blocking the drifter for parking

[Petemoss]

Yeah, same here, but I wouldn't try that in New York, or Miami, or CHICAGO!!!!!

You have a good point!

[Troll]

My disk lock is BRIGHT YELLOW, and unless I get older really fast, I DO remember I put the thing on. I have a Krypton lock.

[JLA]

The ABUS disk-lock looks good, with its own suport while riding; but the potential fender damages if somebody moves the bike or yourself forget to remove it are a great problem really.

Anyway, I don't have a final solution for blocking the drifter yet, but I'm very pleased for all your contributions; thank you all; nice forum.

[CDNRatMan]

draconarmy it is different on a base, I leave my helmet on the license plate of my bike all day at work and never had it touched, but then I do the same thing around town and never had an issue, but small town so it is ok.

Now I am going to have to look for an alarm system or something for Driftin.

[Troll]

  Yeah, same here, but I wouldn't try that in New York, or Miami, or CHICAGO!!!!!

[dakuhosu]

I rode to Alamosa Colorado today, parked on main street, got off my bike, put my helmet on my seat and when I came back 45 minutes later everything was still there! No locks or chains required.

[chief]

Yeah, the fenders on the drifter requires a different approach.

[Troll]

The problem with using the front wheel with a disk lock is that the caliper is under the fender behind a plastic cover. If somebody tries to move the bike, there will be fender damage before the lock stops the wheel. In the rear, the swing arm and the caliper are out in the open, so they should stop the wheel without doing damage...

[Ricardo]

Most things already mentioned, so this will be a bit of a repeat...

I always, always, always use both the turn-lock and approved chain and padlock on the front wheel. Here in Sweden, if you don't bolt it to the ground, it will disappear sooner or later...

The plan however is to replace the front disc with one with holes so that I can use the same solution I have for my other bike: namely this lock here: http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Security/Motorbike-Scooter/Brake-disc-locks/Granit-Quick-37-60, which can then be attached to this holder when not in use, which attaches to the frame of the bike: http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Security/Motorbike-Scooter/Holders/SH-37

[Petemoss]

Andy, do you have to think about your posts or do they just come naturally?

[CDNRatMan]

CDNRatMan, you'll just have to worry about that overnight stay in Marion. Be carful which part of town you sleep in. Marion is a dump.

got that covered, going to post a picture of Chili on my bike and a note telling people I am your best buddy and they will have to deal with you if they steal my ride, and leave your address there to .....

oh and  small post script note telling them your bike is much nicer then mine.

[DC]

. . . and motorcycle shops aren't immune to theft either.  Here's what happened at a local shop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTXD0zZ9-FY

[Troll]

Like I said, when I have to leave it where I can't be near by, I use a disk lock on the rear wheel. Depending on how it's parked, the lock goes either on the front half of the caliper, or the rear...and the fork lock, even though it really doesn't make that much difference. If the rear wheel is up, against the curb, then the lock goes in front of the caliper...can't roll it forward and the curb keeps it from rolling back..Nothing is perfect, so I'm always a little paranoid about it.

[waltervl]

I use a disc lock on the rear wheel.  If you back up to a curb, then you put the lock in front of the rear caliper. If you have it so you have to back out, then behind the caliper..of course, I also have the fork lock and my .45...

Troll, I am not close to my Drifter at the moment, but isn't that a hard place to reach, the rear brake disk? It is near to the hot exhaust, and hard to see the holes in the disk to mount the disc lock. I now use a large chain for the front wheel, but the rear disk  I never thought about.
What is your experience?

[Petemoss]

Bottom line is, if they want it, they'll have it.....and you won't. Just hope it never happens to me, or anyone I know.

Yessir. I just turn it off and put the key in my pocket and pay the insurance bill. I'm not going to live in fear because if I live my life worrying about some loser trying to rip me off, I'd never go outside. Things are pretty safe here so ride on. Yea it happens...I hope it don't happen to me...again.  Funny thing is the only vehicle I've had stolen was the crappiest car in the parking lot. Lol. And that was in '92.

CDNRatMan, you'll just have to worry about that overnight stay in Marion. Be carful which part of town you sleep in. Marion is a dump.

[draconarmy]

wow this convo kinda scares me.  I get off the bike hang the helmet on the sissy bar put my gloves and vest on the tank and go to work.  in-fact there have been a couple times I have left the keys hanging in the ignition (luckily in the off position).  but I guess its different on base?

[49Reo]

Bottom line is, if they want it, they'll have it.....and you won't. Just hope it never happens to me, or anyone I know.

[John Hopkins]

We all have the fitted steering lock and I have fitted a talking alarm to my bike with a proximity detector, there are several types of thief, the steering lock will protect against kids who want to joyride but any form of front wheel lock will not prevent two men from lifting the front wheel into the rear of a pick up and towing the bike away, nor will it prevent professional thieves who have a chop shop and simply lift the bike into a large van.

John.

[DriftinGirl]

man I have to buy a lock now if I am going to be going to Drift in is that the word? Heck we don't even lock our doors here, well don't own nothing worth stealing in the first palce but crime rate is way low here compared to down south.

Guess I will too. I have never locked anything...here or when I lived in Connecticut. And have never had anything stolen.

[chief]

Back in the bad ole days... I carried a chain and lock around my sissy bar and would run it through the rear brake disc when parked... also made a useful self-defense device if needed. Can't really do that with the drifter!

[Troll]

There's an old story about a guy in New York who chained his bike to a lamp post right outside his house with a brand new Cobra lock and awoke next morning to find the lock still locked, and a note...If we want it, we'll take it. Nothing works 100%, but locks, like laws, only work on people who don't need them to behave. I used to leave my bike outside, next to my work shop in the town I lived in, but now that we have moved into the "city"  I always put it in the garage, and make sure the doors are all locked. It's a sad fact that we have to do this, but it's true. The disk lock prevents roll-away thefts, up to a point...You just can't stop a really determined thief.

[DC]

Around here fork lock, disk locks, chains, etc. are no guarantee.  You have to be wary of scoop and run.  The thieves have pickup trucks with forks on the back that can be raised / lowered like a fork lift.  Basically, they just back up to your bike, raise it off the ground and drive away with it.  So you have to go the extra step and chain the frame / front wheel to an immovable object.  Even then, nothing is foolproof if they are determined to get the bike.  It will just take them a few minutes longer.

[Gerhardberger]

Troll: Don't forget that there are two kinds of anti-thiefs devices:
The ones that are effective, and the ones that are TOO VISIBLE. We can talk about the best systems to lock the bike, but once is for sure: there is no 100% effective device.

If I leave a VERY VISIBLE chain on my bike, perhaps, the thief can choose to take the next bike, instead of mine...

[Troll]

The problem with chaining the front wheel is that the front fender offers no resistance to theft. That's why I prefer the disk lock. It's hidden, and keeps the bike from being moved at all. One thing I have learned in my travels around in the last 50 years is that you NEVER park where you can't see the bike. Drift-In shouldn't be an issue...too many people around, many with self protection devices....

[greenbarn]

That's life...

Yes, it sure is, unfortunately.  I've had enough stuff stolen from me over the years to know.  I hate a thief.  What makes me the maddest, besides the fact they're too lazy to work for something, is that they don't mind doing $1000 worth of damage, or causing you a $1000 loss just to get $20.

It would REALLY make me mad to find my Drifter missing....  I guess I need to look into that lock thingy...