@brown_beret7 avatar
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UTC quote
ashbrook wrote:
brown_beret7 wrote:
Tough, hard-hitting articles to read about how even some dealers are feeling scared and intimidated by the scooter gangs, and how the 'solutions' offered by the authorities are a 'cop out' that just won't address the problems...

http://www.britishdealernews.co.uk/general-news/revival-modern-highway-man

http://www.britishdealernews.co.uk/general-news/i-am-mechanic-not-combat-specialist
Karen is a great person! Her garage is 2 mins away from my workplace and we do try to look after our local businesses.
Hope she stays OK. Such a shame to see good people doing good work for other good people and getting hassled by low-lifes on their doorstep...
@made_in_london avatar
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UTC quote
As a shift gear owner in London, does anybody know if these low life are targeting PXs as well? My insurance premium for a PX 125 is silly money - or are the insurance companies hiking prices for any Vespa regardless?
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UTC quote
I doubt the insurance companies are that advanced or care about differentiating between specific models. I have never seen any stats but I am pretty sure the PX is targeted less because the thieves go after twist n' go bikes to commit other crimes. I have never seen any Youtube footage of thieves on a PX but plenty on a GTS. A PX is not cheap and has value for resale so there is still that issue but this seems a minor problem compared to the main reason bikes are stolen in London.
Made In London wrote:
As a shift gear owner in London, does anybody know if these low life are targeting PXs as well? My insurance premium for a PX 125 is silly money - or are the insurance companies hiking prices for any Vespa regardless?
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UTC quote
Just a suggestion
Maybe it would be a good idea if all Bike/scooter shops/showrooms have a large sign on the front doors/entrance saying.


ALL HELMETS TO BE REMOVED BEFORE ENTERING

I wouldn't object, Honest people would remove them straight away, anyone who didn't,,,,be on your guard.
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UTC quote
johnymoore wrote:
I doubt the insurance companies are that advanced or care about differentiating between specific models. I have never seen any stats but I am pretty sure the PX is targeted less because the thieves go after twist n' go bikes to commit other crimes. I have never seen any Youtube footage of thieves on a PX but plenty on a GTS. A PX is not cheap and has value for resale so there is still that issue but this seems a minor problem compared to the main reason bikes are stolen in London.
Made In London wrote:
As a shift gear owner in London, does anybody know if these low life are targeting PXs as well? My insurance premium for a PX 125 is silly money - or are the insurance companies hiking prices for any Vespa regardless?
Makes sense - I find my response to this epidemic bizarre - I'm upgrading the engine, exhaust, shocks but leaving the rusty mud guard and slashed seat to make her less tempting to PX thieves - its like living in Dick Turpin times - he was in a gang and from Essex, maybe we should revert to riding horses
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UTC quote
Made In London wrote:
johnymoore wrote:
I doubt the insurance companies are that advanced or care about differentiating between specific models. I have never seen any stats but I am pretty sure the PX is targeted less because the thieves go after twist n' go bikes to commit other crimes. I have never seen any Youtube footage of thieves on a PX but plenty on a GTS. A PX is not cheap and has value for resale so there is still that issue but this seems a minor problem compared to the main reason bikes are stolen in London.
Made In London wrote:
As a shift gear owner in London, does anybody know if these low life are targeting PXs as well? My insurance premium for a PX 125 is silly money - or are the insurance companies hiking prices for any Vespa regardless?
Makes sense - I find my response to this epidemic bizarre - I'm upgrading the engine, exhaust, shocks but leaving the rusty mud guard and slashed seat to make her less tempting to PX thieves - its like living in Dick Turpin times - he was in a gang and from Essex, maybe we should revert to riding horses
You have to remember they were hung if caught in those days. It seems today they get a wrist slap and release.
Hmmm, maybe *******
⬆️    About 2 months elapsed    ⬇️
@brown_beret7 avatar
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UTC quote
Good to see that there is some positive action being taken.
Interesting to note a sort of Oliver Twist theme (think Fagin) with the fellow ordering the type of electronics that are marketable in other parts of the world.
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Not Just North London
The inevitable has finally happened.

I've been parking a Vespa GTS on the street in West Kensington and then Vauxhall for the past ten years. Always chained up with a cheapish chain. I came home from holiday yesterday and the cheapish chain is all thats left of it.

reported to police and insurance company. Ten happy years doing my work commute on a Vespa is done. To replace it with another one is madness so I think I'll get something less nickable. Maybe an old SV650, my two main criteria being that it's not desirable to steal and decent through London Traffic.
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Re: Not Just North London
paralla wrote:
The inevitable has finally happened.
Sorry to hear about your news.
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Re: Not Just North London
paralla wrote:
The inevitable has finally happened.

