Bike lock on tour

[stephen.stallebrass]

Bike Cover

I use a disc lock with a cable to secure it to something... its really just to prevent push aways, but the main thing is a bike cover - out of sight is out of mind and is also good if wild camping. When I wild camp I use the cable and attach to something (usually a bag) in the tent vestibule so if its pushed away in the night it'll wake me up.

 

[mcinlb]

These disc locks are very effective, both lock the wheel, not allowing any rotation at all -



When fitted through the brake caliper from inside the wheel web -



And this under the rear drive, through the disc -



Of course none of the above will prevent a lift and go, but would make almost impossible for a wheel away.

 

[G&T]

After all the faff, I bought the Oxford barrier armoured cable. 1.5m and 25mm diameter. Mainly because it's light enough, long enough and I hope is a visual 'lift away' opportunist deterrent. I'll still use my disc lock too.

 

[NZRalphy]

What we need is an alarm lock the goes 'faulty' when someone tampers with it and it 'happens' to electrocute the tamperee. It could be quite light weight.

 

[Fagin]

I have the big heavy chain but you need a trailer to carry it in....I went to a company called Chain and Rope services and asked them what is best.... they said a wire rope is better than a chain as it is harder to cut and flexes if they use bolt crops.... They made me a rope about 4 feet long with loops on both ends.... easy to carry wrapped around top box and easy to fit wherever you choose...it's about 17 MM. thick.... And don't wash ya bike so no one wants to nick it..... Must agree with Micky tho, after a lot of overseas travel I never had a problem... park safe....

That's what I've got and as John Bailey said it is harder to cut, this is the second wire rope I have had made, the first one was securing my Honda VFR 750 I used to have to a loop in a bike park in Norwich and someone tried to hacksaw through it, the wire rope sprang outwards and the hacksaw was well and truly wedged. The nugget who tried to knick the bike wasn't wearing gloves and his fingerprints got him collared

I do also have a couple of disc locks but use the coiled stretchy thingy to loop over your brake or clutch lever to make sure you remember it is fitted before trying to ride off.

 

[madmechanic]

Agree with micky been on a number of tours (inc Poland ) never chained mine , left in car parks and compounds never seems to have been toucheds:
Could be Ive been lucky but carrying a large chain , bit of a pain disc lock more chance of a good samaritan damaging your bike moving it out of the way so it won't get damaged
I take what precautions I can but my theory is if they really want it they will take it no matter what you do to save it ,
cynical I suppose but this where a good insurance policy comes in

 

[Pansmiker]

I use the BMW bike alarm and stay in hotels with garage facilities.

If it still gets lifted I will get a taxi to the airport. No point in stressing.

 

[Neil W]

For the sake of carrying a lock that may prevent an opportunist thief it is worth the slight inconvenience, having dealt with half a dozen foreign motorcyclists across on holiday who have had bikes nicked in the UK it is an absolute nightmare.

Now if the situation is reversed and you are on a touring holiday imagine the hassle wou will end up having from initially dealing with foreign police to make a report , to contacting your insurers to arranging /or rearranging the rest of your holiday minus bike. Then once you are home the hassle continues if Police need to speak to you if the bike is recovered and needs to be identified .

Or if like in this country in one case when the thief was caught and went to court and the defence insiisted that the injured party attended court to give evidence and would not accept their statement being served section 9.

Case was adjourned, IP had to attend from Germany , all arranged via translators , we had to sort out lifts from airports and accomodation and reimburse his expenses and as soon as the defence realised he had come to court the defendant changed his plea to guilty.

Carry a lock for peace of mind, and also check your insurance because many will state that if it away from its normal address the bike must be secured with an approved lock.

 

[kurienp]

Disc locks make me cringe.

I was at a bike show and advised my mate not to buy one. On our departure we watched a guy on his new Triumph get on his bike, forget to remove his disc lock and ride off. He got about 2ft and his front wheel locked up, he hit the deck, smashed off his brake caliper, broke his front brake lever, gouged his plastics, scuffed his lid and broke off an indicator. My mate was gob smacked and glad he didn't buy one.

To be honest, if someone wants your bike then they'll have it. All you can do is slow them down by inconveniencing them.

I use 4 of these locks.... http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/master-lock-braided-steel-cable-lock---18m-280316

Get a disc lock with an alarm. Simples.

Doh. I'd be gutted, not only about loosing the bike but screwing up the holiday completely. I've always resisted the idea of having to carry a chain - the space and weight mainly.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Y7 JMM]

Fit a BikeTrac and then you can follow the thieving bastards and inflict retribution upon them! Simples

 

[Urban Rider]

I used to carry an Oxford Monster chain and lock around, bloody heavy thing and never had any issues with the exception of on incident in Southern Spain en route to Maroc a few years back. I knew the area was dodgy but the rest of the group were adamant we'd be fine. I used by chain and lock around by old 1150 GSA SE rear wheel and through the front wheels of the other bikes (4 in total). Came down the following morning and found 2 cable locks had been cut and my chain was the only thing holding the bikes together. I have to stress through i've done a lot of riding all over Europe and never had any other issues. On my new GSA I have a Roadlok fitted to it (you can see what that is here:
http://www.roadlokinternational.com

the standard BMW alarm and a Skytag tracker fitted to it:
http://skytag-gps.co.uk

I'm off to Slovakia next month for a 2 week tour all over Europe and hope i won't need any of it!!