What is your opinion on bike Alarms

[Viney]

Originally Posted by Baph

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]

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"

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

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 or

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

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.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTORCYCLE-MOT...QQcmdZViewItem

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.