Motorcycles and other power sports are great sources of entertainment, there is nothing like the freedom you feel roaring down the highway on your bike in the open air. Of course, the same thing that makes motorcycles fun, their small size and you feeling the open air, is the same thing that makes them easy targets by thieves.
Motorcycles are stolen at an alarming rate. In the time it takes you to read this article multiple bikes will have been stolen. The most common ways for them to be stolen are snatched and thrown in a trailer or van. Theft rings will often cruise up and down residential streets at night stealing any bikes left outside. So with the high risk of your bike being stolen, you need a top of the line security system. But which one?
There are three types of security systems, each take a different approach with varying levels of success. The most traditional security system is the bike chain. The bike chain is great for its simplicity and lower cost. Even grade school children are familiar with a bike chain and can operate one. Bike chains also are good because you do not need to install them; they are ready to go out of the box. However, the bike chain is the easiest theft deterrent to circumvent by a thief. A quick snip with a bolt cutter and your bike is gone. In about the time it takes to chain your bike is how long it takes a thief to steal your bike.
The next type of motorcycle system is the remote controlled audible alarm. There is a number of variety of these type of alarms. Some may flash your lights, some may send a signal to your remote control as long as you are in range (couple hundred feet) and others may even disable your motorcycle. These alarms are a definite improvement over chains and are effective at being a theft deterrent.
Unfortunately, they are only a theft deterrent, and are dependent on the timely intervention by someone else to actually stop the theft. The noise may provide a nuisance to the thief, and there is even a chance that someone is in the vicinity when the alarm goes off and is able to stop the theft. However, a seasoned thief will just quickly kill your power and your alarm is out of commission. Furthermore, once your motorcycle starts the siren, your bike is likely already in a trailer or van about to head down the street.
The last type of motorcycle security system is a GPS tracking system. GPS tracking systems are newer technology that have just recently entered the powersports industry. GPS systems are not theft deterrents in the traditional sense, but they are more theft recovery systems. Most GPS systems are silent and covertly installed as not to alert the thief of their existence. They are designed so that if the event your bike is stolen, you can use a web application to see your bike's exact location. These types of systems are the most effective at recovering your bike.
The biggest issue with GPS trackers for motorcycles is the cost. Most companies are charging anywhere from $600 and up for a system. Then they often tack on a monthly service charge ranging from $15 to $20 a month. That is a high price to pay and often limits these systems to those with the high dollar custom bikes. The other big problem with GPS trackers is that many are not designed for motorcycles, but cars. This leads to technical problems as the GPS system cannot handle the vibration and high heat of being installed on a motorcycle.
Considering the different choices, it is important to determine what level of security you need and the price you are willing to pay. If cost is the most important criteria, the chain makes for a cheap solution. If you feel that an affordable solution that makes an audible alarm sound will suit your needs, you can find many of those options for affordable prices on eBay. If you want the highest level of security for your motorcycle, a GPS tracker designed for motorcycles and other powersports is the route to take. Just be careful when selecting such a device. Watch out for high upfront costs, hidden service fees and make sure it is designed for powersports.
Motorcycles are stolen at an alarming rate. In the time it takes you to read this article multiple bikes will have been stolen. The most common ways for them to be stolen are snatched and thrown in a trailer or van. Theft rings will often cruise up and down residential streets at night stealing any bikes left outside. So with the high risk of your bike being stolen, you need a top of the line security system. But which one?
There are three types of security systems, each take a different approach with varying levels of success. The most traditional security system is the bike chain. The bike chain is great for its simplicity and lower cost. Even grade school children are familiar with a bike chain and can operate one. Bike chains also are good because you do not need to install them; they are ready to go out of the box. However, the bike chain is the easiest theft deterrent to circumvent by a thief. A quick snip with a bolt cutter and your bike is gone. In about the time it takes to chain your bike is how long it takes a thief to steal your bike.
The next type of motorcycle system is the remote controlled audible alarm. There is a number of variety of these type of alarms. Some may flash your lights, some may send a signal to your remote control as long as you are in range (couple hundred feet) and others may even disable your motorcycle. These alarms are a definite improvement over chains and are effective at being a theft deterrent.
Unfortunately, they are only a theft deterrent, and are dependent on the timely intervention by someone else to actually stop the theft. The noise may provide a nuisance to the thief, and there is even a chance that someone is in the vicinity when the alarm goes off and is able to stop the theft. However, a seasoned thief will just quickly kill your power and your alarm is out of commission. Furthermore, once your motorcycle starts the siren, your bike is likely already in a trailer or van about to head down the street.
The last type of motorcycle security system is a GPS tracking system. GPS tracking systems are newer technology that have just recently entered the powersports industry. GPS systems are not theft deterrents in the traditional sense, but they are more theft recovery systems. Most GPS systems are silent and covertly installed as not to alert the thief of their existence. They are designed so that if the event your bike is stolen, you can use a web application to see your bike's exact location. These types of systems are the most effective at recovering your bike.
The biggest issue with GPS trackers for motorcycles is the cost. Most companies are charging anywhere from $600 and up for a system. Then they often tack on a monthly service charge ranging from $15 to $20 a month. That is a high price to pay and often limits these systems to those with the high dollar custom bikes. The other big problem with GPS trackers is that many are not designed for motorcycles, but cars. This leads to technical problems as the GPS system cannot handle the vibration and high heat of being installed on a motorcycle.
Considering the different choices, it is important to determine what level of security you need and the price you are willing to pay. If cost is the most important criteria, the chain makes for a cheap solution. If you feel that an affordable solution that makes an audible alarm sound will suit your needs, you can find many of those options for affordable prices on eBay. If you want the highest level of security for your motorcycle, a GPS tracker designed for motorcycles and other powersports is the route to take. Just be careful when selecting such a device. Watch out for high upfront costs, hidden service fees and make sure it is designed for powersports.
Peter McNichol is an avid motorcycle and boating enthusiast, as well as a partner with [http://www.gps4powersports.com], an organization dedicated to bringing cost effective GPS theft recovery systems to the powersports industry.
2 comments:
Informative post describing that how to choose a motorcycle security system. Thanks for sharing such beautiful post.
Protect our investment with a solution that offers powerful economic security in peace of mind. There are couple of Alarm Systems Motorcycle which sometimes fitted as standard equipment on some bikes, but most have no other protection than lock.if control of the motorcycle is touched again within 20 seconds the alarm siren fully and permanently active with rapidly blink flash lights.
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