Smartwater revisited

[dunelm]

OK, this has come up before. Smartwater protection was on my old bike but not on my new one.

So I thought that I would buy a kit and do it myself - after all it's just a matter of slopping some fancy liquid on in key places and then sending away your details to be kept safely in a secret location in case your bike is nicked.

Costs £23.88 

However it seems that now you are just renting it! 
It's £23.88 per year and you go on a register and become a subscriber.

Hmm! So what happens if you buy a 2nd hand bike with it already on 

Got on the phone to them. You have to send in a copy of the transfer of ownership form together with the log book (when you get it back from DLVA with your details on) and then start renting at £23.88!

http://www.smartwater.com
 
David

[johnstg2]

This begs the question, what about those of us with older bikes who are not paying a subsciption and never have? I wonder if we are still on their register or would I be as well going out and peeling the sticker off the tank?

[dunelm]

Originally Posted by johnstg2

This begs the question, what about those of us with older bikes who are not paying a subsciption and never have? I wonder if we are still on their register or would I be as well going out and peeling the sticker off the tank?

I was told that if you already have it then it is OK as it is. It's only when the bike is sold that the new owner has to re-register.
 
David

[Bifferman]

Alternative I had on my last Cruiser was DataTag at a one off cost of c.£70, the guy I bought the bike off had a kit in its box but he thought it sounded a good idea but couldn't be arsed spending 3 or 4 hours putting all the microdots and etchings etc on.

No idea if it is really useful or not other than helping the polus identify your bike (assuming they are interested) if it is ever recovered having been nicked, it's not as if it is a satelite tracking device or anything like that and I didn't even get anything knocked off my insurance premium for going to the trouble.

Whilst there are a couple of stickers to tell everyone that your bike is datatagged, which someone in a hurry stealing your bike probably won't notice anyway, I have always thought that it's not that brilliant.  By the time you get your bike back it is probably completely shagged to bits and the last thing you want is extended negotiations for compo with your insurer when a load of wedge to nip off to a dealers and buy a replacement is much more attractive.

Does Smartwater work any different ?

Andy

 

[ukiboy]

Smartwater puts the subscribed user on their database with the vehicle details so if it gets nicked the rightfull owner can be traced. I bought a kit recently and as dunelm pointed out you're basically renting the system - if you stop paying your annual subscription of 23 odd quid they take you off their database and require you to remove any warning stickers..
I figured that the money is small change for a year's peace of mind and it gets you a potential insurance discount as well as making theiving scum's life a bit harder. And i love making criminal's lives harder 

[Wilsey]

I have it on my bike but did not make insurance any cheaper. 

[ukiboy]

Originally Posted by Wilsey

I have it on my bike but did not make insurance any cheaper. 

I don't think it will guarantee cheap insurance across the board but some insurers will give around a 10 percent discount. In any case it, like datatag, is another tool in the box against bike thieves..

[nbells]

Just renting it ?? ..... call me a scotsman if you like but they can go and "breed" themselves.

If my bike was to be stolen the last thing I would want back is a bucket load of parts. ....

I got this on my CBR when I got it new back in 2006

I'll just stick to a good ole bike alarm system..

Anyway ....Just my view

Nigel
 

[Ianrobbo1]

Ebay do a good stock of "Smartwater" stickers, and at a tenner, it seems like a good deal, if the bike is pinched for breaking, they will not know if the parts sold are marked or not, they "may" move on to one that doesnt have tell tale stickers!! just saying like