View Full Version : What is your opinion on bike Alarms
Is it worth the time and money to fit one? :confused:
If so how much should be spent on their beloved SV?
Will a 2.50p flashing LED fake alarm setup be as good?
My T reg plate seems to have worked so far! [-o<
cheers
yorkie_chris
03-03-08, 01:21 PM
Useless heaps, the only possible use for them is if they'll wake you and your baseball bat up.
Immobilisers also have a habit of immobilising the bike when you try to ride it, which is really annoying.
My bike generally doesnt leave my sight, if it was going to be then I would probably invest in one.
DoubleD
03-03-08, 01:27 PM
I have not had a problem with my alarm or immobilizer in the last 3 years. It was factory/shop fitted when I got the bike new.
yorkie_chris
03-03-08, 01:30 PM
I had 3 problems with mine in as many months
my bike pretty much does not leave my sight either............. it came with a datatool 3 alarm, which i have not had any problems with, but i dont think i would bother getting one fitted
In these times we live in, pointless. However, one day insurance co's will realise this. I had to have one fitted to my sv for insurance purposes 8 years ago. Howeverm it still works fine and dandy, and to date, never given me an once of toruble.
tinpants
03-03-08, 01:55 PM
I've got a Laserline 860 alarm and immobiliser on my ZZR1100. Its a right pain in the arris to be honest. Thing is, its factory fitted so I don't really want to start hacking away at the loom. I might cut through something important!
Largely, for the SV, the expense of an alarm doesn't justify the protection given.
Personally, I spent £30 on an alarm, fitted it myself, and it saved the bike from being stolen once. £30 well spent. Since then, just in case I didn't hear the alarm (no-one else reacted, but I ran out of the office), I've custom made my own tracking system and fitted that to the bike. I'm always reluctant to go into detail about the tracker, but I'd estimate that cost me about £80 to build, and about an hour to install.
These days, the bike doesn't cover anywhere near the distance it used to, and when I'm at work, it's parked in a very secure location (swipe card access is required to access the bay - otherwise it's completely sealed off, and is covered in CCTV constantly). That means that I rarely use the alarm (to the extent that it's no longer plugged into the indicators), but the tracker is always active.
So, is an alarm worth the cost? Well, it depends. :)
I don't see a point... saves me nothing on my insurance as its less then 200 quid and the bike ain't worth much either. I just work on the fact that it looks like a heap.
The other SV does have a alarm, but then thats cus I'm trying to get the remote start to kick in.
kwak zzr
03-03-08, 02:10 PM
dont bother, mines got one and if i could rip it out myself i would.
The other SV does have a alarm, but then thats cus I'm trying to get the remote start to kick in.
I'm reluctant to enable this feature on any bike. On the SV, you need the clutch pulled in to crank the engine, so you'd need to bypass the clutch switch to effect remote start. What if the bike is in gear when it starts?
Obviously there is the side stand switch too, but what happens if/when that fails, and the bike is in gear? :(
Alpinestarhero
03-03-08, 02:20 PM
I dont have one fitted to my bike, but I do have a Xena alarmed disc lock. Having an alarm gives me peace of mind, and the loud noise will startle theives.
But its only a noise, and if nobody does anything to react to that njoise, the theives will carry on stealing the bike.
Thats why I have 4 other security devices on it aswell :D
Matt
Is it worth the time and money to fit one? :confused:
If so how much should be spent on their beloved SV?
Will a 2.50p flashing LED fake alarm setup be as good?
My T reg plate seems to have worked so far! [-o<
cheers
I hate them.
chris8886
03-03-08, 09:24 PM
Thats why I have 4 other security devices on it aswell :D
Matt
which are?
My bikes are protected by zen philosophy, when that fails the extreme violence option kicks in.
LOL, thats a no to bells and whistle then! :D
Money and time saved, thanks guys.
I'll stick with my method of chain + lamppost + nosy neighbors.
I dont have one fitted to my bike, but I do have a Xena alarmed disc lock. Having an alarm gives me peace of mind, and the loud noise will startle theives.
But its only a noise, and if nobody does anything to react to that njoise, the theives will carry on stealing the bike.
