GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Electrics => Topic started by: Celtic32 on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:07 AM

Title: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Celtic32 on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:07 AM
What alarm system do people recommend for their bikes?

Any other security products people swear by? My bikes garaged at home with a good disc lock and chain. I always use the disc lock whenever away from home but would like to improve on this hence thinking of fitting an alarm.

As the alarms will have a constant draw from the battery, is it best to have the battery on a trickle charger whenever it's not in use?
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: gsxbarmy on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:13 AM
Don't go there Andrew - alarms are seriously more trouble than they are worth, and the top rated Datatool one - which to date has tended to set the standard - has just been recalled due to "issues"

Over the years I think I've seen more threads on forums about "dead bikes" caused by alarm issues than anything else.

What I would suggest is maybe a good cable to go with your disc lock  - not sure what model or make disc lock you have but I have one of these with my Xena XX-14, light and easy to carry but strong as anything. Easy to chain you bike to other bikes / immoveable objects when out

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Xena-XXA-150-Cable-and-Adaptor-fit-XX6-XX10-XX14-Disc-Lock-/192050667280?clk_rvr_id=1188331623225&rmvSB=true
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Celtic32 on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:18 AM
Thanks Dave. That's answered that then. It was something I wondered so I'll stick with the physical security and maybe look into trackers instead.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Cykik on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:23 AM
Don't do it!!
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Mrg on Friday, 24 March 2017, 08:57 AM
Yep alarms are a pain in the ass  ..... how many time have you heard or even seen a alarm go off  and a quick look
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: VladTepes on Friday, 24 March 2017, 10:39 AM
I work in the security industry (broadly speaking) and agree - car alarms, bike alarms, etc are a complete waste of money.  So are building alarms, unless they are back-to-base monitored with an effective timely response (very rare).
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: seth on Friday, 24 March 2017, 06:19 PM
as others have said
more trouble than there worth
get your self a good quality lock and chain

:cheers:
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: T 24 on Friday, 24 March 2017, 06:34 PM
I have had Steelmate alarm in my bike about three years with no problems(yet). And if you dont tell anybody, I didnt connect the immobiliser for reliability reasons. I dont want to stop on highway just for the toy.
I dont think its worth of money, but some small boy inside of me just wants to have toys...
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Mick_J on Friday, 24 March 2017, 06:43 PM
I use alarms on my bikes and have never had a problem, my Speedtriple has a datatool and in 17 years it's never given me any grief.  I used to fit Solalarms to all my other bikes for the last 24 years and none of them ever failed but they have gone out of business.  I am a fan of alarms, doesn't stop your bike being nicked but it will put most thieving scum off.  Always complement it with a good shackle.
If you can find a solalarm 835t I can thoroughly recommend them.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: grog on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:37 PM
not an alarm fan. so many go wrong, see it everyday in my job. sometimes lots of bucks to repair. if yours is good, stick with it. best alarm ive had was my blue heeler dog, sadly now gone. i now use a ground anchor, fitted to floor with dyna bolts, 10mm master chain goes thru bike and locked to anchor. away from home is just disc lock. k7 so ignition is very secure. can be picked up i know. park next to ducati, harley etc, theyll always choose them against 14. they dont know what theyre missing out on.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 24 March 2017, 07:45 PM
Over here (Kiwi land) we still rely on honesty & reckon no one is gonna nick yer bike, hell I even leave the key in it sometimes & the Garmin & Radar Detector just sitting in the cradles.  I'm not very far away at those times though.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Kiwifruit on Friday, 24 March 2017, 08:33 PM
Yes Col we are pretty lucky in that regard.
I like Grogs idea though.
Will use a disc lock when i feel the need.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: gsxbarmy on Friday, 24 March 2017, 08:51 PM
Quote from: mjgt on Friday, 24 March  2017, 06:43 PM
I use alarms on my bikes and have never had a problem, my Speedtriple has a datatool and in 17byears it's never given me any grief.  I used to fit Solalarms to all my other bikes for the last 24 years and none of them ever failed but they have gone out of business.  I am a fan of alarms, doesn't stop your bike being nicked but it will put most thieving scum off.  Always complement it with a good shackle.
If you can find a solalarm 835t I can thoroughly recommend them.

If your Datatool was fitted by Triumph mjgt, contact your Triumph dealer, as Datatool have put a recall out on all Triumph Datatool alarms, as well their own Datatool alarms, as on many there is a fault
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Mick_J on Friday, 24 March 2017, 09:16 PM
After 17 trouble free years I don't think mine has any faults.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: northern on Friday, 24 March 2017, 10:26 PM
I have this:
https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Security/Motorbike-Scooter/Brake-disc-locks/GRANIT-Detecto-X-Plus-8077

Totally understand, it will not make my bike steal-prove, but at least make it less easy to roll away, then neighbor bike.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Celtic32 on Friday, 24 March 2017, 11:10 PM
Looks like I've opened a bit of a can of worms here.

I just use an old Motrax Vishas disc lock when out on the bike. I've got a small cable to lock my helmet to the bike but may get something a bit bigger to use to fix the bike to something too just as an added extra deterrent.

Not sure I would feel totally comfortable with an alarm now after all these comments, I'd be forever worried the bike was going to be dead by the time I got back to it.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: gsxbarmy on Saturday, 25 March 2017, 12:35 AM
Best disc lock you can get Andrew is a Xena. Trusted mine to one for years
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Basil Brush on Saturday, 25 March 2017, 01:36 AM
I had one fitted - right pain in the arse.

When I renewed my insurance policy. I declared alarm had been euthanased in a bucket of water. Policy went up 20p.

Would have taken 1750 years to pay for itself. Hmmm....
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Mrg on Saturday, 25 March 2017, 08:35 AM
i say the only alarm that will work will be to ...... strap your misses to it at night ant the see anyone try to nick your buke  awaking the misses at night is a brave thing to do  for any thief  :rofl2:  :rofl2:
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: grog on Saturday, 25 March 2017, 06:02 PM
having a read on locks tonight. master, abus and xena recod. by locksmith friend. searching thru stuff today, they reckon they can pick or drill any of them in 30 seconds. i use master, thought it was good, until todays read. mrs on the bike seems to be best idea.
Title: Re: Alarm recommendations?
Post by: Celtic32 on Saturday, 25 March 2017, 06:12 PM
Need a chain to keep the dog with the bike then it seems.