I've been parking a Vespa GTS on the street in West Kensington and then Vauxhall for the past ten years. Always chained up with a cheapish chain. I came home from holiday yesterday and the cheapish chain is all thats left of it.

reported to police and insurance company. Ten happy years doing my work commute on a Vespa is done. To replace it with another one is madness so I think I'll get something less nickable. Maybe an old SV650, my two main criteria being that it's not desirable to steal and decent through London Traffic.
I feel for you. We live in a world where our purchasing decisions are influenced by others, it absolutely stinks.
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UTC quote
Re: Not Just North London
paralla wrote:
The inevitable has finally happened.

I've been parking a Vespa GTS on the street in West Kensington and then Vauxhall for the past ten years. Always chained up with a cheapish chain. I came home from holiday yesterday and the cheapish chain is all thats left of it.

reported to police and insurance company. Ten happy years doing my work commute on a Vespa is done. To replace it with another one is madness so I think I'll get something less nickable. Maybe an old SV650, my two main criteria being that it's not desirable to steal and decent through London Traffic.
Too bad and after a record time of 10 years.
Nothing is safe anymore in our "you have it, I want it, I'll take it" society.
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UTC quote
Re: Not Just North London
paralla wrote:
The inevitable has finally happened.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's outrageous. I guess if you own a Vespa in London, you'd better have secure indoor parking.

Having owned and ridden motorcycles for the last 25 years, they're lots of fun for touring and traveling but for congested city commuting you have to deal with the heat off the engine, the constant shifting in stop and go traffic and the weight. Since acquiring my GTS, I haven't touched my motorcycles for any type of riding in the city. The Vespa is by far more enjoyable and easier to get around. And this is where the smaller wheels shine: traffic has come to a standstill, I can easily change directions, or make quick U turn and take side street, something I can't easily do on my motorcycles, due to a larger turning circle.

SV650 is an ok bike. You might find a Vstrom 650 (same engine) more comfortable,

I'm sorry it has come to this..
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UTC quote
Damn.

I guess I should appreciate my security here more....
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UTC quote
Terrible sign of the times I fear. Sorry to hear about this.

What part of the GTS was the chain passed though? Did they have to dismantle anything to take it away - the chain looks remarkably intact?
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UTC quote
Re: Not Just North London
paralla wrote:
The inevitable has finally happened.
Bugger.

Sorry to hear that.
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UTC quote
So sorry. Really pisses me off that you guys can't ride what you want over there. Sadly everybody is switching to Honda's or other scooters. I'd bet if we started a thread on how many MV members in England still ride Vespa's it would barely fill up one page.
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UTC quote
judy wrote:
So sorry. Really pisses me off that you guys can't ride what you want over there. Sadly everybody is switching to Honda's or other scooters. I'd bet if we started a thread on how many MV members in England still ride Vespa's it would barely fill up one page.
But are they targeting Vespas in particular because it's compact yet the 300 cc motor is very fast? Or are they also stealing other scooters too?
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UTC quote
mingo wrote:
judy wrote:
So sorry. Really pisses me off that you guys can't ride what you want over there. Sadly everybody is switching to Honda's or other scooters. I'd bet if we started a thread on how many MV members in England still ride Vespa's it would barely fill up one page.
But are they targeting Vespas in particular because it's compact yet the 300 cc motor is very fast? Or are they also stealing other scooters too?
As mentioned many times - they are targetting Vespas because they are by far the easiest to steal. The immobiliser can be bypassed in two minutes, the steering lock might as well be made of chocolate, and the storage space under the seat is just right for their 'tools'. No point in locking the front wheel, it comes off in 10 seconds.
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UTC quote
jimc wrote:
the steering lock might as well be made of chocolate,
No no no. That would open us up to a whole 'nother bunch of thieves.

Like this dodge character...

Sorry for your loss Paralla
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
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UTC quote
Awful. Sad to think one of the world's great capitols cannot deal with this. It really changes my view of the city.

Sooo sorry.
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UTC quote
Paddlenround wrote:
Awful. Sad to think one of the world's great capitols cannot deal with this. It really changes my view of the city.

