Best value security options?

larkim

Have just bought 12 year old his first half-decent bike (Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc, the colour sold it to me!), with an expectation that a) it will last and b) he'll grow through it over the next few years.

But not getting nicked is a fairly high priority too. Household insurance offers cover for about £10 per year with £100 excess for up to £500, so (save the excess) insurance cover is OK for my purposes. It does require bikes away from home to be "properly secured" to a fixed object, so I'm after recommendations for something convenient but effective which I can encourage him to actually use.

Also, any opinions about the floor bolts to use when it is garaged at home? It seemed to me that if you turn up with a decent socket or hex set it would take just a couple of minutes to get one of those out, but I might be wrong.

Cheers!

Matt

nicklouse

first read the small print. Most state what locks are approved. if you dont use one on the list no cover.

Mojo_666

I would get him a crap bike for leaving out, a decent bike will probably get nicked, it is just a matter of time tbh.

DodgeT

Get a PIR up in the garage linked to the house alarm, will help to deter them when the alarm is blaring and they're trying to undo things

diy

As nicklouse implied - check the definition of "properly secured" in the policy document. Some insurers define the term bicycle as just the frame. In fact check all defined terms.

larkim

diy wrote:

As nicklouse implied - check the definition of "properly secured" in the policy document. Some insurers define the term bicycle as just the frame. In fact check all defined terms.

That's all OK, I've read the small print, happy with what they require (and what is covered).

I'm not looking for fort knox, s*&t happens from time to time and given that I'm only protecting £400 or so there's only so far I'm prepared to go in terms of shelling out. Insurance in my local area is rated as the lowest in the country (so I understand) so the risk per se is low. But that doesn't stop some oiks in the park having a go at a bike that isn't well attached to a fence etc. My knowledge is limited, but in the past I have used Kryptonite u-bars (with the modern key, not the Bic-able ones) - just wondering if there is anything more portable which gives a similar deterent "bang for the buck".

Cheers!

Matt

larkim

btw, if anyone wants to check my insurance policy wording:-

What is covered

Accidental loss of or damage to pedal cycles belonging to your family, or which it is legally responsible for, in the Eu and anywhere else for the time limit shown on your summary of limits.

What is not covered

The excess shown in your schedule.
Loss or damage caused by wear and tear, damp, vermin, fungus, damage from cleaning, altering or repairing, restoration, mechanical or electrical breakdown, loss of value.
Customs or other official organisation confiscating your belongings.
Loss or damage caused by anything which happens gradually.
Loss or damage caused by pets.
Loss or damage while any pedal cycle is being used for racing.
When the pedal cycles are in your home,loss or damage while the house has been left unoccupied for more than 45 days in a row. Loss of any unattended pedal cycle unless in a building or securely locked to a permanent fixture.

A "pedal cycle" is defined as

Any bicycle which is not motorised and which your family owns or is legally responsible for

I know weasel words can cop out of anything, but unless you have any specific advice which indicates that all of this says that a bog standard bike with a sensible lock attached to something "permanent" (undefined in the policy) wouldn't be covered, then I'm pretty happy with the insurance!!

Matt

apreading

You could look at the Abus Bordo if you dont want a D-Lock. Cable locks are rubbish no matter how thick - as I find to my cost. the Bordo is an in-between option which is more portable and flexible than a D-Lock, but probably not as secure. They do a Granit Version for around £75 on Amazon which is pretty tough, but no lighter than a D-lock, just smaller and easier to transport. They do a normal version for around £40 which is lighter but obviously less secure - still much better than a cable lock though.

apreading

Loss of any unattended pedal cycle unless in a building or securely locked to a permanent fixture

Check what counts as a building - it may not include garage or shed as someone else on here found recently.

diy

It looks good - unlike some other policies which have been discussed here.

larkim

apreading wrote:

Loss of any unattended pedal cycle unless in a building or securely locked to a permanent fixture

Check what counts as a building - it may not include garage or shed as someone else on here found recently.

"Building" isn't a reserved word in their policy, so it will have its natural meaning. Shed I think stretches the definition of building though, so if it was going to be in a shed for a prolonged period of time I would be thinking about some additional physical security rather than relying on insurance.

Cheers!

Matt

larkim

apreading wrote:

You could look at the Abus Bordo if you dont want a D-Lock. Cable locks are rubbish no matter how thick - as I find to my cost. the Bordo is an in-between option which is more portable and flexible than a D-Lock, but probably not as secure. They do a Granit Version for around £75 on Amazon which is pretty tough, but no lighter than a D-lock, just smaller and easier to transport. They do a normal version for around £40 which is lighter but obviously less secure - still much better than a cable lock though.

Thanks, I'll take a look.

Matt

jayson

Ive had a few bikes nicked unfortunately so now im currently using one of THESE and one of THESE in the hope it will be enough to atleast deter a theif long enough for me to get there.

They're expensive yes but so is a brand new bike so really you decide....

Daz555

nicklouse wrote:

first read the small print. Most state what locks are approved. if you dont use one on the list no cover.

I had this with my motorcycle insurance. Seemed pointless to me - as the lock would of course be nicked with the bike - whether in reality you owned one or not.

Anonymous

Do enough to satisfy the insurance and as much as possible to minimise chances of it getting nicked. i.e. kept in sight at all times outdoors and at keep it in the house if possible. Garage or shed, no matter the locks, just provides a nice safe and quiet place for them to get to work. Locked garage at least is more deterrent though, assuming it's at the front of the house where they'll be seen.

If they really want it they'll get it. For not much money they can get the tools to go through even D-locks and Kryptonite stuff within seconds. Still, at home it would be unusual for the pros to be going after a bike like this. D-locked in the streets of somewhere like Londond however, gone. http://youtu.be/6AdugFzCi24

Oh and Sold Secure is no protection at all other than a tick in the box for insurance.

Sad really. Insurance and keep it as safe as possible is all you can do.

nicklouse

Daz555 wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

first read the small print. Most state what locks are approved. if you dont use one on the list no cover.

I had this with my motorcycle insurance. Seemed pointless to me - as the lock would have course be nicked with the bike - whether in reality you owned one or not.

which is why they can also state you must provide one of the keys.

larkim

deadkenny

Agree 100%. And given that the user of this bike will soon be going through his most careless years (!) I'm not too sure there is much I can achieve!

I've registered with http://www.immobilise.com on the recommendation of the local plod, and I think I will invest in a floor bolt for the garage too as a belt & braces option to prevent the casual thief, but I agree - there ain't nothing you can do if they really want it.

Our area does appear reasonably secure - we managed to go away for a long weekend a couple of years ago and left the front door ajar (completely visible from the road). Not a hint of untoward access, not even by cats!!

Matt