Doing a little window shopping and planning, at some point in the future i'd like to buy a house, depending on budget I might get something with a garage or something like these, how safe are these for motorcycle storage? All things being equal, if you live in a decent neighborhood etc etc?
Im thinking a lock, a good quality camera and motion sensor lights would be in order
I take it these are safer than underground condo/apartment parking lots?
How safe are what? Sheds? Keeping your bike out of sight of miscreants goes a long way. As with all security, you try to make your possession a lot harder to get than your neighbours. A locked shed containing a bike anchored to a concrete pad with an alarm all under a motion-sensing light located out of reach is probably about as good as you can get.
Getting a bike to the backyard of many houses may not be possible. Like in your second pic, one side would have enough room but an A/C or gas meter is in your way. Many moons ago, I rented a basement and it had a slightly offset garage. The bike just fit down the path and lived outside behind the garage. You couldn't see it unless you came through the gate so that was much better than just sitting in the driveway waiting for a van.
Nothing is guaranteed but a garage attached to your house is better than a shed which is better than nothing at all. Now...a large loud dog in the house where a garage is attached to said house is even better. The better neighbourhood also helps but how near the not so good neighbourhoods are matters more. My friend has had his car vandalised even though he lives in a large house in a great neighbourhood....he's just at the end of a park close to the not so nice neighbourhood.
how safe is it sitting in the backyard behind the house with the little side door locked? I suppose as an added insurance I could put it in a shed locked down as well as anchored to concrete
Never really seen anyones bike go missing on these forums besides all the apartment/condominium residents with underground parking lots
how safe is it sitting in the backyard behind the house with the little side door locked? I suppose as an added insurance I could put it in a shed locked down as well as anchored to concrete
Never really seen anyones bike go missing on these forums besides all the apartment/condominium residents with underground parking lots
Probably something like:
condo<street<driveway<backyard<shed<garage
Thieves can get enough supply from stage 1 so further stages get less action. I suspect the ones stolen from a house will be in concert with a burglary where they clean you out of a lot of things.
Worst possible situation is bike sitting out in the open for anyone to see it and have access to it. (Constant exposure to sun, wind, traffic, passers-by, rain, snow, salt are all bad news.)
Second-worst, and that's arguable, is sitting in an underground parking garage of an apartment building. It's arguable because at least if it's parked out in the open, you can aim YOUR security camera at it, and thieves never know who is looking. Lots of underground parking garages claim to have security, but it's a joke.
Factors.
Out of sight, out of mind.
How many people know it's there.
How much trouble is it to get to the bike, and get it out of wherever it is.
Alarms.
Insurance.
Make sure your storage spot has no windows (or they are blanked off or frosted so that no one can see in). No windows in the walls, no windows in the door(s).
Make sure your door is resistant to being kicked in. Steel door > crappy fiberboard door that lots of house builders use because they're cheap.
Don't rely on the door latch/lock. Garage door latches and locks are notoriously terrible. Power garage door openers aren't secure. Physically block the door from opening. This requires the ability of you to get to the inside of the door, i.e. an interior door into the house.
Physically block the bike from moving. Use your imagination.
Don't have visible signs of what's inside the garage.
The difference between living in a house and a condo is you’ll probably find your house neighbours are supplementary guard dogs after a while. People notice strangers going through back yards, our neighbourhood is so quiet it’s not unusual to get texts like “hey have you seen the strange guy on the bench etc”. Get a lock for the back gate if you like, we have a combo one on ours at times. Get a motion activated light. Thieves don’t like being seen.
The difference between living in a house and a condo is you’ll probably find your house neighbours are supplementary guard dogs after a while. People notice strangers going through back yards, our neighbourhood is so quiet it’s not unusual to get texts like “hey have you seen the strange guy on the bench etc”. Get a lock for the back gate if you like, we have a combo one on ours at times. Get a motion activated light. Thieves don’t like being seen.
Haha. I was doing inspections in Malvern and jumping fences to access locked back yards. I had to get in to every backyard, asking for permission would have taken days longer (prior to assumption so I was legally allowed access). After 3/4 of a day a see a cop doing a slow roll. I flag them down and tell them they are probably looking for me. They had a very confused look on their faces. In years of jumping fences to do inspections, that was the only time I had to deal with the cops. Wear a hard hat and a hi-vis vest and it is very rare that anyone questions what you are doing.