Sooo sorry.
Dont be put off London so easily. It's a fantastic city to visit and a great place to live. You just can't keep a Vespa on the street here anymore.
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UTC quote
Very sorry to hear of the theft of your scooter.

somerset
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UTC quote
paralla wrote:
Gedmunds wrote:
paralla wrote:
In about 8 years of parking various Vespa GTS 250's on the street in London its my experience that you will have no trouble as long as you live and park on a very nice street.
Oh sorted then, so all I need to do is come up with the £1.5 million.
No, my flat is only about £1.2M and the scoot is fine.
So the thieves found you then??
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UTC quote
Gedmunds wrote:
paralla wrote:
Gedmunds wrote:
paralla wrote:
In about 8 years of parking various Vespa GTS 250's on the street in London its my experience that you will have no trouble as long as you live and park on a very nice street.
Oh sorted then, so all I need to do is come up with the £1.5 million.
No, my flat is only about £1.2M and the scoot is fine.
So the thieves found you then??
Yep, now it's fine to use my pic in the wiki page of an example of bad security.

The insurance company have requested a ton of information and keys to both the scooter and the lock, I have it all but it seems like they are going to try and talk down the value or something, seems odd that they would want to see the service history of a stolen scooter.
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UTC quote
paralla wrote:
Yep, now it's fine to use my pic in the wiki page of an example of bad security.
Well, you can't say I didn't warn you but I'm still very sorry to hear your scoot has gone. I now commute on my NC as I just didn't like the worry of not knowing my scoot would be there when I got back but, like you, I still love living in London.
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UTC quote
paralla wrote:
Gedmunds wrote:
paralla wrote:
Gedmunds wrote:
paralla wrote:
In about 8 years of parking various Vespa GTS 250's on the street in London its my experience that you will have no trouble as long as you live and park on a very nice street.
Oh sorted then, so all I need to do is come up with the £1.5 million.
No, my flat is only about £1.2M and the scoot is fine.
So the thieves found you then??
Yep, now it's fine to use my pic in the wiki page of an example of bad security.

The insurance company have requested a ton of information and keys to both the scooter and the lock, I have it all but it seems like they are going to try and talk down the value or something, seems odd that they would want to see the service history of a stolen scooter.
its to make sure its worth as much as you say

I wrecked one and my insurance paid out 15oo quid instead of 2300 because I had missed the second service by 200miles
it was booked in the next week for it and I did the miles over a weekend
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UTC quote
ANDY WTH. Really? wow that doesn't seem legal. What's the service got to do with it being in a wreck or stolen? Like a oil change is going to make a difference. Their just trying to save money IMHO.
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UTC quote
I think with the rash of scooter thefts, the insurance industry is pulling out all stops to reduce payouts. That coupled with rate increases will ensure their profitability.
Same thing is happening over here in high risk areas, autos as well as other insurables.
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UTC quote
Every little helps?
Two cops - wtf?

Still 25% reduction in thefts over the last three months isn't bad news eh?

Full story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-41822264
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Those remote controlled spikes... they're in the seats of bait bikes right?

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UTC quote
znomit wrote:
Those remote controlled spikes... they're in the seats of bait bikes right?

Helmets.
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UTC quote
London Vespa Thefts - Insurance Claims
Paralla,

Sorry about the scooter crime in London. I have been in the Insurance Business for 40 years. I was first in the Claim Dept of the Allstate Insurance company working on vehicle theft and arson.

Part of the claim investigation involved ruling out whether the insured was involved. If the insured was involved it was never more complicated than (1) Financial Problems, (2) Domestic dispute (Divorce) wife got the car/scoot - ex-husband steals it or burns it up, (3) vehicle was mechanically a lemon.

The service records stuff and asking for keys is investigating you. In many previous posts, from our British scooter friends on ModernVespa, there is a common theme that indicates the insurance companies on your side of the
Pond routinely attempt to deny coverage or cheap out on settlements for the most trivial of reasons. Maybe I am wrong.

I am not an apologist for the insurance industry. On this side of the Pond, it seems we routinely get a fair shake. If you attempted to sell your scooter or car, you could ask any amount - but end up with what someone was willing to pay. If your vehicle was stolen or destroyed, over here, the insurance company can not walk away - they have to settle. Many times
you get high retail on these settlements. Of course, this is balanced against every bloke thinking their particular vehicle is gold.

So, sorry about your crime and insurance stuff.
Bob Copeland Frost Bite Falls Minnesota
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UTC quote
paralla wrote:
Paddlenround wrote:
Awful. Sad to think one of the world's great capitols cannot deal with this. It really changes my view of the city.

Sooo sorry.
Dont be put off London so easily. It's a fantastic city to visit and a great place to live. You just can't keep a Vespa on the street here anymore.
You can't keep a Vespa on the street there anymore, but it isn't JUST that. While riding ON the street you might be the victim of an acid attack. This is why I can't place the blame of Vespa theft square on Piaggio. I love London, and consider myself an Anglophile, but something is terribly wrong with this situation. It isn't pepper spray that's being used (which surely would get the job done) which suggests that the motive is more sinister than mere theft. While I'm all for both regulating the sale and carry of acid to youth AND better immobilisers, I fear this is a problem that cannot be solved with mere legislation.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40559973
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UTC quote
JenniferJupiter wrote:
paralla wrote:
Paddlenround wrote:
Awful. Sad to think one of the world's great capitols cannot deal with this. It really changes my view of the city.

