Keeping the love of your life safe from harm
Unglamorous, yet increasingly important
After quite a decent lull in criminal activity around motorcycles bike thefts are, unfortunately, on the way up again. Over the last 12 months we’ve seen a number of videos posted online starring groups of thieves taking bikes from Dublin streets in broad daylight.
While hearing that any rider has had their bike taken is always truly upsetting, the simple fact that these bikes appear to be ridden by commuters who rely on them as their only method of transport is even more distressing.
There are no official statics for what’s been taken but we do know that the numbers are high. One rider reports the same model of bike being taken three times in a row. Another tells of interrupting the thieves only to be threatened with a lump hammer. The ease at which violence is offered is significant and it's a whole new aspect to the criminals and their behaviour.
Simple, yet very effective
In terms of securing our bikes it’s become evident that traditional security isn’t meeting the challenges that these people present when they come to take our bikes. Traditional steering locks and disc locks are almost laughable. We’ve seen the locks being beaten off bikes with the disk itself being broken to allow the lock to simply fall off. Steering locks are failing to offer a challenge with such a critical part of the frame being broken off and rendering the bike a complete write off.
Using a big lock and chain as well as running the disc lock through the rear sprocket are proving to be more of a deterrent. Alarms, in a city, are of limited use since they just add to the chorus of noise that we all listen to. The street smart rider is now taking action such as leaving the steering lock off and using heavy duty chains such as the range of Artago pieces and locking them in a way that the padlock can’t be placed on the ground to be ‘assaulted’.
Hardened locks cost more, but offer better security
But there’s only so much that we can do. The tradition of ‘Lock it or lose it’ is over.
We know the insurers are beginning to notice and the tracking units are starting to earn discounts on policy prices. The gold standard on these units is made by a UK company called BikeTrac.
The unit is a Thatcham S7 accredited tracking product. What this means that it’s been independently tested by an organisation called Thatcham. The organisation is funded by the insurers to test and grade security products. As a result it’s approved by the insurance industry and the rider is rewarded for fitting one with a discount of up to 10%.
Home security options have become more effective
The unit is primarily a security tracking device. Once the it's fitted and registered the rider can manage all of the devices settings through the BikeTrac App. From here the rider can see where the bike is if it’s been taken. The company Secure Operations Centre actively monitor the tracking device all day every day and they’ll alert you if and when the bike is moved.
The GPS system that they use allows them to locate down within a few metres. An additional Radio Frequency (RF) allows BikeTrac to locate down to one metre if hidden in a garages or a container. Keep your bike safe and get one fitted. I have.
Correctly fitted and well hidden means a discount on insurance