bmw factory alarm... worth it?

Post by **shake1150** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:13 am

does anyone have one of these and how do they work?

Post by **challey** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:45 am

I don't have one and don't know if they work but the question that occurs to me is: Why would you want one?

BMWs in general and the R in particular are not really desireable bikes from the thieves perspective. A determined thief is going to get your bike regardless of alarms, immobilizers, chains, whatever. The fork lock will deter most casual theft and in the relatively unlikely event of a successful heist, insurance will make you mostly whole.

Just my 2Ã‚Â¢.

Charlie

sloopy_farklehump · Post by **sloopy_farklehump** » Fri May 25, 2007 11:36 am

I have the alarm and I'm pleased with my decision. I bought it because I didn't want to be hundreds of miles away from home and have my bike stolen. Is the alarm going to stop someone from taking it who is determined? No, but it has come in handy. One time I was eating and I heard the alram go off. The guy I caught said he only wanted to sit on it. Was he telling the truth? Hard to say not knowing.

It has 3 modes:
1. Manual - you have to set it everytime.
2. Engine Cut Off Only
3. Audible alarm - goes off if someone moves it, raises side stand, tries to start it with key without shutting off the alarm

Hopz · Post by **Hopz** » Fri May 25, 2007 6:26 pm

I think a factory alarm is a good idea. Shoot- if I had a BMW factory, you can be damn sure I would have a good lock on the door and big alarm too!

Post by **shake1150** » Sat May 26, 2007 7:52 am

thanks for your replies guys. i'm getting insurance quotes and one broker (the cheapest) said that since the 1150 is a "sport" bike an alrm is mandatory.

i just want to know that it works well and isnt some cheap alarm.

thanks,
d

Post by **dwayne** » Sat May 26, 2007 11:48 am

shake1150 wrote:thanks for your replies guys. i'm getting insurance quotes and one broker (the cheapest) said that since the 1150 is a "sport" bike an alrm is mandatory.

i just want to know that it works well and isnt some cheap alarm.

thanks,
d

A sport bike ?

hardly.

Post by **challey** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:40 pm

one broker (the cheapest) said that since the 1150 is a "sport" bike an alrm is mandatory

Regardless of what you do about the alarm , I'd check with other insurance companies. The K1200 is a sport bike, a GSXR is a sport bike - much as I love the R1150R, there is no way it should be classified as "sport" bike.

Post by **dwayne** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:51 pm

challey wrote:
one broker (the cheapest) said that since the 1150 is a "sport" bike an alrm is mandatory
Regardless of what you do about the alarm , I'd check with other insurance companies. The K1200 is a sport bike, a GSXR is a sport bike - much as I love the R1150R, there is no way it should be classified as "sport" bike.

I have to agree, check with other insurance co's.

Cheers

Post by **mcollect** » Sun May 27, 2007 7:11 am

I never thought of getting an alarm! Has anyone ever heard of a R1150R being stolen? I'm serious, should I rethink my habits?

leoquattro · Post by **leoquattro** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:46 pm

Here in Europe it's a different story: BMW R's are being stolen!
So I have the BMW alarm and it works well. Only nuisance is that the standard setting (at least in Italy) is for the alarm to be automatically set to "on" after something like 15 secs you take off your keys. So if you for instance forget to take something in your case, you have to disengage the alarm again if you're not fast enough. Probably the delay time can be set to longer timing but I never explored the issue.

One doubt I have is that the alarm is draining the battery more than you would expect, so a trickle charger even for few days is advisable.
Ciao
Leoquattro

Post by **baltm604** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:07 pm

good advice when you buy any vehicle, talk to your insurance company before you buy!! Different insurance companies will classify the bike differently (sport v. touring) and will consider different factors.

I switched mine bike to the same as the suv/home/umbrella for no immediate saving, on the understanding that the insurance comany was going to consider credit scores in the coming year.

sure enough my car went down 10% this past april, and the bike will go down in november as they begin re-rating motorcycles as well.

Bill

Post by **OU812** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:12 pm

challey wrote:
one broker (the cheapest) said that since the 1150 is a "sport" bike an alrm is mandatory
Regardless of what you do about the alarm , I'd check with other insurance companies. The K1200 is a sport bike, a GSXR is a sport bike - much as I love the R1150R, there is no way it should be classified as "sport" bike.

Try Progressive, they are the cheapest around, but I have heard when it comes to paying out,the screw with you on BMW labor rates.

I have them.

Post by **shake1150** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:50 pm

i dont really think i need an alarm... nor do i think the bike is a "sport" bike... but if it means cheaper insurance (and it looks like it does) then it's a no-brainer for me.

rich1kim · Post by **rich1kim** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:46 pm

Who would steal one of our homely bikes?

Rich

Post by **Boxer** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:20 pm

homely

HOMELY!!??

I think not. Leave the key in it and tell me the location. You won't have to be bothered with that "homely" bike anymore.

jfbarron · Post by **jfbarron** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:22 pm

I feel your pain. I was originally insured with ING Novex and their viewpoint was that they were doing me a HUGE favour. $2200.00 per year was the initial payment. Basically, insurance companies here get antsy if it is bigger than 1000 cc.

So I switched over to TD Meloche Monnex and put the car, bike and condo with them also. Bike insurance came in at $1400.00 for full coverage. They also have a pay as you ride setup, so they ding you more in the summer and less in the winter. I had to send the guy a photo of it though, they didn't have the model on file.

Biking is popular in Canada but the insurance companies appear to be understaffed and not very conversant with what is what.

Shop around!

Post by **CycleRob** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:19 pm

Alarms cost to buy, cost to install and then they relentlessly try to shorten your bike's expensive battery's lifespan.

If I needed an alarm, I'd power it with an isolated, smaller, 4Ah 12V battery connected to the bike only for charging, with a big relay, when the bike runs. That way, your $90 main battery feels no pain and long periods away from a Tender won't matter. I've seen too many customer's batteries killed by alarm systems.

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:30 pm

CycleRob wrote: I've seen too many customer's batteries killed by alarm systems.

Or clocks, such as that fitted to the R1150R?

Post by **CycleRob** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:59 am

Generally, alarm systems with a user remote control drain the battery faster. That's because your bike's battery is constantly powering a low power radio receiver, waiting for someone to push the button to deactivate it. An alarm that time delay activates only when the key is "off" is a better choice.

Post by **MartinW** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:22 pm

I don't know where rich1kim is based but his use of the word 'homely' reminds me of when I worked in Florida in the 80s. I described a young lady's apartment as 'homely' and she was most offended.

'Homely' in the UK generally is used to mean 'comfortable' and is a complimentary term. It's that 'beiing separated by a common language' scenario again. Don't get me started on 'rubbers', 'fags' and 'fancy dress'!

See the web dictionary defintion for Homely:
1. lacking in physical beauty or proportion; "a homely child"; "several of the buildings were downright homely"; "a plain girl with a freckled face"
2. homelike: having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable; "the homely everyday atmosphere"; "a homey little inn"
3. plain and unpretentious; "homely truths"; "letters to his son full of homely advice"; "homely fare"
4. without artificial refinement or elegance; "plain homely furniture"; "homely manners"

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bmw factory alarm... worth it?

bmw factory alarm... worth it?

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