Thats why I have 4 other security devices on it aswell :D
Matt
is that sticking out black box thingy one of the deterrent devices? ;)
yorkie_chris
04-03-08, 01:42 AM
If you're using a lamppost, then I'd get an almax chain through a convenient bit of frame.
Nothing except being sat behind your bike with a 12bore will stop the really determined ones, but that and the flashy LED should do the trick.
Mine has an alarm because it came with one when I bought it. I would not pay for an alarm as they will not stop a thief taking it away.
I have first hand of how useless alarms are.
I had my scooter stolen a few years ago (scooter haters - hold your tongues). It was taken from outside Sainsburys and pushed through a busy car park at about 17:30 on a Friday evening. This was a large car park as there were Sainsburys, Homebase, Mothercare, Sport and Soccer, Pizza Hut and Mac Donalds ect aroiund the car park.
Luckily, whilst I was in the checkout cue, somebody said that there was somebody stealing a bike outside (I had my lid with me). I ran out to be told by somebody which direction it had been pushed. I literally ran across the car park with people telling me which direction it had been pushed. I suspect that it was put into a van because I actually clocked somebody and as we made eye contact from a distance he did a runner. The scoot had totally vanished.
Even on a Friday tea time in a very busy area not one person confronted the person pushing a scooter with the alarm sounding.
I'll let you come to your own decision as to whether it was worth having an alarm fitted to my scooter...............................
I know what I think....
I'm reluctant to enable this feature on any bike. On the SV, you need the clutch pulled in to crank the engine, so you'd need to bypass the clutch switch to effect remote start. What if the bike is in gear when it starts?Im sure for new riders, then i will agree, but a seasoned numptie like grinch, would never start a bike in gear!
timwilky
04-03-08, 09:41 AM
Like Baph, I too have a cheap £30 alarm on my little 600.
I had a meta on the SV, it came with it. That worked perfectly until the day the main fuse to it blew as a result of SV chaffing wire.
Took all of about 2 minutes to identify the problem, a further 10 to solder in a new piece of wire and heat shrink insulation. so I don't think I really had any problems in the 3 years of SV ownership.
The £30 jobby is a cyclone of flea bay. having inserted a relay into the main power feed from the ignition triggered by the alarm, it acts as an immobiliser as well as alarm.
I cannot say that it has saved my bike being nicked, but the one time it has been triggered and I came running, there was an embarrassed guy stood next to it saying "I only touched it"
If you're using a lamppost, then I'd get an almax chain through a convenient bit of frame.
Nothing except being sat behind your bike with a 12bore will stop the really determined ones, but that and the flashy LED should do the trick.
Cheers mate, glad to hear as I got a Almax, a bit on the short side but fits under the seat. The Almax key even has a light built-in for those dark nights, very handy. got a LED on order to put those punks off, guessing brake lights is the place for it.
My sv came with Alpha dot from last owner, apart from crap stickers that puts me off, does it work as a deterrent?
Alpha dot :thumleft: or :thumbdown:
gemma1675
04-03-08, 02:31 PM
This is another vote for the Xena alarmed disk lock. You get an alarm without the annoyances of having an alarm, if you like. Doesn't drain your bike's batteries, and you only use it when you need to, and it is a visible deterrent (mine is bright yellow). It is quite sensitive and pretty loud too. Easier to transport on a daily basis than a great big chain (although there is a time and a place for great big chains!)
Had no problems to date with my alarm. Came with the bike and I probably wouldn't buy one my self. Use it when I'm parked outside my window but always use a chain too.
To date it has got me into an argument with an inebriated Pole who kept sitting on my bike and setting the alarm off :smt075
After that I relocated it to the company garage.
Another for the Xena alarmed disc lock. Always use it when parked at home and in town. I think it is a good thing if the bike park area is being watched by thieves as they can see not to bother trying in the first place.
plowsie
04-03-08, 03:50 PM
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTORCYCLE-MOTORBIKE-REMOTE-CONTROL-ALARM_W0QQitemZ150220100800QQihZ005QQcategoryZ2564 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Dunno what that is like, prob wouldnt make any difference to insurance premium. But if you want something for piece of mind and £30 then there may be a point to it. Just looking on ebay at some.
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