Beware, your WC GSA is VERY easy to steal.....

Dozer

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Yesterday, at 1pm, directly behind St Pauls Cathedral in central London, a friend of mine parked his 2015 WC GSA in a marked bike bay, as he nipped into a café for a coffee.

The steering lock was on, as was the alarm and immobiliser.

Some 30 seconds after he parked up and walked off, 2 guys pulled up next to his bike on a moped. One got off, jumped onto the rear seat of the GSA, put his feet on the left hand switchgear and snapped the steering lock off in less than 10 seconds with a couple of hard stamps.

He then got off, leant over the right hand side of the bike, the CCTV couldn't see what he was doing as his back was to the camera. The ignition came on, he got on the bike and rode away. The whole operation took less than 60 seconds.

As soon as he gets the CCTV footage he will post it on you tube and Ill post a link. There were cameras everywhere and literally thousands of people, the thieves didn't care as they have no chance of being caught whatsoever and the bike was gone in less than a minute.

Obviously the bike is insured, however he wont buy another GS as he now understands their security is pathetic.... How can a young lad snap the steering lock on a 15k GSA in 10 seconds in a pair of trainers and what ignition loophole did they use? He didn't have any tools, it looked like he unplugged something and plugged something else in but the footage isn't clear.

My friend is contacting BMW today for their comments.....

Be warned. BMW security is very very poor.
 
It's been very easy to snap steering locks by kicking bars for years. Easier, if the bars are wide, like those on a GS, as there is more leverage.

If you don't want to increase the risk of having your bike nicked, chain it properly to something solid. That has always been the advice for as long as anyone can remember.... and don't moan (too loud) that it was 'only for a few minutes' whilst chilling. Alternatively, keep a pound of butter in the fridge.
 
Sorry about his loss but that's an expensive lesson learned about relying on the stock 'steering lock'.
And it's no slight against BMW.....all factory locks are a waste of time and just as easily and quickly defeated.....it's been this way since they ever got fitted in the first place.
All they do is result in damage during theft or attempted theft.

And nobody ever responds to the sound of an alarm.
And there isn't an immobiliser that can't be defeated.

His bike was taken because it was visibly quick and easy to take.

You'll never stop a pure professional acting to a scheduled plan but opportunists and nick it quick merchants like these bods will be deterred by things like big shackle D locks through frame and wheel,through forks and wheel and especially by a feckoff big chain through frame/wheel and locking the bike to an immovable object.

Make it noisy,difficult and especially slow to take and they'll likely leave it.

Until next time.....:augie
 
BMW in reality are no better or worse than any others BUT it is the reason why you always carry a decent quality U bar lock on the bike (even on holiday ) and use it , they might be able to snap the steering lock and even get the bike started but unless they either lift the bike or physically cut the lock (all of which take time and draw attention to the incident) it is going to make things more difficult .

Horrible thing to say but they will then hopefully (unless they are extremely persistant) go elsewhere.


No doubt the parts from your mates bike will appear at discount prices on that site (listed in Lithuania or Estonia ) tell him to keep an eye out
 
I don't know anyone who dosent use some xtra security like a chain or disc lock. Steering locks are not able to withstand the force generated by pressure on the bars which act as a lever. Most INSURENCE company's insist on a approved lock and chain. JJH
 
How will he spot 'his' wheels and 'his' seat on Ebay? Tip us off and we'll keep 'em peeled, Lithuanian or not.
 
I see all the replies about chains etc, but surely it is a bit of a concern if (like my old DT175 in 1981), all you have to do is unplug one wire and it will start!
 
That becomes less of a concern, if the bike has even a disk lock for brief chilling coffee stops. Or do like millions of us and just run the risk, often quite sucessfuly for years. I put it down to the pound of butter in my fridge.
 
Dozer said:
He then got off, leant over the right hand side of the bike, the CCTV couldn't see what he was doing as his back was to the camera. The ignition came on, he got on the bike and rode away. The whole operation took less than 60 seconds
Click to expand...

