Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
Oily Rag - Dedicated to Pat, Greywolf. 26/06/45 - 04/06/18 => Accessories and After Market items => Topic started by: Stonec0ld on January 19, 2017, 18:30:55
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As some of you may remember I've had a couple of occasions where would-be thieves have sniffed around bike.
It's stored in an off site car park one Street over from my flat and I have it covered with a chain going through the back wheel and cover attached to the chain link fence post, and the front just has a chain going through chaining the cover to the front wheel.
Normally that seems to be enough, but for the last month the gates to the car park have broken and are locked wide open so anyone can just wander in. There have been a number of cars vandalised and had windows smashed and even bumpers ripped off and stolen. The housing association have sent out letters to remind everyone that vehicles parked there are at the owners risk, so it got me thinking about beefing up my security a bit.
I don't want an alarm as I had awful trouble with the data tool system 3 on my GSXR, and I don't want the constant drain on the battery. So I was thinking about getting a ground anchor for underneath the bike.
Problem I have is installing the anchor. I have no tools for the job... so I'll have to get those too.
So any recommendations for ground anchors that require minimal toolage I.e. anchors that are drilled in. And what tools (drills/bits) would I need?
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Hi Paul, l have all the necessary tools but you would need access to mains electric for the drill. You are welcome to borrow them or l could pop across town and give you a hand.
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Would the Housing Association let you drill? Do you know what you'd be fixing into?
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Thanks for the offer Pete! Mains could be an issue though... No mains for at least 100m in either direction.
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Where abouts in Sheffield are you? PM me if you'd rather. I'm in the centre 3 days per week. I've a dewalt and two batteries along with some large masonry bits.
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In terms of ground anchor, a Thatcham or equivalent. I've got a Red Alert Double Bridge ground anchor like this one in the garage http://www.pjbsecurity.co.uk/red-alert-double-bridge-anchor
If I remember, 4x M10 bolts drilled into concrete. The shield draws up and fixes into the concrete. Then you hammer steel ball bearings into the bolt heads and it'll never come out.
You can also buy it as a combo package with a chain here: http://www.pjbsecurity.co.uk/thatcham-combo-package
Hope that helps.
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It is unlikely you'll ever regret fitting a good ground anchor and upgrading your chain and lock. You may regret not doing it, especially if you think you should. I kept thinking I should bolt up the bottom of my garage, and only did after some toe rags stole my mtb. Guess how they got in?
Spending at least whatever your insurance excess is is a good rule of thumb. If that sounds a lot, if the bike does go you'll lose that much money immediately, have to find another bike and upgrade your security aswell. That's not just money, but time, hassle, and lost no claims bonus.
Almax do some good chain, lock, anchor combinations for various needs. Highly recommended.
Oh, and if it was me, I'd be inclined to beg forgiveness for installing without asking, rather than asking and getting an answer I didn't like ;)
Sounds like it wouldn't be causing an obstruction where you park, and you're only following their advice....
Good luck.
Good on you for the offers of assistance folks. :thumb:
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Is there something like a HSS Hire (https://www.hss.com/hire) near you? You should be able to hire all the tools and probably a portable generator from them.
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Hi Paul, give these blokes a shout https://www.yell.com/biz/a-m-k-fence-in-ltd-Sheffield-911482/, they're just round the corner from you. Cash works well. :thumb:
They'll give you a price for fixing the gates as well.
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Thanks for the tips! I'll get one of those anchors ordered!
@bigpie I'm in Kelham Island so Might just take you up on that offer.
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http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk
I can not advise you strongly enough to go to the almax website and then buy the best chain, padlock and ground anchor that they do, you will not be sorry.
I've had bikes stolen in the past and it highlighted to me most chains are a waste of time, also not having the bike locked to something immovable....
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if you don't want an alarm fitted then why not get an alarmed disc lock , you don't have to put it on your wheel you can put it under your seat etc
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I have this ground anchor, because it is removable
http://securityforbikes.com/removable-ground-anchor.php
Drill bits come with it, so you just need a good drill. Best fixed to some concrete slab or equivalent
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Wow thanks for the recommendations. I'll look into each and see which would be best for me, I like the look if the removable one but I'm worried I might not have the correct chain tension and mess it up. So I'll probably get one of the others and leave it there When I move.
