Locking my scooter?

[Noctis3880]

The ride:

The security:
2x Protector 13mm - 8.2' (2.5m) Boron Steel Noose chain = 2 x $267
3x Squire SS50CS Stronghold High Security padlock = 3 x $98
Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus Large Cover = $79
Dowco Alarm Unit for Weatherall Plus covers = $18
ABUS 83WP/63 Weatherproof House-Key padlock(to lock cover) = $40

Scorpio Ride Core System = $219
Scorpio Secure Kit = $159
Data Plan(1 yr) = $132

Rough Total = $1,475

The locale:

HOA tells me that(for now) this is the only thing I can lock it to:

One branch is about 2 inches thick, I'd estimate the base of the trunk to be about 6 inches thick. It's not ideal, but there's no way to reach the base from the other side of that wall(about a 2-foot high wall). The surrounding foliage would likely mean you can't cut the base without hacking down everything around as well. I plan to wrap the chain tightly around the base(using one padlock to keep it tight). The location is just outside of the city(about a mile from either Downtown or Waikiki). The foliage obstructs a direct view, and it's hard to see it from the side when a car is parked in front of it. Even someone walking into the lot probably won't see it unless the cars are moved out of the way(typically only during the day). It's a relatively high traffic vein with lots of car and foot traffic, plus there's a large 24/7 grocery store just across the intersection. There's a lanai area just over the spot(and in fact, I can see directly down on it), so if the alarm goes off, it'll probably wake up(and piss off) the 2nd floor people(2 units directly adjacent to it).

College campus parking will at best have a bike rack that allows 2-wheelers to lock to it, and there's campus security roaming the lots(almost exclusively patrolling the lots). Home parking may improve as the president of the board tells me there might be an opportunity to have a designated spot for 2-wheelers when they repave the concrete in about a year, and I floated the idea of placing raised concrete blocks about 6" x 6" in order to attach ground anchors to the spot.


I wanted to get an opinion of whether this setup would be good enough for say, a $10,000 motorcycle. Because, fixed object aside, I figure it's more than good enough for a scooter(at nearly 50% the cost of the scooter, that's a damn yessir).

But I'm wondering if:
A) I can add more security layers that don't duplicate or interfere with each other.
B) I can take out some stuff and opt for cheaper, but no less effective alternatives.

For example, GPS is good(plus I like the fact that I can use it with my iPhone), but requires a data plan(not a particularly expensive plan, given my $60/mo internet bill). There's also the opinion(from a former motorcycle thief) that an owner wouldn't want their bike back after a thief is done with it(typically taken apart for the parts, or crashed because the police had to ram the bike in order to stop it). So I was considering using a two-way FM system like the Scorpio SR-i900, which offers an audible alarm and a paging system that would wake me up if someone was messing with my scoot so I can get his attention with my green laser(and let his imagination do the work). I also figure I could throw away 50 bucks for Alphadot marking so there's at least one less thieving scum in my neighborhood.

Thoughts? Add on? Take off? Good enough?

I figure the only further security I could add is to chain a large dog to it, but I figure the cleaning lady doing the gardening might not appreciate that.

 

[liamstrain]

Will the HOA let you sink a concrete post and ring (the ring being the only thing visible above ground, once plants grow back).

 

[Noctis3880]

Oh, and locking will more or less be one chain wrapped around the front wheel and frame around the floorboard area(most secure spot I could eye from the pictures). A padlock will be used to ensure the chain is nice and snug, with the excess laying on the floor or wrapped around a fixed object, mostly keeping it off the ground, but that won't be possible at home.

Assuming they toss it in a van and don't mind the alarm screaming into their ears, I'm fairly confident the chain can't be cut off without significant damage to the frame or wheel(which may not be that costly). So realistically, I'm hoping all but the most hard core would even attempt anything. And if it wouldn't be too much hassle, I'd probably buy a cheaper cover, rough it up with sandpaper and slap duct tape all over it, and throw that on over my Dowco Cover to make it look like a PoS. Out of sight, out of mind, and if they DO see it, hopefully they pass it over at a glance.

 

[Noctis3880]

Will the HOA let you sink a concrete post and ring (the ring being the only thing visible above ground, once plants grow back).

