Which Alarm ?

[ToNe]

I'm close to being able to order a new GS (should sort out selling the CBR600 this weekend) and happy that I know which options I want :-

ABS, Handguards, Heated Grips, Pannier rails, Black Paint.

However, I want to put an alarm/immobiliser on the bike and have been considering the Datatool System 3.

Is this unit OK on the GS ?

Has anyone had any bad experiences with this alarm ?

Has anyone a recommendation for an alternative (besides a mobile Bank Vault) ?

I'd appreciate any advice.



Tony.

 

[City Slicker]

The BMW factory fitted/retrofitted alarm is okay and is a better kit to fit if you don't want your bike loom cut up when installed. Motion trigger is a bit insensitive to people tinkering with panniers and such, but it doesn't false trigger. It seems to drain the battery less than Datatool alarms. It doen't provide support for add-on security like the Datatool but you can utilise a circuit if you know which wire to look for and add contact switches. The alarm is made for BMW by gemel

If you decide to get one you can definitely fit it yourself so negotiate that the fitting is free or preferrably state that this is to be included in the factory build and not done at the dealership. (this goes for panniers and boxes and represents a saving but the dealerships quote you a retrofitting price so they're not going to tell you that you can order it with the bike from the factory for less)

With the benefit of hindsight I'd not bother with either and I'd invest some money in a silent alarm system using components such as a sophisticated shock/open circuit sensor like the Gardiner Shockgard and a cheap ignition immobiliser linked to a GSM dialler unit (see thread in this forum) and a cheap flashing LED from Maplins

It seems like most people ignore alarms - enough people including myself false trigger their alarms to desensitise the neighbours from any action if something really does happen. Bike thieves know how to disable the alarm pretty quickly so it's not a great deterrent.

The beauty of this alternative is that as long as you are contactable you have an early alert to tampering without alerting the criminals that they have been detected. You can then call the police who will be much happier to respond quicker knowing that they can catch criminals in the act (it makes it very easy to prosecute them), or pop outside with any heavy domestic implement and deal with the scumbags there and then should you feel so inclined.

 

[Jimb]

Tony

Accumen 911 £60, don't have an immobiliser they are a pain, my mate's failed and immobilsed the bike at a fuel stop in France, took us over an hour to de-install it fortunately I carry a small test meter when on long trips and we are both engineers so we were able to get round it.

The Accumen 911 is easy to install makes a hell of a row, put the money into a passive RF pager linked to the indicator lights and a GOOD chain or cable AND lock the bike to a fixed object or another bike, this is the only way to secure a bike.

The £300 datatool will not be heard inside a van, and you will only get £10 off your insurance.

 

[L]

Had the Datatool, now on a Meta

The datatool was fine on my RT, though the sensitivity was a PITA on occassion. To swap it to "prewarn" mode (i.e. it accepts a number of knocks before the alarm goes off proper) was a wiring job. In the end I had it wired in this way.

The Meta 375 seems like a good bit of kit (only had it a couple of days). It defaults to immobiliser only (so handy for when filling up with Petrol, loading/unloading etc., but press the button and the alarm will come on. It also has a holiday mode, so the alarm is inactive (i.e. no power drain) when you go on holiday. Best bit is you get a one-key system like a car key (button included in key itself).

I agree with the above, though. Alarms won't stop theives in public places as most people ignore them. BUT, they are good when you're in earshot. I park mine outside the office and the alarm going off has helped me stop kids playing with the bike. Its also good piece of mind. PLUS its 5% off insurance premium...

 

[AlexV]

Datatool 3

ToNe

I had a Datatool 3 fitted at the dealer by an alarm specialist. (£300) Some 3 months on and I have not had any problems with it.

It took me a while to suss the thing out i.e. the motion sensor particularly when filling with petrol. As you may be aware it arms itself after 30 secs.

As I'm sure we all agree that alarms won't stop scum nicking bikes, but its something and perhaps the odd disc lock or other will prolong the process.

 

[ToNe]

Thanks all for the advice.

As usual, the main reason for getting the alarm is to satify the insurers. I'm used to datatool alarms and thought I'd try more of the same.

I appreciate that if they (professional scumbags) want the bike then it'll be gone.

Realistically, all I can hope to achieve is to persuade the amateur scumbag to go some where else - pretty much like having an alarm box on the front of the house.

What I have picked up from the other posts on alarms (very useful reading - and I did look before posting this thread) is that I need to sink a ground anchor into my garage floor and tie the bike down with an F'Off Chain.

Just need to sort out getting the bike now ...

 

[waterhouse]

I've just arranged my insurance without specifying security 'cos the discounts aren't great and the hassle can be.

I had a Datatool on the last bike and I think it deterred no-one but annoyed me. Parked outdoors in heavy rain it would go off after a couple of hours, and then have to be set into workshop mode.

I use serious chain at one end and a disklock at the other.

 

[Motozilla]

Xena

Xena (Imported by Phoenix, Arai importer) just came out with the XCL-200cm. An alarmed disc lock with a 200cm long 13mm diameter chain that attaches to it. Sold Secure Rated and relatively cheap.

 

[AdamZ]

Datatool on the GSA - bloody pain, take the key out to open the top box and it sets itself before you have time to take anything out the bloody box and put the lid down....

meta on the boxercup is far more gracious but only sets the immobiliser without your conscious effort

i understand the bmw alarms are not thatcham approved so no insurance discount

remember if someone wants to steal your bike and are professional enuff they will and there is sod all you can do about it

think of it as a detterent, and the datatool is probably the best for that as you don't hazve to remember to switch on the motion detector as it does it for you and the neighbors will enjoy it when you are packing the bike at 6am on a monday morning