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Stolen...recovered

5K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  Logic War 
#1 ·
So...some low-life helped themselves to my lovely Sprint 1050 while I was at work on Friday.
Came out at lunchtime...no bike. Spent 10 minutes questioning myself. "Did I even take the bike to work today? Why would I be wearing bike boots if I hadn't?"
All caught on CCTV. Shame the security guards didn't spot it in real time. Must have been something good on the telly.

Anyway, tonight I get a call from the Police. They've found it. Looks rideable, want me to come collect it, but I'm half way through a bottle of wine.
So they are taking it in to storage.

All I know is that the steering lock is broken and that the ignition key barrel will be a mess.
Will find out full extent of damage tomorrow.

Question is:
What is the likely cost of new steering lock and key barrel?
Will probably involve a new key, so how easy to switch locks on glove box and fuel cap?

Anyone done this before?
 
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#2 ·
And there I was thinking I was the only one who ran that self-questioning routine! Anyway, glad to hear you've got it back so quickly. Wish I could offer something constructive on damage/repair feedback, instead I'll just have to say good luck, and I hope it's a smooth and not too costly path to getting back on the road.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#3 ·
Replacing the barrels in the panniers can be done but carefully ( there's a few posts if I remember rightly) I did it and though it worked I never really liked the finished product. I wonder if you can get replacement barrels from triumph pre made up for the ignition as it must be a reasonably common occurrence . Glad you got the bike back , being as the steering lock doesn't work just put a hidden switch somewhere, probably more effective.!
 
#5 ·
I went through this with my speed triple. Here's my thoughts:

1.) Inspect the bike in broad daylight very, very thoroughly. Odds are they crashed it at some point and picked it back up. Also look for grinder damage or other tool damage to the frame.

2.) If you have insurance, try to get them to just total your bike if you see any indication of 1.) above. I'm very, very happy my S3 was "totaled" and I was able to find a great sprint from this board.

3.) If you don't have insurance, the key/lock stuff is the easiest part as Triumph makes it too simple. Unfortunately they also probably broke the metal piece on the frame that actually locks the bars. Be sure to check this and your electrical for the inevitable crappy hotwire job.

4.) Use another lock (disc, chain, whatever) as a deterrent. Our bikes are apparently very easy to steal. I've seen many stolen triumphs around where I live and they seem to be a crime of opportunity more so than a bike people want to part out for money.
 
#6 ·
Keyless might be an option.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#8 ·
Here is an option.
Get a replacement ignition switch with its own key. It would be stupid expensive to replace the ignition, gas cap, glovebox and pannier locks.
Since our keys have the same profile on both sides to make it easier to use. You could have an old school locksmith make a key with your original key on one side and the new ignition on the other.

Of course that means sometimes when you use the key, it won't work. Just pull it out rotate 180 degrees ( where the hell is the little floating zero?!) and reinsert the key.
 
#10 ·
Still no further forward with this.
At the moment my anger for Lothian & Borders Police is eclipsing my fury at the scum that stole it in the first place.

Bike is being held for forensic testing
The impound haven't been notified of when this is going to happen, so I can't even view the bike until that's done.
Called up Lothian & Borders multiple times (they have never actually got in touch with me). The phone-jokeys can't tell me anything other than "the officer dealing with the case is on his rest days"
Asked for someone else to deal with it, "oh...it doesn't work like that"
So I have to wait another 2 days before the muppet gets back to work, and then f**k knows how long after that before he decides to deal with my bike. Will probably coincide with his next day off.

Small wonder that so many bikes get stolen in Edinburgh. The Police just aren't interested.

Would be happy for it to be written off, but I'd like to get the trident exhaust and gel seat off it.
 
#11 ·
Small wonder that so many bikes get stolen in Edinburgh. The Police just aren't interested.

Would be happy for it to be written off, but I'd like to get the trident exhaust and gel seat off it.
Just find the receipt for those. Your insurance company usually pays for that as well. Otherwise you can probably just get it from the shop that "totals" it.

Here in the US it's the same. My local police dept sent their best and brightest to investigate the case. They took 8 hours to show up from when I called them then accused me of instituting some kind of scam over those 8 hours. :grin2:

"Why did you wait 8 hours to call us if you knew it was stolen earlier?" Me: "I called you 8 hours ago. You took 8 hours to show up." Them: "Can you prove that?" Me: "Yes, see this call log in my cell phone? That's your number, right? 8 hours ago."
Them: "We'll see if that checks out."

The absolute best around here is when you find a stolen bike. You have to post on the local moto board bc the PD just can't be bothered to even go get it, much less any kind of "forensic testing".
 
#13 ·
Thanks for all the replies.

The bike is now out of the impound and at a friendly garage waiting for a new ignition barrel and lock. I'll have to accept that I'll need to have 2 keys going forward.

Finally got to view the bike last Thursday. Couldn't help but notice the long row of burnt out bikes, so things could have been a lot worse.
Damage is limited to:
-Broken steering lock
-Seat forcibly removed which split one of the retaining lugs (was only attached with one of the 2)
-Broken throttle side mirror arm
-Smashed screen
-Missing (broken off) rear indicator lens on same side

I've come to the conclusion that the last 3 items on that list were caused by the guys that recovered it. There is no sign that the bike has been dropped and the mirror fits perfectly in to the hole in the screen.
I think they have loaded it on to the truck by lying it on it's side and however they have strapped it down has caused the damage.
Can't see how the thieving scum could have done that without the bike being dropped and my crash bobbins are immaculate, as is the fairing and bar ends.
No way I can prove it, so didn't waste my time arguing the case. I could already imagine their response.

Battery was completely dead, but garage have hooked a booster pack to it and the dash did it's usual dial sweep and showed that there was still over half a tank of fuel.
Not much less than when I last got off it, so it seems the scum have just taken it to the place where it was recovered.
Perhaps checking to see if the bike had a tracker, or maybe they just didn't like it.

Couldn't get the jaws of the booster fully on to the battery points, so couldn't get the bike to do more than give one turn and then the usual 'no juice' wheeze.
No reason to think it won't start as normal once a fully charged battery is in place.

No thanks are offered towards Lothian & Borders police.
What a bunch of lazy time wasters. Didn't actually get speaking to an officer until a whole week after the theft. That was only spurred on by lodging an online complaint.
Not going to waste my time detailing their failings, but a word of warning:
If your bike goes missing in Edinburgh, be prepared to chase everything up yourself. They don't give a f**k.
 
#15 ·
You might consider a disc-lock @Logic War
I use a Xena XX14 - that is not only a robust physical lock, but additionally has a motion-detector accelerometer that sets off siren if its disturbed.
That is seriously loud - spec'd at 120db - tested mine in the garage, huge mistake!; there is no way I would want to be in a van with that going off in it, even if that was the means of theft! To me, it is louder than a typical bike alarm and goes off with even the slightest nudge of the bars - but conversely not over sensitive either that it 'falses'.
Just remember to get a lanyard for it to loop over the grip as reminder its there - not only for yourself but as immediate visual deterrent to the scumbag considering taking it.
 
#16 ·
You might consider a disc-lock .
Yeah...already have a disc lock. It's not the type with an alarm though.
Part of the problem was me taking my bike security for granted.
Disc lock wasn't on the bike when it was stolen.
I foolishly thought that being in the car park at my work and knowing I was parked in a spot covered by CCTV would deter the scum bags.
To be honest, I didn't think my bike would appeal to them.

Lesson learned and I've been lucky to get the bike back with minimal damage.
Fitting a shoddy stator seems to have helped.
Found out where the bike was found and they didn't get very far.
I suspect the battery drained on them.
 
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