Originally Posted by slim_chestnut
The best method to discourage theft is to have a really rauncy paint job on everything including the alloy and chrome parts. Begin by applying a generous coat of paint sealer and then hard wax and then get two or three cans of ugly paint and have at it. Refer to John Allen's website.
This is a fallacy. Even cheap Huffy's get stolen. It's called "Security by Obsurity" and is the least effective method of protection. If you do this to a nice bike, you are just taking your loss up front, before the thief does.