In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Security Question for the Harley Men

allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,509 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 2004 in General Discussion
How do you keep someone from stealing your bike?
When I bought my Harley, my buddy at the Hospital, Scott, came down to admire my bike. He said, Be damn careful, they will steal your bike.
Scott had had a Harley. He went in to the restaurant downtown in our little town one day for lunch. He came back out in a half hour, his Harley was gone! He hadn't heard it crank up, so he knew someone had picked it up and put it in a pickup.
That was a damn nervy thing to do in our town, lots of people knew who owned that bike, and the theives were lucky not to have gotten caught. Plus this is a small southern town, not a high crime area, or an area with any motorcycle gangs.
My insurance agent said the same thing, be careful, they will steal that thing.
I never worried about someone stealing my Goldwing. In fact, when I went to sell it, I hardly could give it away, 'cause it lacked the bags and the fairing. Same with the BMW, I never worried that someone would steal it.
So I was nervous about that Harley, and never parked it where I couldn't see it.
I lived alone in the country and worked a 24 hour shift as a medic, I figured it was prime to get stolen from my house. I built a 12x18 shed for the bike, with a serious lock on the door, but the main thing was to keep the bike hidden. Inside the shed, I had a V8 chevy long block. I had that chained to the bike with a $108 Cobra Link. I was told that it is not possible to cut a cast iron engine block, that the only way to destroy it is with a jack hammer or sledge hammer. Well at least that would make a lot of noise. I figured if someone could carry the bike and the V8 out that little shed door at the same time, they deserved the bike.
So what do y'all Harley men do for security? Was the theft threat oversold to me? I know Scott's story was true, about 4 of my friends were in that restaurant with him when his Harley got stolen.

Comments

  • gbeggrowgbeggrow Member Posts: 5,499
    edited November -1
    It sucks, but try to never let it get out of your sight, and if you do have something very solid you can chain your baby too. It better be a chain and a lock that bolt cutters can't get easily. Be paranoid, and never leat you guard down. Always think that someone is out to get it and take the extra steps to secure it.
  • RocklobsterRocklobster Member Posts: 7,060
    edited November -1
    A fairly effective trick is to lay an empty shoulder holster across the seat.
  • PearywPearyw Member Posts: 3,699
    edited November -1
    I have a 1972 XLH Sportster that I have had for 32 years. I keep it in a locked garage with the forks locked with a padlock and a sheet over it so that you can't tell what it is. I never leave it anywhere that I can't see it. I have told the dealer that I will trade for a new one when the new right hand shift models come out.
  • interstatepawnllcinterstatepawnllc Member Posts: 9,390
    edited November -1
    I do all of the above plus for peace of mind I keep it INSURED.


    JC

    Ted Kennedy's breath has killed more people than my car.
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,063 ******
    edited November -1
    I thought HD riders kept their scoots in the house.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
  • hawkeye6020hawkeye6020 Member Posts: 2,517 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I used to before I had kids and owned my own home.

    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    I thought HD riders kept their scoots in the house.

    allen, I cut a hole in my shop floor that was about 3 ft square ran some rebar under the exesting floor and welded it together with a piece of 3" tubing welded to that so that it would just be level with the floor. Filled the hole back in with concreate. now I can run a chain through that to lock the bike down. then when not in use its level with the floor and not in the way. also run the chain through your frame. I had a friend have a bike stolen from work he came out and there was his front tire all safe and secure. also get one of the disk break locks and run it through your back tire,lock the neck with a padlock, lock out your ignition. whatever else you can think of. the more security you have the better. If they are going to steal it make um work for it.




    "It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others"
  • pickenuppickenup Member Posts: 22,844 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    nunn,
    I do. I got rid of the couch and have double doors. [:D]
    Did not have to get out of my chair to take the pic. [;)]
    I had an alarm installed, with a pager, for when I am out and about.
    Still, I never get very far away.

    MVC-011S.jpg



    The gene pool needs chlorine.
  • Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    When out and about I used to use a good disk(front wheel) lock, just remember to remove it before riding off!! A good tip is to use one of those curly cords that casinos give away with their comp cards and run it from the lock to the throttle as a reminder to remove the lock first.

    "If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
  • zr700zr700 Member Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If its in a shed get your self one of those wireless driveway alarms. They work great and are battery powered and relatively cheap. I have one of these with a sensor on my front and back porch one in the garage and one in my snowmobile trailer. I keep the reciever in the bed room that way if anyone is snoopin at night I will be able to greet them in person.



    http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&amp;category_name=CTLG_002_003_000_000&amp;product_id=49-429

    Jason
    Proud NRA member
    "The constitutions of most of our states assert that all power is inherent in the people; that...it is there right and duty to be at all times armed."
    Thomas Jefferson 1824
  • gunnut505gunnut505 Member Posts: 10,290
    edited November -1
    I just put a padlock over the chain/rear disc and through a nearby hole.
    My secret weapon is the electric system-try to start without putting the insulating pad on the seat, and you'll get the most unpleasant shock of your life!
    If it gets picked up; the tilt sensor signals my pager through the cellphone in the box under the tank.

