General Cycling Discussion - car rack, bike carrier locks?

I just dropped some cash on a Yakima car rack and a bike carrier. The Sales person at my LBS said that it wasn't worth buying the locks because a theif would most likely steel the entire car rather than just the rack. Also, the bike carrier is very inconvient when it comes to taking it off, so I won't be taking it off everytime I'm done transporting the bike.

I would like some honest opinions/stories so I may make an educated decision on this purchase (locks aren't cheap!) before me rack walks away.

Thanks

Kyle

My opinion is that bike racks have very little attraction to thieves.

I recently bought a Master cable lock with an 8' cable. It goes around both wheels, the frame, and finally the rack and the safety chain loops on the receiver. At under $10.00 at Lowes, it was worth the price just for the appearance of being locked. There are better locks - they cost more. Your choice.

Tam, I just bought a Thule rack two days ago. I purchased the $30 hitch lock to save my $360 rack. I did not buy the locks that are designed to lock the bike because they lock the bike's wheels. I figured someone would just undo the QRs and take the bike but leave the wheels. I use my regular lock to lock the bikes to the rack.

for years I used a chain and a lock without a key for my bike, just looped the chain through the tire,frame, and around anything I could, then passed the lock back through the chain so it looked like it was locked, used to leave it out in SF overnight all the time and it was never stolen.

Still use the same process when I just want to make a quick run into a store, it looks locked, so, for most people it is.

Ken.

Tam, I just bought a Thule rack two days ago. I purchased the $30 hitch lock to save my $360 rack. I did not buy the locks that are designed to lock the bike because they lock the bike's wheels. I figured someone would just undo the QRs and take the bike but leave the wheels. I use my regular lock to lock the bikes to the rack.

My particular bike carrier would lock the fork to the carrier provided I had a lock. My main concern is theft of the carrier because the thing takes time to remove from the bike rack, and I'm lazy especially after riding. All a theif would need is the right allen wrench.

Get the locks. They are cheap, reliable, and simple to use. Not real security, mind you, but piece of mind in the form of a keyed safety that prevents opportunistic tampering. Any good reason NOT to get them?

Get the locks. They are cheap, reliable, and simple to use. Not real security, mind you, but piece of mind in the form of a keyed safety that prevents opportunistic tampering. Any good reason NOT to get them?
Is $40/4 locks in your opinion cheap?

Is $40/4 locks in your opinion cheap?

To protect a $400 roof rack and the equipment on it? Yeah. Considering it should last years..more so.

How much do you spend on insurance a year? What's the deductable? Think about it.

To protect a $400 roof rack and the equipment on it? Yeah. Considering it should last years..more so.

How much do you spend on insurance a year? What's the deductable? Think about it.


My original Thule roof rack (with locks) is 18 years old.

-D

Eh, my answer was based on a trunk rack. Not sure now just what it is.

My rack locks to the roof of the car, and I have locks for the bike rack, and depending on where I am I also use a cable on the frame to the rack. If they still get the bike, I have good insurance. I just refuse to give up my things without a fight!

Don't bother with a rack on the "Red Menace" just remove the wheels and chuck the bike in the back seat covered with an old quilt. Works great and no stone chips on the paint.:)