Pros and Cons of Bike Alarms!

[Babbs]

Ok, so new bike is ordered, well part ordered. Whilst going through the seemingly endless array of extras, I couldn't believe the price of a Thatcham approved alarm! £280!!!

My bike lives under cover, and is almost never left outside! The odd occasion it is, it's then fitted with disc locs and rather large and heavy chain and padlock combo!

So, are they really worth it? Insurance companies only seem to knock of a few quid on insurance! I suppose peace of mind has no price limits to some, but if you don't leave it do you need an alarm.

All thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Babbs

[bimota]

NO.
the discount you get is not worth having plus the cost of the alarm then the hassle
they cause you.


rob

[lancashirelad]

car & bike alarms are only any good if you are within earshot otherwise everyone ignores them to be honest!

[stormfield]

The guy I take my bike to for fixing says batteries going flat are a known problem with alarms

[Bernard Smith]

...... and if they do go wrong they will immobilise the bike until you rip it out..... if you can follow the wiring amongst the modern spaghetti......

[AndyB]

I won't have anther one on a bike unless it's a used bike and I can't get rid of the alarm. They wreck batteries, people ignore them and they're hard to remove when you've realised how bad they are.

I'd fit a tracker rather than an alarm but keeping the bike locked up securely is worth more than anything else.

[wolf]

One was fitted on mine when I got it, what a pain!

Don't fit one.

[Babbs]

Guys,

Thank you for the replies. I'm a little shocked by the response so far, as I had expected a few to advocate for them. Never-the-less, I appreciate the views posted so far and, to be honest, they have only confirmed what I was thinking!

Cheers

Babbs

[Philiptigerrice]

I can't stand the damned things - nobody ever pays any attention to them anyway.


I use an alarmed disc lock, so if I'm camping and there's nothing close by to lock it too - I'll be woken by someone trying to intefere with it or trying to roll it away...

And I put the alarmed disc lock on it in my garage too, I can just about hear it - and the dog reacts to it (thumbs) . (I use a heavy chain lock as well)

But I'd never opt in for an alarm..

[andyb43]

I work in security so I am paranoid, I have an alarm tracker chain and disk lock but to be honest I would be happy with a chain as a visual deter ant and the monitored tracker to get it back without all the hustle of crap insurance companies trying to fob you off not wanting to pay out besides they never give you what your pride and joy is worth.