Security Alarm System

[NVSB4]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but what's the general consensus on security alarm systems for your bike?
Would you use it, or would it just be a drain on the battery?

There are lots of cheap ones (from China) available like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Anti-theft-Secu ... 98&vxp=mtr

or even this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261250550420?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
although I can't imagine having a remote start.

[dough0216]

I'm curious as well, I've been pondering installing one of these on my '81 1100.

[Fatwing Chris]

Nobody steals Wings and usually if they have a cover on them(when you're on a trip) nobody bothers them either.Saying all that I don't stay in areas that look scetchy and the bikes in the garage at home.

An easy way when you're on a trip would be use a baby monitor.No butchering up the bikes wiring.

[harvey01]

I have been riding touring bikes since 1988 and have stayed in some pretty strange places over the years. Sometimes you know you goofed and are in a high crime area. never had a problem! I do try to cover the bike before putting it to bed. I lock the trunk and saddlebags and lock up the trailer, put the cover on and leave the bike.

Never had an alarm, never had a problem. And since it will use some current while sitting I have never had an alarm system mess up my charging system. I have had to help folks jump start their Wing or other bikes because the alarm or something pulled the battery down. I have also had a couple alarms disturb my sleep--in every case there was no evidence of an tampering with the bike. I fully realize the next motel I stop in could be the one where my ride is stolen. But I really don't think it will happen.

[wlkjr]

I did have mine broken into at a Days Inn in Asheville way back in the early
'90's. Someone stuck a screwdriver in the trunk locks but couldn't get it open. They did manage to break into the right locking pocket but failed to steal my country music cassettes. I repaired the cover with two pop rivets that are still holding it together today.
If I'm not mistaken, I did put a Cobra alarm on it after that, but have only ridden less than 5000 miles in the last 20 years. In the process of getting it back up running after a long stint of inactivity and an alarm is something I have considered.

[Aussie81Interstate]

I have installed alarms on every bike I have owned. Purely for peace of mind.

If someone really wants it they will take it.

A few options for an alarm can assit with theft.

I have one on the GL1100 - it can be hooked into the ignition system and kill the bike if it manages to get started and ridden off.

You can also wire in another small battery that operates independently of the main battery - just in case the thieves just rip an alarm wire off the main battery feed (which is where most people use the sources power.

Mine are normally set up as a tamper monitor - that if someone bumps the bike it sets off for a few seconds - anything further and it goes into full siren mode.



cheers

[PastoT]

I've been toying with the Alarm idea as well for some time. My Yamaha had one with a pager and then I added the equivalent of a taser to it and slept very well. As for my 1800 there have been times I wanted one (work sent me TDY to places that I wouldn't have chosen). I always removed my electronics, locked and covered it and had no issue; probably because it weighs a half ton fueled and loaded! I have a SPOT 3 GPS/SOS transmitter and have an option set that texts me when movement is detected after 30 mins (like rocking even in a high wind). It will sleep and wait for that movement but the GPS also wakes and sends me location data for recovery is needed. The SPOT option an added nicety and as I ride alone and often in remote areas, the subscription for roadside help issues, tracking by my family and Ok check-in is nice and of course the SOS transmit is something included that I hope I'll never need. I've loaded rechargeable batteries and plug it in within the trunk when I leave it, no issue with the bike battery and its in my jacket pocket when I ride. Still I too am considering a decent alarm for under $100 as our bikes are surely worth many times that!

[hap2]

What's the best kind of alarm for a Wing (1500 if that matters).

I just don't want anyone to even touch it (lotta rebel kids around here).

A bonus would be easy to install.

Any suggestions, comments, or questions?

[virgilmobile]

Not a clue but Ill mention that you might look into "proximity detecting" systems that are used in convertibles.
They use sensors to detect close people.
A side note:they draw power all the time too.Perhaps a bit much for several days without a charger.

[NVSB4]

I asked the same thing here viewtopic.php?f=16&t=27320 with differing responses.

My post has a couple of links to really cheap systems on eBay.
Might be a place for you to start.

[WingAdmin]

That's a good point. The proximity detection alarms are excellent in that they give the offender a "warning" with a chirp or two if they get too close - but they do so by transmitting a low-power microwave signal. Transmitting this signal whenever the bike is off definitely presents a draw on the battery. Two-way systems, where the alarm is continuously transmitting to the key fob, draw even more. You could expect the current draw to kill a bike battery (i.e. drain it to the point where it could no longer start the bike) in between 2-5 days.

I am not all that worried about someone loading up my nearly 1000 pound bike into a van and driving away. What has me considering an alarm (a two-way alarm at that) is for when a clueless cager whacks his car into my bike while parking, possibly knocking it down. I would like to know about this before he just takes off, and by buzzing my two-way keyfob pager, that would work very well. But I would want the ability to turn it on and off selectively, so that if I knew I was going to be parked somewhere secure for a few days without my Battery Tender plugged in, I could turn it off.

[hap2]

Good point re drain on the battery. IF possible, I wonder if I'd b a good idea (or even possible / easy) to rig it so that I could turn it off from draining the battery if I knew it was in a safe place.

[redial]

A trained Rottweiler might do the trick. It could sit on the passenger seat, and drool all over the person while doing a close face inspection of anyone that came too close. No battery drain, and lots of protection!

[hap2]

lol. My German Shepard did that when I had my 1/2 Ton. I could leave the keys in the ignition, my wallet on the dash (for all to see) & the windows wide open. All anyone would have to do is look inside the cab & that dog would show them his teeth. They backed away real quick. I loved that dog.

Maybe on a trip I could do that & pull a doggy trailer.