Wed, 06 May 1998 21:52:26 +0200 - Message No. 2891
From: Martin Franz

Subject: Re: disc locks...


Hi Pete and others,
hupps, didn't expected replies to my little stories...raised some
emotions :-)))

First: it is not my fault, that stealing a bike is so easy. Much more
easy than stealing a car. A bit harder than stealing a bicycle. Don't
believe me ? So learn, how to do it !

Lesson one:
Take an old VW bus, 5 boys (not spaggetos !) two ropes and a little
training. In less than 1 minute you will have the AT in the VW bus...and
the AT will have a new owner. If you are few people, use a moving
hydraulic car lifter, a truck with lift or similar. remember: using
humans is still the best and fastest. If police comes, everybody run's
in different directions...steel another VW bus for next try.

To steal a bike with any other method, like opening the locks on the
road, is
only done by extremly bloody armateurs, those stupids, who get caught
all the time. No reason to do so, at home, you have hours of time, to
open the Abus lock.

Face it my friends, protecting a bike is nearly imposible. Also, old,
dirty bike won't help too much, just check the prices for used africa
twin parts and you know why even a old one can bring a lot of money.
BTW: selling a bike in pieces is less risk...

A disc lock won't make the prefered "carry away" stealing method any
harder, a good alarm system will make things a bit harder. A bit.

Now, dedicated to my dear disc lock lovers, lesson 2: how to
break a disc lock in less than 30 seconds: take "cold" spray, spray that
onto the disc and "krcks" break away the lock. The lock may be
suistainable to cold spray, the disc won't (hehe!). Now dismount the
brake by two screws, put a 3.5mm plate in the slot where normaly the
disc is, secure it with tape and DRIVE ! You still can use the front
brake, cause there is still one working disc left.
Okay, one disc is gone, so next time, you should steal a complete front
wheel...a thief won't buy one at honda's :-)
BTW: there are less brutal methods to get rid of those, but this one
always works.

After once loosing my key and having to break the "normal" lock, I tell
you: breaking the stearing lock (on an old Yam..not even a genuine honda
one) is shure more work than a disc lock. Someone tried to break Achims
lock, fortunatly, he didn't succeed.

Decide yourself, if you want to spend 150DM for a disc lock AND with bad
luck another 500DM for a new disc. 

Now to alarm systems. Lesson three: how to steal a bike with a alarm
system:
day 1: spot bike at good place, kick it. Alarm goes on, remember, where
"alarm speaker" is.
day 2: take "glue foam" and flexible line, move to speaker and spray.
Let the VW bus stop by, running  engine, radio turned on, kick the bike
and check, if alarm is now silent enough. 
Load bike in bus and go. Additional time used "deactivating" alarm: 1
minute for work, 5 minute to let foam dry. Use foam based on "Staerke"
(sorry, have no english word for this), cause this one you can remove
afterwards with plain cold water.
For not so loud alarm systems, a thick planket (decke?) also does a good
job...try it, works best on this high pitched piezo sounders...remember,
just 2 minutes after the alarm is engaged, you are around the next
corner (1 minute to get bike in, another to leave the place).

Always funny (Mr. Pete:-) to hear about how good alarm systems are
protected against power down, battery loss, shortcutting etc. to qualify
for high price, when it is so simple, to just stop the sound...on a car,
you can protect the "sound making device" quit good, on a bike, you are
extremly limited.
BTW: shortcutting direction lights is always a good thing to do...cause
some "homebuilders" will never learn to use a distinct fuse for the
sound effects :-))

Alarm system, even the most cheapest, have one advantage: they help a
bit against vandalism or against guys, who just wants to steal your side
mirror, front wheel, etc...

The best protection against loosing your bike is still chaining it to
something massiv with a cold spray resistant lock/chain (or to your
buddy's bike), and most important,
_carefully_ choose a place, where to leave your bike. Remember, taking
out an alarm system, chain,..will take only some addititional time, when
the place is safe enough, they will do it.

Having a good insurance is also worth to consider: your baby is gone, go
buy a new
one.

Sorry, Pete, for not helping you to sell your stuff, really sorry. 

best regards, Martin (going to "get" a new AT this night ???? :-)))))
P.S. the first thing I bought for my brand new Twin was a ..... right, a
disc lock :-)))  Fortunatly, I lost it, before I damaged the disc...


dipper@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de