Sooo sorry.
Dont be put off London so easily. It's a fantastic city to visit and a great place to live. You just can't keep a Vespa on the street here anymore.
You can't keep a Vespa on the street there anymore, but it isn't JUST that. While riding ON the street you might be the victim of an acid attack. This is why I can't place the blame of Vespa theft square on Piaggio. I love London, and consider myself an Anglophile, but something is terribly wrong with this situation. It isn't pepper spray that's being used (which surely would get the job done) which suggests that the motive is more sinister than mere theft. While I'm all for both regulating the sale and carry of acid to youth AND better immobilisers, I fear this is a problem that cannot be solved with mere legislation.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40559973
Note that pepper spray cannot easily be purchased in the UK (it's a banned 'dangerous weapon') but battery acid can be obtained extremely easily.
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UTC quote
Re: Every little helps?
Dahoum wrote:
Two cops - wtf?

Still 25% reduction in thefts over the last three months isn't bad news eh?
I'll agree that a 25% reduction is something good, but that was after a 300% increase.
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UTC quote
jimc wrote:
JenniferJupiter wrote:
paralla wrote:
Paddlenround wrote:
Awful. Sad to think one of the world's great capitols cannot deal with this. It really changes my view of the city.

Sooo sorry.
Dont be put off London so easily. It's a fantastic city to visit and a great place to live. You just can't keep a Vespa on the street here anymore.
You can't keep a Vespa on the street there anymore, but it isn't JUST that. While riding ON the street you might be the victim of an acid attack. This is why I can't place the blame of Vespa theft square on Piaggio. I love London, and consider myself an Anglophile, but something is terribly wrong with this situation. It isn't pepper spray that's being used (which surely would get the job done) which suggests that the motive is more sinister than mere theft. While I'm all for both regulating the sale and carry of acid to youth AND better immobilisers, I fear this is a problem that cannot be solved with mere legislation.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40559973
Note that pepper spray cannot easily be purchased in the UK (it's a banned 'dangerous weapon') but battery acid can be obtained extremely easily.
Yes what happens is that the law changes to penalise the use of weapons, such as guns and knives. It makes it very hard to obtain them and possession or use means prison. Criminals turn to something else.

The issue is that battery acid has another use, as do many other corrosive substances. There are things you can do to make those substances less available to people for general use, so criminals will not be able to obtain it so readily.

Reducing crime is complex, change one thing, another problem arises.
UTC

Ossessionato
GT200 & GTS250 & NC750X & Royal Enfield Pegasus
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2143
Location: London
 
Ossessionato
GT200 & GTS250 & NC750X & Royal Enfield Pegasus
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2143
Location: London
UTC quote
Whether it's complex or not, something needs to be done though doesn't it. The punishment for carrying a knife is supposed to be 4 years in jail but they all seem to carry knives these days. They recently reported that there were 17000 scooter based crimes in London this year alone. I'm going to guess that 2 new police motorbikes isn't going to make a lot of difference.

I was at the traffic lights last week when two lads, one walking with a hospital crutch suddenly started hitting the rider of a scooter with the crutch. It all happened really quick, and I was still trying to work out what the scooter rider had done to upset them, when I realised the lads were trying to get him to get off the bike so one of them could steal it. Luckily the rider was a bit more savvy than me as he shot off through the red lights. Then last night at was at the pub, one of my drinking companions told me he'd just seen a pair on a scooter stop outside a local hardware shop, one had rushed inside to grab stuff and then jumped onto the back of the scooter to escape. What had he stolen? a large set of bolt croppers! It's all a bit disappointing really.
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
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Location: Tega Cay, SC
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6483
Location: Tega Cay, SC
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Paralla, I'm sorry your scoot Was stolen, but I think you are right about picking up a motorcycle to commute on. The SV650 you mentioned is the best all around bike there is, IMO. Let us know if you pick one up.
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Ossessionato
GT200 & GTS250 & NC750X & Royal Enfield Pegasus
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2143
Location: London
 
Ossessionato
GT200 & GTS250 & NC750X & Royal Enfield Pegasus
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2143
Location: London
UTC quote
Also worth looking at the CB500X which is a little bit cheaper and has better economy and range at the expense of power. If you still want an automatic then there's the NC which is a little bit more expensive. If you just want something cheap, small and still relatively good looking then there's the Sinnis Trackstar 125.
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