D lock? Chain?

Craig321 · 20 Apr 2015 at 11:25

I need something I can use when I need to park my bike somewhere other than home or work.

From what I've seen, the only chains worth buying (difficult to crop etc.) are too heavy to carry in a back pack?

I currently have a disc lock but that isn't going to stop anyone picking it up. Are there are good D locks out there that can't be cropped with ease? That'd be more realistic to carry around in tail pack or back pack.

What do you do when parking your bike out for the day?

wazza300 · 20 Apr 2015 at 11:27

I take my almax chain and use a disc lock

Craig321 · 20 Apr 2015 at 11:33

Aren't they a bit heavy? I'm really after something I can realistically carry in a back pack over a few hours / few hundred miles if necessary. I could see an Almax getting quite uncomfortable!

wazza300 · 20 Apr 2015 at 12:01

Yh they are heavy,I just don't trust anything else if I'm leaving the bike for a long period

You could buy a smaller lighter chain and a couple of disc locks,and park/lock it up in a busy populated space

Supermarkets are ideal,near entrances

ttaskmaster · 21 Apr 2015 at 13:23

Craig321 said:
From what I've seen, the only chains worth buying (difficult to crop etc.) are too heavy to carry in a back pack?

Yup.
They also have the potential to cause serious problems if you come off.
That's why you carry them in a little lock carrier that straps on under the pillion seat/pad.

Craig321 said:
Are there are good D locks out there that can't be cropped with ease?

Cropped?
Sure.
However, the bigger concern with D-Locks is either the keyway on the lock itself being very easy to pick, rake, ream or bump... or the bolt being easy to shim open, both of which can take seconds if the lock is naff.

D-Locks also rarely afford the chance to lock an unremovable part of the bike to an immovable object.
Chains are best, IMO.

Craig321 said:
What do you do when parking your bike out for the day?

Park it somewhere very public or secured and surveilled, along with a 16mm Abus chain, Xena alarmed disclock, installed alarm, steering lock and a comprehensive insurance policy.

Zowghi · 21 Apr 2015 at 17:57

Craig321 said:
What do you do when parking your bike out for the day?

Park it next to a nicer bike that doesn't have a chain.

Remember to check your insurance policy too. Some comprehensive policies require the bike to be secured somehow for it to be covered against theft. My policy would be void if it was stolen from my garage (which is inside the main structure of the house) if it didn't have a lock on it whilst in the garage.

Stovepipes · 21 Apr 2015 at 21:15

As I've said before anyone that lugs about a 16mm chain has my utmost respect. My Squire chain is insanely heavy, the thought of putting that in a rucksack would put my off biking for good.

As far as I'm concerned carry chains aren't really going to stop a well equipped determined thief but they will hopefully put off opportunists especially if they're actually chained to something, which can be difficult. I don't understand why in London they don't provide ground anchors or rails for non-residents seeing as they charge for parking in Westminster.

After being silly and not having any security and subsequently having my bike stolen after 7 days ownership I now have 2 different alarmed disc locks, a cheap android phone with a tracking app in the frunk and tomorrow I'm picking up a 2m long 14mm Oxofrd Monster chain in addition to my Squire chain which is for home as I can barely lift it.
Not sure what more I can do really. I think if I had a really expensive, exotic bike that probably still wouldn't be enough and I'd avoid leaving it unattended anywhere especially overnight, but I don't think anyone will be bothered to deal with all that for a commuter bike.

wazza300 · 21 Apr 2015 at 21:20

Any chain is better than no chain IMO

It will at least slow them down or put them off

Stovepipes · 21 Apr 2015 at 22:21

wazza300 said:
Any chain is better than no chain IMO

It will at least slow them down or put them off

Yeah very true. Still the Police officer who I gave my statement to told me that if they really want it there's not much you can do to stop them, which is scary. I mean as Zowghi mentioned you may have to secure your bike within your own garage if not just for peace of mind then to ensure you're covered under your insurance policy. Before my bike was stolen I had no idea people put ground anchors in their own garages.

The whole thing has put me off buying a really expensive, desirable bike (as if I could afford one) as I can't imagine ever being comfortable with it being secure.

Craig321 · 24 Apr 2015 at 13:05

Ended up ordering the Almax III with Squire lock & Kreiga US-10 tail pack. Just gonna chain it up at night in the garage and then take the tail pack when I need to park it anywhere other than work.

Not sure how well the Kriega will fit to my Speed Triple but it's free returns so can try it and send back if needed.

I've also got the Abus Provogue disc lock which I've had for a while with my Hornet. They rate decently, so will use that as well. Tempted to get the alarm that Triumph supply, but it's really expensive.

ttaskmaster · 24 Apr 2015 at 13:15

Stovepipes said:
The whole thing has put me off buying a really expensive, desirable bike (as if I could afford one) as I can't imagine ever being comfortable with it being secure.

Bike Security is there to help prevent you from being stranded miles from home.
Bike Insurance is there in case it happens!

Drangueos · 24 Apr 2015 at 13:41

Craig321 said:
Ended up ordering the Almax III with Squire lock & Kreiga US-10 tail pack. Just gonna chain it up at night in the garage and then take the tail pack when I need to park it anywhere other than work.

Not sure how well the Kriega will fit to my Speed Triple but it's free returns so can try it and send back if needed.

