Are alarms worth it?

[Alex2011]

Hi all,

I was just wondering whether people thought alarms are really worth having. Basically I've got one fitted on my bike (by a previous owner) but aside from draining the battery and going off when I've been trying to fit a GPS, I'm hard pressed to think of reasons to keep it.

The bike has datatag and I always use both a disk lock, plus a cable type lock when out and about. At home it's in the garage and has a ground anchor. In a way it seems a pity to remove a functional alarm but it seems to be more trouble than it's worth...

Thanks,

Alex.

 

[Simon_h]

I'd rather have physcial security than electrical but, as you already have that covered, I'd rather have electrical (as long as it works) than nothing.

Anything that slows or deters my bike being taken by someone other than me is a good thing.

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site Alex

If its fitted, you may as well leave it.... and when the bike is tucked away in the garage plug it into an optimate At least it will give you an early heads up if someone is trying to liberate it

 

[Davel]

Haven't alarmed any of my bikes.

If someone wants to nick it, they'll nick it.

 

[g.s.john]

dont see the point if some scroat wants your bike he turns up with three of his mates in a van with two short scaffold poles usually a fridge jobby cant hear the alarm, and there is a fault looking for somewhere to happen usually when you are twenty miles up the arse of nowhere waste of time IMO.

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

dont see the point if some scroat wants your bike he turns up with three of his mates in a van with two short scaffold poles usually a fridge jobby cant hear the alarm...

...one of 'em wearing bike gear, who explains to passers-by "I've lost me key, and we're taking it to the dealers."

At least, that's what MS&L say. Had one once, wouldn't bother again.

 

[Mutley]

Not a lot of point in taking it off

On the other hand, the most important bits are the immobiliser (stops scrotes) and the flashing red LED (deterrent).

I get 5% discount on my insurance for the immobiliser

 

[Neil W]

From 27 years of experience in my job most bike thieves are opportunists. For them if a bike won't start especially a big heavy one they will not push it far and dump it.
If the bike is chained/ locked to something solid and it will make a load of noise to nick it most of them are scared of the owners retribution and will go elsewhere.
Best advice is if possible keep it in a locked and alarmed garage and when out use common sense where you leave it and use a good lock.
Alarms are easily defeated by previously mentioned methods although the ones that text you direct can be handy.
If not we've seen excellent results with tracking systems especially the GPS linked ones.

May seem basic advice but loads we get stolen are from 2 in 1 burglaries ie they break into the house usually through unlocked doors and nick the vehicles keys.
A high proportion of the stolen bikes were left in the garages with the keys in the ignition and helmets left with the bikes (that makes it really easy to ride then away).
Remember up and over garage doors are quite easily defeated when locked when you leave them unlocked it's really easy.

 

[Alex2011]

Thanks for all the input - I guess I'll leave it there, but I need to sort out the additional electrics at some point - will have a go at putting a fuse box in.

Alex.

 

[Urban Rider]

I've got one of these on mine:

http://www.skytag-gps.co.uk/

I had it on my Landy prior to selling it and decided to stick it on the bike. Uses GPS to identify the whereabouts of my bike should it get lifted. Can also track and identify the route the scumbags used.

When it's at home in the garage i use one of these

No better deterrent.....

 

[mr badger]

These are good too

 

[swissrob]

I've got one of these on mine:

http://www.skytag-gps.co.uk/

I had it on my Landy prior to selling it and decided to stick it on the bike. Uses GPS to identify the whereabouts of my bike should it get lifted. Can also track and identify the route the scumbags used.

When it's at home in the garage i use one of these

No better deterrent.....

you can but the same thing from ebay for about £50, uses gps and sms system to send you vehicle location, but no middle man " monitoring centre"

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Haven't alarmed any of my bikes.

If someone wants to nick it, they'll nick it.

+1