I'm told I would have to ask the other 4 members at the next board meeting in order to try anything else(ground anchors, tires filled with concrete). The next board meeting being in September. That will also be my opportunity to appeal to having a designated spot for 2-wheelers, which may be tough since AFAIK, there's only 2 other people who owns 2-wheelers).

 

[Bob6794]

Could also ask about putting in a basketball hoop that is cemented into the ground that you can conveniently put the chain around at a later date.

 

[maroast]

Just get good insurance with theft....I really wouldn't get that nutty with chaining that thing down. Motorcycles/ scooters walk. People just love to steal um. I've had one stolen (insurance basically gave me the full cost of the bike)...and a few years later some punks tried to steal my other bike....

The second time around the joke was on them because it was a street legal xr650r. That's a 650cc 4-stroke kickstart only dirt bike. There is only one way to kick that bike over and if you don't know what you're doing it'll tear the sh!t out of your leg. I found the bike a few hundred feet from my place abandoned with the kick starter still out! Hahaha the newbies couldn't start it, so they just left it there...hopefully they had a nice limp the next day from their failed shitty efforts.

 

[Noctis3880]

Could also ask about putting in a basketball hoop that is cemented into the ground that you can conveniently put the chain around at a later date.

If you're talking about a full sized hoop, that's not going to fly because it's both expensive and I'm sure they don't want kids playing hoops in the parking lot.

Just get good insurance with theft....I really wouldn't get that nutty with chaining that thing down. Motorcycles/ scooters walk. People just love to steal um. I've had one stolen (insurance basically gave me the full cost of the bike)...and a few years later some punks tried to steal my other bike....

The second time around the joke was on them because it was a street legal xr650r. That's a 650cc 4-stroke kickstart only dirt bike. There is only one way to kick that bike over and if you don't know what you're doing it'll tear the sh!t out of your leg. I found the bike a few hundred feet from my place abandoned with the kick starter still out! Hahaha the newbies couldn't start it, so they just left it there...hopefully they had a nice limp the next day from their failed shitty efforts.

I plan to get comprehensive coverage, but that's a last resort typically because they'll jack up your premiums or flat out refuse to insure you(from what I'm told by the board president who also owns a motorcycle on the lot).

I'm trying to stay away from being "nutty". As I said, my first choice was that 16mm chain. But I believe both the chains and the padlocks have to be the right size in order to make sure I can squeeze that padlock in to properly tighten the chain and keep the chain around the frame off the ground. On the other hand, locking your ride to an immovable object is the basics of the basics as far as security measures are concerned. Plus I feel my setup is decent(all UK made) and offers maximum security without cramping too much on weight and space(actually thinking about a slightly shorter chain for mobile locking, as I would prefer to fit it inside the 25L underseat storage).

I'll admit to being a little too carried away, as most scooters/bikes I've seen typically have maybe a nice Abus Granit or Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain locked around their ride...but they only lock the wheel itself /facepalm. The mass majority of the others have the thickest chain from Home Depot, but those are buttery soft and are still thinner than my 13mm chain. I just figure the fact that my immovable object is a shrub/small tree might make my scoot just a bit more appealing to prospective thieves, thus why I want a little more of an edge(or more hoops to jump over). But on campus or if dedicated parking spots are made available at home, the trick isn't to make it impossible to steal, it just needs to be more secure than the ones next to it. Sorry to the neighbors, but that's just how it is.


I'm a little tempted to buy a Honda 2014 Forza instead(heavier at 422 lbs), but I figure that would be a piss poor idea as a first scooter, and it's been a little while since I last drove anything.

 

[22-rimfire]

Chain or cable it down to the tree and install a hidden video camera assuming that it is beside your home. Get insurance too. Insurance is not a justification for being stupid. A determined thief will take your bike no matter what you do to secure it.


Or perhaps get a storage shed that will fit it and lock up the shed (and the bike). The shed will keep the bike out of the weather if nothing else.

 

[Sid Post]

As a motorcycle owner, if everything is time consuming and inconvenient to use it won't get used properly. Fewer things used properly is better than lots more not used effectively.

