Having just read below of yet another bike having been stolen I am wondering why more bikes are not fitted with trackers.
I know the top of the range stuff is too expensive for a lot of us (ongoing charges etc) but I use trackers I buy in China. No ongoing costs and much better than nothing. Cost to locate the bike is a phone call.
They arent brilliant in rural areas but in London and surrounding areas would be more than adequate. I tried mine in Budapest and it took me within feet of the bike…
They are not perfect but give you some sort of chance for a fairly small sum of money…
Wish I’d known about these Chinese Trackers a while back… My bike is booked in today for a Acumen cat 1 alarm and Tracker-monitor system… It’s costing a bit but having had one bike stolen and one nearly stolen, fully worth every penny… I’m using a company based up in Peterborough called MHSS1st motorcycle security. Seem a friendly bunch and they’ll travel up to 120 miles from their base to fit alarms bought through them. The prices aren’t too bad either.
Yes, Ill dig out contact details of the guys I used and post them here. Having earlier said I might get a few to sell on I realise I dont have time to do it but Im sure if somebody wants to get a few they would sell easiily…Ill have two…
Thats more or less what they are but tracking a mobile phones requires using a system which needs payment. The trackers text you back with long and lat location of the bike for the pice of a standard text message.
Im not trying to push these as I have nothing to gain whatsoever. As I said in the original post" not great in rural areas" but most people on here do not live in rural areas (not to say that the thief might not!)
Ok 120 quid a year for a tracker clearly isnt an issue for some here but if I had just bought my first bike for a few hundred pounds Id be happy to pay a one off of 40 GBP or so to have some chance of keeping my new pride and joy…
As said ‘something is better than nothing’ but please do not fit ANY kind of Tracker and think your safe. By fitting a Tracker you will get some peace of mind but please don’t let that stop you from taking precautions as you would when you didn’t have a Tracker fitted.
As I told each and every one of my customers at the point of sale…This is your last line of defence, not your first. If all else fails and they beat your security package (Cover, Chain(s), Alarm/Immobiliser(s), Tagging then there is a chance you will get your bike back. How small or large that ‘chance’ is depends on the quality, reliability and durability of the system fitted. In the case of Tracker Networks there is a very good chance, others I can’t comment on having not used/seen them.
Thatcham Category 5 exists for a reason…it means provided your Tracker wasn’t fitted by an ape, it’s up to scratch and will do it’s job well.
Cheapest ‘tracker’ is a GBP10 PayG mobile phone, permanently on, wired to be continuously charged from the battery, hidden under some plastic. The triangulation now available from ‘track my kid’ type sites is pretty good.
Tracker is also available as a one off payment for the duration you own the bike
Yes, the initial cost is expensive, but so is your bike and it is the only system that can be tracked by every single UK Police force (who do the tracking not you) as well as in France and Spain.
For me, cheaping out on security is a bit like buying the latest and greatest bike then wearing a £50 lid, jeans and t shirt :crazy:
Tracker gets a fair bit of stick on here for it’s expensive product (£400instalation+375lifetime ownership =£775 . But will it off set by the insurance & piece of mind.(1) It outsources most of it’s instalation to third parties who just fit it anywhere with a power supply. So basically the thievies know where to look on your bike.
(2) It doesn’t work in a steel container or anywhere your sat-nav doesn’t work basically.
(3) The Police have maybe one car per station capable of detecting a stolen vehicle to a 1/2 mile accuracy then go back to the station to get a more accurate 4 part arial to fit to the roof. Even then the accuracy of finding your vehicle in a built-up area is difficult because the immiting tracker signal bounces of buildings giving false street location. This could take hours.(???).
(4) Even tho it has a months back-up battery it’ll need tickle charge so also a readily available power supply which the thieves could use if there’s power tools around or use their own. If it drains it’s own battery the replacment and instalation is well expensive.
(5) U.K, Spain & Portugal isn’t a great coverage to be honest. European coverage at least.
Anyone else have Tracker and opinion on the above?Regarding the mobile rig-up. Seen it done on YOU TUBE, set volume to minimum, turn the screen to black,texts off. Basically every thing to save power with a very basic PAYG mobile. Splice the charger lead (after cutting off the end bit) and connect to battery. Hid in tool box or somewhere water/damp resistant. Register phone to be tracked (£5/month it was then).
With regards to Tracker… The prices being bounded around are a little unrealistic… Just yesterday, I had an Acumen cat 1.1 alarm AND Tracker Monitor fitted yesterday and included in the price of £475 was one year subscription to Tracker Monitor… Within a year, you can extend the Tracker Monitor for the duration that you own the bike for £225… Well worth it me thinks…
Please see my praise for the company that fitted these… posted today…
It seems every few months there’s these threads on cheaper Tracker alternatives quoting misinformed information on Trackers as the basis for seeking an alternative.
Tracker isn’t the cheapest option, but there’s nothing else that works anywhere near as well and when you factor in an alarm and installation on a new / used bike, the price difference is surprisingly minimal.
Want to see your bike again if it’s nicked? Buy a Tracker…Simples
