I've been looking at options for a new V7 II that I have in New York City. For the moment, I have a secure place to store the bike at night, but that leaves the day.
I've pretty much concluded that I need a serious chain and padlock. The main options are:
Almax 16mm chain: http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk
Pragmasis 16mm or 13mm chain: http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk
Pewag: http://www.westechrigging.com/chain-pewag-square-security-chain.html (but does not come with a sheath)
For locks, the Abloy 362 is perhaps the best, but the Squire SS65, sold buy both Almax and Pragmasis, is quite a bit less expensive and may give less access to the lock's shank if the chain is at least 16mm.
These chains and locks are pretty good, but they won't defeat someone with a portable angle grinder, and I'm not convinced that most New Yorkers would pay any attention if someone took an angle grinder to a chain, even in broad daylight. This recent Brooklyn video of a guy taking a bolt cutter to an Abus lock, ignored by passers-by, is pretty discouraging:
These options are also all pretty heavy, but apparently will fit easily in a Kriega US 10. Given that I've ordered a Kriega US 20 anyway, carrying the chain and lock shouldn't be an issue, and in New York there are normally a lot of places on any given block where they could be used (trees being the only attachment point off-limits).
The problem with disk locks is that they are useless if the thieves have a van, That said, Abus has a new disk lock that should be available in June. It has a 16mm bolt and promises to make lots of noise if someone tampers with your bike (might or might not spook the thief/thieves). Details: http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/abus-granit-detecto-x-plus-8008-alarm-disc-lock and http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secu...r/Brake-disc-locks/GRANIT-Detecto-X-Plus-8008
I'm not having a lot of luck identifying a reliable tracker, although I know that these units have in some cases led to quick recovery of motorbikes stolen in New York. Spot Trace only uses GPS, which is probably useless if the bike is put into a van. LoJack has exited the motorcycle market.
What are other people doing?
P.S. For people in the U.S. and Canada, I should add that Almax's prices, including shipping from the U.K., are much more attractive than buying from Pragmasis's U.S./Canada distributor. I've sent an e-mail to Pragmasis asking about this, because its U.S./Canada prices are in my view outrageous compared to ordering direct from Almax, and I'll update if I receive a reply.
I've pretty much concluded that I need a serious chain and padlock. The main options are:
Almax 16mm chain: http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk
Pragmasis 16mm or 13mm chain: http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk
Pewag: http://www.westechrigging.com/chain-pewag-square-security-chain.html (but does not come with a sheath)
For locks, the Abloy 362 is perhaps the best, but the Squire SS65, sold buy both Almax and Pragmasis, is quite a bit less expensive and may give less access to the lock's shank if the chain is at least 16mm.
These chains and locks are pretty good, but they won't defeat someone with a portable angle grinder, and I'm not convinced that most New Yorkers would pay any attention if someone took an angle grinder to a chain, even in broad daylight. This recent Brooklyn video of a guy taking a bolt cutter to an Abus lock, ignored by passers-by, is pretty discouraging:
These options are also all pretty heavy, but apparently will fit easily in a Kriega US 10. Given that I've ordered a Kriega US 20 anyway, carrying the chain and lock shouldn't be an issue, and in New York there are normally a lot of places on any given block where they could be used (trees being the only attachment point off-limits).
The problem with disk locks is that they are useless if the thieves have a van, That said, Abus has a new disk lock that should be available in June. It has a 16mm bolt and promises to make lots of noise if someone tampers with your bike (might or might not spook the thief/thieves). Details: http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/abus-granit-detecto-x-plus-8008-alarm-disc-lock and http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secu...r/Brake-disc-locks/GRANIT-Detecto-X-Plus-8008
I'm not having a lot of luck identifying a reliable tracker, although I know that these units have in some cases led to quick recovery of motorbikes stolen in New York. Spot Trace only uses GPS, which is probably useless if the bike is put into a van. LoJack has exited the motorcycle market.
What are other people doing?
P.S. For people in the U.S. and Canada, I should add that Almax's prices, including shipping from the U.K., are much more attractive than buying from Pragmasis's U.S./Canada distributor. I've sent an e-mail to Pragmasis asking about this, because its U.S./Canada prices are in my view outrageous compared to ordering direct from Almax, and I'll update if I receive a reply.
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