► Insurance offerings

[Micky]

Nearly all bike thefts are by putting the machine in the back of a van... so disc locks are crap

Alarms are only any good if you yersen can hear it when it goes off

Imobilisers only end up imobilising 99% of the actual owners/riders, usually when on holiday or otherwise in a rush

Never ever leave your bike in view to passing traffic/pedestrians. It will eventually be stolen. The only people who know by F800GS is in my back garden (no garage or lock up) are my immediate neighbours

If anyone walking down the backs when I get home, or pull up at the bottom of the street, I ride round the block until no one sees my bike taken in to the rear yard (mid terrace house)

Big ground anchor and heavy duty padlock used, but I know this wouldn't stop a determined thief that came for my 'bike prepared

Angle iron bar across my rear gate

 

[bladerunner]

+1

I would not bother with an imobiliser or alarm.

Try very hard to park out of street view. Secure garage if possible. Don't park same place every day if not 100% secure.

Always big mother of a lock and chain to something - ground anchor at home, big iron something away. Try to keep lock off floor so they cannot whack it with a sledge hammer. Best is chain to wall anchor with bike between so you have to reach across to unlock chain.Don't underestimate the value of a crap old bike cover to make the bike "invisible".
Most thefts are opportunistic: 4 men, scaffold poles and into back of van. Alarm would not help.

In Bristol they will unbolt your rear wheel and take rest of bike (DAMHIK!) so chain to the frame.

A fire blade is now worth something like £25k in spares when new, so they do have an incentive!

 

[D6]

chain the front end up when your out, harder to drag it into a van,

 

[Boon]

I use one of these :

http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/index.asp?pg=29

 

[Bronco Billy]

+1 for an allmax chain. Used with a good squire Lock. Lock to an immovable object with the padlock in a place where a bad lad cant smash it open with a sledge hammer. These chains cant be cropped with anything smaller than a hydraulic cutter of considerable size. Dont ask me how I know ....

 

[digga]

A fire blade is now worth something like £25k in spares when new, so they do have an incentive!

Why are they worth that much? or is it a typo.

 

[BM_donator]

Alarms, chains and disc locks are all deterrents and will lower probability of chav thefts.
But if some professional scumbag is going to have it away, he will succeed.

Don't get emotionally attached to it. Insure it and enjoy it.


(PS. do check your insurance policy small print - my wife's scooter policy says she must have a chain type lock)

 

[Wookie]

Why are they worth that much? or is it a typo.

If you went to Honda and bought every piece individually for a new fireblade it would amount to approx £25k. Thats where that figure comes from.

 

[Slowdown]

As other have said - call Almax. If Maxine answers the phone make sure you're sitting in a comfy chair and won't need the loo for a while.

Having had an alarmed bike secured to a telegraph pole with a cable chain I bought the thickest chain and biggest ground anchor that Almax recommended.

Just search Youtube for 'Zanx' or 'Captain Cropper' and see just how crap most chains actually are:-

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VC3hFr8p2ck&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VC3hFr8p2ck&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Although now you can buy battery powered angle grinders I guess even big fat chains have had their day

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Flexible 'braided' cable loops are also pretty good.

I had a bike with one of these (1" thick) and a very heavy duty chain. Came out one morning and the chain had been cut through but the cable just had teeth marks on it

Andres

 

[icehawk]

Insurance - UK/Europe

Hi All - I am looking to take my GS800 over to our house in Spain for around 6-9 months of the year does anyone know of an insurance company that would give European cover for that amount of time, The cover I have now only gives 60 days cover for Europe. Many Thanks

 

[HR0]

just checked out insurance and renewed with C nash but i am sure that either bennets or ebike quoted unlimited european cover ??
worth a go

H

 

[mrsroynie]

You don't give your age, so profuse apologies if my response is inappropriate. I seem to be developing quite a knack for offending people.

We have friends who are based for 7 months of the year in the UK and 5 months in France. They aren't bikers, but they do have to insure their British-registered car for unlimited use in France. They are with SAGA. If you are over 50, it might be worth a call.

 

[everywherevirtually]

Factory Fitted immobiliser on F800 GS

Is it category 1 or 2 Thatcham approved? Just curious as it knocks a few quid off my bike insurance if it is. It would appear their cars and other brands such as Honda and Yamaha are.

cheers

Jon

 

[gregdyke]

If it is just the immobiliser then it is likely to be cat 2:

Category 2
Passenger Cars, LCV, HGV, Plant, Motorcycles
ELECTRONIC/ELECTROMECHANICAL IMMOBILISER
Immobiliser
Passively set
Isolates a minimum of two operating circuits or systems, or a minimum of one operationally relevant vehicle control unit with coded intervention

Cat 1 is the same but with an alarm...

 

[gregdyke]

http://www.thatcham.org/security/pdfs/categories/MotorcyclesCAT2.pdf

Mind you there is no BMW here :-(

 

[gregdyke]

Definitely not Thatcham approved... I just asked them:

Dear Sir,

Unfortunately we do not recognise the security on this vehicle.

 

[everywherevirtually]

Oh well, just means I have to pay £10 extra when my renewal comes up Thanks for the research Greg

 

[shag]

John

Why don;t you try BMW motorad insurance. I got a great deal with then
and inc free BMW assist. Really pleased and only costing me£178 F/C plus a big discount if you have factory alarm fitted...RECOMMENDED

 

[Madshak]

John

Why don;t you try BMW motorad insurance. I got a great deal with then
and inc free BMW assist. Really pleased and only costing me£178 F/C plus a big discount if you have factory alarm fitted...RECOMMENDED

Try Adelaide Insurance. I've just paid £140 F/C Including NCB protected, Legal cover to cover my 2009 F800GS. You can also add more bikes to this policy and ride any of your mates bikes coverd by TPFT.