What do you recommend, Chain or Disc lock?

[GC-SV]

As a newbie, about to get his 1st. bike, what do you recommend for security?

I fancy a chain for the garage that I can wrap around the workbench which weighs about 2 tonnes and a Kyrptonite Disc lock for when I'm out and about. (the 1 with the new lock).

What do you think?

I realise a disc lock does not stop someone lifting your bike into the back of a van but I find it hard to imagine carting a chain around with me all the time.

Any recommendations would be appreciated, also what is the average chain length. I reckon about £40.00 should do it for the chain but I am prepared to stand corrected.

[SVeeedy Gonzales]

I've got a £30 (I think) Motrax chain which is through a (£20) ground anchor at home or a steel post at the gym. At the cheap end of things, but most thieves would balk at a bike chained to the ground, and if they're still willing to have a go at it, they'd probably get through even the expensive stuff.

At work I use a disc lock (Luma solido - free with Ride mag subscription a while back) as the security there is pretty tight.

The length of the chain is about 1m, maybe slightly less. Sometimes I'll double wrap the chain around one off the wheels, but it's heavy, so I tend not to carry it about with me if I can help it. Will probably be getting a lighter weight chain for when I go to the gym.

[hall13uk]

I've got a £30 (I think) Motrax chain which is through a (£20) ground anchor at home or a steel post at the gym. At the cheap end of things, but most thieves would balk at a bike chained to the ground, and if they're still willing to have a go at it, they'd probably get through even the expensive stuff.

At work I use a disc lock (Luma solido - free with Ride mag subscription a while back) as the security there is pretty tight.

The length of the chain is about 1m, maybe slightly less. Sometimes I'll double wrap the chain around one off the wheels, but it's heavy, so I tend not to carry it about with me if I can help it. Will probably be getting a lighter weight chain for when I go to the gym. why not just get a really heavy chain then you wont need to go to the gym :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sid Squid]

I think you've decided about right, seems to be what most people do, have it locked up good and proper when at home, and use a disc lock when you're out and about.
Unless you can find something reasonably secure to lock to when you're out - I'd like to, but I very rarely can - then there's no benefit of carrying a chain with you. Of course if it's somewhere you often park, going to work or similar, then you may be able to arrange to chain it to something which is obviously more secure, a disc lock is a good deterrent, but chained up is far better, thieves don't want to spend time at the scene, so anything that needs to be cut/broken before the bike can be moved is a huge improvement in security.

[650newb]

ive got the xena disk lock, it has an alarm with a movement detector i think it was £40-60 from infinity

[clanger]

I personally prefer the huge fugg off chain, I have had so many incidents where I forgot to take off the disk lock....its crazy...but I have NEVER forgotten the chain!

[Viney]

None, insurance is all i have, oh and a cat1 alarm that i never use

[SVeeedy Gonzales]

Just bought an oxford tripwire at the weekend... lighter than the chain and looks pretty useful for attaching bike to pretty much anything solid (shown tied to a tree trunk on the box). Not as resistant to attacks as a chain, but if they're willing to cut through this then I doubt the chain would do much good either. Cost about £35 and could easily lock two bikes to each other as well.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/apridmore/tripwire.jpg

[Cloggsy]

Both :!:

[Italianjob]

I'm afraid to say that the trip wire looks like a waste of money to me. It didn't stop my bicycle from being nicked in Edinburgh so I doubt it would be any good for an SV.

I have a 1.5m hexagonal chain with a padlock. It weighs about 8 kilos but I would't take any chances with my bike. I find an easy way to carry it around town is to wrap it in a plastic bag and stap it onto the passenger seat with a cargo net, which doesn't take more than 15 seconds.

[Anonymous]

For the SV what Sid and other said. Big big chain and ground anchor home, good disc lock for out and about, chain left at work for when at work. At least with a disc lock you always have it and you can always use one on one of those chain-post things if they have them round your way. Its a lot of cash getting it all. The cheapest decent option is one good chain and cart it around (most come with a nice carrier) but I didnt do it that way.

They used to say most bikes are nicked from home, even garaged, dont know what the stats are lately. I think one key point is be most secure where you leave bikes regularly as theres a pattern. When out and about use a disc lock in a very public place.

[K]

I managed to fit my Motrax chain under the seat cowl on the SV so I now use that when out and about. I specifically bought it as it was the biggest, most heavyweight one I could find that fitted there.

I used to use a disc lock, and still do occasionally, but just prefer the more deterrant aspect of attaching my bike to a solid object when I'm out.

I use a paranoid combination of disc locks, Motrax chain, Datatool Python chain, alarms (on the Ninja and Blade), locked garage and back gate when at home! :oops:

[adam]

sit behind bike with loaded n cocked 12 bore. yes chain gives peace of mind a bit however if someones gonna nick it , it's nicked. FACT. Fortunately as SV owners we do ok, its not rare expensive or sought after lol

[Anonymous]

sit behind bike with loaded n cocked 12 bore. yes chain gives peace of mind a bit however if someones gonna nick it , it's nicked. FACT. Fortunately as SV owners we do ok, its not rare expensive or sought after lol

But you can do a lot to make yours not the easiest choice, which is at least half the battle.

And Im not sure about the SV being rare, sought after or expensive. Many bikes are broken for parts and theres a healthy market for SV parts, I would imagine.

