Securing motorcycle riding gear while leaving Our motorcycles in public places.

[John Croucher]

Thieves are everywhere and braver than ever these days.  I have quit riding my motorcycle to places where it will be left out of sight and my riding gear is exposed to these potential thieves.  Carrying a tank bag, riding coat and helmet while going in a store or an event is inconvenient and a bother.  Standing guard over the motorcycle and gear is not what I call a enjoyable time.  It is not just a Big City problem.  Even the country stores parking areas and bike nights are a problem area. 

How many others are seeing this and what have you done or not done because of the stealing?  Replacing a $200 helmet or $300 riding jacket is not covered by my insurance because of the deductible.  The police tell me there is nothing they can do if there is not evidence related to who done it and even then it is my word against the thief's.  A 360Z or Miata convertible are looking better every day.   

[dee g]

I usually just wear my Roadcrafter and carry the helmet.  Yeah, its a PITA, but losing $1800 worth of gear..... 

I  have left gear on the bike in the past. I use a couple of Kryptonite bicycle cables and a suitable lock.  Run the cable through the arm of the jack and leg of the pant, and lock it to the bike.
https://www.rei.com/product/809719/kryptonite-kryptoflex-1007-cable-7-ft

 Helmet is a bit more difficult. The Schuberth doesn't have any thing to run a cable through, so I end up carrying it with me.  Pacsafe has a nice lockable security bag that I have been thinking about getting.  https://www.pacsafe.com/angry-lane-x-pacsafe-helmet-bag/80205.html

[ken farr]

I run a cable lock and cable for my helmet and jacket
I saw a guy use a backpackers vault, and I was impressed.  It is basically an expandable pocket of woven cables that secures to your bike or whatever and locks with a lock.  I have seen them at REI, not cheap, but really cool.

kjf

[Darren Williams]

It's been quite a few years, about a decade ago, but I had my tank bag, helmet and jacket taken off my bike in a small store gas station parking lot. It was a few hundred miles from home. Yes, I was pissed.

Now I have locking top boxes on most bikes large enough to put my helmet, jacket and gloves. If not I will carry a bicycle cable that can go through the jacket sleeve and chin bar of my FF helmet.

I hate thievery.

[Guzzi Gal]

I have a top case that is just large enough to house my helmet and gloves but not my jacket.  I think I'll put the cable idea for securing the jacket on Anni to use ASAP.  

The scooters, however, have plenty of space for gear storage!

[Peter949]

My helmet, riding jacket, and work gloves are so old/dirty/worn, that nobody seems at interested in them!   

[SmithSwede]

I routinely use a sturdy bicycle lock which I carry full time in the saddle bag.  Cable goes through helmet and arm of jacket and pants, then through front wheel.   I've never had anyone mess with this locked combination, and I've parked it like that all over the place, including long term parking at airports, etc. 

Only issue so far is that Dusty laughed and me once for doing this at Woolaroc.

I do try to park in a less tempting location.  If possible, in front of the store, maybe not in a designated parking space.  Near the entrance to a motel (and ask the desk clerk to keep an eye on it).   By a window, so a thief would suspect I could be watching it.

Also, look for security cameras, I try to park the bike where it will be squarely in view of such a camera.  You would be surprised how many places have security cameras if you look for them.   My theory is a thief would also be aware of security cameras and less likely to do something in front of the camera.   Of course, some thieves are brazen, stupid, or don't care. 

[Lannis]

Of course, some thieves are brazen, stupid, or don't care.

The last two Grand Juries I've been on, we find that it's all three.

Brazen, because they are stealing stuff to sell to get the money for their drug habit.

Stupid, because they're out of their normal minds with the DTs or shakes or something.

Don't care, an addict doesn't care about anything except his fix.

Drug use, a victimless crime.   Yeah, right, sure, uh-huh, yep, I believe you, OK .... 

I usually just wear my stuff if I don't have one of the big bikes where I can lock it in a pannier ...

