Modern Vespa

How about a big chain and lock through the rear wheel and through something that can't walk away.

Wayne B

And how often do you encounter a legal parking scenario where that is even possible? Most legal parking in American suburbia is in parking lots, and large inanimate objects to which one can chain one's bike are nearly always out of reach in a legal space.

Of course, if you are parking curbside in a city, or willing to thumb your nose at the authorities, you can often find something to chain to.

My own preference is to use the GripLock alone in most routine short-term parking situations, and to supplement it in dodgier parking situations with the lightweight alarmed cable lock I also carry, presuming I can find something to attach to. If a thief is determined enough to deal with both of these, then it will be in the hands of my insurance company.

If I lived in NYC or London, I'd undoubtedly rely on the big mofo chain and legal parking be damned!

Ordered on the 4th of July and it arrived yesterday...so just 10 days total time. Not bad at all for delivery from NZ.

Same here. I ordered on July 5th and it arrived today, July 15th. 10 days.

Ordered and paid July 7th and still waiting for delivery.

I'm wondering if there are any possible implications to leaving the brake hydraulics pressurized for extended periods of time. For example, slapping on the Grip Lock, and then leaving the scoot baking in the hot sun for an afternoon.

Here this wee topic i started is doing grand ! glad to be of help Bill

Don't know...but I was wondering about the same thing.
I should mention that the Grip Lock has a slider inside that allows you to adjust the amount of pressure you want on the brake when you lock it into place. I mentions that a lot of pressure is not required.

I adjusted it to a low setting and tried to move the wheel. I couldn't.

I'd be curious to see what our MV mechanics say, though.

Hon, I may take you up on that! My sister married an Irishman (they live in Dublin) but now that I know there is a fellow scooterist 'up north' I will make the effort to mosey up thataway next time I visit.

Still waiting

SteveMster: I ordered mine on July 15, and it arrived today (the 28th). Since we're both in Canada, I think you should get in touch with the Grip Lock people. ANYBODY: Does anyone have any thoughts on extended compression of the hydraulic system?

Done that already but they haven't replied.

I don't know how you've been trying to contact them, but before I purchased, I exchanged a few e-mails with Tracey Edmonds (tracey@grip-lock.com) and got prompt replies.

That's my contact and I too was getting prompt replies up until...

Sent another email to Tracey July 29/09 as I have still not heard back.

August 21, 2009 and still waiting for delivery of my lock. I have serious doubts it will ever arrive at this point.

August 31, 2009 and still nothing. Asked for a refund but that hasn't happened either.

Who knows? Maybe the colour you ordered is out-of-stock, or Canada Customs suspects that it's a bomb; it could be anything. I wouldn't worry; everybody else's orders seemed to have eventually arrived.

Bumping this thread back up, I just got my grip lock in the mail today in yellow. Took about a week to get here from New Zeland to Florida.

Ive got it locked onto my bike now and plan on linking my disc lock and grip lock together with a cord when it gets here.

I was going to use both as a full time lock combo but I would really like to hear if having the brake depressed for long periods of time will effect its performance. Can anyone chime in on the subject?

My Grip-Lock has finally arrived after two months of waiting. Hooray!

Using the grip lock for extended periods of time will not affect your braking system.

the dudes in the van also have a mattress they lay your scoot over on to and then lift the mattress (and scoot) and slide it into the van/truck with no damage done to the scoot. In and out --- very quick with practice.

Happy....
Is there some rationale behind that assertion? I am just curious and want the science with the statement.

Grip-locks can also be purchased from Aerostich http://www.aerostich.com/grip-lock.html. They are $57 and cost me $11 for delivery. I believe they only have yellow models.

We're newbies to Vespas and recently bought a LXV150. After reading this thread, I ordered a grip lock which arrived today. In trying to put it on, I realized the throttle is too large for the lock to fit. I tried it without both rubber gaskets and it still seems like the fit is way too tight. Has anyone else had the same problem? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

All they need to do to beat the Grip Lock is cut the hydraulic brake line to render your $80 grip-lock useless. That would involve a simple 2 second snip with heavy duty wire cutters. This would of course be not applicable to a 150 or under Vespa with a rod linkage to the rear brake. If they had a deep-well socket they could very easily beat the rear brake on this type too by quickly loosening it or cutting the cable before the rod.