Haha. I was doing inspections in Malvern and jumping fences to access locked back yards. I had to get in to every backyard, asking for permission would have taken days longer (prior to assumption so I was legally allowed access). After 3/4 of a day a see a cop doing a slow roll. I flag them down and tell them they are probably looking for me. They had a very confused look on their faces. In years of jumping fences to do inspections, that was the only time I had to deal with the cops. Wear a hard hat and a hi-vis vest and it is very rare that anyone questions what you are doing.
A garage doesn’t guarantee anything either. I had some people break into mine trying to steal bikes while I was sleeping one night. Biggest issue you would have with the backyard is same as the garage, if someone in the neighborhood see’s you all the time and wants your bike they know where to find it.
Ultimately I think you would be fine parking in a backyard like that. There is a couple guys that have had bikes parked out front on my street for years now. Never seem to have any problems.
I just know not to wash dirt bikes in the driveway anymore. You never know who is driving past eyeing up the merchandise.
Underground garages just give these thieves way to much shelter so they can go to work with limited risk of anyone seeing.
A garage doesn’t guarantee anything either. I had some people break into mine trying to steal bikes while I was sleeping one night. Biggest issue you would have with the backyard is same as the garage, if someone in the neighborhood see’s you all the time and wants your bike they know where to find it.
Ultimately I think you would be fine parking in a backyard like that. There is a couple guys that have had bikes parked out front on my street for years now. Never seem to have any problems.
I just know not to wash dirt bikes in the driveway anymore. You never know who is driving past eyeing up the merchandise.
Underground garages just give these thieves way to much shelter so they can go to work with limited risk of anyone seeing.
I often leave bikes outside -- never had one go missing, even dirt bikes.
I think bike thievery is big in apartments and condo undergrounds and for 600SS bikes anywhere. In the country and rural Ontario dirtbikes need to be chained up -- I have friends who have lost them from barns, cottage sheds, and even garages in small rural towns.
I have a garage in the city and a shed at the cottage. Out of sight, out of mind. And really, who is going to be stealing an '02 ST1100 anyway so I don't worry too much about it.
Anyone who breaks into your garage or shed is a local person who has seen your bike or has been tipped off by a neighbour. If I had a new $35,000 Gold Wing or some kind of attractive SS bike I'd certainly have theft insurance in place. If someone wants your bike they'll find a way to get to it.
The other thing to ask ourselves is who is buying stolen bikes and stolen bike parts........... If there was no market, then thefts would go way down. So if you have a SS600 and you need a new wheel or tank or whatever you go to kijiji or craigslist or ebay. When you buy used do you really question where that part came from?
A garage doesn’t guarantee anything either. I had some people break into mine trying to steal bikes while I was sleeping one night. Biggest issue you would have with the backyard is same as the garage, if someone in the neighborhood see’s you all the time and wants your bike they know where to find it.
Ultimately I think you would be fine parking in a backyard like that. There is a couple guys that have had bikes parked out front on my street for years now. Never seem to have any problems.
I just know not to wash dirt bikes in the driveway anymore. You never know who is driving past eyeing up the merchandise.
Underground garages just give these thieves way to much shelter so they can go to work with limited risk of anyone seeing.
The difference between living in a house and a condo is you’ll probably find your house neighbours are supplementary guard dogs after a while. People notice strangers going through back yards, our neighbourhood is so quiet it’s not unusual to get texts like “hey have you seen the strange guy on the bench etc”. Get a lock for the back gate if you like, we have a combo one on ours at times. Get a motion activated light. Thieves don’t like being seen.
I have 3 neighbours with $20-$30K Harleys. My DL650 and past bikes live in the driveway. They all have garages, security and motion lights. Not to worried but I did finally get full coverage on this bike.
With a coat hanger, it's not hard to pull the release from outside the door. Our last house didnt have a second door into the garage and stupid me kept the generator there.
I have 3 neighbours with $20-$30K Harleys. My DL650 and past bikes live in the driveway. They all have garages, security and motion lights. Not to worried but I did finally get full coverage on this bike.
My first real exposure to bikes was around 17, my old neighbor, we lived in a semi detached subdivision with long driveways and no garages, dude had his shiny ass ultra something glide parked on the driveway under a cover, I remember he used to start it once in a while, never rode it, eventually traded it in for an equally shiny indian, that he also never rode but kept it under wraps
With a coat hanger, it's not hard to pull the release from outside the door. Our last house didnt have a second door into the garage and stupid me kept the generator there.
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