over other types of security, there are three important

disadvantages to consider: (1) battery drain on the bike, (2) service area

(tracking) coverage and (3) monthly cost.

Most tracking systems require you to pay not only for the product itself, but also

each and every month to keep the “service contract” alive. The long-term cost of

Tracking systems can leave a bad taste in the mouth of the average bike owner.

Think about how much you already pay per month (telephone bill, mobile phone,

Internet, etc.) and you can see why adding another subscription costs

prohibitive.

LoJack is a manufacturer of tracking systems that does not charge monthly fees,

but its least expensive bike system is $595 and traceability is limited to the

coverage area of ​​the wireless towers installed by LoJack and some police stations. Ounce

your “protected” LoJack vehicle leaves the coverage area, is off the map, and does not

traceable Of course, LoJack will refund the price of the product, but that refund

it does not replace your bike. That rebate also doesn’t cover any special setup fees.

you might have paid or any insurance deductible you might have.

Conclution Use a layered approach to security. common sense dictates

that you put your bike in a place that is not an obvious target for thieves. you will do it

then you need a chain or U-lock to prevent casual theft. And finally, even if your bike

has a factory immobilizer, the addition of an electronic alarm or tracking system

act as an important discovery for the robbery.