Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

I tried searching the forum about this topic and didn't find any, so here goes.

For those who use their bike to work or school, where do you park you bike? Do you use any form of anti-theft device? Do you cover it? I will be using my bike as my primary form of transportation to work and don't want to worry about it as much.

I know insurance will be the best form of protection but I would like to get your thoughts/advice.

Since our bike is very heavy, it will take at least 3-4 guys to lift it in a van/truck. I suggest buying at least a proper disc lock that you use through the rear sprocket. That way its locked from the rear and front using your steering lock. So they have to lift the bike from both front and rear wheel to steal it.

If you use the disc lock on the brake disc the thieves simply loosen the bolts holding the brake disc (with lock) in place and securing it to your rear swing arm or front fork with zip ties. Going through the rear sprocket they need to remove the entire rear wheel ->sprocket to make the rear wheel turn.

Thanks for the tip. After seeing a motorcycle being stolen on youtube, it just made me realize how easy it is to steal a bike. I know our bikes are heavier by 70-80lbs.

Here's the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96QM-lzLM8

I already saw that video. Thats why I suggest locking it on both wheels. And its at least 100 pounds lighter then our bike (381lbs vs 476 lbs dry weight and 412 lbs vs 532lbs wet weight)

I work on a college campus and am fortunate that I have a parking garage to use and it has cameras (one of which overlooks the motorcycle parking area). It is also a pretty busy place with a lot of traffic and regular enforcement. I use a disc lock on the front and park it in gear. When i have to park elsewhere or lock my helmet to the bike I have a heavy and separate lock I can run through the rear wheel.

One of the reasons I purchased the GSX650F is that it is less likely to be stolen. In my opinion it is the Subaru Baja of bikes. Sporty, versatile, interesting to look at but not so much in demand that someone is going to be actively looking to steal one.

I have talked to the campus police and they allow us riders to park in the striped area that a car cannot fit into as long as it is not a hadicapped area. (there is no motorcycle specific parking) This keeps my bike from being ran into by someone not paying attention and just whipping into the spot without looking. Plus this also puts my bike right next to the entrances and in one occasion right next to the cop shop. Some people think an alarm on a bike is a waste of money becasue if they want it they will take it. However, if you have an alarm screaming and look over to see someone loading a bike up that is going to throw up a red flag, plus the alarm may be enough that they keep going looking for an "unalarmed" bike. Also look into your insurance as you may be eligible for a discount if you have an alarm but they usually require a battery back up at minimum. Mainly though, its just piece of mind to know that you bike has a theft deterant because thats mostly what an alarm is anyway.

I also work on a university campus and am lucky enough to park next to the campus police station. I only use the fork lock, but I realize how easy it is to steal a bike. What I believe is that anything that makes your bike less attractive than others around it, whether a disk lock, cable lock, alarm, etc. is what it will take. I tend to think that those stealing a bike would be more interested in a Ducatti, or Harley, or BMW and there are plenty of those around here.

You guys have one thing in common but I appreciate the advice.

I pay $12/week for secure underground parking. I could park for free on the street but I figure it's worth the $12 even just to keep the bike out of the sun. I also enjoy not having to walk to the office in rain or hot sun, and not have to worry about people walking past my bike and deciding to have a fiddle with it.

Whats with all the university and college employees on this forum? I too work at a inner city community college, and we share our parking facilities with a small inner city university, of which I am the parking management analyst.

Anyway, I've been in this business for twenty three years, and I've seen trends come and go. We have a designated motorcycle parking area, about big enough for fifty bikes or so, and we've have a few problems from time to time but no major problems for any duration of time. We've had a semester or two where someone would go around cutting the straps from people's helmets and taking them (I have NO idea why, what good is a helmet with a cut off buckle? But a couple of helmets a week were cut off of the bikes they were locked on to), and we've have people getting mad at other people for sitting on their bikes, etc., but off the top of my head I don't think we've ever had a bike stolen. I see some people use the U locks, they are considered the best by the public safety and police departments, and I've seen cables that loop around and around a bike and it's wheels, but most people just park their bikes and leave. I myself only use the fork lock but even that I admit I do because it's easy with the GSX650F, I never did it other bikes that needed the extra key at the gooseneck.

We put our bike lot in a very public place, and all the bikes are there, so its a very busy area during the warm school days, but truth be told, if a person walks up and then acts like it's their bike, how is a public safety person supposed to know who's bike is who's? So when they are standing around in uniform, it is a visual deterrent, and it helps, but a determined thief with the right tools will get get the bike they want (especially referring to bicycles this time, they get stolen a lot).

Like the old story about being chased by a bear, you don't have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun whoever you are walking with, putting a visual deterrent on your bike like a brightly colored oversized lock that is clearly observable to the casual pedestrian makes your bike less attractive than other bikes that are easier targets parked next to it. And good insurance, that's good too, as stated above by others.

I'm not employed by a University, I am enrolled in one.

Yesterday I bought a disc lock for the front wheel. After reading Kadett's post about securing the rear wheel sprocket and watching the video of those guys stuffing a bike into a van (and rolling the rear wheel while doing so), I decided to buy a cheap mini u-lock for the rear sprocket. Now, my steering is locked, as is my front disc and rear sprocket.

I'm sure a good crook could easily defeat all of these locks, but it'll take time and effort, and they might think it is too much trouble and leave my bike alone (at least that is what I am hoping). And with both the front and rear wheels locked, someone can't just hop on and ride away; they'd have to defeat the locks first. If they wanted to stuff it into a truck, they'd either have to lift the bike (which is a heavy beast!) or break/pick the locks (or undo the brake rotor) since both wheels are immobile.

So, thanks for the post Kadett! Hopefully my bike is a less desirable target now.

Just remember to take the lock off ,you can get a string thing from bike shops ,that loops onto the lock and then over your throttle lever ,to remind you to take it off.
http://shop.kenma.com.au/products/MRRC-Disc-lock-reminder-cable.-.html

Damn!

Just watched the video - never occurred to me it's that easy!

Luckily in our city we're allowed to park on the footpath, provided pedestrian traffic isn't obstructed (whatever that means), so I guess that'd make it a bit more difficult where parked cars form a kind of barrier. However, the two times I've left the bike for extended periods, I anchored to street signs as well with a long, chunky bike chain.

Things you have to do to keep the scumbags at bay.

Cheers, Matt

Enrolled/working on a university as well

I've so far only used a front disc brake (together with the steer lock) but after the good advices in this thread I think I might buy a rear wheel lock thingy, as well as a chain to lock it to a sign, post or something similar whenever possible.

Btw, you can still easily use a disc lock on the rear sprocket despite the chain?


/Dan