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I leave work at 4 Mon Weds and Thurs, give me a shout if you want me to stop by on the way home with the DeWalt.
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Remember to make access to the chain as awkward as possible, between bike and a wall etc. as a battery angle grinder will make short work of it :icon_no:, a local lad had 2 chains round his bike and a lamppost, the toolmarks on the cut ends were from a cutting disc.
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@bigpie cheers I'll let you know when I've got the anchor.
@Robotstar I have no wall unfortunately. There's a chain link fence that has already been cut further down and repaired. I was thinking about positioning it near the rear wheel on the fence side to make it as hard as possible but they could always just cut the fence...
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Have you thought about getting a really big plant pot and filling it with concrete if you've not got anywhere suitable to attach ground anchor? Ideally they should be attached to concrete ground or low down on a decent strength wall.
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I was planning on attaching it to the ground underneath the bike
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What do you mean with you don't have the right chain tension? Too long or short?
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The Web site was very specific about the chain going through the anchor being the right tension on the double thingys. I wasn't planning on buying another chain so mine might not be the right length like you said.
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What chain and padlock have you got? Like I said the almax website is very eye opening, most well known chains can be bolt cropped in a matter of seconds.
The only chain out there that is bolt crop proof is ..... the almax.
Chains are a total waste of time unless they are used to lock your bike to something secure, is there no street furniture you could lock to. Otherwise your bike will be into a van and away.
Unless you buy a good anchor, padlock and chain, then I'm sorry to say, in my view it's all a bit of a waste of time. You'll be better off fitting a tracker so you can find it afterwards, on that score look up Squanto. Discussed at great length in another post, and highly recommended.
https://www.squanto.co.uk
Buy one, and an almax padlock, chain, and anchor then you might actually get some sleep at night..
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My current setup is this
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/68e9a8db9f08b413df8e3a7aa40392e8.jpg)
So I've got a motrax chain going through the back and round the fence post
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/c141a8a7bebfb6e5c2d7edc35f1cd743.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/d1978a2b0658fa4a0a1d8882eecf6c68.jpg)
Then I've got another chain going through the front wheel only
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/ee78cbd88035a6733ba083338e427696.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/cfa34834148c34b5b0a5e8eccc8ed2a7.jpg)
So is it worth getting a ground anchor so I can chain the front wheel to it? I was thinking I would put it under the bike so when it's parked the bike is over the anchor.
Or would I just be better off getting a better chain to go on the back and around the fence post?
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There's nothing really there of substance to attach a ground anchor to, those block paving blocks will easily lift. Might be better just getting a better chain?
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I agree, you can pull those bricks out of the street, when you can lift a bike into a van. You could consider a thicker chain instead, or is this one already difficult to cut?
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Maybe you could rally around the residents that park there and get the lock fixed on the gate.
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On the gate, that as of this morning is now fixed! Still, the last lot who had a look at my bike just followed a car in. I think I'll invest in one of those Almax chains to tie around the fence post. I think that's the best I can do.
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Paul: what sort of "ground" though? Makes a huge difference. Concrete slab? Tarmac? Earth?
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I manage to get my Almax between swingarm, exhaust, wheel and subframe. Much better than just the wheel if you can do similar. The long links mean you can effectively shorten the chain to make it as hard to get to as possible. 2 minutes to remove the wheel and throw it in a van if there are 2 of them.
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Angustoyou What length chain did you get?
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Paul: what sort of "ground" though? Makes a huge difference. Concrete slab? Tarmac? Earth?
Look at the pictures, dimwit... :violence-smack:
I agree not a lot of point in a ground anchor in that environment, unless you could maybe dig a pretty big hole, fill it with concrete, and then replace the block paving on top, with the anchor rigidly embedded in or bolted to the concrete?
Looking at the fence post; it doesn't look particularly robust to me and I expect a cordless angle grinder would make short work of it; therefore pointless in spending £££ on a lock chain that is much stronger than the post.
One other point - that blue car is parked right up close to your bike; presumably if the bike hadn't been there the driver would have parked it right up against the fence instead, thereby denying you access to any ground anchor you may have installed?
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Yeah I am a little concerned that the fence post isn't the strongest. So even if I get a better chain then they could just cut through the post.
