Chains & Ground Anchors

[cfoley]

Ride magazine recently had a review of chains and ground anchors. The long and short is, all are susceptible to mechanical attack but the noise and time taken to break the best ones might put thieves off.


My girlfriend and I have three bikes between us, all locked in a garage. I am wondering if it is worthwhile bothering with chains and ground anchors. My girlfriend reckons that a thief who couldn't steal the bikes would probably kick them over out of spite anyway. Of course, you'd still have the [damaged] bikes in that scenario.


What other practical security could I be thinking about?

[BBROWN1664]

just chain the three together. cnuts wont be able to lift 2 or three bikes at the same time even if they could take one by lifting it into a van.

[hightower]

I don't hear too much of theft from garages. Maybe if you had a £25k Harley or something, but for something worth a grand or two is a lot of effort.


I don't chain mine, but perhaps that's a bad habit. If somebody wants my bike bad enough to go through a fairly sturdy garage door in a busy estate, well they can have it.

[mickvp]

I don't chain mine when it's round the back in the garage, but I do have a ground anchor and chain which I always use when leaving at the front overnight. Of course it won't stop anyone determined, but ifs s good visual deterrent which has worked for me so far.

[Arfa]

I have the Pragmasis set up at home. Mainly because I'm in a pikey part of East London with bike on full show on front drive (mid terrace with no rear access). As I park in central London I tend to stash chain in top box and secure bike to railings next to work. My Fazer may not be worth a lot compared to other biked out there, but I'm in bike crime central, so for sake of £200 chain, I'm not gonna risk it. Don't want hassle, excess, recovery costs etc.

[Fuzzy]

For ages I chained my bike to a ladder laid down by the side of the bike. It was one of those aluminium ones and made such a racket when it was even slightly touched, it actually made for quite a good alarm system. If they were to lift the bike up to shove in a van, they'd have to handle the ladder carefully which would be pretty awkward. Sounds a bit lame but I really think most thieves would not be bothered enough or prepared.

I also have an Abus alarmed disclock which serves as a deterrent whilst avoiding messing with the bike's wiring. Has a flashing led that is quite noticeable at night and the alarm itself is loud enough to be effective. My chain is a 16mm Squire chain & padlock, virtually identical to the almax ones. 19mm was too big to be practical I thought!

[Razgruff]

You say the bikes are in a garage.
I would spend the cash on preventing entry to the garage in the first place.
How good is your garage door?
Is it one of those no better than a piece of tin foil up and over jobs, where sliding a hacksaw blade into the gaps by the locking bars, will only take a few moments to cut.
Couple of good padlocks on the bottom and top can stop that.
Also check windows and any other doors

[fazersharp]

Pragmasis 19mm chain with pinch pin and somthing like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-SEM..._44wt_1358 concreted in  the grage base ground  to the pass the chain through, all you will see in the floor are two square holes

[Grahamm]

Just remember that if you use the chain and ground anchor to get a bit off your insurance, if (gods forbid) it's nicked and you hadn't used both, they're liable to say "tough luck, you didn't use the security measures you said you would".

[cfoley]

Thanks for the replies everyone.


Chaining the bikes together or to ladders... I know I'll end up pulling them over like dominoes with me on the bottom.


Not really thinking of doing it for insurance purposes. I used to tell them I used a disc lock but sometimes it was too much hassle putting it on. Still have and occasionally use it but the insurance companies don't know.


Door is a tin foil up and over so that might be a good bet. Would padlocks really fix that? Are there better doors to get?

[hightower]

I used to use a disc lock whilst at work, but since forking out £300 overhauling the brakes since they warped I haven't put it on. I know the disc lock wasn't the cause, yet for some reason my mind is telling me it was.

[locksmith]

And after you have made sure they can't open the up and over door they go round the back and knock a hole in the brick wall.
Bikes are always chained to ground anchor's and each other. They started to try and undo wheel's but gave up and came back the next day. What a chase that was, me, two farmers and three police cars. Bastards got away but left their van behind

[stevierst]

Bolt and padlock your garage door from the inside if you can, it doesn't attract as much attention.
And if you have a UPVC side door, buy a rock door. Even the cops have trouble getting through them. Chavvy scrotebag and his trusty screwdriver don't stand a chance.

[chris.biker]

This is a simple idea, paint your garage doors white, I used to live in a house with access (service road/ backy) to the rear  for garages at the bottom of the garden. I used to walk my dog along the access it was surprising how you could walk past a passerby and barely see them in front of the dark coloured doors and yet the light coloured ones light the way and gave no hiding place.