Motorcycle Explorer Issue 6
Light it up .
A high powered lamp with PIR works well as thieves tend to like to work in the dark . I would suggest that the light points at the bike and placed between the door and the bike if possible . This way when you come out ( if you do ) then you ’ re in the dark and the thief is blinded by the light and has no clue how big you are or if you have anything in your hands due to the spot light effect ( time for your best Conan roar impression here ).
Disable .
If you ’ re going to use a chain then DON ’ T use it on the front wheel . Use the back as it ’ s much harder to get that wheel off and if you can get through the swing arm then so much the better . Have an anchor if you can then have the chain tight enough so that it ’ s off the ground . It ’ s much harder to smash a lock that is not against a hard surface but dangles in the air . Of course you should have a quality lock and chain or there is really no point in doing any of the above in the first place .
Have a hidden kill switch on the bike so no matter what the bike won ’ t start in the first place . This is more against the opportune scum bag joy rider , the ‘ professional ’ is going to have a van on standby and will just push the bike in the back – that would when the chain and lock comes in . The same goes with the disc lock , use the back wheel not the front . Many a thief will bring a spare wheel with them !
Make some noise .
A bike alarm is a winner but get a quality alarm or face the wrath of the street as yours goes off to false alarm after false alarm at 2am . Then there is the issue of it running your battery flat too ! So you end up disconnecting it making getting it in the first place no use what so ever .
On the note of making some noise you may be doing a spot of exploring and parked in a bush somewhere for wild camping . A technique I ’ ve used , just for peace of mind when not on the alarm is some fishing line wrapped around a can of marbles . The line goes from the bike to the jar in your tent , if the bike moves then the can falls and makes a clang that wakes you up , simples . I like this one when I have ditched for the night at rest stops in Europe . I ’ m sure you can think of ways to aid in the protection of the bike . One I liked when reading up on this was a guy that just took a chubby screwdriver with him on the commute , when at work he just put the locks on etc and then took his clutch lever with him !