Which Tracker?

[Mr Gazza]

As yet another sickening thread appears in these pages, reporting the theft of a much cherished Ducati, My thoughts turn once again to the idea of fitting a tracker to my bike.

I know nothing about these devices and a quick search reveals a baffling choice and language that I don't understand.
The prices are encouraging, ranging from as little as about ten quid to just over a hundred and upwards... Seems really stupid not to have one at that price.

Some have a feature of being able to listen to sounds near the tracker (Secret hide out.. Blah blah.. let's strip it... Blah blah.. Yikes here come the Rozzers .. Bang! Argh.).
Sounds like a fun idea.

Some need to be charged, others need to connect to the bike battery.
I would like one that charges from the bike battery and so remains active if the battery is disconnected.

I am eager to learn more, can anyone recommend or condemn any of these tracker thingies?

More of us need to be fitting them.

[SteveG]

Hi Gazza.. You have echoed my recent thoughts too... not picked one myself yet but thinking about same. http://www.mslmagazine.co.uk/tested-datatool-trakking-motorcycle-tracker-review/

[Wildfire]

Bike Trac. Best one out there. I've just had one fitted to the 821, excellent service and the portal is really good.

Got loads of great features including a battery monitor and if the battery drops past a set limit the tracker will notify you and switch to internal battery which lasts 30 days.

The others are just not worth it.

[MerlinPV12]

Second Bike Trac, have one on both bikes, service has been excellent.

[MarkF]

Do you get the first years subs incl with bike trac?

Seems a tad expensive initially, 299 + fitting + years subs.

I have toyed with it but as my bike lives in the garage and is rarely parked up elsewhere for long seems a bit expensive until the GAP insurance runs out anyway.

[throstle]

I've had Biketrac for more than 6 yrs and no complaints. Neil @ Cornerspeed recommended it, so good enough for me.

[alan s4]

http://www.sherlock.bike/en/home/

This looks like an interesting solution, designed to fit inside push bike handlebars, could easily be adapted for Ducati's.

[Darren69]

This came up on my google feed and looks ok, but I've not got one:-

http://www.studylifestyle.com/2016/trackr/14/?cid=55&utm_term=msn-edgedefaulthomepage-uk&sxid=bba7374d9d0c

[Dirty]

This came up on my google feed and looks ok, but I've not got one:-

http://www.studylifestyle.com/2016/trackr/14/?cid=55&utm_term=msn-edgedefaulthomepage-uk&sxid=bba7374d9d0c


That uses 'crowd GPS', like Tile (https://www.thetileapp.com/). Not great.

I played around with a cheapo 'tracker' from ebay once but it was more hassle than it was worth. I think Saint did same and came to same conclusion. If you are going to do it, do it properly. If your bike is nicked most would happily pay £299 + subs to go back in time and fit a Bike Trac.

[Mr Gazza]

Thanks for all the interest in this. I must admit to still being bamboozled by it all.

The Bike trac seems to be coming out top in popularity but what a price. I am working that out to cost about a grand over 6 years. Plus all these systems seem to need the user to have one of these modern portable telephones with a swimmy television screen on it with a picture that moves when you poke it...!! They look expensive!.. What if that gets nicked? (Or do they come with glue that permanently attaches them to the users hand?)

I'm right with Dirty though. If the worst should happen, then you would wish you had a tracker fitted. Just think that they shouldn't be so much money as that...The annual subscription smacks a little of a protection racket?

Keep 'em coming... :D

[fim]

I have one of the trackers by http://www.trackersecurity.co.uk/ fitted on my monster. It's not as fancy as the Bike Trac one, doesn't have a phone application but does the job and their service has been great so far (I never had to use them for anything else than false alarms).

Also it's a bit cheaper but requires an additional remote control to work properly with a bike since this is designed primarily to do geo-fencing so unless you get the remote there's no easy way to turn it on/off.

On the downside, it is a bit bulky and might prove difficult to conceal it in a motorbike depending on the model and how much free space you have :D

[Wildfire]

I am getting the MV tracked next year at service time. It spends most of it's time in the garage, but the peace of mind the Bike Trac gives me with the M821 is great. £299 plus the £250 for 3 years is not much for the best chance of getting my bike back.

Just a bit annoying that it doesn't bring insurance down.

[Dirty]

I am getting the MV tracked next year at service time. It spends most of it's time in the garage, but the peace of mind the Bike Trac gives me with the M821 is great. £299 plus the £250 for 3 years is not much for the best chance of getting my bike back.

Just a bit annoying that it doesn't bring insurance down.

It has been known to make insurance more expensive. The weasely c*&(s consider it to be £500 worth of accessory so in effect charge you to insure your tracker!

[MarkF]

The only advantage I can really see is that you get the bike back, don't have to inform the Insurance so they don't double your next premium as overnight you have become "high risk"

But thats the gamble, TBH if my bike was nicked I am not sure I want it back after some toerag knows where it is kept and its not my sole form of transport, still on the fence, but it really is a lot of money for no recognition from the insurers which seems bizarre.

Seems more reasonable

http://www.trackerdirect.co.uk/

[MarkF]

Forget that, they still want money for subs so works out the same price....

[Wildfire]

But thats the gamble, TBH if my bike was nicked I am not sure I want it back after some toerag knows where it is kept and its not my sole form of transport, still on the fence, but it really is a lot of money for no recognition from the insurers which seems bizarre.

http://www.trackerdirect.co.uk/

Very true Mark.

Whilst it's not my sole mode of transport, the 821 does get used all the time (or will be) and for a few things, like shopping etc.

[Flip]

Like so many I am sickened to hear more and more bike thefts are taking place to the point of me thinking of buying another bike which I won't mind leaving places so much as my (almost) twenty year old Monster as I really would be gutted to loose it after owning it so long.

That's not to say I wouldn't care about another bike of course- I was just as gutted when I had my DR350 stolen at knife point outside my flat six years ago. I am still bewildered at the fact someone was prepared to serve time for murder (the guy actually swiped at my head/neck with the knife- saved by my crash helmet which shows the scars before I kicked him away- didn't know he had a knife at that point) for a bike that worth maybe £1200.

Anyway, I don't really have any answers how to stop the F*$£ers but I am following this with interest and researching a little too.

One thing I have noticed from the security advice around, where once a disc lock etc. would be placed in good view to deter would be thieving scum it is far better to put them in the most awkward places possible.

As with the advent of portable angle grinders, putting the lock in 'deterrent type' view makes it too easy for the grinder to be employed to cut through and as this sickening video proves, being in full sight of houses, with an alarm going off and the resulting shower of sparks makes no difference even when witnessed by two passers by. Also notice how easy the bikes own steering lock is rendered useless:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8x6Veqe7Zw

[Jez900ie]

This ad appeared on an internet site:

http://techiefans.com/the-easiest-surefire-way-to-prevent-your-car-from-being-stolen-uk/?IM=A28E&TT=T05&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&SID=crashmedia&sxid=38x68zj30k28

Definitely cheap but anyone know if these are any good?

[Dirty]

This ad appeared on an internet site:

http://techiefans.com/the-easiest-surefire-way-to-prevent-your-car-from-being-stolen-uk/?IM=A28E&TT=T05&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&SID=crashmedia&sxid=38x68zj30k28

Definitely cheap but anyone know if these are any good?

This came up on my google feed and looks ok, but I've not got one:-

http://www.studylifestyle.com/2016/trackr/14/?cid=55&utm_term=msn-edgedefaulthomepage-uk&sxid=bba7374d9d0c


That uses 'crowd GPS', like Tile (https://www.thetileapp.com/). Not great.



Still better than nothing, and cheap.