The blue car is mine, I park as close as I can to make it awkward for thieves. It's never going to be 100% safe, if they're that determined they're going to get it, but I want to deter the casual thief and make it look like it's not worth the effort. It's also parked under a street lamp, just not close enough to get a chain around it.
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Ah, fair enough. So glad I have a garage and don't need to anxt about this stuff!
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P/X blue car for van. Park bike in van.
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Fit a beak to it and leave the cover off. That'll keep 'em at bay....
How about attaching it to the lamp post?
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The lamp post is in the space next to mine. Can't park there and it's too far from my space to stretch a chain
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Would a swap be feasible?
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Doubtful, I own my flat and parking space whilst others rent. I enquired about buying an additional space for my wife but the housing association basically said no. Also the man that has the space next to me seems to really dislike me. He just stares at me without blinking, doesn't even respond when I say hello...
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Chain the bike to the car... just don't forget and drive off :dl_smiley_banghead:
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A couple of things spring to mind.. as has been mentioned, locking it to your car would be better than a ground anchor set in 'liftable' blocks. You'd obviously need to have a positive memory jogger too so as to avoid driving off with it attached. The other thing is despite your cover, it stands out like a sore thumb. Is there any way to put sheeting or a tarp up on the fence to make it less noticeable.? If it's more difficult to see, it's less likely to attract attention of the scroates. I guess that may no be possible but just a thought.
One other thing for all reading, (though you're probably too far away so no much use in this case) Baby Monitors make great garage alarms. Cheap to buy, mains or battery powered, place the receiver next to your bed and they'll pick up every sound should someone be paying you a unsolicited visit. You can then call the plod, or call your mates and catch em red-handed. :icon_batterup:
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Your neighbour is probably a Wednesday fan, they all have that vacant look...
On the creative side an old cast engine block weighs a fair bit, stick some plants down the bores and make a feature of it, loop the chain first and you have an anchor. FreddyFruitbat's idea is sound, I buried part of a diff from a bus and back filled when I had my KDX200. Though that was nicked whilst I was riding it.....that's another story.....
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You can't drop that one and walk away.
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Details!!!
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Kind of a relevant hijack Paul.
Many moons ago (96 or 97)I had a KDX 200. I bought this purely for greenlaning though if it was nice I'd go to work on it. This particular day I was on my home from work, the 'bike started spluttering so I flicked it onto reserve and decided to detour to the local ASDA. On my way there I noticed a new Cavalier SRi full of scummers, parked half on the road half on a verge, that's nicked I remember saying to myself.
After topping up with fuel and two stroke I set off for home, as I approached a mini roundabout I did a quick shoulder check (no mirrors) only to see the Cavalier alongside. The 3 occupants were now wearing ski masks, the one in the rear was hanging out of the window waving a wheelbrace, his 1st blow hit my right knee, the next one just above my right elbow. The car was now forcing me off the road, I ended up on the pavement. The car stopped, the one from the back seat was out and coming for me with the wheel brace, screaming give me the f*cking 'bike, I reckoned I could sort him but then the car started coming towards me as well. I had a split second to decide what to do, either nut this herbert with the peak on my open face lid, then kick him with my work boots by which time the car would probably run over me....
Discretion won, he got on the KDX and shot off towards Sheffield with Cavalier straight behind.
The entire incident was witnessed by a pub landlord from the upstairs of his pub, he called the Police as soon as it started they arrived a commendable five minutes later. As I was giving my statement their radio was ablaze with reports of a motorbike being chased by previously stolen Cavalier heading towards the Manor, a charming Sheffield suburb.
A quick hospital visit to stick my arm back together and a crime number finished my day. The insurance paid out the full purchase price, no quibbles within three months.
This happened at 5.30 in the afternoon in broad daylight.
In the late 90's off road 'bikes were being stolen left right and centre, many of the blokes I rode with had also been victims. One had his wooden garage doors covered in petrol then set alight, the doors were then kicked in a couple of days later and his XR taken. Another kept his at his mum's place, the 'bike was manhandled over an 8 foot wall never to be seen again, one more was taken when he was jet washing it a petrol station. He left it to go for another token, he came back a 2 scrotes were pushing it down the road.
Be careful out there.