Lannis

[Kiwi_Roy]

I had my helmet, electric gloves and a pair of goggles lifted off the bike about 2 months back, it was a major inconvenience.
First of all I had to borrow gear to ride home and the gloves were non-replacable at this time of the season.

My new helmet has no way of fixing it onto the bike, no D ring so I'm contemplating drilling a half inch hole somewhere.

[LowRyter]

I just throw my gear, helmet, gloves and jacket on the bike.  I'll leave my camera in the tank bag and sometimes leave the keys in the ignition. 

I've never been robbed.

I do keep my phone and wallet with me at all times.  No point being foolish.

[Rough Edge racing]

I just throw my gear, helmet, gloves and jacket on the bike.  I'll leave my camera in the tank bag and sometimes leave the keys in the ignition. 

I've never been robbed.

I do keep my phone and wallet with me at all times.  No point being foolish.

 I have to admit doing the same many times...But sometimes I take it all with me....old Brooks jacket ,scratched HJC helmet and greasy leather gloves...who would take it? No one until it gets stolen...

[Sheepdog]

Both of my main riders have locking side bags. The BMW bags will hold my 2X HJC IS-MAX II. For other times I use a HelmetLok locking carabiner.

[Scott of the Sahara]

I have a large trunk on the Norge that I can put the helmet and gloves in. I wear the Jacket.
The Ural has a very large trunk. I can fit two helmets and a partridge in a pear tree and still have room.
It does not have a lock, but people do not know how to open it.

[SmithSwede]

Lannis.   No kidding about stupid, brazen, and don't care thieves!!!

My neighbor has been absent from his house for about a year now since his wife died.  Thieves have broken in to his place and stolen a lot of stuff, so my daughter tries to keep an eye on his property.

Last month she was out in our front yard and saw a pick-up truck pull into the neighbor's driveway.   There is no question that the two occupants of the truck saw my daughter, and saw that she was looking at them.  They nevertheless proceeded to get out, steal stuff and pile the items into the back of their pick-up truck.   They *continued* to do this even as my daughter was walking up to them while filming the whole episode on her I-phone.

Even then, they did not attempt to make some lame excuse or flee.  They just calmly backed down the driveway while the entire episode was being videotaped, including zoom-in shots of both their faces.   

Amazing. 

And yes.  My daughter is a bad-***

[John A]

My wife and I stopped at an ice cream store on Hastings, MN old main street in the middle of the afternoon. we had to park around the corner so I didn't have an eye on our stuff so I didn't waste time and got back to the bikes in time to interrupt a kid with a bicycle about to steal from us. He is lucky I wasn't a half a minute later, I would have caught him in the act. I had a weapon but would not have shown it but I would have pounded the stuffing's out of him. My wife did not notice but I did. I walked up to the kid, invading his space and said hello, me towering over him about a foot while he seemed to grow smaller as I shook his hand, on the threshold of crippling him. I made sure he felt I could physically do what I wanted to him but let him meekly leave, with me being nothing but polite. He got the message. Now I have a sidecar so everything goes in there ,covered but unlocked, or in locking side bags. it worries me when I cant see it occasionally.

[Ncdan]

I park it where I can see it. GO AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY.

[Tom]

Take the gear with you.  Leave it on the bike.  Expect it to be stolen or be very close to it so that you can monitor your bike.  If you're with a friend.  Do shifts when parking your bike.  Had a friend lose a HB bag off his GS1100.  He left it on the bike overnight in NYC.  The other bag was still there. 

[lucian]

I have been lucky so far but I often wonder about leaving hundreds of dollars worth of gear draped on the bike.  On the other hand, if someone is caught and charged with stealing this type of thing the penalty should be more severe as  it puts peoples safety at risk.