Did the bike have conventional ignition key or was it keyless?
 
diplomaticdanny said:
I see all the replies about chains etc, but surely it is a bit of a concern if (like my old DT175 in 1981), all you have to do is unplug one wire and it will start!
Click to expand...

I thought the unplug the black wire loop hole was closed years ago and with chipped keys even the screwdriver through the ignition no longer works.

If this is true and it was just unplug something BMW will want to know about it
 
Wapping said:
That becomes less of a concern, if the bike has even a disk lock for brief chilling coffee stops.
Click to expand...

Or even a disc lock.

C wot I did there?

Disc...disc...disc...disc...disc...disc
 
I hear that BMW have employed a hit squad to pinch back 2015 models to avoid warranty claims......
 
I wonder if bikermate will regard his rip-off insurance premium as better value now?

Let's guess that it's maybe less than £250 a year versus north of £11,000 in under a minute. Quicker in fact than buying a coffee, that was maybe going to cost three days premium.
 
Arsey said:
I hear that BMW have employed a hit squad to pinch back 2015 models to avoid warranty claims......
Click to expand...

Aren't the Met police anti-terrorist squad riding around on camouflage painted GS's. I'd try there first!

Sorry to hear about the theft.
 
Dozer said:
Yesterday, at 1pm, directly behind St Pauls Cathedral in central London, a friend of mine parked his 2015 WC GSA in a marked bike bay, as he nipped into a café for a coffee.

The steering lock was on, as was the alarm and immobiliser.

Some 30 seconds after he parked up and walked off, 2 guys pulled up next to his bike on a moped. One got off, jumped onto the rear seat of the GSA, put his feet on the left hand switchgear and snapped the steering lock off in less than 10 seconds with a couple of hard stamps.

He then got off, leant over the right hand side of the bike, the CCTV couldn't see what he was doing as his back was to the camera. The ignition came on, he got on the bike and rode away. The whole operation took less than 60 seconds.

As soon as he gets the CCTV footage he will post it on you tube and Ill post a link. There were cameras everywhere and literally thousands of people, the thieves didn't care as they have no chance of being caught whatsoever and the bike was gone in less than a minute.

Obviously the bike is insured, however he wont buy another GS as he now understands their security is pathetic.... How can a young lad snap the steering lock on a 15k GSA in 10 seconds in a pair of trainers and what ignition loophole did they use? He didn't have any tools, it looked like he unplugged something and plugged something else in but the footage isn't clear.

My friend is contacting BMW today for their comments.....
Click to expand...


I had my FJ1200 stolen. I know what it's like. I'd used money from an accident claim (drunk car driver T-boned me, broke my arm) to buy it. I'd dreamed of getting an FJ. It was a horrible experience to have it stolen. So I have some understanding of your friend's loss, which is obviously regrettable.

But - respectfully - for fuck's sake! He left a highly desirable expensive bike unlocked in a public place! Not one biker I know or have ever known considers a steering lock to be "security".

Dozer said:
Be warned. BMW security is very very poor.
Click to expand...

No, your mate's security was very poor. BMW's security is no worse than most other manufacturers.

I could be wrong, and will gladly accept correction, but the GS - particularly the 1200s - sometimes seems to attract lads who have little previous experience of living with a bike. You get wet, you get cold, bikes get stolen. Part of the cost and hassle of owning & riding a bike is using proper security. All the time.

I maintain (and have said it elsewhere) that regarding stolen bikes, there are pre-stolen bike owners and post-stolen bike owners. The pre- guys are naive and judge the post- guys as being OTT and paranoid. The post- guys use way more security, are more canny, don't give a fuck what anyone thinks of them carrying around two chains, a U-lock and two disc locks, and KNOW that the pre- guys will eventually switch groups.

Again, sorry for your mate's trouble, and hopefully there's a lesson learned.
 
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