Moto Guzzi theft and vandalism

[rob-mg]

By about Tuesday, I expect to be an owner of a V7 II that will be parked during the day, when I take possession of it in a few months, on New York City streets.

I put the potential miscreants in four categories:

1. People who would steal the bike with the intention of shipping it, and selling it, overseas.
2. People who would steal the bike, strip it, and sell it for parts.
3. Kids who would vandalize it (e.g. knock it over) because that's how they get their kicks.
4. Kids who would steal it for a joy ride.

Am I naive in thinking that a Moto Guzzi V7 is of very little interest to miscreants 1 and 2?

If you have a V7 in an urban area, what are you doing about security, if anything, when the bike is parked on the street during the day?

Do you have any great ideas, apart from parking right at intersections, for avoiding damage from drivers who think that parking is an exercise in playing bumper car?

A specifically NY question - if you park (illegally) on wide sidewalks, how often do you get ticketed?

If you're parking the bike on the street at night, I'd love to know those measures too.

Thanks.

[Cam3512]

Rob,

You've asked a ton of questions regarding mods on your future V7 II, and now you're asking if it's likely to get stolen from different 4 categories of miscreants?  You don't even have it yet.  Come on man, just get the bike first and ride it.

[rob-mg]

Rob,

You've asked a ton of questions regarding mods on your future V7 II, and now you're asking if it's likely to get stolen from different 4 categories of miscreants?  You don't even have it yet.  Come on man, just get the bike first and ride it.

Message received, will stop asking questions.

[JeffOlson]

Rob, you are rightly concerned. The best way to address this concern is to have full-coverage insurance, with a low deductible.

[oldbike54]

Message received, will stop asking questions.

 No no no no , don't ever stop asking questions .

 It has been years since I needed to leave a bike on the street , but here are some hopefully helpful ideas . One of those high quality covers with the grommets along the bottom allowing them to be locked on the bike . Some form of bike lock , others here can recommend the best . Keep it parked under a light if possible , and maybe some form of alarm , although I have no idea what the good ones are . Lastly , good insurance .

  Dusty

 

[arveno]

two words :PARKING GARAGE.

http://www.cyclegarage.net/

OR you can rent a space in a parking garage for cars . ( they have dedicated areas for scooters and motorcycles . competitive prices.

that will solve all you problems and don't forget that the winter in NYC will f*** up your bike for sure......

[canuguzzi]

1. People who would steal the bike with the intention of shipping it, and selling it, overseas.

It isn't worth the expense involved nor the potential risk to steal it for that reason.

2. People who would steal the bike, strip it, and sell it for parts.

High risk, low return.

3. Kids who would vandalize it (e.g. knock it over) because that's how they get their kicks.

There are also adults who do the same, then add the drunk who falls over it, the elderly person who walks into it and falls down, the cat that climbs on the seat claws first, the dog who will pee on it and the birds that will crap on it.

4. Kids who would steal it for a joy ride.

No, they'll pick the sport bike first.

Am I naive in thinking that a Moto Guzzi V7 is of very little interest to miscreants 1 and 2?

No, because they aren't likely interested. Factor it this way, the buyers are far and few between, the people who want to steal them a fraction if that.

It is prudent to take precautions, like not parking it where the likelihood of anything left on the curb will be stolen, including dog poop in a green plastic baggie.

Get insurance, you'll likely find that the rates for a Moto Guzzi are very low, in part because they aren't theft targets. A low deductible as someone else said because a bike, any bike is easily a total from just being dropped.

A Moto Guzzi isn't more likely to be hit by a car during parking than any other motorcycle. The precautions you use with any bike, regardless of model or brand apply and common sense in where you park it, how long you leave it unattended and so forth also apply.

Since the bike is new to you, be more concerned with riding it safely and not dropping it yourself.

The dogs, cats and birds don't care if its a Moto Guzzi or a top of the line BMW.

[drawnverybadly]

My standard procedure when parking out in Queens streets is

• Lock the steering
• Alarmed disc lock on the rear wheel
• Griplock locked onto front brake lever
• Motorcycle cover with the bottom bungee cords tied onto the bike so it's inconvenient to pull off

And I've also heard of chaining the bike to a signpost using a NY kryptonite bicycle chain, but even then the only true security that anyone can have parking out on NYC streets is to have full comprehensive coverage. Don't trust parking garages, I'm convinced that garage attendants are in cahoots with thieves from all the stories I've heard of stolen bikes and "malfunctioning" security cameras.

In my experience there's no rhyme or reason to the types of bikes that get jacked, rice rockets, harleys, rat bikes, hipster bikes, vespas, mopeds, unfortunately nothing is safe out here.

