Make-unders. Any ideas out there? What have you tried?

[Cyclopathic]

I am looking for ways to scruff my bike up a bit to make it much less desireable to a theif. I think that all else being equal if a theif has a choice of a bike that is scruffy and one that is shiney and nice looking they are going to take the shiney one. I even think that it may deter some theives all together as they will not be able to simply take it to the nearest pawn shop (Emporiums of utter misery and incredible bargains) and get a quick £20 to go off and buy parts for their model railways or whatever else the rascals might be spending their ill gotten gains on these days.

So, does anyone have any ideas on the matter? Has anybody out there de-niced their bike on purpose to deter theives? I was thinking of simply having at it with a few spray cans, not bothering to mask anything or remove anything except maybe the tyres which could corrode. I can't see that it would cause any damage if I keep it out of the cable covers and if and when I do want to remove it it won't be too difficult. It's not as if I'd prime the surface and apply undercoat it would just be a fairly light dusting but enough to be opaque. Can anybody see any pitfalls with this idea that I may not have seen?

 

[Garnerboy]

Tape it up with some sticky tape, leave it for a few days then peal it off. This will leave a sticky residue behind. If it's not a nice bike, give it a few scratches by accidentally taking a Stanley knife to it.

 

[Matthames]

How about this: [media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYuIeufKoeo[/media]

 

[Hip Priest]

Good idea. I used to keep my bike in pristine condition. Oiled, greased and polished. It got nicked from a bike rack that had three other bikes on, all of which were a bit scruffy. I shall not be cleaning my new bike.

 

[stevetailor125]

Or just put a sign on it:- If you steal this, you will be found, you will be chopped into little pieces and scattered in the nearest river> Well it works for me

 

[twobiker]

I have a chain and padlock which put the Tower of London to shame and it lives in the conservatory.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Or just put a sign on it:- If you steal this, you will be found, you will be chopped into little pieces and scattered in the nearest river> Well it works for me

I have thought of this as well as gypsie curses but fear that round our way this would just be seen as a challenge. Besides I haven't really got the sort of privacy I'd need to do all the chopping.

 

[Cyclopathic]

How about this: [media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYuIeufKoeo[/media]

I like the hammerite finish and intend to properly paint up a bike frame with it sometime. However for my purposes here I think it would prove too hard to get off if I ever needed to. (When I was a lad I tried to paint my Mini 850 with black hammerite thinking it would look absolutely fantastic. Due to a lack of preperation and experience it just ended up looking like it had been in a fire. True story).

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Why not just buy something cheap second hand and scruffy to use as transport? just leave it scruffy but keep it tip top mechanically. Due to a mortgage and a young family I spent years riding bikes that I either brought second hand or cobbled together out of spare parts. These days I have more money to spend on my bikes, but though having the nice bikes is lovely I'd be happier leaving the bikes parked up if they were cheapies.

 

[julesdavis1965]

how about spoky dokeys a flag on an aerial type thingy to whip about, and a ladybug bell lol guarantee it wont get pinched (no street cred)

Why not just buy something cheap second hand and scruffy to use as transport? just leave it scruffy but keep it tip top mechanically. Due to a mortgage and a young family I spent years riding bikes that I either brought second hand or cobbled together out of spare parts. These days I have more money to spend on my bikes, but though having the nice bikes is lovely I'd be happier leaving the bikes parked up if they were cheapies.

 

[Fnaar]

Rub a hedgehog on it.

 

[Black Sheep]

Rub a hedgehog on it.

and then zip tie it to the saddle.

 

[superbadger]

Love all the 'off the wall' answers..... Just get a 2nd bike.... a real pig!!! They never get nicked!!! And if it does who cares??? I had one that cost me £20 and some days i prayed it would get robbed but alas it never.... It did however throw a paddy 1 day and spat its back wheel off as i was riding it!!!!. Told you it was a 'PIG!'

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Just to throw a spanner in the works

I've had 2 bikes nicked

One was a rusty Moulton that I'd picked up for £8 with a view to restoring
The other was a "bitsa" I'd knocked together out of a tatty old frame and the spares bins (I used to earn pocket money buying bikes from auction, tidying them up, putting the best bits on the best frames) and brush painted with Humbrol enamel

 

[Chris S]

There's a bike I regularly see in Birmingham which has been completely covered in black PVC tape.

I reckon it's something expensive underneath and the owner is trying to deter thieves. Mind you, if I think that then so would a potential thief.