Trackers. Yes or No???

[Engineer]

My Datatool flattened my battery in a matter of 5 days no use - it was unequivocal, once removed problem went away. Datatool customer service was rubbish at solving the issue, so I cancelled my subscription - Datatool are most defintely not to be recommended.

 

[GSMarky]

My Datatool flattened my battery in a matter of 5 days no use - it was unequivocal, once removed problem went away. Datatool customer service was rubbish at solving the issue, so I cancelled my subscription - Datatool are most defintely not to be recommended.

100% Agreed on personal experiences too.

 

[DaveTez]

For anyone considering one, Just fitted a Sizapp tracker, Simple job, (once I found somewhere to place the unit) there’s a void under the coloured fuel tank infill panel (5 screws to remove) I’ve mounted the unit (very sticky 3M pad pre-attached) to the air box lid (cable unplugs at unit end so no issue with air filter access) & routed cable down side of fuel tank to aux terminals under the left side triangular panel.
Sizapp provide an app which sends push or sms notifications to your phone whenever movement is detected, registration straight forward, just a matter of verifying the a/c via email & registering the imei code of the onboard 4g SIM card.
The app is quite comprehensive, records your rides, & enables sharing via GPX, sends notifications of when a service or insurance is due (even chain tensioning ) Battery Voltage & more.
I’m impressed with it up to now, only issue I’ve had was the time it took to “find” the unit once powered up. The instructions are vague but I went for a ride & stopped 3 or 4 times thinking it was duff before it actually went live after about 20 minutes.
It cost me £230 to purchase direct from Sizapp (shipping took about 2 weeks from Latvia)
It can be bought over the counter in the UK for about £270 from Sportsbikeshop.
NB No further subscription required, just the initial payment.

View attachment 264605View attachment 264606

 

[PWP]

I've a BikeTrac on mine. Never had an issue. I do ride the bike frequently, and have only once (in two years) have had to plug it in to a charger, and that was when the bike wasn't used in 6 weeks.

While it does draw from the bike's battery, the draw is minimal, since it has it's only internal battery, and can last a few weeks even when not connected to the bike.

As for fitting - I had a dealer do it. It's definitely not under the seat area, so I'm not sure where they put it, and I don't want to know. It works.

 

[Engineer]

I've a BikeTrac on mine. Never had an issue. I do ride the bike frequently, and have only once (in two years) have had to plug it in to a charger, and that was when the bike wasn't used in 6 weeks.

While it does draw from the bike's battery, the draw is minimal, since it has it's only internal battery, and can last a few weeks even when not connected to the bike.

As for fitting - I had a dealer do it. It's definitely not under the seat area, so I'm not sure where they put it, and I don't want to know. It works.

I guess some trackers are fine but the problem with the Datatool was that it was drawing a continuous 50mA (I measured it) the bike alone in the off state takes 5mA max.

 

[GSMarky]

I don't want to know. It works.

like it!

 

[Engineer]

The Datatool sums are easy, 12AH/0.05A = 240 Hours, i.e. 10 days until the battery is flattened completely. On the 1250 GS if the battery is 50% down (5days) the bike struggles to start, especially in Winter.

Conclusion: Don't use a Datatool tracker because they are not interested or, as I suspect cannot solve the problem.

 

[Hartley]

I had a Datatool Tracker on my previous 21GS and have one fitted to my GSA. I’ve had no issues but then I do tend to keep my bikes on Optimates. ( 1 optimate rotated around 3 bikes)
I’ve had a couple of dealings with Datatool directly ( not for faults but sorting out some confusion caused by the dealer) and I have to say they’ve been brilliant.
I find sone of the functions that come with it useful and the App fairly easy to use. It was also a requirement of my insurance. I will admit that the annual subscription cost is a bit steep I think.

 

[Engineer]

I had a Datatool Tracker on my previous 21GS and have one fitted to my GSA. I’ve had no issues but then I do tend to keep my bikes on Optimates. ( 1 optimate rotated around 3 bikes)
I’ve had a couple of dealings with Datatool directly ( not for faults but sorting out some confusion caused by the dealer) and I have to say they’ve been brilliant.
I find sone of the functions that come with it useful and the App fairly easy to use. It was also a requirement of my insurance. I will admit that the annual subscription cost is a bit steep I think.

When my bike is kept in the garage in Tempsford, it was always kept on the BMW charger and there was no problem. When it is kept in St.Ives there is no garage with a powerpoint to keep it on a charger - or if on tour somewhere where there is no mains power available then it then becomes a real problem if the bike is left for a few days without being ridden - it is not unreasonable to expect the bike to start after it has been left for a few days, cars with trackers do not have this issue (100AH battery perhaps)

I am sure Datatool are fine with easy admin issues, but when presented with a real technical problem they were uttlerly useless, they hadn't a clue what a mA was, FFS! Just uneducated incompetent airhead wankers on the end of the phone

 

[Mr Bean]

As I said whoever steals my bike can keep it

And you'll be declaring a total loss on your insurance for the next 5 years.

 

[Easy_Rider]

I've been reading this thread with interest as i wanted to get a tracker for my 1250RT.
I am never that far away from the bike when out and it is always locked away at night.
Reading what members on here have said about trackers, and what makes there are.
I found myself buying the Monimoto 7. I looked at the 9 but the battery life was shorter.
And needed to be recharged every 6 to 8 months. Where the 7 battery can last double that.
So i did the normal search for the best price and got one for £99.44
For me it's not so much about the bike, its the 4k of accessories that the insurance will never pay out on, even though they're declared.

 

[GSMarky]

And you'll be declaring a total loss on your insurance for the next 5 years.

So what? Premium will rise of course, but I would not want it back. I'll leave it to others to undo the mess & vandalism that is 'normally' associated to bike thefts, More likely it'll be lifted & shifted far from the UK to then be found available in bits from Eastern Europe or the like..

Even with a tracker, scroates these days are ingenious peasants that will soon have the traceable electronic stuff jettisoned before the fuzz have finished painting rainbows on their panda cars to then be able to think about reacting.

 

[Wapping]

its the 4k of accessories that the insurance will never pay out on, even though they're declared.

Did your mate tell you that. Or is it something that you just know will happen? Either way, it’ll be devastating news to the bod in the thread, who doesn’t want his bike ever found and returned. He’s presumably trusting in his insurer to reward him handsomely…. Whilst mumbling about rising rip-off insurance costs.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Did your mate tell you that. Or is it something that you just know will happen?

When the wife bike got W/O last year, it was only the value of the stock bike they paid out on.
She has over 1k of accessories on the bike. I made sure we bought it back and i repaired it.
4th D tried so hard to talk me out of buying it back. I think they know there was some nice aftermarket parts on it.

 

[Wapping]

Had she declared the accessories and / or was it then simply an argument over valuation? 4D are not your insurer.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Had she declared the accessories and / or was it then simply an argument over valuation? 4D are not your insurer.

Everything declared. Read the T&C on your insurance, i did afterwards and was shocked how much is in there favour.
And in 2021 we found out that a custom paint job will also lower the value of the bike.

Both times was with Hastings & 4D