How to chain up a GS?

[King Rat]

I can't believe you go to these lengths...I have had my 1150Adv 14 years now......the key lives in the ignition, even if I go to the airport when working away for a few days. Riding gear goes in the panniers to keep it dry. Helmet goes on the little hook on the side under the seat. That's it. If I take the key out, I will only lose it. I have left for the day in London too - and when doing the Boat Show, two days outside the YHA near Rotherhythe in the same state, only my riding kit was inside in the warm.

Maybe it is a reverse psychology thing - they think it is being used as a decoy and so give it a wide berth.

 

[Slipperyeel]

You obviously don't live in london! And you've been damned lucky the times you have. I wouldn't give it a week if you lived down here. Either that our your bike looks such a mess it gets ignored?

The latter ploy could work I admit, but I couldn't live with a bike like that

 

[mspenz]

So what would be the minimum to carry abroad? I usually take a heavy chain & Oxford Mini as well as a lighter Abus chain & lock so that they can both be linked if needed, I'm going down through Albania in August so might have to re-think my security requirements

 

[Slipperyeel]

In the end I got a slightly lighter, 14mm, Pagmasis chain. 1.8m long with a big ring on the end. So when I park up somewhere for the night I put it through the back wheel like a choker,run the excess through the centre stand and do the same to the front wheel but use the padlock to close that choker at the front. It's all quite tight, no slack. My thinking is, your not going to wheel it away by lifting one end. Failing that there's enough length to get it through frame, wheels and around something else less movable. So some flexibility in lock up solutions with one chain. Takes 2min to fit.

It all packs up small enough. But it is added weight. Not a problem for me being just one up. You might have to cut back on the spare underpants to allow for it if you're going two up

 

[Flipfly]

They used a hydraulic nut splitter on my Thatcham 5 chain when the pinched the Berg. No noise, fits easily in a pocket and does the job in 10 seconds flat.

If they want it, they WILL have it.

 

[PhaedrusMC]

Presumably you mean for 1200? Pragmasis make a special pin to go through that hole and chain to

Nope, 1150. Is there a big difference?

Personal experience will surely dictate your approach to security. If the leave-the-key-in-the-ignition approach is thwarted some day, perhaps the security measures on the next bike will be a bit beefier...

IMO, the hassle of a stolen bike is far worse than the hassle of a clever robust security system.

 

[Slipperyeel]

They used a hydraulic nut splitter on my Thatcham 5 chain when the pinched the Berg. No noise, fits easily in a pocket and does the job in 10 seconds flat.

If they want it, they WILL have it.

But how do you know that's what was used? Maybe you have video?

It's crap. A bike is always going to be vulnerable, but leaving the key in its never going to be a strategy i'd go for! My insurance would almost certainly not pay out...and I'd count in minutes how long, in london, it would be gone.

 

[Flipfly]

But how do you know that's what was used? Maybe you have video?

It's crap. A bike is always going to be vulnerable, but leaving the key in its never going to be a strategy i'd go for! My insurance would almost certainly not pay out...and I'd count in minutes how long, in london, it would be gone.

The evidence left by the way it split the chain and the copper who attended suggested a hydraulic nut splitter to be the weapon of choice. My Berg was in a locked garage chained to a GS. They removed the garage door and had away with the bike in no time. My garage has no power, so when we move to a house with a garage that has power, I shall be using many many anti social devices to protect my loved ones. But when I'm out and about I'll have to take my chances.