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This is mine today, steering lock is on and there's a cable lock through the sleeves of our jackets and the grab rail
Motorcycle security when away from home
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Bloody hell, I think you’re right. Thanks.
I use a light weight waterproof cover when away
A couple of years ago our 4 bikes (1 x 1250gs, 2 x 1200 GS, and 1xRS) were parked in Thessaloniki next to the hotel. My bike had a cover, the other 3 didn't
Mine attract zero attention, the others attracted loads of attention
Great solution. .
I recently bought a Litelok X1 as they have had a good write up on here, but on several occasions the lock’s jammed and I couldn’t turn the key to unlock it. I found that a good thump seems to do the trick but that was only possible because the lock was off the bike, it would be far more difficult on it.
Am I unlucky or have others had this problem?
Am I unlucky or have others had this problem?
Locks seem to come down to two main choices for motorcyclists: Angle grinder proof or something like a Sold Secure Gold. The former are all pretty spendy but give peace of mind. Many thefts locally last year (from checking local resources) were mainly opportunistic thefts or targeted thefts involving a van where the bike was lifted by two or more people into a van. A grinder proof lock won't prevent a bike being lifted and carted away. You pays your money....
Bennetts Bike social makes a good point, in that even with the most basic security (say a cheap disc lock) you're three times less likely to be targeted by thieves, so the best security is the one you carry and use.
I now carry two lightweight sold secure alarmed Gold disc locks (one fitted to both front discs) and either a 10mm chain and small D lock or just another Sold Secure gold small D lock.
My take on it is a thief may decide it's not worth the bother of trying to defeat 3 locks, and a chain, especially if chained to something solid preventing a quick lift and into a van theft. Too noisy and even with an angle grinder several minutes might be needed. Money no object, I'd carry a Pragmasis loop chain and Hoplock plus alarmed disc locks but the portability of some of these options is a practical consideration as a decent 10mm chain will weigh in at over 3 to 4kg on its own. My ground anchor chain is over 13kg!
Bennetts Bike social makes a good point, in that even with the most basic security (say a cheap disc lock) you're three times less likely to be targeted by thieves, so the best security is the one you carry and use.
I now carry two lightweight sold secure alarmed Gold disc locks (one fitted to both front discs) and either a 10mm chain and small D lock or just another Sold Secure gold small D lock.
My take on it is a thief may decide it's not worth the bother of trying to defeat 3 locks, and a chain, especially if chained to something solid preventing a quick lift and into a van theft. Too noisy and even with an angle grinder several minutes might be needed. Money no object, I'd carry a Pragmasis loop chain and Hoplock plus alarmed disc locks but the portability of some of these options is a practical consideration as a decent 10mm chain will weigh in at over 3 to 4kg on its own. My ground anchor chain is over 13kg!
Same here. I can remove it easily, but when I put the shackle back on (correct direction) and try to lock it takes a bit. Sometimes I have to remove it and put it back on.
To be fair, given the cost of the lock, it's pretty annoying.
I bought the lock just the week before leaving for vacation (August).
I'll try to use some oil (I have some of the Abus one) on it.
The whole thing is a compromise.
The simple truth is, something is better than nothing. Yes, you can very probably leave your bike in a sleepy Austrian village, parked with its keys in. It will (very probably) still be there the next morning….. right up until the morning when it isn’t. Not least, employing the “It’ll be alright” habit, makes you lazy, skipping the times when you really should lock it up.
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Yes the lock / key can be quite fussy , i often find turning the key 180 degrees and reinserting it often works
I'd like the X3 key option given on the X1
Not a Litelok, but imagine yourself in this situation with a lock!
Post in thread 'GPX - Criss-Crossing Caminos - Spain & Portugal'
https://www.ukgser.com/community/th...ng-caminos-spain-portugal.377789/post-5365379
X3 works fine
Me too. I was hoping to use the X1 on the rear wheel and my Abus disc lock at the front. But the X1 barely hugs the front wheel.