First, a tree is a poor choice for an anchor because a thief won't care about sawing it down. If it is difficult to do with a handsaw, it is probably good enough. Lock your chain tightly to the tree or anchor so there is no wiggle room. Loop your chain through both wheels.

You want a good weather tight and secure motorcycle cover for more than just pilfering protection.

Finally, adding a two-way FM pager is good for "piece of mind". The expense of GPS recovery is really pretty overboard for your pricepoint; plus you don't really want to get it back and will want insurance to cover the loss.

Theft insurance for me really isn't that much so, I would encourage you to get some ACTUAL quotes of liability only versus various full-coverage or partial-coverage options.

 

[Bob W]

Look at the disc locks in addition to whatever chain-bolt solution you find. The bike will be harder to steel if it doesn't roll. Plus it's easy to carry with you and use at school or work. Just don't forget to take it off, or you'll have one of the shortest rides of all time.

Chaining to that bush looks like a total waste of time. It'd take ten seconds to saw through those branches.

 

[Noctis3880]

Chain or cable it down to the tree and install a hidden video camera assuming that it is beside your home. Get insurance too. Insurance is not a justification for being stupid. A determined thief will take your bike no matter what you do to secure it.

I'm on the 6th floor, so I'm not sure it needs to be hidden(if anything, I'd want the thief to know they're being recorded). I just think a quality camera that can get clear images from that distance(and be protected from the rain) would be pretty pricey.

Or perhaps get a storage shed that will fit it and lock up the shed (and the bike). The shed will keep the bike out of the weather if nothing else.

Nearest self-storage is about half an hour away, not including the time it would take to unlock it, remove the scooter, lock it again, and take the elevator out of there. It would honestly be faster to take the bus, which would defeat the purpose(to save time).

As a motorcycle owner, if everything is time consuming and inconvenient to use it won't get used properly. Fewer things used properly is better than lots more not used effectively.

First, a tree is a poor choice for an anchor because a thief won't care about sawing it down. If it is difficult to do with a handsaw, it is probably good enough. Lock your chain tightly to the tree or anchor so there is no wiggle room. Loop your chain through both wheels.

You want a good weather tight and secure motorcycle cover for more than just pilfering protection.

Finally, adding a two-way FM pager is good for "piece of mind". The expense of GPS recovery is really pretty overboard for your pricepoint; plus you don't really want to get it back and will want insurance to cover the loss.

Theft insurance for me really isn't that much so, I would encourage you to get some ACTUAL quotes of liability only versus various full-coverage or partial-coverage options.

I realize the tree isn't ideal, but as I said again, the HOA Board President tells me that the rest of the board are "NOT going to be cool" about my stretching a 25 ft chain around the actual tree(which no one would cut down unless they want to risk the thing falling on them) a bit further off, plus there is a limitation of the scooter needing to be parked within my assigned parking stall. Any alternative idea(ground anchors, makeshift anchors) is something that would need to be checked with the rest of the board, at the next board meeting in September.

As for the GPS, I was actually considering keeping it because it shows ride history(a feature that's also useful beyond security reasons if you're interested in how long a particular route takes you to travel). And while the scooter might not be in a condition where I want it back, it would be worth checking to see if comprehensive would cover damage occurred in the process of theft, and if recovering a damaged vehicle would incur less of a premium hike than losing it entirely. I'd also enquire if a GPS system lowers the rates, but I believe they only find Lojack acceptable.

And my last motivation is again, the appeal of having one less scumbag out in my neighborhood might mean better chances for me the next time around, whether than wait for the same scumbag to try again on my next one.

Look at the disc locks in addition to whatever chain-bolt solution you find. The bike will be harder to steel if it doesn't roll. Plus it's easy to carry with you and use at school or work. Just don't forget to take it off, or you'll have one of the shortest rides of all time.

Chaining to that bush looks like a total waste of time. It'd take ten seconds to saw through those branches.

As I said, I plan to run my chain through the front wheel and lock it to the frame, and keep the loop very tight. Wouldn't that be functionally the same as a disk lock? I was concerned about locking the rear wheel too, but I'm not sure if a disk lock would work with a drum brake, plus I figure in order to roll it, they'd have to remove the cover first(if only to see whether or not I locked the wheels), which would set off the alarm and wake up the whole neighborhood(louver windows).


