Anti-theft question

[Skydog]

Hey, I'm new to the motorcycle world, bought my first bike 2 weeks ago (layed over '03 VFR 800) It was just cosmetic damage, which I fixed. I know that all bikes come with an anti-theft feature that locks the steering, but I can't figure out how to use it. Can anyone help me out?

[Dudealicious]

turn the wheel all the way to the left, then turn the key 1 more click counter-clockwise past ignition off. done. steering locked.
also, when a bike's been laid down, that puts a lot of stress on the bars and forks. (ie: metal parts that come together in perfect harmony) you may have to "wiggle" the bars a little just off absolute left while you're turning the key as the dead-bolt lock may not line up perfectly since the fall.

[Scubalong]

Have fun with your new bike, Dudealicious said it all. Ride safe

[drewl]

Welcome aboard.

[Tarhugger]

The steering lock on bikes will deter most opportunistic crime but won't deter a determined thug. An additional cost effective method to prevent roll-away theft is to buy a disc-lock. This is a rugged lump of metal that bolts onto the brake disc through one of the ventilation perforations in the disc. This stops the bike from being rolled away. Just don't forget about it and attempt to ride the bike. :lock1:

To stop the bike from being loaded onto a pickup, the best thing is to haul out the money and invest in a tracking device. You won't stop the bike being loaded, but you'll stand a fair chance of getting it back in one piece, once you've alerted the tracking company that your darling has gone walk-about without your permission.

Or else chain it to the ground!!

[Molsan]

Aye the stering lock does not really secure the bike as if i was determined enough i could simply role it into a truck like that or simply lift the front end(or as i have done use the center stand and rock it around and go again(forget why i didn't have my key))
Disk locks are okay but if i'm running around stealing bikes i can get around that fairly easily as well. but all your trying to do is ensure they steel the bike next to yours as it's easier.

locking it to something or keeping it inside is best.

[derstuka]

I know that this was not your question, but I have to recommend to buy insurance with good coverage for the cost of the bike and all accessories on it. It is the best protection out there and you might not want to see your bike after thieves are done with it! Hard to do anything about your bike being stolen when it is picked up, thrown into a van, and stripped down to parts in hours....before you even know something is amiss many times.

[Skydog]

Thanks for the help guys, the whole front end was replaced before I got it. Kind of funny, the previous owner wrecked it, spent a ton of money on new tires/forks/triple clamps etc. Entirely fixed the whole bike (sans bodywork) then went to change the spark plugs and stripped one out. So then they decided it wasn't worth it (after fixing ALL of the front end) and sold it. I got the bike for $1900, all that needed fixed was the spark plug port and all the body work. Luckily I worked at a bodyshop for 2 years, so the bodywork was no problem... but of course, I know nothing about anything mechanical. Oops.

I still can't get the steering lock to work, so maybe it wasn't replaced correctly. :(