Effective Motorcycle Safety
In general, motorcycle owners put more love and care into their machines.
than car or truck owners. That “love and care” translates directly into
millions of dollars spent on customizations and maintenance. Unfortunately, between
In the United States alone, between 30,000 and 50,000 bicycles are stolen each year (based on
theft rates from 2000 to 2005). And to think that many of these robberies could have
It has been prevented with a little common sense and safety.
Common sense This should go without saying, but don’t leave the keys in
the ignition or engine running when you’re not on the bike! never leave your
ride a bike in a dimly lit, hard-to-see place. Store the bike in your locked garage when
they are home.
padlocks and chains One item every bike owner should buy is a thick
U-lock or chain that anyone can easily see, day or night. It is a requirement-
have, unless it is so large that it is impossible to take it with you. simply wrapping
your chain through a wheel and your bike frame is not enough, you have to
mount the bike to a sturdy post or clamp mounted on concrete. If the bike is not
mounted to a stationary object, a thief could simply pack his bike onto a truck and
drive away.
Electronic Alarms Most modern bicycles (larger than a scooter) have some
form of factory immobilization that prevents casual theft, but such immobilizers
alone will not stop a determined thief. Therefore, it is better to consider an electronic
security system, often called an “alarm”. A good alarm system does more than just
make noise, has a circuit that prevents false triggers, adds secondary points of
immobilization, and a loud siren sounds only when a threat to your bike is real.
Some have digital tilt sensors, shock sensors, and other sensors that activate the system
in action. An excellent electronic alarm from Japan is the CYCLONE 866F:
http://www.kiramek.com. The Japanese manufacturer of Cyclone also offers a 1 way
paging system that instantly alerts you when a threat occurs. The system is also
claimed to be very low power, which eliminates the worry of battery drain.
Two-way pager alarms In the last 3 years, some electronic alarms
they have begun to include two-way pagers. These systems allow you to control both the
alarm and receive notification of threats. Unfortunately, battery life for many of
These two-way pagers are limited to about 1 month, and the pagers
they can be easily broken by a simple drop from the pants pocket. bidirectional
The systems can also drain a bike’s battery quickly unless you ride it every day. Still, for
some people the convenience aspect may outweigh the negatives for some bikes
owners
tracking systems Starting in 2005, some companies have released GPS
bike tracking systems that allow a stolen bike to be tracked. while tracking
systems have merits over other types of security, there are three important
disadvantages to consider: (1) battery drain on the bike, (2) service area
(tracking) coverage and (3) monthly cost.
Most tracking systems require you to pay not only for the product itself, but also
each and every month to keep the “service contract” alive. The long-term cost of
Tracking systems can leave a bad taste in the mouth of the average bike owner.
Think about how much you already pay per month (telephone bill, mobile phone,
Internet, etc.) and you can see why adding another subscription costs
prohibitive.
LoJack is a manufacturer of tracking systems that does not charge monthly fees,
but its least expensive bike system is $595 and traceability is limited to the
coverage area of the wireless towers installed by LoJack and some police stations. Ounce
your “protected” LoJack vehicle leaves the coverage area, is off the map, and does not
traceable Of course, LoJack will refund the price of the product, but that refund
it does not replace your bike. That rebate also doesn’t cover any special setup fees.
you might have paid or any insurance deductible you might have.
conclusion Use a layered approach to security. common sense dictates
that you put your bike in a place that is not an obvious target for thieves. you will do it
then you need a chain or U-lock to prevent casual theft. And finally, even if your bike
has a factory immobilizer, the addition of an electronic alarm or tracking system
act as an important discovery for the robbery.