HD Security System
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 3
The biggest thing the factory system does is protect the bike if you forget, or are too lazy, to lock the ignition. So they can't hop on it and drive away. It also keeps them from busting/picking the locks and driving away. It doesn't keep them from cloning the fob and driving away. Most stolen bikes are not driven away, but rather carted off.
An alarm slows them down and increases their risk. They will likely first go bump the bike to see if an alarm goes off. If so they can walk away and wait for it to disarm itself. If anyone confronts them they just say they were thinking about buying one like that and wanted to sit on it to see what it felt like. If they are smart they will wait to see if the owner comes running. If they are in range it shouldn't take more than about 15 minutes for them to get there. Once the owner leaves they can go disable the pager and alarm, pull up the van, load it up and drive away.
Does it stop them? No. It just makes it more difficult and risky to steal. There's that risk they attract the attention of an off-duty police officer, the nosey old lady next door or the guy setting on his balcony drinking a beer watching all this go on.
If you are really worried about it then get disc locks to keep the bike from rolling and a chain to keep them from carrying it away. Lojak or just one of those child tracking cellphones in the saddlebag gives you a chance to recover the bike though they'll likely find it and disable it while still in the van moving. The police aren't going to set up a road block and search every van for your bike so as long as they are moving lojak doesn't do much. It does a lot more for a car where the police can spot the car itself rather than some van has a bike in it.
An alarm slows them down and increases their risk. They will likely first go bump the bike to see if an alarm goes off. If so they can walk away and wait for it to disarm itself. If anyone confronts them they just say they were thinking about buying one like that and wanted to sit on it to see what it felt like. If they are smart they will wait to see if the owner comes running. If they are in range it shouldn't take more than about 15 minutes for them to get there. Once the owner leaves they can go disable the pager and alarm, pull up the van, load it up and drive away.
Does it stop them? No. It just makes it more difficult and risky to steal. There's that risk they attract the attention of an off-duty police officer, the nosey old lady next door or the guy setting on his balcony drinking a beer watching all this go on.
If you are really worried about it then get disc locks to keep the bike from rolling and a chain to keep them from carrying it away. Lojak or just one of those child tracking cellphones in the saddlebag gives you a chance to recover the bike though they'll likely find it and disable it while still in the van moving. The police aren't going to set up a road block and search every van for your bike so as long as they are moving lojak doesn't do much. It does a lot more for a car where the police can spot the car itself rather than some van has a bike in it.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Buffalo, NY
I get that it’s another deterrent and will keep some people from stealing my bike. I also see that I’ll save money on insurance. This is all good s**t but I guess I’m missing the basics.
What exactly does the HD security system do? Do you mean all it does is disable the ignition? No siren? Does it lock the front forks?
This is all great info but I guess I have to start at the beginning. What do I get for my $331?
What exactly does the HD security system do? Do you mean all it does is disable the ignition? No siren? Does it lock the front forks?
This is all great info but I guess I have to start at the beginning. What do I get for my $331?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Lower Alabama
DG,
The basic security system does not come with the siren, but it does disable the bike a few seconds after you shut down. The system comes with an electronic fob that you must have near the bike to disable the alarm and allow you to start the engine. I carry my fob in a pocket whenever I am riding the bike.
The sirens are extra component that must be installed in addition to the security system if you want a sound alert. There are two types of sirens available. One is just a straight siren that goes off if the bike is disturbed. The other siren (Smart Siren II) has the sound plus the capability to activate a security pager (another optional item to purchase) that has about a half mile range.
I can understand the confusion. I did not realize the security system did not have a siren until after I purchased the bike. My HD dealer installs security system on all the bikes he sells, so I did not give a lot of thought at the time of the purchase. Nevertheless, I believe the security systems are a good idea and added the Smart Siren II about a year after I purchased the bike.
The basic security system does not come with the siren, but it does disable the bike a few seconds after you shut down. The system comes with an electronic fob that you must have near the bike to disable the alarm and allow you to start the engine. I carry my fob in a pocket whenever I am riding the bike.
The sirens are extra component that must be installed in addition to the security system if you want a sound alert. There are two types of sirens available. One is just a straight siren that goes off if the bike is disturbed. The other siren (Smart Siren II) has the sound plus the capability to activate a security pager (another optional item to purchase) that has about a half mile range.
I can understand the confusion. I did not realize the security system did not have a siren until after I purchased the bike. My HD dealer installs security system on all the bikes he sells, so I did not give a lot of thought at the time of the purchase. Nevertheless, I believe the security systems are a good idea and added the Smart Siren II about a year after I purchased the bike.
I get that its another deterrent and will keep some people from stealing my bike. I also see that Ill save money on insurance. This is all good s**t but I guess Im missing the basics.
What exactly does the HD security system do? Do you mean all it does is disable the ignition? No siren? Does it lock the front forks?
This is all great info but I guess I have to start at the beginning. What do I get for my $331?
What exactly does the HD security system do? Do you mean all it does is disable the ignition? No siren? Does it lock the front forks?
This is all great info but I guess I have to start at the beginning. What do I get for my $331?
Stage IV
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From:
My dealer said all the bikes he gets have security systems installed. If you don't want one, you can negotiate a lower price but the system stays on the bike.
Everyone has his own opinion. I personally can't stand having a security system. I had the dealer deactivate it when I bought it. To make sure it doesn't re-activate, I tossed away the fob while it was in maintenance mode in the shop. Problem solved!
As everyone else here said, if a thief wants the bike, it's his. The only way to stop him is to shoot him while he's taking it or hunt him down later after he stole it. In the mean time, if you have insurance, collect it and buy another bike.
Everyone has his own opinion. I personally can't stand having a security system. I had the dealer deactivate it when I bought it. To make sure it doesn't re-activate, I tossed away the fob while it was in maintenance mode in the shop. Problem solved!
As everyone else here said, if a thief wants the bike, it's his. The only way to stop him is to shoot him while he's taking it or hunt him down later after he stole it. In the mean time, if you have insurance, collect it and buy another bike.
For me the main benefit is that the bike can't be started without the fob being nearby. A siren is usually lost in the general din of the city, but the ignition lock-out pretty much renders the bike useless.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Brewster, NY
FWIW my past 2 bikes had the HD security system -- but no siren. That is apparently "extra". So all the stock system does is flash the lights. Scary.
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