The trials bike is the most expensive piece of trials kit a trials rider will own. We have a strange relationship with them in which we curse them all the time but don't really know what we'd do without them and yet a lot of people's bikes are very prone to being stolen. Most people will keep their bikes in their garage or shed and expect a padlock to be the answer to their problems.
The trials press is always talking about how common it is for bikes to be stolen and we tend not to do a great deal about it. So now could be the time for you to take action.
The RAC published these statistics compiled by the Met Police:
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The current recovery rate for stolen bikes is only 14%.
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The current recovery rate for bikes with "classic status" is 0.8%.
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The current stolen vehicle (cars, vans and trucks) recovery rate is 65%.
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England and Wales currently suffer from more motorcycle thefts than any other European country.
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London has a higher percentage of motorcycle thefts than any other European city.
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Of the 24,000 stolen in 1998 40%-45% of thefts are not claimed for under insurance policies. This may suggest that the owners have suffered the replacement costs themselves, possibly due to a lack of theft cover.
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A significant number of recovered machines have no form of positive identification due to engine and frame numbers having been either removed or badly defaced.
The RAC suggest using an anchor and chain as a 'secondary security device' after permanent marking. The RAC's information on motorcycle security can be found HERE. The 'Boxlox' is one example of this type of device and possibly the best example there is - so good we are endorsing it and trying to help them sell it.
I
was bought the 'Boxlox' anchor with chain and padlock made by 'Lockforce'
as a Christmas present. The chain comes with a protective sleeving which stops
the potential thief from cutting through the hardened steel chain. The chain
itself is incredibly hard and strong and it would take a great deal of time
to saw through it but the sleeving provides another obstacle. The sleeving
is strong and looks as though it would withstand time and, most importantly,
being attacked by a villain.
Both the chain and anchor are made from non-corrosive material so that it is possible that it could be mounted externally. The design of the anchor is so simple and yet so effective it is a surprise that the design hadn't been thought of before. The fact is that it is only a piece of box section steel with the ends cut at an angle with two sets of three holes drilled in it but it's an inspired design. Feeding the chain through the steel covers the heads of the bolts that hold the anchor to the floor and wall. The thief WILL NOT unbolt the anchor.
The padlock is also of tremendous quality. Its body is covered in plastic for weatherproofing purposes and has a cap for the key hole. The barrel rotates so that it may not be drilled. The opening is only wide enough for the chain and so the chain covers the shackle and the shackle is also hardened to prevent cutting.
The package shows tremendous attention to detail to the point that all components are of great quality and they even give you an HSS tool hire voucher for you to hire a drill at decreased cost to yourself.
Here's the best part. If you go onto the Boxlox website, the boxlox will cost you about £30 and the chain will cost about £60 but if you order it as a visitor to MotorbikeTrials.Com, the package will only cost £56, a saving of around £34!! How can that be a bad thing? I might be wrong but you can get a front tyre for that or a set of front and rear brake pads, either way, it's a cracking deal.
For more information on this offer, click here
**Ed Oldaker