As for parking on the sidewalk, it's easier to get away with it for longer in the outer boros, but if you try it in Manhattan it gets enforced pretty regularly, the NYPD seems to crack down heavily once a month during riding seasons. And removing the plate or covering it won't do jack shit to stop them from throwing it on it's side onto a NYPD flatbed.

[wheaties]

I walk by a V7 parked on my way to work in Long Island City nearly daily.  In fact, I'd like to know if it belongs to someone on here.  Anyone know who's bike it is?  I also see the same bikes parked on the sidewalk day in and day out.  That's all I got.

[Roebling3]

Rob,
How close are you to Brooklyn? The following may be able to help in some way.  All are reputable IMO.
Brooklyn Motor Works. 347-220-8204. 185 van Dyke St.
Indian Larry's.718-609-9184.0 N15th St. 
Jane Cycles. 247-844-9075. 396 Wythe Ave. 
Union Garage.347-844-9090.97 Union St.
   Enjoy the ride!  R3~   

[lazlokovacs]

lock it up overnight...

try to always park it in a way so that when, not if, it is bumped by a car it won't be completely knocked over...

11 years parking guzzis in major european cities and no thefts yet, but yeah, the cagers are incopetent and will bump you if you're parked on the road.

[Vasco DG]

I went away to Western Australia for a month a couple of years ago and when I got back I couldn't find the Griso's primary key. I grabbed one of my spares and went out to the carport, (Open, unlocked.) and found I'd left the primary key in the ignition. Turned it on and he Bugger even started!

I like living in bumfuque! We only lock our doors if there is an *event* on or if we're away for more than a week! None of our *Stuff* is worth nicking anyway! The new subdivisions over the creek are stuffed full of vulgarian's palaces replete with all the crap you can fence down the pub to poorer vulgarian's aspiring to the 'Dream'. As long as they don't burn down my little log cabin they are welcome to any of my valueless crap! :D

Pete

[lazlokovacs]

amazingly, I did the same thing with a vespa in London a long time ago, left it in the street for 5 days, keys in the ignition, no-one touched it!

also once saw a brand new, 35miles on the clock, yellow ducati sport classic parked on savile row, keys in the seat lock... I just carried on walking... these days I'd probably hand the keys into the local plod...

[Cam3512]

Message received, will stop asking questions.

I didn't suggest you stop asking questions.  IMO, it seemed you were overthinking things while waiting for the bike.   You'll love the bike.

[Perazzimx14]

I am in the camp of good insurance is your best protection.

Alarms are a joke. They are so plentiful and go off so often that people are immune to them. So unless you are in such close proximity that you can hear your alarm and can get to the bike in the time it takes to throw it into a van (2 or 3 seconds) save your money. Chains, cables, disc locks and alarms are only for your mental well being and do little if anything to deter thief that wants to steal your property. 

[blackcat]

Wait, do you or have you ever ridden a motorcycle in the city?

Anyway, park it on the street and eventually someone will knock it over so budget another $150+ per month for parking, at least for the winter.
http://nycparking.spplus.com/queens-parking.html#monthly

I have parked on the sidewalk but there is a good chance you will get a ticket or towed so I rarely do it anymore.

Nobody wants to steal a Guzzi but you never know, and I have given them the opportunity on a few occasions by leaving the keys in the ignition for a few hours. 25 years ago they, would have stolen anything that wasn't nailed down. Even then, chains,locks.......  

[Kev m]

If it were ME, I'd HAVE to put it in a garage or ride a total beater.

My dad used to have a parking spot in the garage under his building (E69th) and in the 90s I once left my gorgeous 1970 Olds Rallye 350 there for a month no worries. The attendants were great, they loved it, we put it safely in a corner as "away" from everything as possible.

As for parking on the sidewalk, it's easier to get away with it for longer in the outer boros, but if you try it in Manhattan it gets enforced pretty regularly, the NYPD seems to crack down heavily once a month during riding seasons. And removing the plate or covering it won't do jack shit to stop them from throwing it on it's side onto a NYPD flatbed.

This makes me wonder - could you get away with a stolen (but non-reported) plate? Maybe one from another state?

I guess eventually the unpaid tickets would get back to the original plate owner who would then report it stolen.

It's funny the year after I sold the Jackal I got a ticket from some municipality in north Jersey that I'd literally never been too (well, driven through on the highway, but never stopped). Luckily the ticket clearly said SUZUKI and not Moto G or something like that so it was easy to explain that

A: I'd sold the bike that had that plate on it a year before.
B: The bike was a White Moto Guzzi and not a Blue Suzuki
C: I'd never been to that town.

