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From: bl@hplabsb.UUCP (Bruce T. Lowerre)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: locks and alarms
Message-ID: <3331@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 8-Mar-86 00:49:13 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.3331
Posted: Sat Mar  8 00:49:13 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Mar-86 08:34:43 EST
References: <966@h-sc1.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 31

> 
>    Now that I've invested in a second bike (honda XL600R), after 4 months of
> mouring over the theft of my last bike (same type), I'm wondering how to 
> make sure this one doesn't get ripped off too.   I'd appreciate any comments
> regarding the best types of locks (eg.  kryptonite is good but you can't tie the
> bike to something with it).   What do people think about alarms for bikes?
> 
>     thanks.

I've owned four motorcycles starting from my college days.  I had one bike stolen
along with my room mate.  Being pissed off, we devised the following alarm system.
Buy a 12V relay (DPST), another horn (loudest one you can find), a mercury
switch (household SPST item), and an in-line fuse holder.  Remove the center
stand from your bike and mount the mercury switch to it.  You will have to
dismantle the switch and make a cover for the inner part of it (you don't need
the handle).  The idea is to rig it so that the switch will be on when the
stand is up and off when the stand is down.  Ground one side of the switch.
Wire the in-line fuse to the hot side of your battery (to protect your bikes
battery and wireing).  Hide an on-off switch (slide switch will do) under your
seat and connect to hot lead from the fuse to it.  Also hide the second horn on
the bike (preferably under the seat) along with the relay.  The idea is to wire
the mercury switch to the coil of the relay along with the first contact so that
the relay will "lock" in when activated by the mercury switch (i.e., when the
bike is taken off the center stand).  The second contact is wired to the second
horn.  Thus, when the bike is taken off its center stand, the second horn is
activated and will remain on even if the bike is placed back on its center
stand.  No one will roll a screaming hot bike down the street.  The least
damage done is to end up with a dead battery if you don't hear the horn in
time.  The worst that could happen is that the thief may just drop the bike and
run.  However, this is better than ending up with no bike.  Since I've used
this scheme, I've saved two bikes from being stolen.