Alarm recommendations?

[Steve Carlton]

I'm considering an alarm or maybe a Lojack type device since my bike was stolen a couple of months ago. (I even had a Superhawk stolen 5 weeks later that I snagged to ride while the S was getting fixed!) Since mine's an '02 with ABS I know there's a sensitivity to voltages. Also, there's a battery drain issue.

I've talked to a few dealers and there doesn't seem to be any good recommendations. Some think a disc brake lock is the best. A put a Xena disk brake lock (it has a motion sensitive, unreliable alarm built in) on, and I've chained the bike to a concrete pillar with a Kryptonite "New York" chain. I could add another brake lock (or two). I'm sure that would discourage most thieves, hopefully any that would be eyeing my bike...

Anyway, the police figured out almost two months ago who stole my bike and the DA's office hasn't even issued an arrest warrant yet (they've decided to press charges). So I'm sure this sack of ***** is out stealing other's bikes.

The CHP called me a couple of days ago to tell me the Superhawk was recovered, "partially crashed." The a half hour later called to say the bike had my plate, but a different VIN. Apparently, thieves swap plates on the bikes they've stolen so they're not riding around on plates that have been reported stolen. So, the "donor" bike got a red light because it had my plate on it. However, he tried to ditch the CHP (and a helicopter) and succeeded, minus the bike. What kind of world are we living in?

[Chamelespoon]

Personally, my recommendation would be along the same lines as RIDE magazine and the BMW dealers I've used: a Meta 357T (v1 or v2 - both basically the same save the v2's sensitivity can be adjusted).

Very easy to live with, and in the two years I've had it (v1, on my old CS - v2 now fitted to my "new" S) it's only ever gone off at appropriate moments - albeit usually when I'm trying to move or load/unload the bike and have forgotten about the alarm.

Hasn't given me any problems with battery drain, either, even in the 4 months the bike remained pretty much unused, and I don't own a battery charger (yet!).

Of course, it won't stop the determined thief; but it is rated in the highest category here (Thatcham 1), and so should act as a reasonable deterrant. Also gives you a bit of warning if someone is fiddling with your bike with you in earshot!