hidden "anti-theft" kill switch, yes or no?

[Burque73]

I think we've mostly covered physical security.


To deter ride-offs, you could insert a simple switch into the circuit powering the ignition coils. The bike would crank, but it wouldn't start, even if they tried to bump-start it.

Basically, this could be part of a "pile of crap" defense -- if they think they've got it hot-wired or broke the ignition or whatever and it doesn't start right away, they don't have time to troubleshoot or rummage around in the ignition any further. "Obviously I got the wiring right because it's cranking. Just an old nail that's hard to start. Didn't want it anyway..."

I don't understand the criminal mind at all, so maybe this is giving them more credit for thought than necessary. But one principle of website security is giving false feedback to evil-doers; waste their time and they'll give up and move on sooner. Allowing the starter and lights to work would fool them into thinking their efforts were successful but the bike has some other starting problem.

Of course, you might still return to a buggered ignition, a dead battery, and a bike pushed over on its side. And again, this would only affect ride-offs, not other methods of stealing a bike.


As I once learned with my KLR, the faint odor of cow manure is a pretty good deterrent, too.

That's hilarious!
Parking next to a newer more expensive bike makes an old GS pretty unappealing, I'd think.


We've had two stolen. A Yamaha XT225 and a little Chinese off brand scooter.

 

[limeex2]

There are alarms with blue tooth on E-bay with 120 db sirens for cheap. When I worked at the dealership 3 guys could load a Gold Wing into a truck in about 2 minutes with no ramps. Note to us older types, do not try this with our aged backs. Not good...

 

[bwringer]

Over on the V-Strom forum, the question lingered for a few years, and I think we came up with exactly one case of a stolen V-Strom.

V-Stroms are weird-looking in a way that just doesn't compute for non-enthusiasts (dare I say they're "ugly"?), and they're usually filthy and have some visible wear.

 

[limeex2]

I could leave the key in my Sprint and no one would take it....

 

[Guest]

One thing that I've heard of car guys doing is a delayed fuel shutoff. It allows the vehicle to be hot wired in the usual fashion and driven off but after a very short time it just quits and because it's now in traffic they have no idea what happened and usually just abandon it right there. I've also heard of the delay activating the fours ways and horn as well. You can probably find a simple fuel solenoid somewhere. They won't get far with what's in the float bowls. As to 4 big guys loading it in a truck, they will hopefully target something more worthwhile than an old GS.

I have a much cheaper way of accomplishing the same thing.

$8 or less and two hose clamps. I've used these on my bikes that have had bad petcocks. It can be tucked in out of sight. I know it works, because I've taken off many times and forgot to open it and about a 1/4 mile down the road when the bike started stuttering, I'd remember to turn it to flow.

 

[Burque73]

...you could possibly just pull the ignition fuse. or better yet, replace it with a burned-out one. That would fool 'em for awhile.
I'm sure there's a few other tricks that don't need an extra switch cobbled in.

a blinking red led might convince them there's an alarm system. Or even GET an alarm system.

Not a bad idea, just pulling the fuse. I don't really like the idea of removing the old brittle side covers that often though.

 

[Gorminrider]

the Trouble with a fuel shutoff is that while they don't get far, the vehicle is still Gone! when you come back to where it was. You would still have to search in a few directions for it...and it might be damaged wherever they leave it.

just pulling the fuse. I don't really like the idea of removing the old brittle side covers that often though.

Yes, it'd be an idea for occasional use especially if you have to do that..(or maybe "move" the fuse to a more convenenient place?) however on my 650G, the fuses are under the easily-seat.(assuming it doesn't have cargo or bags strapped on it)

Of course, it could be expanded to removing the front wheel like some cyclists do! and then, locking the wheel itself up in a different location!

....at least once every year I read of a custom/collector car getting stolen from it's garage - Nice Things are not entirely safe anywhere, unfortunately

 

[Gorminrider]

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2018/april/police-chase-review/

I saw Clockwork Orange for the first time in 1971 it still disturbs me to even think about it, like the novel 1984 it has come to fruition in my lifetime.

Lock em if you've got em, better yet, MOVE.

Wow! maybe cordless tools should be banned, eh? Grinders particularly-They sure seem to make light work of any lock.

 

[Burque73]

Wow! maybe cordless tools should be banned, eh? Grinders particularly-They sure seem to make light work of any lock.

Of all cordless tools, grinders are particularly useless at work. If I have any grinding, cutting or polishing to do only corded tools do the job. So why they even sell them is beyond me.

 

[earlfor]

Of all cordless tools, grinders are particularly useless at work. If I have any grinding, cutting or polishing to do only corded tools do the job. So why they even sell them is beyond me.

They're good for doing your finger nails. LOL

 

[Gorminrider]

Of all cordless tools, grinders are particularly useless at work. If I have any grinding, cutting or polishing to do only corded tools do the job. So why they even sell them is beyond me.

I was just looking at isleoman's video though and the punks therein seem happy with theirs.

..but personally, I won't own any cordless tools -longterm, I get so tired of recharging batteries and it seems you always need two charged up before you can think of using them - a hand tool or a long extension cord are still thewaytogo for me.

 

[Guest]

A fast search for "motorcycle theft statistics" turned up only the obvious: States with the most people have the highest number of bikes stolen. More Hondas are stolen than any other brand.
One non-obvious result: Only about 4,000 Harleys are stolen per year. Given the resale value of even older HDs, I'm surprised.

It would be nice to see stats for theft rates based on city size, type/model/age of motorcycle, recovery, and so on.

I'm guessing that very few people are interested in GSes. If you're going to the effort, steal something new and with street value.