@Paul55, I just read a Bennetts Social write up which was recently updated. For them, it's either Biketrack or Datatool. Might be worth a look, https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/security/trackers/best-motorcycle-tracker. Andy
Do not work is a bit strong, they'll just be less effective and less accurate. Obviously depends on the structure of the van. Something like a shipping container, made of thicker steel, is another matter. Biketrac has an RF beacon too. If Biketrac, they do appear to assist in location of stolen vehicles, know the rough location they can pinpoint it with some accuracy where the GPS aspect might not.
In answer to where are they going: BikeTrac recently tracked a stolen GS and found it in a container with 24 others. Presumably for shipping abroad. My BikeTrac is inside a steel garage, which inhibits its location, but will invariably detect movement and ring me.
My Biketrac is very sensitive, it went off today when I moved the bike out of the garage. I had started the ignition but probably moved it too quickly. I’ve found I need to put it into service mode on ferries and the Shuttle. I’ve had it fitted on three bikes but it seems to have got more sensitive over time. Previously you could push it forward a few feet with no alarm but not recently. I once pushed it a few feet in Andorra and that was a very expensive phone call (£6 for 30 seconds)
I guess you choose the level of monitoring by what the bike is. For me I would have biketrac level on something rare that was irreplaceable. For anything else I would want notification that it was being tampered with (monimoto etc) in the hope I can have a wee chat with the toe rags before its actually gone. Being honest, apart from a rarity, I wouldnt want anything back that was stolen/recovered. General theft is by scrotes and it will have been abused in the short time its in their hands. You dont really know what you are getting back mechanically.
Have you changed the settings in the app? You can have it on movement mode or ringfenced within a defined perimeter. With the latter you can move it so long as you don't go outside the defined boundary. However, it will switch itself back to movement mode if it can't get a signal. My garage is brick with a wooden and steel roof. When the bike is in there my Biketrac maintains location but it does 'wander' a little, no more than 50m, due to poor signal.
No I’ve always left it in Movement mode. Just seems to have got more sensitive over time. I guess I could change it for when I’m at home but I’d probably lay forget to change it back when I was out and about
I found that adding a tracker to my insurance quote reduced it by about £20 at most, same with an alarm. I bought a £4.99 tracker from TruTrak and while it does not give an insurance discount it is better than nothing. It’s £50 a year for the subscription. Tracks my rides out accurately as well and you can set a geofence and what alerts you want.
Some insurers require a tracker to be installed if the bike is over a certain value, pretty sure that's what I was told when I tried to get cover. Having one fitted didn't reduce the cost of my cover. The BikeTrac models differ in size (plus some features) and that can determine which one can be fitted to the bike as depends on what space is available to hide it.
Old thread alert! I am looking at additional security for my GS. Unfortunately the previous one was stolen, despite being securely parked.. The new bike has audible alarmed disc lock and a high security chain and lock. What about a tracker though? Specifically one with a subscription, but MUST have worthwhile coverage in Europe. I feel confident in it not being required where I am in the UK. Due to garage, location…dog ! So the Europe part is important.
If you have radial brakes I highly recommend Roadlok. https://roadlok.com/ Not all my bikes are suitable though They are very simple, you can carry the pin in your pocket and they are much more secure than standard disc locks. Trackers... On my Ducati MTS V4 I use Biketrac - the insurance insisted upon it. (I'm in London, UK) I had my daily ride (Honda NC750 ) nicked from inside our communal garage and it had an airtag fairly well hidden - nevertheless it went off line around 30 minutes after the bike was stolen. More 'alarmingly' pardon the pun - it also had an alarmed disc lock on it - they didn't care about that (late at night) - and just cut through the front disc - so in the morning my disc lock and a piece of disc were lying on the floor. That made me think more about the limitations of disc locks - but the Roadlok would have been much more secure. They left the Multistrada presumably because it was ground anchored and had 2 large Pragmasis chains and a pinch pin PLUS two disc locks - but the CCTV shows them having a damn good look at it. On a cheaper bike (old VFR800 and now a 1250 Bandit) I have been using Monimoto 9. £30 a year. It's obviously not as comprehensive as Biketrac and doesn't have the human monitoring but it does call me when the unit and its keyfob are parted and the bike moves - it's easy to hide with a little bathroom sealant and doesn't rely on your bike battery. Better than airtag that's for sure. [With Biketrac - at Dover I was paddling forward with a riding buddy whilst in the long ferry queue just a few feet at a time with the ignition off and Biketrac called me instantly! They are very responsive] So for me it depends on the value of the bike - but Roadlok is so damn simple I would use that on any bike I had with the right type of brake caliper. I know... I've mentioned Roadlok three times!! That's how much I like them.
I really like Richard F’s comments. I have Scorpion ( Triumph Track+) on mine and my wife’s Triumph Tiger 900’s. They seem to be pretty sensitive as I set them off when I move the bikes from the garage to the front of the house without the fob. It’s reassuring to look at the map on the app to see where the bikes are. Trying them in France in two weeks… supposedly works all over Europe. I also have Roadlocks on them and when I put a chain on front wheel to the centre stand with the roadlock on, it would be very difficult to get off the centre stand. I’m sure in London the bikes would be gone in seconds … very clever thieves there! After 30 years of not locking my bikes in Venice Beach, I am definitely in culture shock here!!
I use a BikeTrac tracker - helps with insurance premium - and an AirTag tucked up behind the tail tidy. Always had efficient interactions with BikeTrac
I have a Bike Track (+ a Roadloc) and a Tracker (+ a Roadlok) fitted to different bikes and both offer monitoring whilst in Europe in their full price packages. Bike Track respond to a trigger with a text and a phone call from a real person. Tracker respond with a text message and initially, a computer generated voicemail. I’ve not had an occasion to talk to a person at Tracker, outside office hours. Biggest bugbear for me with Tracker is, you cannot turn the unit off if you want to leave it with the dealer for a service. You have to set a geofence around where you are every time. This stops the phone calls but not the text messages. Bike Track give you options, movement without key, geofence, service mode and holiday mode (for when you are away without the bike). Got the Tracker as part of the deal on a new bike but when the subscription expires, I’ll be getting a Bike Track fitted. Andy
+1 for BikeTrac. Always a prompt call from a courteous person. Depsite all alerts being triggered by me moving the bike, gives me great peace of mind should the worst happen. You can also nominate a secondary contact should you be unavailable when the call comes in.
^^Thanks all. Just ordered Datatool Stealth s5 with a subscription. Found a discount code (blacknight) that got £100 off. Waiting now on a call to arrange fitting at home address. As to other locks, I have Roadlok in a box, though an early version which would need a small amount of machining to fit the new GS callipers. My disclock with an integral alarm fits nicely on the rear disc, where it is nearly impossible to get at with an angle grinder, so will probably use that for upcoming Euro trip. A little extra peace of mind with the alarm function (?) What more can be done apart from land mines and gun turrets… s5. I like the fob idea, so I can move the bike if I have the fob with me and not set off alerts.
I use these guys....about 30 quid for the gps unit itself, i also double up with an air tag....if they find one...they dont go looking beyond that i would say. https://gpslive.co.uk/auth/login
