Lock Em if You’ve Got Em

These streets can get crazy some times. While we might be (we are) living in the safest time in human history, that doesn’t mean that your stuff still won’t get jacked. Did you know that more motorcycles are stolen from in front of apartment complexes than anywhere else? I didn’t until I started looking into protecting the FactoryTwoFour stable of bikes. Now I’m in full on panic mode about everything bike security.

Luckily, the good team over at ABUS have worked to calm me down. They explained that while motorcycle are much easier to steal than a car, there are two main things you can do to protect your property. The first is to not be an easy target. DON’T park your bike night after night in hidden or dark areas behind an apartment or property. DON’T leave clear room for trucks to back up to your bike and roll it onboard. And DO have obvious security measures to dissuade even an attempt at grand theft auto. Abus’s full lineup of motorcycle locks are brightly colored, obvious, and many come with stretchable cord to secure from the tire to your handlebars. This not only reminds you to disengage the lock before hurting yourself, but also shows everyone that the bike is protected with a bright neon yellow “Aw hell no!”

Beyond scaring away bike thieves, you do also need to have an actual security device. ABUS sent us out two of their models, the Sledg and the Granit brake disc lock. Both immobilize your bike by securing your front brake and preventing the wheel from making a full revolution. They are both also disengaged by use of a standard-sized key. The Sledg brake disc lock certainly looks more heavy duty, but is also larger to carry around. The Granit could be called dainty, but it comes with a very convenient carrying pouch meant for under your seat or inside a tool pouch if your bike comes so equipped. We installed ours on the outer frame of bike, but that isn’t recommended for obvious reasons.

In reality, either of these locks will effectively stop your bike from going anywhere. We preferred the Granit for its quick and simple operation, as well as its ability to hide on the bike when not in use. These locks are clearly high tech and would require much more than brute force to circumvent. If you’ve got a moto that you leave outside, we can’t recommend enough picking up a solid bike lock and thwarting these crazy streets.