Let's talk about security...

[Frankencelery]

After reading 88 Turbo Coupe's story, and some of the others I've read on here over the years, I thought we might have a thread about securing our trikes. (Maybe there's one already, but me and the search function here don't seem to get along anymore) I'd like to hear what some other people are doing to secure their trikes.

I lock my garage, of course, but I'm way out in the country, and when my wife and I are both working, someone could come and bulldoze the garage down and nobody would hear it.

Some of you are chaining machines to the ground, which seems like a good idea. I'm trying to find that balance between being ripe for being cleaned out and being so "secure" that I have to spend 10 minutes to get my trikes out.

Being a technology geek, I really like the idea of video cameras, but the bad guys have to see them and BELIEVE that they're not fake, or that just bashing them with a rock won't eliminate their deterrance factor.

What do you guys think?

[cox]

i have been thinking of ways to stop would be thieves. I have no security at all where my machines are. Other than them being in the middle of nowhere. but thats just as good as it is bad. chaining them works i guess, but a pair of bolt cutters are cheap. I like the idea of taking the drive chain off. on my 125 i leave the front end jacked up and let the air out of the tire so its flat. that way they really gotta work to get it, unless they have a silent air compressor, lol. Ill be watching this thread to see what others are doing. Im not to concerned about the cash i paid for the machines, i care about my time and effort i put into getting them going. Only for some punk kid to come take it for a destruction derby run in the rivervalley....

[WIkid500]

This summer I'm going to be keeping a cable lock on my x for when I stop for lunch at a bar or somewhere along the way for the day. I have way to much $$ in the engine and the rest of the project to just let someone ride it off. Doesn't take much to throw the cable through the frame and around a tree.

[oldskool83]

i use to keep my stuff in a locked garage you couldnt see in what i had.

[rickybudz]

These, http://www.atvoklahoma.com/facebook/...w/5-Months-old, and cable locks, no trespassing signs, and my bedroom window is right along my driveway, the only exit!

[NotStock]

I have mine chained to my deck. 3/8" transport chain. no seat.

[Mondexbrute]

Mine is locked up in my Grandpa's wearhouse, the windows are covered so no one can see in, I always turn off the gas, put it in gear, hide the key & park my lawnmower behind it...but sometimes I still think thats not enough! I use to pull the spark plug cap off, but I forgot I pulled it off & could not figure out why it would start up, LOL!

[Aka_am]

I unplug the sparkplug boot, turn gas off of course, drain the gas, remove gas line and tank breather line. Then I normally take the plastics off and the tank (two bolts). My kicker lever holder bolt is bad, so I can remove my kicker. No decompression lever so this thing aint starting by a pull start. I've tried it, it just bounces around and tries flipping over.

Next is the only real security I have, a bell? bike lock, and a "Disc Brake Alarm Ebay" I personally would sleep though it, but the 2 small dogs, and the 2 big dogs would flip out.

If I had more money, I'd get a trackable GPS box for I think 200. If someone wants my machine there taking it. At least if there dumb and don't inspect the entire thing, I know where my bike is.

[Rawlins350x]

Just being the geek/tech lover I also am. If you have an alarm panel at your house You could wire in a mechanical contact to a zone on your panel and place your front tire onto the contact. Then whenever the bike is moved from the contact (which wouldn't take much movement at all) It would trip your alarm. An alarm can do all kinds of stuff, set off a siren, trigger lights(or anything electrical for that matter), dial a monitoring service, voice dial your phone, sms text your phone, etc. Just a thought from a fellow geek =)

[jays200x]

I like the brake alarm. I think Im gonna try one of those.

[JohnR.]

A lot of you are mistakenly thinking that someone is going to ride off on your trike. IMHO removing the chain, spark plug wire, remove gas line, etc. isn't very effective. I'd bet that at least 90% of the time the thief doesn't want to attract attention by starting the machine up anyway, he or she probably just pushes it to a waiting truck or van and loads it up. The flat tire idea will slow them down and probably be a good deterrent but its a pain in the to fill the tire every time you need to move the trike. I'm keeping my set up under wraps, no need to give them a heads up on what to prepare for once they get into the shed.

John

[rickybudz]

A lot of you are mistakenly thinking that someone is going to ride off on your trike. IMHO removing the chain, spark plug wire, remove gas line, etc. isn't very effective. I'd bet that at least 90% of the time the thief doesn't want to attract attention by starting the machine up anyway, he or she probably just pushes it to a waiting truck or van and loads it up. The flat tire idea will slow them down and probably be a good deterrent but its a pain in the to fill the tire every time you need to move the trike. I'm keeping my set up under wraps, no need to give them a heads up on what to prepare for once they get into the shed.

John

Does have a good point. Someone pushing your bike out of your spot, doesn't make much noise! I still think my dogs are the best deterrent. Who wants to go into a yard with two Bull Mastiff/Rottie mix dogs and one mean yelping Chiwawa! You would never even make it to my bikes!

[JohnR.]

I agree and I have a less than friendly pit bull but that won't help me when the wife and I are at work and the dog is in the house. I'm sure its too cold in Illinois in the winter to leave them outside all the time. The bottom line is, a determined thief will usually get by whatever the average guy does to secure his stuff. I think that the majority of ATV thefts are committed because the owner made it "convenient" to steal the machine. Leaving it on the trailer in the driveway or in the back of your truck or in front of the bar while you're inside having a beer is a sure fire way to have your stuff get got.

John

[atc350xer]

Just being the geek/tech lover I also am. If you have an alarm panel at your house You could wire in a mechanical contact to a zone on your panel and place your front tire onto the contact. Then whenever the bike is moved from the contact (which wouldn't take much movement at all) It would trip your alarm. An alarm can do all kinds of stuff, set off a siren, trigger lights(or anything electrical for that matter), dial a monitoring service, voice dial your phone, sms text your phone, etc. Just a thought from a fellow geek =)

^THAT^ is a good idea

[3wheelmecca]

mine are kept in a barn, but it is locked and in full view of my room. 4 dogs and a high powered rifle keep it there. I was thinking of just adding double doors to my whole house and just parking them in my room, they will fit.