Question about Condo Theft | GTAMotorcycle.com

Question about Condo Theft

jonpurdy

jonpurdy

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So as some of you are aware I just got back to Toronto a few weeks ago. I'll be living in a condo starting next week and parking my motorcycle there. I've been reading a lot about condo theft but I have a few questions.

1. Would a recent BMW F800R be a target of theft? I was told that because it's neither an SS nor a Japanese bike that it's not a target (since BMW buyers generally don't buy stolen parts, even overseas).
2. How should I protect it? BMW alarm, aftermarket, LoJack, just a chain? I've got a $300 Kryptonite New York lock that I used on a bicycle a few years ago but there's nothing to chain it up to.
3. I'll be wintering it at my folks' house so it'll only be at my condo during riding season.

I'm not going to say what area of the city I'll be living in but are specific areas worse than others? Why?

Once again thanks for the advice. GTAM has been great at helping me decide on a bike, Canadian riding/driving style and culture, and other stuff.
 
jonpurdy said:
So as some of you are aware I just got back to Toronto a few weeks ago. I'll be living in a condo starting next week and parking my motorcycle there. I've been reading a lot about condo theft but I have a few questions.

1. Would a recent BMW F800R be a target of theft? I was told that because it's neither an SS nor a Japanese bike that it's not a target (since BMW buyers generally don't buy stolen parts, even overseas). ALL BIKES ARE TARGET.
2. How should I protect it? BMW alarm, aftermarket, LoJack, just a chain? I've got a $300 Kryptonite New York lock that I used on a bicycle a few years ago but there's nothing to chain it up to. YOU NEED A VERY GOOD LUCK!
3. I'll be wintering it at my folks' house so it'll only be at my condo during riding season. ANY SEASON IS A GOOD SEASON FOR THOSE SCUMBAGS.

I'm not going to say what area of the city I'll be living in but are specific areas worse than others? Why?

Once again thanks for the advice. GTAM has been great at helping me decide on a bike, Canadian riding/driving style and culture, and other stuff.
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Honeslty man, if those losers want to steal your bike they will do it regardless of anything. But storing it away somewhere in winter is a good idea. Is there any security in the condo?
 
It doesn't matter what area of Toronto you live in - bikes have been stolen from expensive condos with "high security" too. It also doesn't matter what you do to protect your bike. If thieves want to steal your bike, they will. Bottom line, it just sucks to live in a condo and own a motorcycle. Obviously, get the bike insured against theft, get something like "boomerang" GPS tracking installed if you really love your bike, and hope it won't get stolen.
 
i live in a condo with average security with the same concern too. it's just so dang easy which ever way you look at it.
right now i just got a disc lock and scorpio on

coz i own 2 parking spots. come winter i plan to just barricade the bike towards the wall with my car parked on a angle against it. that way at least they have to lift the bike over my whole damn car if they have to steal it, which just makes it somewhat more difficult for them, but doesn't really prevent anything still.
 
Interesting points. I've already got theft insurance (replacement value) with a $500 deductible so if it gets stolen I'll be out only that. But still easier to prevent it and make it less of a target.

I don't know how good the underground security is. I'll have to have a closer look when I get the place.

I thought about storing it in my parents' garage all the time but then I wouldn't be able to ride it during the week (which is not a huge deal but not as fun).
 
jonpurdy said:
I thought about storing it in my parents' garage all the time.
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That's your best bet. When I lived in a condo, I kept my cheap GS500F in my parents' garage too... Hey, you never know if/when someone would want GS500 parts...
 
Are there any condos in this city that have garages? As in a closed in parking spot with a garage door... underground? I don't understand why this isn't more popular here. That would be THE BOMB!!!
 
jonpurdy said:
Interesting points. I've already got theft insurance (replacement value) with a $500 deductible so if it gets stolen I'll be out only that.
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And if it happens in the middle of summer, you'll be out of a bike for 2 weeks to a month while the paperwork gets sorted out and they finally decide to write you a check. Then you have to shop around for another bike. If you end up going for the same model bike, you will lose any personal customization you had done to yours and have to start that part from scratch.

It's more of a PITA than just a 500$ deductible. :p
 
I think do what you can do within reason and hope for the best. Once you've done your due dilligence, just enjoy the bike and accept that theft can happen but don't be afraid of it. I don't think an F800r (hot bike, BTW) is as much of a target as the cookie cutter SS's anyway.

It just seems like it would be much more difficult to offload a F800r versus a typically stolen sport bike unless its headed for a container and shipped overseas. Its not likely to end up as somebody's track bike, its got no expensive fairings and there are far less of them out there so the market for parts and such is much smaller. I've personally never even seen one on the road yet.


Some can say that all bikes are targets, but Im not too concerned about anybody stealing the 800lb Harley I am currently borrowing from my condo spot. Good luck trying to steal that.
 
Depending on what your condo fees are, it may be cheaper to buy a nearby storage unit. 24/7 security, weatherproof, etc.
 
Pay to store it over the winter at one of the dealers/site advertisers and at least have a few months off your mind.
 
one of these again... get theft insurance, don't stress out. No lock or alarm in the world will keep it 100% safe. End
 
Yup, your bike is a target. Protect it with theft insurance at MINIMUM, using a lock is up to you.
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