Again, it's not an ideal situation, but I figure from a logical perspective, the cover itself must be removed at some point, either for the thief to see what he's stealing or to see whether there are any other locks on that would prevent rolling it away. Plus it's hard to lift the thing into a van if you don't know how heavy it is(found out either by lifting it or visually identifying the bike). The thief also doesn't know whether there's tracking, or whether or not I marked the parts for identification.

If I were to wake up to the alarm and find a cut cover and the thief gets away, I could then use the faraway self-storage as a backup, stick it there for a month, wait for the thief to move on to greener pastures, then bring it back afterwards.

 

[maroast]

I plan to get comprehensive coverage, but that's a last resort typically because they'll jack up your premiums or flat out refuse to insure you(from what I'm told by the board president who also owns a motorcycle on the lot

Nah. Im with the same company and they didn't do anything to my rates. The city I live in now has a fair bit of crime and even though we lived in a nice area, the animals love to come in at night....my wifes jeep was stolen twice! And the insurance company didn't penalize us for that either. So don't sweat that. Thats why you pay them, because despite your best efforts, scum is out there and they want what you have. Don't over think this too much....get one decent lock so that if they want your bike they have to work a little harder for it.

 

[sideways]

I would not spend half the price of the bike on security. Max 10%.

I'd cheap out and buy a new bike or get insurance to buy me a new bike instead when the inevitable happens.

 

[Noctis3880]

I would not spend half the price of the bike on security. Max 10%.

I'd cheap out and buy a new bike or get insurance to buy me a new bike instead when the inevitable happens.

Yeah, I think 10% would get me an alarm system w/pager. It would be completely unlocked. Free money on wheels so to speak.

This is why I don't use the police percentage recommendation, but rather what would physically impede theft:
-Chain & Padlock = Bare Minimum to keep scooter in the same spot
-Alarm w/pager = self explanatory, more effective because 21 units in the building can immediately hear it(and will annoy the hell out of them)
-Cover w/lock & alarm = probably the most effective measure(out of sight, out of mind)

 

[Noctis3880]

Nah. Im with the same company and they didn't do anything to my rates. The city I live in now has a fair bit of crime and even though we lived in a nice area, the animals love to come in at night....my wifes jeep was stolen twice! And the insurance company didn't penalize us for that either. So don't sweat that. Thats why you pay them, because despite your best efforts, scum is out there and they want what you have. Don't over think this too much....get one decent lock so that if they want your bike they have to work a little harder for it.

It would be interesting to hear where you live where insurance behaves that way, because from what I hear, actually getting them to pay you off in the first place would be a challenge in and of itself.

And this from a former thief:
http://rideapart.com/2012/05/ask-a-motorcycle-thief/

Even if you get it back in one piece without the police crashing into your bike to catch the thief you’ll still likely have a broken upper triple, damage to the neck of your frame (Steering lock), damage to your ignition, damage to the tank lock, possible damage to the tank itself (rareish) possible damage to the trunk lock , and then your insurance company might f*** you too. It’s much better to not get the bike stolen in the first place. So in addition to lo-jack you want some sort of VISIBLE passive devices to make the thief move on.

Again, if you park outside of an apartment and your bike gets stolen, rent a f***ing garage or self-storage unit near by to use as a garage. The thief is just going to wait a couple weeks for insurance to replace your bike and come back to check. If someone tries and fails to get your bike the same thing applies. Move it, they WILL be back.

I also think the chain and padlock qualifies as "one decent lock", as it is essentially a single chain looped through the front wheel and frame, and locked tight with a single padlock. It's just that I need a second pair to lock around that shrub and simply leave it so I don't have to wrap it around each and every time, and have enough length to connect the two.

 

[maroast]

It would be interesting to hear where you live where insurance behaves that way, because from what I hear, actually getting them to pay you off in the first place would be a challenge in and of itself.

Dallas, TX and St. Louis MO. Two different insurance companies (my wife and I had different carriers before getting married)...both large ones that you have seen commercials on TV for....so I'd say there is nothing unique to our situation. The whole process was quite painless. The world isn't all doom and gloom like the internet makes it out to be, and not everyone is trying to screw you (ie insurance companies). Obviously it would be best if your property doesn't get stolen in the first place.

