bike locks

ch1

We are taking our mountain bikes to India in November. My husband thinks that a standard cable lock of quarter inch steel cable will be sufficient. I am thinking that I will need a heavy kryptonyte or similar lock and that our bikes and paniers etc could be stripped if we leave them unattended while we tour around or eat in restaurants. What do you think? Is it anymore likely to be stolen in India than in western countries?

Merchant

No. It's safer in India.

shere

Why is it safer in Inda.

Its the same as everywhere else. Thieves look for easy targets. It is just as likely to be stolen in India as it is to be stolen in a western country. So take quality locks and use them.

GoanCanuck

Compared to Vancouver, you will find that your bike is much safer in India. I have used bikes in both places and I can say without hesitation that India is much much safer.

crimsonriver

My experience in Himachal and Ladakh says that its quite safe.. i have left my motorbike loaded with saddle bags at several places while go and look around hte place.. and never a thing has been tempered with... though if u are feeling.. paranoid.. better take some precautions..

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crvlvr

The difference is that in India your imported bike will stand out amongst indegeneous ones. Anyone who steals it and attempts to use it can be spotted from a mile away, so to speak, increasing the odds of the thief getting caught. I think that will act as a deterrent.

seventies'hippy

Wherever you go (within reason) in India, someone or many people, in fact dozens of people will be watching your every move. In normal daytime hours this means that no one will touch your stuff because they know that everybody else is watching and also know that that stuff belongs to you/
Its a case of watching me watching you watching me watching you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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shere

Is that really a deterrent ?

It has never stopped thieves stealing branded backpacks, suitcases etc which are unavailable in India.

You can buy bikes that look very much like "imported" bikes in India. Unless you have a Raleigh Team ATB in the 1990's colour scheme most bikes will not stand out.

GoanCanuck

That maybe so but those expensive bikes are only seen in more affluent areas in India due to their high cost. The average cycle on the road in India most definitely looks a lot different as compared to a MTB.

littlebiker

It's adviced to take a lock. Lock keeps honest thieves away. Don't give anyone a chance. I don't see a big dis-advantage of carrying a lock! Your bike is your responsibility.

shere

Do you think the average Joe in India knows the difference between an expensive bike and a low cost one and that the police are going to be concerned about a stolen bike ? The average bike may look different on Indian roads but ATB are easily available in towns and to most people one ATB looks like any other.

Its up to the original poster if he wants to use locks or not. If you use locks it will not cost you anything (besides the one off cost of the lock) but could save you having your bike stolen. The alternative is to carry pictures of your bike so you can share them with the police and hope they get lucky.

In the early 1990s me and another chap had the first set or Raleigh ATB in our area, The colour scheme was unique. His was stolen and never seen again (he had not locked it, whislt going into a shop).

GoanCanuck

It would help if you read the original post once again. The OP is not saying that he does not want to buy or use a lock, he is asking whether he should buy a regular lock or a heavy duty one. The whole argument revolves around that issue.