[diamond]

I carry my big oxford chain every where, it fits nicely under the seat and i lock it when ever the wheels stop turning. :D

If i go to an area that i know is a bit dodgy i use a disc lock as well. :evil:

[hall13uk]

If i go to an area that i know is a bit dodgy i use a disc lock as well. :evil:
you mean like my house :lol: :lol: :lol:

[K]

I carry my big oxford chain every where, it fits nicely under the seat and i lock it when ever the wheels stop turning. :D

Jeez, where do you live, the Gaza Strip or something! Must be really bad if you've got to lock your bike each time you're pulled up at a red traffic light! :shock: :wink:

[Cloggsy]

the GazzaStrip

Is that Newcastle :?: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Cam_73]

Hello All,

New to forum, new to bikes, new to SV's.

I got mine chained down to a ground hog 6 using an oxford monster.

I also got a Motrax Vishas disc lock.

Hopefully that will deter the opportunist.

In the end, if they are determined, they will get it.

That's what insurance is for.... I hope!

When out and about i generally park up somewhere highly visible and stick on the

disc lock.

Cheers

[timwilky]

The only place where my bike is "unattended" is home in the garage with the usually heavyweight security measures and at work. My employers are happy for me to chain the bike to a railing directly in sight of the security camera. I therefore leave a chain permanently locked to the railing and simply unlock it , loop it through the bike and lock up again, saves lugging one about with me.

I have an oxford disk lock tie wrapped to the frame of the bike, that way I have no excuse for not locking it if I am leaving for a couple of minutes. No need to lift seat etc. No risk of it being nicked as it is either fitted or "In Transit".

If you want to top bike thieves in their tracks. Let the victims be judge, jury and executioner :twisted: 20 years ago a mate was a victim, but the thief was recognised. About 20 angry bikers smashed open his garage door. and 4 stolen bikes were found. His parents called the police, strange nobody was questioned about the alleged assault upon this t-leaf.

[TC3]

Have a ground anchor and 16mm English chain at home. Out and about i use an Oxford Hardcore chain and padlock i picked up for 20 quid at the Ally Pally and have an Oxford Boss disc lock as well as an Xena alarmed disc lock. Oh yeah i also have an Oxford 385 u lock which i got when i had my first bike
The Hardcore chain fits under the seat nicely and if they will get through that it is likely they will get through a more expensive chain as well

[fizzwheel]

Both bikes are alarmed so during the day in the works carpark I just use the alarm.

At home the GSXR is in the garage at night chained to the SV with a dirty great big squire chain and lock, until I get round to installing the ground anchor.

When I'm at e.d.s its chained to her bike and I set the alarm.

I think a chain is better than a disk lock personally its more of a deterrent and if you chain your bike to something even another bike it stops a thief lifting your bike into a van and making off with it where a disk lock wont stop them doing that. At the end of the day if a thief wants your bike badly enough they'll find away to take it doesnt matter what you do. All you can do is protect it the best you can.

[northwind]

AS's been proved, pretty much all of the bike chains on the market are no defence against a professional- there's only 2 currently known of that are bolt-cutter proof. That's quite pathetic really... £160 for a really good Xena, Oxford etc, and it won't resist the most common and simple attack. Had a go at cutting some Thatcham and Sold Secure chains at the scottosih bike show ;)

The 2 that do work, BTW, are the Almax Series 3 and the new English Chain Co one,both of which are fairly immense.

So, I use a £10 Oxford which you could probably cut with scissors, when I use a chain at all. The rest of the time I either use an Oxford disc lock, or nothing at all. These things are only for deterring amateurs and kids, the actual pro-proof chains are just too big for me to realistically use. I'd get one if I didn't have a garage.

[kcowgergmm]

Almax Series 3 chain looks pretty strong according to there web sight i might have to invest in one

[hovis]

IMO more is best, i have

4 £20ish chains
3 d locks
1 disc lock

:smt045

[Cloggsy]

As a newbie, about to get his 1st. bike, what do you recommend for security?

Both... But if you mention them on your insurance, you need to use 'em every time (without fail,) even in your garage/shed etc...

[thebluelion]

I have a xena alarm disc lock cost me £60 guy told me insurance approved so i bought it as the oxford big boss would not fit. anyhows in the end insurance did not approve it but i stil reckon its a good lock

[RhythmJunkie]

Big hex chain & close shackle paddy! Thats for a 7 year old marroon GSXF. The new SV will have "an" alarm for overnight and a big alarmed disc lock. I think I may chain it to my house by bolting a ground anchor through the wall of the house! What d'ya reckon?

[Pedro68]

I use an Oxford Revolver Armoured Cable Lock (£50) and a Motrax Vishas disk lock (which dealer threw in when I bought the bike). The revolver cable is just long enough to wrap it twice around the tail & pillion seat on the SV. That's how I carry it round with me. Only times I don't carry it is when I don't plan on stopping for long (long enough for a fuel stop & coffee) when I will use the disk lock instead (which is carried around under pillion seat).

Pete

[RhythmJunkie]

long enough for a fuel stop & coffee

......is long enough to nick it! ;)

[Pedro68]

......is long enough to nick it! ;)
Granted, but I still put the disk lock on ... and if they want away with it then, they can have it - that's what I have insurance for ;) As far as my insurance company are concerned, the only "extra" security I have is the disk lock anyway, so if the bike gets stolen whilst the disk lock is on it, I think I'd have done everything reasonably possible (and required from my insurance company's perspective) to prevent the theft ;)

Someone will be along in a minute to tell me otherwise :rolleyes: LOL