The Complete Handbook of Motorcycle Alarms & Locks

I bought this thinking it would be a bit more of a deep-dive on advanced alarm electronics, and it does cover those, but I didn't need the full chapter on business models or reselling. That chapter felt like padding if I'm being honest, taking up a third of the book's latter half. The technical chapters, especially on installing and troubleshooting false alarms, are absolutely worth the price on their own. It's just a bit more of a general business reference than a pure workshop manual, which is why I only gave it three stars.

Its fine, but it's very broad. I work in a shop and was hoping for more specific wiring diagrams or specific brand-level troubleshooting codes. The chapter on choosing a system is good, but I already knew most of it. The maintenance chapter was a bit too generic for me. If you're a complete novice, this is probably a five-star book; for a professional, it sometimes just scratches the surface. I don't regret the purchase, but I didn't learn a lot that I hadn't already discovered through trial and error.

Finally, a reference that doesn't read like an infomercial. The chapter on understanding how tilt sensors and accelerometers work actually explains the thresholds and how to adjust them—which solved a nightmare issue I was having with false triggering on my bobber. I also really appreciated the honest breakdown of how quickly a portable angle grinder cuts through various chain grades; it completely changed what I bought. This will stay in my garage next to my service manual. I've already recommended it to two friends.

I'm a dealer and bought this to train my new installation tech. The chapters are well organized, and the troubleshooting flowcharts are practical. I deducted one star because I wished there was more emphasis on the specific difference between OEM-installed security and the aftermarket-only focus. Also, the glossary is helpful, but I was looking for more on the electronic bike-movement sensors. Overall, a solid, practical and welcome addition to our shop library.

It arrived quickly but the presentation feels a bit flat, which is fine for a reference. The introduction chapter did a good job citing actual theft statistics and how they vary by city, which I'd never seen quantified before. I found it a bit too focused on scooters and standard bikes in the examples, and it didn't give enough specifics for dedicated off-road or dual-sport bikes. It's a good solid reference, even if it didn't fire me up about security. It's a library book, not a thriller.