    If you know it all; you must have been listening.<br>WEAR EAR PROTECTION!
  • FlatheadFlathead Member Posts: 318 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since I started to ride the touring bikes I hardley ever lock mine. Maybe I am just lucky, never had anyone bother it. Even at Sturgis I just park it and never bother to lock it. Could be that I ride a touring bike and they are not as desirable as the softail line of bikes?? Also a bit on the heavy side to lift into a truck. I do get a little edgy when I have one of the old ones out, I try to keep it in my site if possible.

    There is lock out there called the "New York Noose" supposed to be the best ever made, but it looks really heavy to carry around.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,509 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Has anyone used the Cobra Link?
    Back in 1991 that was the best thing going. It looked nearly impossible to break.
    It was a load to carry around, it weighed 7 pounds.
  • EVILDR235EVILDR235 Member Posts: 4,398 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Back in 1967 me and a couple of friends went over to San Francisco to look for some loose hippie girls to pickup.We were driving thru the Haight-Ashbury district when we saw a Harley springer front end and front wheel chained to a power pole and nothing else.I have two friends that had their bikes ripped off and were never recovered.You either bring the bike in the house,or sleep out in the garage with it.
    EvilDr235

    Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
  • plains scoutplains scout Member Posts: 4,563
    edited November -1
    When I went to the Baja Cal. with bikes we used a HEAVY metal chain and a massive lock to lock our bikes to telephone poles during the day when we stopped.

    Best way not to have a HD stolen is sell it and get a BMW.
    [8D]
  • 96harley96harley Member Posts: 3,992 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm looking at mine as I post. It's in the basement among my die cast car collection, reloading bench, and gun related items.

    "Save the Whalers, they need jobs too."
  • TxsTxs Member Posts: 17,809 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    zr700- What's the transmission range on the driveway alarms?
  • greeker375greeker375 Member Posts: 3,644
    edited November -1
    I've got a '74 Sporty, rebuilt, still with kicker. I keep it locked in my garage unless I'm riding. If I have to stop and park it, I have 4' of proof coil and a big master lock to keep it in the same place I left it.

    "the difference between the almost right word and the right word is like the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning bolt" - Mark Twain.
  • jwhardingjwharding Member Posts: 2,897 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I usually try to keep mine in sight. Mine came with a remote and alarm system but so for I haven't used it. Most places where I ride there is a lot of people that know me and the bike, but you can't be to safe. I keep mine in the garage all the time its home so I feel pretty good about it.
    JW

    fc6cb6ef.gif
  • WagionWagion Member Posts: 2,464 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I figure with all the grease and oil running out of them you would not be able to get a good enough grip to lift it up?
    [^]

    If force ain't work'n... Your not use'n nough of it.
    I know the spelling is bad but guess what I DON'T CARE
  • mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You jest, but I know someone that did JUST that! His whole bike was done in a sort of bullet and guns theme. Part of it was an empty holster near the side of his seat. I think he had an NRA sticker on the bike somewhere too.

    quote:Originally posted by Rocklobster
    A fairly effective trick is to lay an empty shoulder holster across the seat.
  • zr700zr700 Member Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    zr700- What's the transmission range on the driveway alarms?





    Sorry its 1000 feet heres another link if you're like me and hate radio shack this on also has a price for the xtra transmitter.

    http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=4006970&storeId=6970&langId=-1&productId=534844&cm_tl=safety&cm_partner=tl

    Jason
    Proud NRA member
    "The constitutions of most of our states assert that all power is inherent in the people; that...it is there right and duty to be at all times armed."
    Thomas Jefferson 1824
  • gunnut505gunnut505 Member Posts: 10,290
    edited November -1
    I don't get it-you hate Radidio Shack, but post links to a Chinese tool bin?

    If you know it all; you must have been listening.<br>WEAR EAR PROTECTION!
  • skipjackoneskipjackone Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I always lock the fork if I'm not on the bike. It would be very hard to quickly remove it and bolt cutters can't fit in there. I always turn the gas off too. The biggie is to insure the mother. I keep mine under lock and key but know that if anybody wants if bad enough that mine could be had. [^]
  • shooter4shooter4 Member Posts: 4,457
    edited November -1
    Used to keep my Heritage Softail in the basement.

    There are 2 bikes down here now, a RoadKing and a Kawi 1500, but they get picked up by their owners in the spring.
Sign In or Register to comment.