TRF Forums

Having had one bike nicked (from home) already, I'm thinking very carefully about general bike security when out and about.

When we're out riding for the day, we often end up popping into shops for food/sarnies and I'm looking for something that's not too much hassle to carry on the trails and doesn't weigh a ton, to at least deter opportunist thieves. This would also be useful in the event of an injured rider situation where a bike needs to be left behind until someone can come back and collect it.

I'm thinking about something like a Xena disklock (makes noise to attract attention) and a moderate sized cable for locking to solid objects, but I'd be interested to hear what others do.

If I had to leave a bike for a length of time on a trail and was worrying about it being nicked I'd like to have a spare front axle to put in it. Naturally this would be sawn to have about 5-10mm of metal left joining it. Just adequate to get thief up to speed before it snapped.

BTW I've had 3 bikes nicked not that it's affected me or anything

I like John's idea and can sympathise.

I only take a basic precaution and have a simple spiral push bike lock that I keep wrapped around the handlebars (see right hand bar on photo) and then I just slot it round the front wheel/forks if I want to deter the walk away type.
Otherwise, if they want it they will have it anyway and it's insured.



Not very proactive but I refuse to get tied up with mega security and although I suspect I might change my mind a bit if it did get nicked, I can't be doing with all this high security stuff.

I do maybe pick and chose where I park it though but even left in a public place no-one is going to stop a bunch of scrotes lifting it into the back of a van are they.

please read my post on bike security, manchester group

I already have and I'll be adding a lock to my tow hitch as a result

I must that if I was ever out and someone got injured I would stay with there bike until it got collected. I would never leave my bike behind anywhere even chained up. If we go out and stop off we generally find a pub etc where u can sit outside and have the bike 1meter away from you.

Never leave your bikes anywhere! Even when I fill up with petrol I wheel the bike over to the door and put a disc lock on it....You just can't chance it anymore to many theiving scumbags out there.

I'm keen to arrange a system with sussex police re stolen bikes.

When one gets nicked I'd like to be able to circulate a pic and details to sussex trf and beyond so as to keep an eye out for it.

Currently awaiting meet with Sussex police re this.

There have been complaints on this forum re "attention" from police. In some ways I find that reassuring that bikers are being stopped. Increases the chance of getting the crooks!

Yes your right it does. A good Police Officer who has common sense knows that when they stop someone and they are a well to do person they ain't worried about a number plate thats half an inch to small. Its when you get stopped and stuck on for a petty offence like that. Which leads to people being negative.

As a KTM rider I have no ignition key so I rarely leave the bike out of sight..but it only takes a second to jump on push the magic button and it's gone .I could wire in a hidden switch but that would be something else to go wrong ,so on fuel stops get the bike into top gear before it stops ,switch off fuel tap,fill up go inside to buy pastie and mars bar if scumbag jumps on bike the few seconds longer it takes to get bike off the line might be enough to hit perp with Arai or if he gets away chase until fuel runs out..use Arai (other makes of cosh are available).I could use the steering lock that KTM have thoughtfully fitted but an embarrassing incident involving such a device many years ago (outside college in front of the girls) on my Suzuki 125 -Lot's of rev's first gear drop clutch...you get the picture has put me off using it for ever.

Not going to help if they turn up with van and big KTM would probably pull away in top gear anyway, but every little helps.

Cheap alarmed disc lock from Aldi or Lidl (can't remember which).

Fit it so it locks the wheel as soon as the bike moves forward (ie under the caliper on the front wheel).