A question for people with no off the road parking

[Orlando_Orange]

what craig said.... if you have to leave abike out on the road and it's too flash to bear it getting stolen.... downgrade to one that a: you're not so fussed about getting wrecked/stolen and b: doesn't look so appealing to thieves... parking on the road was the reason i never bought a new bike when i lived in london... if you're bikes old and worth less than 2 grand it's a lot easier to sleep st night....

also +1 for getting a cover to keep it out of the scumbags' mind...

[Bluepaul]

I have to park up outside my house also.
I just put a cover over the bike and don't bother with locks. Like Craig said if they want it, they'll get it !!

So far, so good.

I did have a Harley Streetbob before I moved here, but accepted that loosing my garage (for a much better house) meant I needed something a little less bling.

[stormfield]

+1 on the cover. The dirtier and crappier looking the better. Mine's patched up with gaffer tape as it ripped after some car knocked the bike over. Also use a small padlock to prevent people stealing the cover itself. Can you guess I live in London?

[Pussyhorse]

Until recently I had rented a private garage in London for 30 quid a month! Bargain!

If there's nothing solid to attach a chain to, do the old bucket of concrete trick. You can put a metal u anchor sticking out of the top of a bucket or use a plastic box and put a placcy pipe through the middle. Then fill with concrete. OK, it's not imovable, but it is bastard heavy.

[Gribbs]

if you check out local estate agents they often have garage lock ups available. I have one (dnt put my bike in often though as have a garden) that costs just over £20 a month and has a heavy iron gate at the front.

[Bianchi]

yeh i have to agree with craig .. put 2 locks on it a cover and forget about it

if they want it they will get it if they want it even more they will take the keys with it

cheers


quote="CRAIGREVO" post=95633]I insure and cover my bike then forget about it, if a thief wants it they will have it so just don't spend your life fretting over it.

When I was younger I lived in an area that was really bad for bike theft.
I would lock my bike in a shed with 2 chains round the bike a lock on the shed then a caravan with a wheel clamp on in front of the shed door. It would take me about 30mins to get my bike out with the keys, but it never stopped them nicking it. hmy:[/quote]

[Mickdb1]

I would walk around the local neighbours tell them you will walk the bike in and out and pay for the privalage / clean the window etc.
Yer never know till yer ask
Maybe rent and old ladies garage near also
HTHY :cheer:

[P4ulie]

Bike thieves seem to be either opportunists or dedicated professionals. Locks will deter the opportunist but short of chaining a Tiger to each wheel you can only slow the pro down if your bike is on their hit list.

A dirty cover is essential (the dirtier the better), a disc lock on the front with a chain through the back wheel large enough to fit snugly over the saddle should stop most of them. I've never thought / heard of the bucket of cement but that is a great idea for a portable ground anchor.

What I do when I park up in town........find a really expensive bike & leave mine next to theirs

At the end of the day it is just a thing, your thing but not worth sleepless nights worrying about. Save that for when you have kids :S

Paul

[Jelly]

The 'concrete bucket' idea is a good'un and new to me too.

If I may just offer a bit of builders advice in relation to the concrete.

Most importantly, mix the concrete to a 3:1 mix, 3 ballast and one of cement, knock it up reasonably wet, it'll be stronger once its set, don't use sand, BALLAST ONLY as a sand mortar mix will be able to be smashed apart fairly easily.

If you've got some, stick some extra metal rods in it to make it that bit stronger.

Don't knock it up in the bucket, do it on a board to ensure its well mixed with no weak spots.

One more thing, Tap the bucket as you pour it in to get it to a good density.

If you go down this route I'd be tempted to make 2 of them, one for each wheel.

[Tyrant68]

I have a bike shed with the two in but the new ADV will be too big so in a similar situation .
The access to my back garden is via alley way, fine so long as no one parks across. Struggle to drag a 400exc around let alone a 640adv, so it'll be a mix of on road and garden parking.
has anyone ever used one of these (for the garden not road! )

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTORBIKE-BIK ... 3cb153361a