best way to secure a commando

a wise man once told me " locks are only for honest people" !!!

I live in a city where bike theft is a major dilemma for the "carbon fiber super rocket" crowd, I also teach waves of new riders every weekend and am constantly pressed on this very topic. The fact is, sadly, there is little to nothing you can do to prevent the determined thief from snatching your bike. Even "secure" underground parking garages have become havens for bike theft (one more thing the condo crowd has to worry about). Take comfort in this fact, in 10 years of riding vintage british bikes, I've never had an incident more serious than the local pre-schoolers leaving muddy fingerprints on my freshly polished tanks and cases. Evidence gleaned from police stats show that the overwhelming majority of thefts (at least in Toronto) are routed through the black market, and over to Europe. The vast majority of the bikes that are stolen are of the supersport class (anything with an R or S on the end of it), as these seem to be far more prolific on NA roads than European roads. Your biggest worry would be the casual joyrider, in which case I'm not certain how many "youths" would have any idea what the hell a Norton is to begin with much less have the inclination to try and fire one up. When I leave them parked outside overnight, I find a simple non descript bike cover is usually all that's necessary to throw off the casual joyrider.

If someone wants your bike, they'll take it. 2-3 guys in a van and it is all over.

Got to agree with Coco, only sure way is to chain the frame to a large piece of road furniture with uncuttable chain (I have one made from steel multiwire cable with a hardened steel core), chaining a wheel to the furniture dosen't work either as you get left with a wheel only :roll:

If I wanted your bike, I've a couple buddies and a van and
a pony pack cutting torch to make it short fun to enter
gates or remove the heaviest chain or cable or locks
in a jiffy rather quietly.
A further reason I did not rid for 30 yr in a big city
after big city got away with my first motorcycle love.
P!! dragster. Make it really nice and takes ya chances.

hobot

I used to think older British bikes were less likely to be stolen than modern stuff like Gixxers, or Harleys. But, it can happen, and with eBay to dump stolen parts on, I'm sure that enters into the theives mind. We had a 70's Trident get lifted from a fenced in back yard a few years ago in Lincoln. Vanished completely. I'm assuming it was stripped. The owner ran an ad on Craigslist "wanting to buy Trident parts". I've talked to him since then, and he's turned up nothing. You have to be cautious. I read a story in a major mag about a guy who was carrying his Knucklehead in an enclosed trailer, went in to eat at a cafe, and during that time, someone stole the whole trailer. If they want it, they'll probably get it.

Coco said:

If someone wants your bike, they'll take it. 2-3 guys in a van and it is all over.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately all too true, my first Commando was stolen in early 1976, I was absolutely devastated when it happened, it was my first big bike and I loved it; I remember walking round 'dodgy' areas looking for it for about 2 weeks, the fact that plod circulated the wrong reg number didn't help me get it back!, but then again I suppose it was broken down quite quickly. It was lifted from the back of my parent's house during the night, it was fitted with a very good padlock and a chain that was very strong, I got the chain from the shipyards, (when we had a shipbuilding industry, thanks Maggie!!!), in fact the chain was that strong we had to cut the chain to length at work using the hydraulic cutting gear we use to cut people out of cars at RTCs. The second one was stolen from the same place in 1982, it was also locked and chained, that one was fitted with a Vetter Windjammer fairing and Krauser panniers, so it wasn't exactly small and inconspicuous.
As neither chain was left at the scene I can only assume a few guys lifted them.
It's a fact of life scumbags are everywhere, and as Coco says,
"if they want it they'll have it" no matter what you try and do to prevent it.

Having your bike insured is th ebest defense. A good cover is not a bad idea either.
Chain it to a building.

I park it where I can see it....if possible if not attached to a lamppost but in reality if someone really wants it it will go..as for immobilisers had one on my Guzzi but took the damned thing off after it immobilsed itself twice not funny.