[w3dstyle]

So I went out with some friends at a local bar; generally pretty good area but next-door-ish to a... umm... questionable neighborhood. I left the bike ('06 SV650) parked in a well-lit area (on the street), but over one block from the bar so I couldn't really keep an eye on it. When I came out I wasn't paying all that much attention and just tried to stick my key into the ignition but it wouldn't go. I reached down and pulled out a broken-off razor blade! I thought I got it all out but I had to really jam my key in hard - basically I was nervous at that point and wanted to get the hell out of there. My question is: did some idiot try to steal my bike with a freaking razor blade? c'mon, does that really work?

I stopped at a gas station to look the bike over for other possible damage - didn't see anything obvious; I'll be taking a closer look at the ignition tomorrow when I have some daylight, and the safety of my garage. My other question: should I be looking for anything else?

 

[Jiaguy]

Yes, people are stupid. You are lucky they couldn't find a screw driver.

 

[maxxdope]

!!!!!?!!!!?!!!! somebody 's lookin REALLY "cheap" parts for his project??

 

[eddiemon]

That's messed up!

Look your bike over real good tomorrow.

 

[Fishy]

look 4 a carry permit and then check the bike..... never touch another mans (or womans) bike....ever!

 

[mullerjd]

maybe somebody is trying to stop you from driving drunk

 

[cfreger]

Don't know how you steal a bike with a razor blade. Maybe they just wanted to cut you?

 

[grendel]

Probably just what some meth head had on hand. Most theft is just a crime of convenience. I image his/ her though process was something like: oh I’m so high oo look a cool bike and here in my hand a razor blade! **** razor didn’t work. Look a bird, come down little birdy.(meth head chases bird down street)

 

[BERTalert7]

Glad they didn't get it. There are a lot of people that suck at life these days.

 

[Coop]

Maybe they just wanted to cut you?

That was my first thought. Hopefully you didn't cut yourself because who knows what was on it .

 

[ASCSurveyor]

Emo bike.

 

[w3dstyle]

That was my first thought. Hopefully you didn't cut yourself because who knows what was on it .

I was thinking the same thing later on last night, but nope - I didn't cut myself - I was wearing my gloves as always, plus I was careful to pinch the blade broadside when removing it.

 

[w3dstyle]

look 4 a carry permit and then check the bike..... never touch another mans (or womans) bike....ever!

I'm not sure if you're kidding... but this is something that I'm starting to give serious consideration to.

 

[Nexus242]

look 4 a carry permit and then check the bike..... never touch another mans (or womans) bike....ever!

Yeah and him sitting in a bar 2 blocks away with a gun in his waist band really would have helped allot too.


Dood get yourself a disc lock and a short 1/2" to 1" cable lock that you can attach to the wheels when you go out. Cable lock thru the rear rim and sprocket and disc lock on the front. You need to make sure that BOTH wheels can't roll too. It won't stop a pro who needs your bike for an order but it will stop a theif who's just looking for an easy pick up and roll away theft or some kids looking to ride around and trash a nice bike cause their parents suck at parenting.

 

[Nexus242]

I'm not sure if you're kidding... but this is something that I'm starting to give serious consideration to.

If you are that worried about someone stealing your bike then you need to leave it at home and take the car.

Oh but what if they try to steal your bike at home while your at the movies or out to dinner with the GF!!! Well don't worry cause you'll have your gun with then and there to protect your bike that's at home.

 

[Currently]

First mistake is going to a bar with a bike.

I am not saying this because I am judging YOU.

I am saying this because of the type of people that hang around bars.
Especially bars you have never been to and you don't know the lay of the environment.

Your gear impairs your situational awareness.

Unlike a cage, your bike now becomes a liability because of its vulnerability to gravity, attraction to impaired idjits, urine and sometimes much worse such as predators looking for victims or filling out a shopping list to feed their habit.

It is a magnet for problems.

Going out to a restaurant on the other hand is a different story.
The class of people that go to restaurants are typically families or people trying to have a good time without screwing with other people.

If the cops get called out to that bar at any type of frequency, I suggest you find another way of getting there.

 

[w3dstyle]

Yeah and him sitting in a bar 2 blocks away with a gun in his waist band really would have helped allot too.


Dood get yourself a disc lock and a short 1/2" to 1" cable lock that you can attach to the wheels when you go out. Cable lock thru the rear rim and sprocket and disc lock on the front. You need to make sure that BOTH wheels can't roll too. It won't stop a pro who needs your bike for an order but it will stop a theif who's just looking for an easy pick up and roll away theft or some kids looking to ride around and trash a nice bike cause their parents suck at parenting.

I have the disc lock; though if I'm being honest, I didn't have it with me last night. Stupid on my part and pretty much asking for my bike to be lifted, in retrospect. I don't have the cable lock, though. Should probably get one if I plan on going anywhere at night where my bike will be parked all on its lonesome. Maybe bring my generic cover, too.

You're right about the pros, though. A few guys in a pick-up could easily drive off with any 600 (or most 996) class of bike.

The topic of bike theft makes me :'(

 

[w3dstyle]

First mistake is going to a bar with a bike.

I called it a "bar" but it is more like a restaurant/movie theater/bar. Not what you'd normally associate with the word 'bar'. It's actually quite upscale and the area where its located is generally pretty nice. It just borders (by several blocks) a lower-income neighborhood. Didn't really expect there to be a problem when I decided to head out on the bike.

 

[Nexus242]

W3 you're going to face this every place you go with your bike. Thieves go where the money goes. You may even have to walk out side and check on your bike every 30-45mins just so, someone, if they are looking at it knows you are the owner of it and he keeps coming out to check on his bike. Or if a closer space opens up run out there and move your bike into it so it is visible to more eyes. This is still my best argument to parking on sidewalks at certain places.

But again bike thieves are good at what they do, so I still believe that if you can make your bike less tempting or requires more work to steal they will opt for finding some other dumb ass who didn't. Why steal a car with an alarm when down the road their is another one with out an alarm. So get full coverage gap insurance for the time when you wreck it or a thief does take it and add some cable/disc locks to make it less easy for them to jack it and maybe they'll pass on it.

Prevention of theft is always your best defense.

 

[w3dstyle]

Your gear impairs your situational awareness.

<snip>

It is a magnet for problems.

I think this is where the root of the 9mm protection comments are coming from. Obviously a concealed weapon won't help you catch a thief or stop them when you're sitting in a building a block or two away (or even in your apt.), but you can at least protect yourself should you be attacked or approached by questionable individuals with bad intentions. I don't want to sidetrack this thread with the 'gun' topic - lots of people have very different and valid views there.

My guess? It was likely some kid with nothing better to do - purely opportunistic.