BiB wrote:Just bought an 08 Majesty and have been looking at security (and insurance reduction) and came across these people and watched the video with interest. Whilst accepting it has been made to sell a security product, how realistic do we think it is? A number of people have mentioned relying on a steering lock for their security - are they as simple to bypass/break as the video suggests?
http://datatag.co.uk/motorcycles.php
Datatag and other security markings are a good idea, but they are only one avenue of defence. However, steering locks are NOT that strong, so a good bit of additional security (such as a chain) is a good idea. There again, I don't bother with the TMax most of the time, though I do use one of those grip-lock things that secures the parking brake sometimes in more urban areas
It all depends on where you are and how desirable your scoot is to thieves, and how professional the thief is. If you live in London, several locks and chains and a rabid Rottweiler as a guard dog are a minimum level of security, but even then, someone will probably still nick your scoot. In other places, you could leave it in the street with engine running and the keys in the ignition, and it'd still be there when you returned! Some scoots are very attractive to the nastier form of yoof, but these are principally the smaller ones, or Gilera Runners or other fashionable ones.
Whilst steering locks aren't great, they do deter the opportunist amateurs. On the other hand, a pro thief will probably get through almost every lock given a few tools and enough time.
So there is, as usual, no clear answer. The more risky an area, the more security you need. You have to weigh up your risks. I've never had a serious attempt to nick any of my scoots (touch wood!) and they were parked in grotty Middlesbrough all day for 10 years. There was the occasional nutter or intoxicated twat who wanted to poke around and might have tried to nick it if it hadn't been locked up. I actually had less trouble with the bigger scoots as they tended to intimidate idiots, who'd be quite happy to nick a 50, but didn't fancy trying to ride barges like the Atlantic or the big Burger!!!
