Protecting My new bike from Theft

[supramax]

It'll be 10 years this May, so my 9/10 is long expired.

 

[Taipan]

I went for a multi-layer security approach with my two Radrovers:

- Boomerang GPS cellular tracker, $200+$50 for 1yr of Verizon coverage. Use smart-phone to arm/unarm and track bike, it has 110db alarm if bike is moved. You get immediate email notification if your bike is moved.

- Xena 18mm U-bar XSU-310, $95-$100, Amazon, this lock can be cheaper than the name brands on eBay with the same thickness and used to secure construction equipment. you have to cut it twice if you need to remove the lock because the U-bar doesn't swing with one cut.

- Xena 14mm XC-14 5 foot chain $85-$95, Amazon, use this to secure the U-bar and chain together

I'm covered automatically with my USAA homeowner's insurance at $500 per incident home or away. I'm not covered for any maintenance issues, still have 7 months left on 1 yr warranty.

I also signed up with my local police department bike registration web-based database and online bike registry sites like:
National Bike Registry: https://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/index.html
Bike Index: https://bikeindex.org/
Project529: https://project529.com/garage/users/sign_in
Bike registry: http://bikeregistry.com/

I sometimes use the lock combo to secure both bikes together if the wife and I are out together. I do have a lighter security 12 foot cable+lock because it is very light and easier to use. I use the cable when we need to make a quick stop and the bike is usually in my line of sight (still have the Boomerang also). I use the heavy duty stuff mostly when the bikes are on the vehicle rack or street bike rack unattended for a while.

It's a decent setup but you should add a poodle as a guard dog

Something along the line of a Malinois belgian shepherd, small but very efficient.

Note: these are "Academic/Competition" Malinois, they casually hang where they bite until cease order.
The real ones, like used by Seal Team 6 or GIGN, are tougher but not compatible with civil life ^!^

T.

 

[tomjasz]

I have a $3500, $100 deductible policy and a New York fagetaboutit. It'll stall a high voltage grinder for maybe 3 minutes, very noisy. Local fellow put a gps device in his after one bike was stolen. The busted a guy with a garage full.
My best bike has all 3. Small city so I'm confident. I'm more concerned about vandalism. It's covered under the deductible.

 

[mrgold35]

I found an additional use for my Boomerang GPS bike tracker as a vehicle tracker as well. I removed from my Radrover and placed under the hatch area of my SUV. I'm going to give it a try this weekend when I travel out of state for the weekend. I have a few trips planned to LA (2 trips), Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City (Bike Expo), and Austin in the next 2-3 months (some with the Radrover). It can be a cheaper version of LoJack if you travel without the bikes a lot.

Could be an extra added value of the Boomerang system over Bluetooth systems.

 

[Over50]

I found an additional use for my Boomerang GPS bike tracker as a vehicle tracker as well ...

But wouldn't you have to wire it in to something to keep it charged (or remove it frequently and charge which would be a pain)? They advertise that a charge should last 10 hours of ride time (vs 3 months in sleep mode). I haven't timed mine but feels like I'm getting something less.

 

[mrgold35]

But wouldn't you have to wire it in to something to keep it charged (or remove it frequently and charge which would be a pain)? They advertise that a charge should last 10 hours of ride time (vs 3 months in sleep mode). I haven't timed mine but feels like I'm getting something less.

My SUV has a 12v plug in the hatch and I have a little small storage area under the floor about 1 foot by 4 foot. I use the iPhone app to double-check the charge level and plug the USB cord hanging out the storage area connected to the Boomerang in for a few hours when I'm on the the road (keeps me from having to remove the luggage every time I needed to recharge the Boomerang).