Bike nicked - what next?

[mhblue]

Thanks for all the comments.

In conclusion, this has proven to be a 'straw that broke the camel's back' event, and me and the missus have decided to move. Any of you fancy a house in north london??? ..., no I thought not...

In the meantime, I'm thinking of buying a W reg Pan European with 84k miles from my local dealer and see if the local thieves fancy that as much as a shiny new beemer!

Cheers, I will be back

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

If theft is on your mind do like I do and park in a warderned hotel, insurance here is cheap so you can travel half the world.
Move on and you can tackle the rest of Europe..( its crap ) but do it.

 

[mrsroynie]

Thanks for your comments. I think I'm going to test a Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré and the Multistrada MTs 1200 S. I would ride more, but I'm desperate to get back on two wheels...

That's my nice problem. The nasty one is security. The bike has to be parked on-road and when it was taken it was alarmed, with a very heavy chain on the front wheel and the steering lock on.

I'm think of getting a brake lever lock, a lamp post cable, smartwater and a tracker. But it seems if they want a bike they will take it - a friend who lives locally lost his bike a few weeks back and it was chained to an earth anchor in his front garden!

I think I'm going to move to a house with a garage - this is the second bike I've lost (as well as a car).

No good having a heavy chain, if it isn't attached to something. Our solution was to have a ground anchor sunk 18" into the concrete in our front garden ... which was surrounded by pretty iron railings and had a lockable garden gate - which, in truth, we never locked. Although, technically, it would have still been possible to lift the bike, thieves are generally opportunists and getting it out of our tiny front garden, past the railings, with the alarm sounding would have attracted too much attention. We effectively did away with our front garden for our two bikes (1200GS and Triumph 1050 Tiger), but I wouldn't own a bike at all if I couldn't provide security for it. I would think seriously about this before spending a penny of the insurance money on another bike. The thieves will be watching ...

The only other thing I would add is never accept the insurance company's first offer!

Sorry for your loss. I hope things work out better with your next bike.

 

[WindyChuffer]

I'm in West London and mine got knicked end of Feb. Some kind of Pikey supermarket sweep perhaps? Swankers.

I tried to buy something else but just couldnt, so ended up with my 4th GSA since 2004. I also got some fek off chains and locks (English Chains) and a concreted in Ground Anchor.

Give Dave Hodgson at Vines, Guildford a call (aka Pinkytiff on this parish). He'll sort you out a deal.

M.

 

[snow]

I just had my 2nd GSA stolen in less than 7 months! 1st one on street all chained and locked, 2nd all chained and locked inside a concrete garage with a massive padlock and 2 bolt locking bar to door, nothing it seems is a problem for the bike collectors of West London!

My 6 year old bonneville, imaculate, kept on the street without any probs, as is my neighbours triumph and a host of other plastic machines.

The scary bit is that someone is watching me lock the bike up at night and knows my routine!