Is it worth buying an alarm for your bike?

[derek kelly]

Before people start saying, what a stupid question I am trying to list pros and cons, for a start
1) they drain batteries,

2) if they have an immobiliser and it goes wrong you're phooked,

3) hardly anybody takes any notice of them when they are going off,

4) they can be very expensive

5) They are not a deterrent, if someone wants your bike they will take it regardless of whether it has an alarm or not.

So what are the Pro's of having an alarm fitted to your bike?

 

[Duck n Dive]

I've always fitted them to big bikes.

Object is not to stop it being stolen as you're right - if they want it they'll get it. The object is to make it not easy for the opportunistic or so someone elses bike an easier option than yours.

I'll just make sure I park next to you........

As far as draining batts - I've never had that problem as I use the bike almost daily.


:yo:

 

[Adam Rickenberg]

Alarms on bikes.........

Before people start saying, what a stupid question I am trying to list pros and cons, for a start
1) they drain batteries,

2) if they have an immobiliser and it goes wrong you're phooked,

3) hardly anybody takes any notice of them when they are going off,

4) they can be very expensive

5) They are not a deterrent, if someone wants your bike they will take it regardless of whether it has an alarm or not.

So what are the Pro's of having an alarm fitted to your bike?

Naaaaaaaah......... no need for an alarm here in Dubai! Safe as houses mate!!!! :neenaw:

 

[Bazz]

Datatool Sys 3 is prolly the best around. I've used them on several bikes and not had a problem!

If the bike is in regular use it won't/can't drain the battery, if you leave the bike week's at a time then it may do, but using Optimate will stop that.

If the Imobiliser fooks-up, you can over-ride it with a pin number (set by yourself) by turning the ignition key in a set pattern.

Datatool is compatible with the Accumen Pager - has about a one mile range, so if peeps ignore your alarm at least you'll know yourself the instant it gets triggered.

You are far more likely to keep your pride and joy for longer if you fit all three alarm/imobiliser/pager and when you do change your bike have it re-fitted to the new one!

Sys 3 with Accumen pager option will cost about ?300 inc fitting so is a worthwhile investment, Accumen alarm/imob/pager will be just a little cheaper and both should save ?40-?50 on Insurance too.

 

[Paddysteel7]

Hi

Good subject. I have an immobiliser fitted that I removed from my previous BB and it was easy to remove and refit it. I cut out chunks of wire so it cant be rejoined or is hard to identify to rejoin.
Also I am wondering whether to fit an alarm or a tracker system?

At the moment I have a disc lock and a supalink chain and lock (big and heavy)
The disc lock is crap but I suppose they all add up to make it difficult to steal. But this does not stop the local kids knocking bikes over!! (in London)
The Tracker system is very expensive but I have heard that it works on cars. A friend was recovering a bloke with his porsche who got a call on his mobile ten minutes down the road asking if the car was being stolen. The tracker company could see where and how fast they were going!!!!!

 

[derek kelly]

My daughter has a tracker fitted to her car (it was on the car when she bought it) the company want ?16 per month from her, so as to keep records up to date (that's their excuse anyway)

The way people pinch bikes nowadays isn't so much opportunistic as well planned, they see a bike, tail it see where it goes, see if the rider follows a regular pattern, if say he uses the same paper shop at the same time every day, they will wait in a van as soon as he has gone in the shop they reverse the van, doors open a group of blokes jump out the back, lift the bike into the van and they are away, all done before the rider comes out of the shop, this happened to an ex colleague with his Bonneville, and that had an alarm on it.

 

[R2B2]

I suspect that most alarm/immob's on Birds are not bought thru choice. It's mainly cos the Ins Co's wont cover the Bird without one.

When I got my first Bird I couldn't find a Company to insure at all anywhere without a Cat 1 alarm.

 

[derek kelly]

I am insured with Honda, they only asked if I had an alarm, with one it would have reduced my premium by about ?15 to ?20 depending on which alarm was fitted

 

[Duck n Dive]

I'm insured with Bennets and they were the same - just wanted to know if it had an alarm or not and if so which make.

An alarm wasn't made a requirement - only that when at home it's garaged after 10.00pm (that's the whole bike, not just the alarm).

 

[Jaws]

A flashing LED on a relay, a decent quality chain and lock and a serious ground anchor..
Proly give you ten times more protection than any alarm.. but the insurance companies think otherwise so maybe they are right and logic is wrong ? ( Lets face it, thieves are not always the most logical amongst us ! LOL ! )

 

[Rods]

i've had two bikes with alarms on them (bandit 600 and bmwr1100s) BOTH of them left me stranded due to the alarm. had the alarm taken off my bird when i bought it - mce asked if i hadn't one fitted but it wasn't a requirement. but it has to be garaged when it's at home.

 

[D.S.]

I suspect that most alarm/immob's on Birds are not bought thru choice. It's mainly cos the Ins Co's wont cover the Bird without one.

When I got my first Bird I couldn't find a Company to insure at all anywhere without a Cat 1 alarm.

that's 'cos ya live in a dodgy area though and ya bike does wears dodgy cans afterall :}

 

[R2B2]

I think yer right there Joe - Monmouth is getting pretty rough these days :} Most exciting thing to happen here lately was the swans crossing to the other side of the river!

 

[Gerrard]

Alarms

I think it was about 10% off the price of the insurance I was quoted for an alarm.
So if it was ?300.... less 10% thats ?30, it would take you ten years to get you money back......So it makes you think if its worth it.
Not had one my last 4 bikes.
Don't know if that helps matey. :beer:

 

[Stevebrooke]

Before people start saying, what a stupid question I am trying to list pros and cons, for a start
1) they drain batteries,

2) if they have an immobiliser and it goes wrong you're phooked,

3) hardly anybody takes any notice of them when they are going off,

4) they can be very expensive

5) They are not a deterrent, if someone wants your bike they will take it regardless of whether it has an alarm or not.

So what are the Pro's of having an alarm fitted to your bike?

Ned I have a Meta M357T.

1. After 48hrs it goes into "sleep" mode and there is no battery drain at all.
2. Use your breakdown cover and then get the alarm repaired under warranty by the people who fitted it.
3. If it goes off it may just act as a deterrent and the scum will leave it alone.
4. Anything worth having costs money.
5. I can't argue with that.

It's just another line of defence along with the steering lock/HISS, chain and ground anchor, disclock.
In the end it's your decision.

 

[ianrobbo1]

when I bought my bike I made enquries about alarms /insurance, basicly I was told it made sweet FA difference to the premium, however like a mug I went ahead and had the "thatchem" upgrade to the HISS system for about ?40 quid, what a fookin rip off, the majority of insurance companys havnt a clue what I'm talking about when I mention it!! as Jaws said decent locks and anchor, plus dont advertise you have a bike tends to be the way to go, :bow: you might try a "baby" alarm, that way you will hear the trogs attempting the theft if at home!! :dunno:

 

[BlackBirdBaz]

tail it see where it goes

Well if they can keep up !!