Six weeks after the Africa Twin was stolen from LHR a payout has finally been agreed. I have now found the replacement (Huskie 701 Enduro) and collect on Monday. To minimise insurance costs and try avoid a further theft I want to explore a Tracker/Immobiliser solution. There is a long list of approved devices on the insurance quote platforms, but nothing specific that suggests good performance or a premium reduction. Any advice or recommendations please? Many thanks as ever, Paul.
I don’t know much about trackers, but, an Apple AirTag at 27 quid and hide it on your bike, you’ll always know where your bike is
I have used these and if the jingling noise function is removed they can be very affective and cheap. I have a GTE Tracker on my car that sends me phone alerts if the ignition is activated, then map tracking if needed. It also dramatically reduces insurance cost.
Have been a big fan of Biketrack for years. Always been happy with the service and the people, if a bit expensive. Went with a product from Tracker (the original) on the Scrambler and whilst it has many of the benefits of the Biketrack, the alerts are AI generated voices and texts (not a person) and I haven’t found a way of temporarily turning the alerts off, no ‘Service Mode’ like Biketrack which is frustrating. If I had to make the choice again, I’d return to Biketrack. Andy
My other bike has a BikeTrac - very effective, especially when I forget to turn the bike on to move it and I start getting texts and phone calls! This might be of use; https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/security/trackers/best-motorcycle-tracker
I'm not sure if you're aware but the 690/701/700 are very easily hotwired, I won't tell you how it is so easy here but if you do some digging...... An immobiliser would be my first port of call. Buy yourself a very big lock and chain, I'd recommend a Hiplock but they won't work so well on a spoked wheel bike. I was looking to purchase a Roadlok to my GG700 but i'm not sure if they have on for the supermoto. I have asked on the Roadlok thread but alas no reply as of today, I never leave my SM out of sight usually as they're highly sort after and easy hotwired. Air tag will only give you an approximation of the bikes location, a tracker from my understanding will give you the exact location. However from what i've read and experienced even if found the Police won't be interested in dealing with the incident, it'll be more a DIY exercise...... I'd prefer to deter rather than recover, my preference would be locks on that bike I should imagine a tag is easily found and removed the same is true for a tracker. Unfortunately it's difficult to own and enjoy nice things in the UK as it seems such a heavily dishonest country full of thieves and cutthroats.
Had a meeting with Biketrack last month. Very knowledgeable employees who do not suggest or favour any particular unit, the decision is ultimately yours. But they did say that AirTags are no longer effective. Very easy for thieves to neutralise now and rather ineffective unless near another Apple device.
https://www.vigitech.uk/ (asset trackers - self-powered 3yr or longer lifespan) I recently got two with specific upload pings so they can't be scanned by gps equipment; Left to right. Oyster3 Tracker – Long Life Battery Powered 4g (including magnet mount) Remora Tracker – XL Battery Powered On top of the price you specify a subscription period costings - three years on each of mine. Long life LCT lithium batteries Covered my specific tracker info obviously. Finally showing the magnets on each, Remora specifically is to be glued in place so it triggers an alarm if removed. Highly recommend; if your interested I suggest going to fbibook & asking for a discount code ps: I had biketrac but now prefer more assured levels of protection. The large one is in my lorry.
You probably just need to have a word with insurer on the dog and bone. Check out the vigitech vehicle tracker section it's also about the service behind the device that counts. I personnally believe your only going to get you're stolen kit back or recovered if it's got a tracker now. I'm sure most people know that thieves usually drop stolen vehicles/kit off at secluded spots. For 24/48hours to see if a tracker is onboard; as they'll get recovered by police or other independent methods. And these devices like mine can be self-powered to momentarily come on for a few seconds daily & recieve new commands. Hidden way deep inside a machine' The more professional scumbaggery will strip stuff down inside a metal unit. In the hopes that they've shielded the GPS or phone signal from communicating. And I've tested mine & very happy with the results. If you can show the police a location via a pinged signal (say a special community campsite) they are obliged to retrieve the "brought down the pub" equipment or generator say..
But you need to monitor it yourself 24/7/365 Biketrac is the way to go. It’s not the cheapest but is the best on the market. Howevet, @DucatiScud is correct, before thinking of tracking it, make it nigh on impossible (or at least harder than the next nearest bike) to steal. Hiplock DX1 are the best in the market at present, along with one of their ground anchors.
Just to say the air tag is great if the bike is outside house and near to your phone My experience is once moved it's not real time and can show a vehicle in one place when it's in another as it can be hours before it updates depending I'm guessing on triangulation of iPhones moving around the tag? For example one vehicle was showing miles away where it had visited and was in real time at another destination nearby What it can do is give you a start of where the vehicle last was
Thanks Ducbird. This description of AirTag functionality suggests they are especially good for luggage in transit. AirTags work by using Bluetooth technology to send signals to nearby Apple devices within the Find My network. When an AirTag is attached to an item, it broadcasts its location, which is then relayed to iCloud and can be viewed on the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
We use one here It's used for airport parking so I can keep an eye on said car parked Over the time it's parked it does move around the car park spaces and was suggested it was in wasteland near to car park I'm the watcher from home.