I've also got the Abus Provogue disc lock which I've had for a while with my Hornet. They rate decently, so will use that as well. Tempted to get the alarm that Triumph supply, but it's really expensive.

Same as I ordered, the Almax chain I already got it, I'm still waiting the Kreiga US-10 to be delivered.

I also use a XENA X2 disklock and a cheap Chinese alarm, I was worried when I ordered the alarm because they say that the cheap Chinese alarms would drain the battery, but before fitting the alarm I tested and it's power consumption is 4.8mA, what is normal for most good Alarms.

Craig321 · 24 Apr 2015 at 14:06

Drangueos said:
Same as I ordered, the Almax chain I already got it, I'm still waiting the Kreiga US-10 to be delivered.

I also use a XENA X2 disklock and a cheap Chinese alarm, I was worried when I ordered the alarm because they say that the cheap Chinese alarms would drain the battery, but before fitting the alarm I tested and it's power consumption is 4.8mA, what is normal for most good Alarms.

How long did your Almax take to deliver? I ordered the chain and tail pack on the same day and the tail pack arrived today but no sign of the Almax yet and they haven't replied to my emails.

wazza300 · 24 Apr 2015 at 14:38

it shouldn't take long,week at the most

Craig321 · 24 Apr 2015 at 20:45

Delete

Drangueos · 25 Apr 2015 at 05:11

Craig321 said:
How long did your Almax take to deliver? I ordered the chain and tail pack on the same day and the tail pack arrived today but no sign of the Almax yet and they haven't replied to my emails.

My order was a headache..

I called them to order a chain and padlock on a Tuesday, but they were busy and the didn't even let me speak properly so they advised me to call back Thursday morning because they would post it in the evening for next day delivery (Friday).
So Instead of calling them on Thursday, I called Wednesday evening to be safer and they said, that I had to order it before, so I would not get the chain on Friday, I said WHAT? you told me to call on Thursday and I'm calling one day before and now I cannot have the chain?

So I ordered it online for delivery next week, a 2M chain with padlock and asked to deliver to my friends home (since I would travel 200 miles to collect my bike), they said they couldn't, because the address had to be on paypal, so I called them, explained that I was not going to be in and they told me to add my friend's address on paypal, because you can have more than one, so I did and re-ordered, even called them to confirm that was ok and they said YES!
Next day they were suppose to send the chain and..... they didn't because my address was not the same again, it was set on paypal, as they asked me, but they made a mistake and because they had so many orders to fulfill they sent my chain to someones else and they didn't have any 2M chain left.
I was really expecting the chain as I was going to collect my bike, so they offered me to send a 1.5M + 0.8M chain and padlock for the same price, it was ok for my needs, so I accepted.
Chains arrived and guess what? they forgot to send the padlock, had to call them again.
so FINALLY after 11 days I got what I ordered, but for 3 days I had to leave my bike on my friends home because he has a garage.

At some point I was almost giving up and buying a Pragmasis Protector chain.

Stovepipes · 25 Apr 2015 at 15:59

ttaskmaster said:
Bike Security is there to help prevent you from being stranded miles from home.
Bike Insurance is there in case it happens!

Right, but nothing you've said there would put me off buying an expensive bike in the foreseeable future :confused:

ttaskmaster · 27 Apr 2015 at 12:12

Stovepipes said:
Right, but nothing you've said there would put me off buying an expensive bike in the foreseeable future

That wasn't supposed to put you off...!!
Just the opposite - IMO, you shouldn't be so afraid of losing something you want, that you aren't gonna try to have it!

Craig321 · 27 Apr 2015 at 20:32

Drangueos said:
My order was a headache..

I called them to order a chain and padlock on a Tuesday, but they were busy and the didn't even let me speak properly so they advised me to call back Thursday morning because they would post it in the evening for next day delivery (Friday).
So Instead of calling them on Thursday, I called Wednesday evening to be safer and they said, that I had to order it before, so I would not get the chain on Friday, I said WHAT? you told me to call on Thursday and I'm calling one day before and now I cannot have the chain?

So I ordered it online for delivery next week, a 2M chain with padlock and asked to deliver to my friends home (since I would travel 200 miles to collect my bike), they said they couldn't, because the address had to be on paypal, so I called them, explained that I was not going to be in and they told me to add my friend's address on paypal, because you can have more than one, so I did and re-ordered, even called them to confirm that was ok and they said YES!
Next day they were suppose to send the chain and..... they didn't because my address was not the same again, it was set on paypal, as they asked me, but they made a mistake and because they had so many orders to fulfill they sent my chain to someones else and they didn't have any 2M chain left.
I was really expecting the chain as I was going to collect my bike, so they offered me to send a 1.5M + 0.8M chain and padlock for the same price, it was ok for my needs, so I accepted.
Chains arrived and guess what? they forgot to send the padlock, had to call them again.
so FINALLY after 11 days I got what I ordered, but for 3 days I had to leave my bike on my friends home because he has a garage.

At some point I was almost giving up and buying a Pragmasis Protector chain.

Sound like a right pain. Not impressed with their customer service. I have sent them 2 emails now & had no response. I think they tried to deliver today (never got a dispatched email) as I had a note to go collect / re-organise delivery. Hopefully it arrives before my bike!