But I guess at that point the plate would get listed in the NYPD system as stolen and you'd probably wind up on the truck.

[davedel44]

I know that we have some members in NYC area.  Come on guys help the fellow out with some real life solutions.  Buying a new bike is a big event for most people, so I can certainly understand him wanting to over think the details including security issues. 

Enough your new bike when it arrives, and keep the questions comming.  Keeps us old fart busy especially during the winter.

Dave
Galveston

[canuguzzi]

And don't wash or polish it as shiny things attract criminals, they are like children in that way. Get some of that colored masking paint the young Ines are so fond of using to change the colors if their cars on a weekly basis. Stuff comes off real easy.

Shiny new bike, attraction, dirty looking beater, pity.

[oldbike54]

I know that we have some members in NYC area.  Come on guys help the fellow out with some real life solutions.  Buying a new bike is a big event for most people, so I can certainly understand him wanting to over think the details including security issues. 

Enough your new bike when it arrives, and keep the questions comming.  Keeps us old fart busy especially during the winter.

Dave
Galveston

 

  Yeah , if no one asks questions all of us old farts never get to sound like experts 

   Dusty

[lucydad]

Rob,

Excellent question, and I think the NYC experts can answer.  Here in Houston there are sometimes bike thefts.  Most seem to involve the HD brand though.  I had a work associate that had his HD cruiser stolen out of the inside of his garage.  Guzzi bikes do attract attention, how ever most bad guys are looking to resale or chop for parts asap.  Guzzi bikes do not fit that category. 

Enjoy the bike, you will love it.

[mtiberio]

certainly when I bought my first Guzzi back in 1979, after having had 2 bikes stolen, I wanted a heavy bike, an odd bike, and an inexpensive bike for what you got. Never had theft insurance on a Guzzi, and have never regretted it (yet).

[Nic in Western NYS]

certainly when I bought my first Guzzi back in 1979, after having had 2 bikes stolen, I wanted a heavy bike, an odd bike, and an inexpensive bike for what you got. Never had theft insurance on a Guzzi, and have never regretted it (yet).

Yes to all of the above, adding dirty and making it look distinctive somehow.  And after doing all that just enjoying it and being ok if it wanders off on its own.

[Texas Turnip]

East Texas might not be the best place to live, but I'd hate to have to go thru the trouble you are just to ride your Guzzi to work.
My hat is off to you.  Good luck.

Tex

[redrider]

1980, Athens Greece. Guy rode his GS750 to the Voula Beach Hotel/NCO Club to cash a check. Chained his bike to a light post. Inside maybe 10 minutes. Came out, bike gone. Lock and chain shattered and still COLD from the liquid nitrogen. Yes, he was cased.

[oldbike54]

East Texas might not be the best place to live, but I'd hate to have to go thru the trouble you are just to ride your Guzzi to work.
My hat is off to you.  Good luck.

Tex

 So... what you're really saying is , all of you non Pineys are welcome to visit , just don't move here and ruin this paradise 


  Dusty
 

[kirkemon]

Not sure about New York, but I've been lucky using a lock on my front disc and a motorcycle cover. When the cover is on I think people don't know exactly what it is, and makes it less attractive, plus a little more time consuming....

[NCAmother]

No no no no , don't ever stop asking questions .

 It has been years since I needed to leave a bike on the street , but here are some hopefully helpful ideas . One of those high quality covers with the grommets along the bottom allowing them to be locked on the bike . Some form of bike lock , others here can recommend the best . Keep it parked under a light if possible , and maybe some form of alarm , although I have no idea what the good ones are . Lastly , good insurance .

  Dusty

Yep.  Park under a street light, install a hidden kill switch, and krypton or other heavy duty cables.  Most thieves will pick up a bike and throw it in their van, back of pickup truck, so a motion sensor would be good.

[NCAmother]

Yep.  Park under a street light, install a hidden kill switch, and krypton or other heavy duty cables.  Most thieves will pick up a bike and throw it in their van, back of pickup truck, so a motion sensor would be good.

BTW, most bikes stolen were parked at a bar or a club

[blackcat]

NYC Subway:

"30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard
Cost: $116.50, reduced fare $58.25
Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 30 days from day of first use. This card is protected against loss or theft when purchased at a vending machine with a credit or debit/ATM card.
Note: PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses do not accept 7- and 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard."

Certainly less than keeping a motorcycle in the city when you factor in a garage,insurance, tickets, gas and maintenance.  I hate the subway and avoid it whenever possible. Personally, I would never buy a new bike and plan on keeping it on the street 24/7 as it will get trashed at some point. NYC braille parking will eventually get it kicked over.