[Lumpy Idle]

in my neck of the urban woods the big thing is smashing out car windows - smash and grab. cars are like piggy banks for junkies. it takes only a minute to smash the window and root around. by the time anyone comes outside they're gone. there are 5 (no exaggeration) car  glass replacement shops within a 3 block radius of my place.  yup.  i often secretly wonder if the car glass shops aren't smashing out some of these windows - it happens so often.

over the course of the 20 years i have been here 3 motorcycles have been stolen from my block alone.  everyone around here looks for something to chain the bike to. parking it on the street overnight invites theft.  the hot item for theft here is dirt bikes. a harley will remain unmolested but a dirt bike, well that's sugar.

i wouldn't leave anything on my bike. as heavy and as clunky as it is i take it all with me. i have a tourmaster helmet bag that is a teardrop shaped back pack. it protects the helmet nicely and there is room inside for extra pinlock shields - dusk comes and i swap out the amber shield for the clear.  the bag is lightweight and easy to carry. that takes care of the helmet. as far as the jacket and pants go well i just wear them (gloves go in the jacket of course) or lug them until i can put them down in a safe place. if i am going to an event and i know i will be indoors with other riders i take a pair of pink bunny slippers with me (lightweight, easy to pack.) then, when i am settled in i take off the boots and put on the pink bunny slippers. very comfy. you just have to be a bit careful later in the evening that you don't get your toes smashed by the odd rider or two in boots who has had a few too many IPA's. i have gone through a few pairs of pink bunny slippers over the years as they get a trifle grotty after a while.

with a pair of skateboards any bike can be stolen, so if at all possible i like chain or cable my bike to a pal's bike when parked.

when it comes to trailering bikes or cars and staying at motels i have heard all sorts of horror stories about folks getting their trailers stolen with all of their stuff in the middle of the night. its worth it to shop around for a motel that will have parking for you near your unit. park you trailer and tow vehicle near your unit and have a (NOT TOO sensitive) burglar alarm on it and you can prevent your entire kit and kaboodle from being stolen.

there was a recent story on the local news of a guy who had his immaculate (trailered) delorean AND his ford f100 stolen out from a parking lot. gone and gone. that'll ruin your day.



 

[zebraranger]

I do the same as others have mentioned. I use the coated braided coil cable, run it through my jacket and helmet and lock them to the bike. I take my GPS with me if its on the bike.

[Pizza Guzzi]

About 15 years ago I parked my bike right outside the entrance to a shopping mall and went in to run some errands.
About half an hour later I realised I couldn't find my bike key anywhere so I raced back through the mall and there was my bike exactly where I left it and the key likewise in the ignition where I left it.
I think I offered up a silent prayer of thanks and thankfully have not been so dumb again !
Most of my bikes have had lockable luggage and I've never had anything interfered with luckily. Some places have some kind of cloak room setup where I will leave my gear.

PG

[wyrtyr2]

Check out locklawyer on ytube.  Abus products are the way to go

[Rick in WNY]

Do you mean LockPickingLayer? Yeah, he and BosnianBill have taught me a lot in terms of what secure locks are and are not...

Currently, gear goes into locking bags of comes with me. When my riding buddy and I go to Alaska in two years... we're investing in two Abus chains and locks.  Among other things.

[Noguzznoglory]

If anyone has been to barbers vintage weekend they will have noticed that most people just leave their gear draped over their bike.
A testament to type of folks that attend?

[Jim Rich]

When we tour on the Norge, I use a combination-lock cable I bought from Aerostitch (about 8 feet long coated cable).  I use the chomed hole in the middle of the bike that always seemed useless.  Run the cable through no longer useless hole, the jacket sleeves and through the opening on the helmets and it will be pretty secure.  When out alone, I leave nothing in the open.  I lock it in a case or tote it with me. 

[jumpmaster]

My helmet, riding jacket, and work gloves are so old/dirty/worn, that nobody seems at interested in them!   

I had an old, dirty, scratched, smelly, and chipped helmet stolen from a coat rack in full view of the front desk attendant at a local gym, in the middle of the day.  What a pain in the a## - I had to call a friend to bring a spare helmet to me so I could ride back to work and then home later in the day.
Moral - nastiness may make your motorcycle gear less desirable to thieves, but it doesn't protect the gear from those a-holes who will steal something just because it is there...

