I kept my bike under lock and key in a garage. The garage has two locks on it, and the bike had a disc lock and a heavy duty chain (Abus Granite) for anchoring within the garage. I was pretty confident of the security within the garage, but alas on the one occasion I left my bike in front of my property in broad daylight chained to a rail between 12.57pm and 1.06pm it was stolen.
I am sure I’ll get the “you should have disc locked it too!” comments, but come on? A quiet dead end road on a sunny day at 1pm in front of my house? How many people would be on guard?
Anyway, it’s gone and that’s that so I am taking the positive from this lesson and am updating from a 2008 R6 to a 2009 R1. I was thinking of putting a couple of extra bolts on the garage and updating the chain. There are so many around it’s hard to know what would be the most “unbreakable”. Any suggestions? And do people have recommendations for disc locks and indeed any other devices to use when parked? I’ve seen the Allmax stuff and they look quite good:
I’m pretty sure I was followed yes - forgot to point that out. The police got to my place within five minutes to their credit. He then told me there’s a gang they haven’t been able to catch that have been doing it for a while in my area (SE16). I’ve only lived here four weeks so it’s a bit frustrating, especially as it’s very quiet and seemingly safe.
I spoke to a neighbour who’s been here a year and he said they’ve never seen trouble round here. It’s clearly my bike that attracted them and I am assuming there was a “buyer” who wanted a bike like mine. Then I think there are scouts who if, when riding about, they see an opportunity they take it. My neighbour saw them leaving with my bike actually, but it happened so fast he thought it was me just going out with some friends!
He described two bikes pull up. One was a bike like mine (not necessarily an R6), dark in colour, with one rider. The other was a smaller bike with a male and female. They released my bike from the chain and steering lock (and immobiliser!) and then wheeled it down the road. They then started it and rode off. All within 8 minutes. I don’t know how they got the chain off but they took that too. I am wondering if they picked the lock but surely they can’t be that simple to unlock?
First off, sorry to hear your bike was stolen. It’s reaching epidemic levels around here again.
Unfortunately, the thieves now have access to a type of master key that can defeat the electronic immobiliser on at least the R6, R1 and Suzuki’s GSX-R range.
It means they can just walk up to your bike, put the key in the ignition, and ride off.
When I had my R1 parked outside the bike shop, a copper came in and said to watch out for a gang in the area doing this. So I chained the bike up.
do you leave your keys in a set place at work etc and if people have access to? or spare keys at home have you checked to see if they are still there … and how long have you had this bike etc … if secondhand did previous owner have a spare set of keys …
I’m not convinced that there is any kind of ‘master key’ which can defeat these immobilisers as well as the ignition barrels. More than likely is that they just break the steering lock off the bike and wheel it off or failing that, lift it into a van.
As Smiled said on the thread about his GSX-R getting stolen, he found the ignition barrel at the roadside, this makes me think they’re just breaking them off to bypass the steering locks.
i dont think it is, if they rode off on the stolen R6 in 8 minutes it would be reasonable that they have some kind of key.
smileds bike was stolen by what sounds liek youngsters, hence the barrel being ripped out.
to steal a bike in broaddaylight, without a van, by riding it off in 8 minutes…spells out that they knew exactly what they were doing, you couldnt bypass an immobiliser and hardwire a bike in 8 minutes, not an R6 anyway, a gilera runner 125yeh sure, easy peasy, but not an R6 they are just a bit more complicated.
It’s easy to break the steering locks and I won’t say here how to start a gsxr without the key but if you have the wiring already worked out and know what you need to do, it’s a 2 minute job.
There might be a key out there, When I was at school a friend had a key for the filing cabinets - it was “RV1” and fitted all Roneo Vickers filing cabinets . . . I think his Dad worked there.
granted steering locks are shite, but wiring isnt easy, not when its got an immobiliser, back in the days i remebvr when Astra cars were easy, in and started in under a minute.
i just dont risk my bike ever, i know its rubbish but if im going anywhere i have to leave it on the street where i cant see it at all times i use my CB1 hack, it cost 500 quid…
i never never leave my gixer on the street, i dont carry a chain or disc lock because i never leave it and its not going to stop a pro thief… simple.
enjoy your R1 and get a second cheap bike not a 500 quid alarm or chain
seems to be quite a lot of bike theft around at the moment.