Hi
I just fitted the Artago 778ART lock to my GTS 300 (2016). I bought it because it was considerably cheaper than the Vespa OEM one (about £60 cheaper).
It works fine, but I can't help thinking the cable is too long. When stowed , it sags significantly (see attached photo) whereas the Vespa OEM one looks to sit more neatly and horizontal (presumably because it's shorter).
When the Artago lock is deployed in locked position, the cable does not prevent the bars moving to where the inbuilt steering column lock is reached. That means that if some particularly stupid (or particularly enterprising) wannabe thief did the usual trick of sitting on the scooter and using left leg to try to force the inbuilt steering lock, they could move the bars far enough to cause the steering column lock to be damaged. Surely, it should stop that happening i.e. if the cable was shorter
I checked (with the steering column lock off) with the Artago in place and I was able move the steering almost to the straight-ahead position. That could be enough to allow a thief to roll away if they succeeded in breaking the steering column lock or equally to cause significant damage to the steering column lock.
I know that the main benefit of the handlebar to frame lock is to deter - and indeed it would deter 99% of attempts, but I still think that the cable is too long and therefore introduces a fairly obvious weak point.
Has anyone got the Vespa OEM lock who could tell me if it is better in this respect than the Artago? Or what is the length of the cable on the Vespa OEM lock so I can compare with the Artago? Is the Vespa OEM lock short enough that it would fully protect the inbuilt Vespa steering column lock?
Thanks