[Lannis]

in my neck of the urban woods the big thing is smashing out car windows - smash and grab. cars are like piggy banks for junkies. it takes only a minute to smash the window and root around. by the time anyone comes outside they're gone. there are 5 (no exaggeration) car  glass replacement shops within a 3 block radius of my place.  yup.  i often secretly wonder if the car glass shops aren't smashing out some of these windows - it happens so often.

I think this points out that much of what happens depends on where you live and where you ride.

If I lived in a place that was as bad as you describe for thievery, I would have to move, regardless of job, family, etc. - it would be a "Quality of Life" thing for me.    Others (you, e.g.) are able to accept it and take whatever precautions (locks, insurance etc) are necessary to minimize the trouble.   

I try to stay away from crowds and cities, and as has been mentioned, you can leave your stuff on the bike at MidOhio or Barber all day and no one will mess with it.    My destinations are almost never in high-crime areas with kids on bicycles trolling for unsecured stuff, and that's by design.

Lots of places still where it's not bad and the risk is low, but if there are addicts around, nothing is safe .... !

Lannis

[LowRyter]

About 15 years ago I parked my bike right outside the entrance to a shopping mall and went in to run some errands.
About half an hour later I realised I couldn't find my bike key anywhere so I raced back through the mall and there was my bike exactly where I left it and the key likewise in the ignition where I left it.
I think I offered up a silent prayer of thanks and thankfully have not been so dumb again !
Most of my bikes have had lockable luggage and I've never had anything interfered with luckily. Some places have some kind of cloak room setup where I will leave my gear.

PG

The same thing happened to me.

Rather than being overly concerned, it occurred to me that no one cared or could ride a motorcycle, so why worry about it?  And no one wants to steal a Guzzi or Suzuki Bandit: Neither are worth much and what would a thief do with one if they could steal it?

Heck, I even left my Greenie with the key in it in the French Quarter when I had lunch at the Acme Oyster Bar.   I didn't do it on purpose, but no harm, no foul.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't leave my bike loaded and unintended over night when in a hotel.  But I've never had an issue with lunch, dinner or shopping, Bikeweek, Sturgis, Barber, Rallies, even Cedar Vale (!), etc.

[Lumpy Idle]

I think this points out that much of what happens depends on where you live and where you ride.

If I lived in a place that was as bad as you describe for thievery, I would have to move, regardless of job, family, etc. - it would be a "Quality of Life" thing for me.    Others (you, e.g.) are able to accept it and take whatever precautions (locks, insurance etc) are necessary to minimize the trouble.
Lannis

point well taken lannis. my sig. other and i  have gone back and forth over this for some years now. this is not the forum or the post for me to spell this all out and i won't burden the list with it any further than to say the following; rents and home prices keep going up (absurdly!) around here. the safest neighborhoods within a commute of s.f. are priced up first and then it cascades down to all of the other areas within a reasonable commute to the city.  so, the choice essentially becomes: 1) stay in the bad neighborhood in your somewhat rent controlled apartment and put up with all of the urban woes of an inner city....or 2) move to a safer area with more room (but not much lower rents) and add 2-3 hours per day to your commute.  this is the struggle in a nutshell and it is one that anyone with economic ties to the bay area has to grapple with unless they were smart enough, many years back, to buy a nice house in the near 'burbs or xurbs. its going to continue to get worse before it gets better.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

These are crimes of opportunity, even a dinky little cable lock and a tiny padlock that looks like it should secure a pre-teen's diary will thwart most helmet/jacket thieves....  I have a little plastic coated cable setup like this and it has served me well

We had our gear stolen off the bike near the BRP a while back, we were swimming in the river & someone grabbed our helmets, my jacket, and my shoes & socks???  We both wear modular helmets, so even a large top box won't fit them :-/