If you have a Grip lock and a 50 or 150 or any bike with non hydraulic disk breaks please use it on the rear for better results.

You big city guys have to think to hard....

The problem is this stuff just comes to me. That is what 30+ years living on the Southside of Chicago does to you. A game called "beat the criminals".

Umm. The Grip Lock site makes a specific point about the product fitting all current Vespas. I know the stock LXV grips are quite thick as I've just changed mine to a pair of brown "leather" GTV types and the new ones are thinner.

The stock is a sort of rubber/foam type material and if it grips tight it might, over time, begin to bite in to the material.

In that case you might want to think about a return

I got a discount on my insurance because I told the insurance company I used an Abus City Chain. Now I always put the chain on because I'm concerned if it gets nicked while the chain isn't on the insurance company won't cough up. I'd be interested to see if insurance companies offer discounts if you tell them you use a grip-lock. Guessing Insurance companies evaluate the discount amount on the effectiveness of the theft prevention device based on real stats rather than percevied effectivness.

The other thing I am not sure about is the effect of the seals in the brak system. Does leaving the system pressurised for extended periods shorten the life of the seals or cause any other problems?

I'll call the dealer and see what they say about fitting the LXV and post their response.

I know the lock is at best is a deterrent and at worst an expensive paperweight. Searching on the topic on MV, I found a number of threads about the pros and cons of locks, chains, etc and I'm not kidding myself that anything will stop a motivated thief.

(I lived in the south side of Chicago before Seattle so I know the game VEZPA speaks of!)

Thanks!

Indeed. I think that's the right approach. At night mine's in a locked garage, chained, and with it's own alarm.

Out and about, it's chained on longer stops, and for quick "in and out" stops I think the Grip Lock will come into it's own, and I'll be getting one. I think the security you actually use, because it's easy to use, is better than the best security in the world if you don't actually use it because it's too much of a malarkey.

But I'm not kidding myself that any of it is going to stop the bastards if they want it.

So I have it fully insured too

You can only do what's reasonable and hope what you've done leads them to look elsewhere.

I use my Grip Lock on my PX. It's on the throttle side. Here's the thing:
All you need to start a PX is to jam something in the ignition, and ride off.
The Grip Lock on the throttle side prevents the throttle from being turned. It doesn't just hold the brake. So even if they cut the brake line they still couldn't ride it away as the throttle is essentially locked.
Sure the scoot could be thrown in the back of a van, or they could bust the lock if they brought enough tools etc but the point is it makes it much less convenient for the thieves to take.
And if they do take it, well, I have theft insurance.
You do what you can, but you don't let it take over your life by obsessing over it.

I use grip lock alot on my MP3 & also I put the disk lock alarm on it too.

I traded emails with the Grip-lock folks in NZ. The lock is meant to fit grips that are 27-38mm in diameter. My LXV looks to be 40mm so I am SOL.

Anyone want a new GL in red?

I think they've changed the website. It used to say "fits all Vespas", now I can't see any reference to Vespas, only "fits most scooters...".

Rascals.

If you'd be prepared to ship to the UK can you PM me with a total price ?

It'll fit on my new thinner grips.

No worries if not. Used up all my bling money this month anyway

As the part that actually grips the grip when the inserts are removed is plastic, I'd wager you could do an easy mod to increase the effective diameter. Sanding drum, anyone?

Hmmm. I think I found my weekend project. Thanks for the idea.

Nice to see my topic getting an airing again lol

Technically having the brakes depressed for long periods of time can swell the brake lines and lead to premature hose wear and spongy brakes.

Been using a GripLock daily for nearly two years, and my front brake is as firm as ever.

No ill effects whatever.

Same experience here. My GripLock is on so much that it's started to fade.

The question has come up before, though. I can understand the concern...I shared it myself. However, I could come across no evidence that the product has caused any problems, so I decided to try it out. So far, so good.

The only way that the brake lines would swell is from aging, unless they were so soft anyway that they swell under normal use.
Not an issue.

If you are really really concerned by this, add some useful bling to your bike by replacing the rubber hoses with braided steel brake lines. They come standard on some nice bikes, like Ducatis.