Disc Locks

[SteveR]

G'day all,

My bike security has always been the old 'ball & chain' (almost literally!), a chain and a padlock around a 9kg gas bottle at home, and the same chain to lock to a pole when leaving the bike somewhere.  In preparing for the arrival of my new ST, I'm thinking of treating myself to some modern security...

I was in the local bike shop last week (Peter Stevens) and they had an Oxford disc lock on sale, $99.95 -> $39 (http://shop.peterstevens.com.au/FIOF25/Omega-Heavy-Duty-13mm-Disc-Lock/pd.php). I've never had one of these before, I'm just wondering if someone is able to tell me whether it'll fit a '94 ST? Reach is 62mm, with a 10mm opening, and a 13.5mm diameter pin... Any hints?

[Biggles]

Conventional wisdom says if thieves want a bike, then they pick it up and put it in a ute.
Hence a disk lock is a temporary inconvenience to them, like a steering lock.
Your chain around a post will make that kind of theft more difficult.  The hard part is finding a suitable post in a convenient location.
One consolation is the fact ST1100s aren't collectors items yet.  So park it next to a Harley or Beemer.     

[SteveR]

One consolation is the fact ST1100s aren't collectors items yet.  So park it next to a Harley or Beemer.     

...and they're heavier than any bike I've owned before, which made me think chaining it down may not be AS necessary, but I guess, there are some strong thieves out there...

[Sicman]

G'day all,

My bike security has always been the old 'ball & chain' (almost literally!)

What  You chain your bike to the wife  Your a game man gunga din - A very game man   

[johnnyYTED]

 
I use a disc lock on my 1100 and if I'm STaying with friends in Sydney > Darlo I also use 2 heavy bike chains thru both front and rear wheels and locked thru centre STand.  I often wonder why I have insurance as my 98 ST1100 p is insured for $7100 

[Biggles]

I use a disc lock on my 1100 and if I'm STaying with friends in Sydney > Darlo I also use 2 heavy bike chains thru both front and rear wheels and locked thru centre STand.  I often wonder why I have insurance as my 98 ST1100 p is insured for $7100 

If its insured for that much I'd leave it in Darlo with the key in the ignition!     

[Biggles]

...and they're heavier than any bike I've owned before, which made me think chaining it down may not be AS necessary, but I guess, there are some strong thieves out there...

There's enough of them, and they're strong enough to hoist the heaviest of Harleys up onto a tray-back.

[Yorkie]

...and they're heavier than any bike I've owned before, which made me think chaining it down may not be AS necessary, but I guess, there are some strong thieves out there...

There's enough of them, and they're strong enough to hoist the heaviest of Harleys up onto a tray-back.

That is what makes it better for STowners, the idiots only want Hardleys.

[spanner]

I have never locked my 99 ST1100 because it is an old bike, a heavy bike and not really the kind of bike that thieves really want.

The scumbags that steal bikes are after the shiny new ones or custom cruiser type things.

Personally I would save the %100 bucks and treat your self a farkle.

[SteveR]

The scumbags that steal bikes are after the shiny new ones or custom cruiser type things.

I had thought that too, but when a local guy got his (pretty crappy) old Honda CX stolen, it made me go out and buy a chain!

Personally I would save the %100 bucks and treat your self a farkle.

Ahh, now you're talking!! I DO need a new helmet too...

[StinkyPete]

I don't use a disk lock, but did have one that I used on a previous (and lighter) bike.

If you do go down that path, make up a tether for the disk lock that you can attach to one of your handle bar grips, and you'll never try to take off with the disk lock still attached to the front brake.

However, I do agree with Spanner and would spend the money on something else.

[johnnyYTED]

 
 Pete I'll admit to having done that twice on STranger , thankfully in the backyard not on the STreet. so I always use the bright orange tether across my handlebars 

[SteveR]

If you do go down that path, make up a tether for the disk lock that you can attach to one of your handle bar grips, and you'll never try to take off with the disk lock still attached to the front brake.

...may have done that once, with the chain wrapped around the front wheel, in front of a busy al fresco restaurant too... How embarrassment!

[Biggles]

...may have done that once, with the chain wrapped around the front wheel, in front of a busy al fresco restaurant too... How embarrassment!

Not a worry- the patrons worked out you were trying to steal the bike.
Not theirs, so they didn't interfere.

[Shaun]

I had an alarm on the ST and have one also on the VFR. Someone tried to take the ST for a little wander one early morning. They got a bit of a shock when it started screaming at them, bringing everyone out including me and my less than subtle questions about their intent.

[Biggles]

I have one of those alarms.  My main problem with it is the dreadful noise it makes when you set it or cancel it.
Quite unnecessary, I think- a little chirp would be fine.  It emits a full-blown scream each time.  Most unsuitable for a quiet neigbourhood or outside a motel (where it's probably needed most) when an early start is planned.

[SteveR]

I had an alarm on the ST and have one also on the VFR. Someone tried to take the ST for a little wander one early morning. They got a bit of a shock when it started screaming at them, bringing everyone out including me and my less than subtle questions about their intent.

I was looking into an alarm a couple years ago, never followed up on it though. Are you happy with what you've got?

[Andrew_02ST]

I recently purchased an alarmed disc lock from eBay for about $25 from a shop in Canberra. Couldn't be happier, easy to arm/disarm and goes off like a banshee when activated.

[Shaun]

I have one of those alarms.  My main problem with it is the dreadful noise it makes when you set it or cancel it.
Quite unnecessary, I think- a little chirp would be fine.  It emits a full-blown scream each time.  Most unsuitable for a quiet neigbourhood or outside a motel (where it's probably needed most) when an early start is planned.

Not sure which one you have, but my one gives a little chirp when setting on or off. I can imagine one such as yours would be inappropriate and ponderous.

Yep, pretty happy with it. You can set it to either immobiliser mode (the ST didn't have one, but HISS models have one built in anyway), or to alarm+immobiliser mode, which will kick in when it senses a change in tilt, ignition tampering or lifting the sidestand. The sensitivity can be changed as well, but I have it set to whatever default is and no false positives so far, even in big winds or with loud things going past that could cause resonance.

The disc lock alarm seems an interesting alternative. How does it work and what sets it off?

[SteveR]

Yep, pretty happy with it. You can set it to either immobiliser mode (the ST didn't have one, but HISS models have one built in anyway), or to alarm+immobiliser mode, which will kick in when it senses a change in tilt, ignition tampering or lifting the sidestand. The sensitivity can be changed as well, but I have it set to whatever default is and no false positives so far, even in big winds or with loud things going past that could cause resonance.

Sounds about perfect to me, do you recall the brand/model you've got?

My Mum, who is very security conscious (read, paranoid) has one of the Oxford disc locks I linked to earlier, apparently it is so sensitive that even with the bike parked in a locked garage, if it gets windy outside it'll get set off. I think she doesn't activate the alarm any more.

[Shaun]

This looks like the one:
http://www.nofrillselectronics.com.au/meta-system-defcom-motorcycle-alarm