 

[Noctis3880]

Dallas, TX and St. Louis MO. Two different insurance companies (my wife and I had different carriers before getting married)...both large ones that you have seen commercials on TV for....so I'd say there is nothing unique to our situation. The whole process was quite painless. The world isn't all doom and gloom like the internet makes it out to be, and not everyone is trying to screw you (ie insurance companies). Obviously it would be best if your property doesn't get stolen in the first place.

Well, pretty much all reviews I've seen for the large ones like Geico, Progressive, All-State, and State Farm were all overly negative(1 out of 5 stars), and Yelp reviews of local insurance providers were also pretty negative. Mostly regarding the insurance not paying claims, or line after line of people saying again and again that their agent lost the police reports and whatnot.

This is the one my mother suggested I get:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/first-insurance-co-of-hawaii-honolulu

I personally would like to try a local AllState agent with decent reviews(if not a lot).


The good news is that HPD informs me that both GPS tracking and UV tracking products could be usable in a roundabout manner(manufacturer must be contacted for access to information).

The somewhat good news is that my ownership of the unit apparently entitles me to some right to my assigned parking spot, so it may be possible to drill into the concrete to have a proper floor anchor installed, or use my original idea to place a movable(but damned heavy) makeshift anchor on top of the stall. The bad news is that anything I want to try has to be cleared with HOA first, who are probably getting sick of me at this point.

 

[Cougar Allen]

Thieves don't use bolt cutters any more. They use cordless rotary tools that can cut through anything. So expensive hardened steel locks and chains that are designed to resist bolt cutters are no longer a good investment. A lock is still better than no lock, but an expensive lock is not better than a cheap one, not any more. The only way to stop a serious thief is with an alarm. I've been reading a lot of stories on the net about thieves cutting the cable and then when they move the bike the alarm goes off and they run away empty-handed. There are plenty of bikes without alarms for them to steal; they just run away and look for another bike.

 

[Noctis3880]

Thieves don't use bolt cutters any more. They use cordless rotary tools that can cut through anything. So expensive hardened steel locks and chains that are designed to resist bolt cutters are no longer a good investment. A lock is still better than no lock, but an expensive lock is not better than a cheap one, not any more. The only way to stop a serious thief is with an alarm. I've been reading a lot of stories on the net about thieves cutting the cable and then when they move the bike the alarm goes off and they run away empty-handed. There are plenty of bikes without alarms for them to steal; they just run away and look for another bike.

Erm, any of these stories firsthand? Because I would think a non-OEM alarm unit would easily be found and destroyed or disabled if the thief in question has a good history of taking bikes apart(testimony from a former thief states that it's easy to figure out what belongs there and what doesn't). I DO think an alarm is a PITA to deal with even for guys who toss the whole thing into a van or truck. Unless that van is airtight, real new and all, the 125 dB siren is going to leak out and catch the attention of other drivers or police patrol(some are typically nearby because the nearby highway entrance is where they camp out to catch people texting/talking on the phone while driving).

I also doubt a power tool could be used at ANY time of the day as the sidewalk is literally 3-feet away, and it's a pretty busy intersection. I believe the UK makers also stated that it would take 2 minutes to cut through the chain with an angle grinder + cutting disk. Might as well not need an alarm if they're seriously going to go that far.

Anything more high tech and one has to wonder why they're going after a $3,500 Maxi-Scooter.

 

[Cougar Allen]

Erm, any of these stories firsthand?

Yes, of course. Search for bike alarm reviews.

Because I would think a non-OEM alarm unit would easily be found and destroyed or disabled if the thief in question has a good history of taking bikes apart(testimony from a former thief states that it's easy to figure out what belongs there and what doesn't).

That doesn't seem to be what's happening. What's happening is they move the bike, the alarm goes off, they run off. They don't want to stand there trying to find the alarm and figure out some way to deactivate it. Thieves like to work fast and get the heck out of there with the loot, and if an alarm goes off they get the heck out of there without the loot.

also doubt a power tool could be used at ANY time of the day as the sidewalk is literally 3-feet away, and it's a pretty busy intersection.

That's very encouraging.