I should have measured better. But still happy that I got an extra lock.
I've been using Abus Granit Quicks 37/60 for the last 20 years or so on all of my bikes.
On the GS, at some point, I fixed it on the rear subframe, by the rider peg, with it's own metal thingie.
The Granit has a little plastic port to "close" the keyhole. I once went to Wales on a rainy weekend and forgot the little plastic port open.
I left my bike completely unlocked (it was my only security thing) for the weekend as it was impossible to take it off.
Once home it took me more than an hour and enough swearing and a litre of WD40 to take it off.
It now rests in a drawer.The new one is on the opposite side of the bike now. On top of the exhaust, so it's shielded by most of the grime.
I clean and oil it regularly nowadays.
The X1 is an "extra" on top of that.
I’ve thought about smashing my Oxford lock to bits, but then in some sadomasochist way the thought of it not opening keeps me on my toesOnce home it took me more than an hour and enough swearing and a litre of WD40 to take it off.
If anyone needs any more reminding about “Leaving their bike for just a minute” (or longer, in this case) even in broad daylight, with apparently zero security applied:
Thread 'At least he got a crime number... bike nicked at Wollaton park'
https://www.ukgser.com/community/th...e-number-bike-nicked-at-wollaton-park.493930/
It reads like a simple and classic ‘Push away’ theft, carried out (not unusually) by scrotes on scooters.
“I thought it would be safe” could of course be applied to that seemingly innocent French village, we read about so often…. And sleepy old Devon, too.
Thread 'At least he got a crime number... bike nicked at Wollaton park'
https://www.ukgser.com/community/th...e-number-bike-nicked-at-wollaton-park.493930/
It reads like a simple and classic ‘Push away’ theft, carried out (not unusually) by scrotes on scooters.
“I thought it would be safe” could of course be applied to that seemingly innocent French village, we read about so often…. And sleepy old Devon, too.
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Having seen my mates bike get nicked back in the late 70’s I always use a decent disc lock as a minimum even when close by.
We were standing about 12’ away, bike was parked in a row with loads of others so no one noticed the steering lock being broken or the bike biking pushed out, it was only as the thief rode away that we noticed and by then it was too late, we watched as it was ridden away.
I know the lads I go away think I’m a bit anal about locking the bike, but there isn’t anything funny being a thousand miles from hope with no bike.
Nor indeed five foot from home.
A rather clever cover if you want to cover your bike up when away
I got a reply from Litelok -
It's usually one of two things -- Lubrication or the cylinder needs a little readjustment.
For the cylinder we recommend a graphite powder lubricant, and for the shackle ends and deadbolt mechanism, we recommend a PTFE based lubricant such as GT85, or a Silicone Oil such as Lubrisolve.
The design includes several internal discs and a floating cylinder cover, which occasionally need a little "unscrambling", especially if the key isn’t inserted perfectly straight.
This free floating cylinder is actually an anti-drill plate. It’s designed to spin freely to protect the mechanism from drilling attacks, which is why it can sometimes appear to shift
1) Fully insert the key into the lock.
2) Apply slight inward pressure — push the key in gently but firmly.
3) While maintaining this pressure, twist the key back and forth between the 90° and full 180° positions a few times.
4) Keep applying inward pressure as you do this, as the final locking pin may not yet be fully engaged.
This will often help realign the internal discs and allow the final locking pin to engage. After the first few uses, the mechanism usually settles and becomes smoother.
Not much security on these two in Nice. Not even the steering lock. Very few bikes had any additional security over the steering lock and many didn’t even put on the steering lock.
Ironic really, when the council seems to provide security loops (as demanded regularly by bikermates) who then ignore them.
We saw the same thing at our office in London. The landlord put aside a long stretch of the building, exclusively for motorcycle parking, putting in a rail to which bikes could be chained. None of them used it.
Funny old world.
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