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You Think Your Bike Is Safe With A Almax/ Defiant Combo ?

Discussion in 'Stolen Bikes/Parts' started by d8mok, Jul 20, 2023.

  1. Long time Ducati owner who has just sold his bikes (new baby so having a break)

    Many years ago I purchased at great expense several sets of Almax chains and Defiant ground anchors. Well since the bikes have now gone I thought I’d attempt to remove the anchors.

    Spoke to Almax who was helpful but basically said I’d need to take the concrete up or cut around it maybe.

    Well , here’s the second anchor being removed by a few taps of a sledgehammer. Both removed in the same way with little force.

    To clarify these were fitted flat to the floor and also used their own adhesive. The issue isn’t the fitting into the floor but the actual anchor itself simply failed. It’s a very poorly made product with little penetration on the weld. It wasn’t even connected all the way through the anchor. Just a few Mm.

    Anyway here’s a few pics and a video.

    I just wanted to warn others as like myself you are likely living with a false sense of security but also have spent considerable money in doing so.

    I’ve emailed almax but no reply.

    https://youtube.com/shorts/oI7iw3l-r54?feature=share

    IMG_1961.jpeg

    IMG_1966.jpeg

    IMG_1965.jpeg

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  2. They were just love taps too!
     
  3. How much did that rubbish cost?
     
  4. £85 each anchor. Chains were around £400
     
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  5. toughest on market apparently. Took professsionals 1 hour to remove he said.

    took us 15 seconds to do 2.
     
  6. I fitted the Pragmasis Torq anchor using their resin bolt fixing kit (Fitted 3)

    I wanted to remove 1 when I reduced the number of bikes.

    1. I tried removing with 2 3 ton tacks and a thick crow bar through the loop to jack it out - NO.. jacks stalled and the crow bar bent in a little U

    2. I then spent around 20 minutes a bolt drilling around the hammered in ball to remove the balls.

    3. Then tried undoing the bolts with a Wheel Impact gun - no - that was not working

    4. Had to drill the head off..

    Took me over 3 hours.... So I can definetely recommend the Pragmasis Torq Anchor..
     
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  7. I think the weakest link nowadays is not much can resist the cordless grinders, when tested Almax offered basically the same protection time wise as other decent chains, but it is not a long time. I share a garage, was recently broken into and they took my mates bike as less secure. I think it is a question of layered security so it makes the job much longer to achieve. Hopefully within that time frame the situation can be changed? So a few decent garage locks , a couple of decent chains and a good disc lock. I have a Roadlok, they looked at it and took the other bike which was simply chained.
     
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  8. Completely agree; multiple means to try and dissuade the thieves that it's just not worth bothering as the extended time to defeat them all just adds risk of detection. Have just installed a Milenco Snaefell ground anchor to add another layer after an encounter with a suspicious character who was eyeing up the bike and contents of my garage when I had the door open the other day. Bought some peace of mind, though frankly, if they want it they'll take it, no matter what you do.
     
  9. If you've some mild steel and a mig welder, you can make much better versions than what they're offering.!
     
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  10. Locks wise the Litelok X3 and Hiplok D1000 are angle grinder resistant. Tests show them needing several cutting discs and several minutes minimum to cut through (the X3 resisted the most).
     
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  11. Forget anything involving resin, rawl bolts, loctite etc. It’s all shite and absolute child’s play to the serious bike thief.

    If you’re going to sink a ground anchor there’s only one serious option. And that’s to smash through your concrete floor, position said anchor and re concrete it in. Voila! Then buy the strongest, chunkiest chain you can find with associated padlock. And don’t have the chain laid on the concrete floor. They’re easy to attack. Always have them hanging. No guarantees but a good set up makes it much trickier for the fuckers….
     
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  12. But the chain can still be cut through in no time at all.
     
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  13. Yes it can, these locks are afaik meant to go through your wheels to stop the bike from being moved, they won't stop someone picking up your bike and loading it into a van etc.
     
  14. Maybe, but it’s about layers. Concealment, sturdy gates, lions, cameras, ground anchors etc. If yours is harder to nick than the blokes down the road and all that… :D
     
  15. I think you are right .
    These security products work well enough as psychological deterrents to casual or opportunistic thieves ,
    but if your beloved bike has already been targeted by professional thieves ..... it's pretty much gone .

    There are loads of Youtube vids about defeating locks and chains ..... but when all said and done
    it just comes down to how long it takes , and maybe how much noise .
     
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  16. I now loop the chains through the frame.
     
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  17. I hear this trueism a lot, and frankly it's not accurate.
    They need to want it, more than you're willing to protect it. It's that simple.
    When they wake me up with the angle grinder, are they not going to flee when I confront them?
     
    #17 Coda, Jul 24, 2023
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 25, 2023
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