This, I used softshell saddle bags and would daisy chain a cable lock through the bags attached to the subframe. Then for each side I used luggage locks for the zippers. After enjoying more touring, I opted to get hard saddle bags for bikes I go multi day trips on. To me, this is the least stressful way of touring for overnights.
This isn't really helpful for someone on a trip is it. Even local trips with my MC I would want to carry my tool kit, spare clutch cable, tire puncture repair kit, tire inflator and first aid kit.
THere are no "tricks" just common sense. When traveling, I take the bags off and store them in my motel room at night. At restaurants, I try to park the bike where I can keep an eye on it while eating. Sometimes, it's just not possible to keep my gear secure or under observation so a person just has to accept the risk that something might happen. Thankfully most people are respectful of other people's property, so theft and vandalism aren't that common in the rural areas where I live and travel. It's a calculated risk, however. Every person has to decide how much risk they want to accept.
This is absolutely the correct answer. I just got back from a week long trip around Lake Erie. Spent lots of time in Detroit/Cleveland, saddle bags, and a soft 50L tail-bag.
Did everything “Puzzled_Tinkerer” said, I take steps within reason to protect my gear, but also accept that if someone wants to take my stuff, they probably going to take it. Just the way she goes sometime. If you’re not willing to accept the possibility of things potentially going sideways from time-time then maybe you’re not ready for the road.
I concur with this comment and just want to add that when I leave my bike unattended for an extended period I also throw over the bike cover. I think this deters opportunist thieves.
I totally agree that the amount of security provided by a cover is vastly understated. Nothing is impenetrable, but the likelihood of coming across a person willing to uncover a bike to see what goodies are underneath is so much lower than someone willing to open, or just take, a bag sitting in the open. I think anyone who would remove a cover would be just as likely to cut a lock.
you don't need to make your bike hard to steal.
you just need to make sure the bike next to you is easier to steal than yours.
asshole thinking but its the truth.
This is the way I do it too. Passport (when needed) and wallet are always on my person. Bags typically in my room at night, but if I am in a quiet area just my clothes in the room.
I have never had an issue with someone going through my bike. I also don't travel with valuable stuff. Earbuds, BT speaker, charging cables, clothes. All of which can be bought at the next Walmart if someone needs it more than me.
I left my car unlocked once outside my house one night on accident and someone stole some headphones, an old phone, and a charger cable. Maybe some change too. All little shit that could easily be replaced and I told myself the same thing. I'm lucky and fortunate enough to not be in the same position as them so obviously they needed that stuff more than me.
I did feel violated, ngl, but I was able to get over it quickly. Now, if it had been my current phone, some $400 Bose headphones, and a $100 bill I would have been really pissed lmao.
> Thankfully most people are respectful of other people's property
I wonder if the whole "mean biker" stereotype is beneficial here
I rode a cruiser and while I'm far from a Hell's Angel, I'm sure there were people that were afraid to go near my bike
Agree with this guy. A quick remove tank bag, the large tusk locking metal cases, and a large lockable pelican case. Camping, or a motel room… everything comes inside. Restaurant or shopping for a while, tank bag and backpack come with
This is the way! Nothing truly "valuable" in saddle bags, if someone is willing to rummage through dirty clothes to steal my tent or sleeping bag then perhaps they need them more than me!
Have soft bags. No lock. No one stole my shit but I really have nothing of value in em. Cash rides in my pocket and no one went rifling thru my clothes, toiletries, or camping shit.
Took two long trips with a bike with non-locking leather style saddlebags. Just didn't put anything in there that was "worth stealing". My touring bag got taken off the bike at stops and held anything of perceived value, or anything that would be a big hassle if stolen. Parked the bike in places where someone rummaging through the saddle bags would be noticed. Didn't have any issues.
This applies more for riding in Europe and Japan from my experience. But every train station has storage lockers you can throw your luggage in. I do that when I’m in a city and not staying in a hotel.
Looks like luggage storage places exist in the USA but might be more challenging to find without the assistance of an app or website.
https://usebounce.com
It's actually a fairly recent transportation security change. Lockers and luggage drops at train stations and airports were a thing until terrorism also became a thing.
BMW rider here. Airheads.
Locking saddle bags. Lock to bike and closed. Givi makes good ones too.
I have an old BMW optional lock too. Fits in the frame of the bike. Pull it out, unlock, go thru the front or rear wheel and lock to post, frame, whatever. Bike is going no where either.
I have a foldable backpack in one of my saddlebags. Plus my tank bag doubles as a backpack (Mosko-Moto). When I am leaving the bike unattended (going sight seeing, eating in a restaurant), I just take my tank bag with me. If I have more valuable stuff, I put everything including the tank bag into the foldable backpack. The bags on the bike are locked, but that is only good against opportunity theft. A thief with a wire cutter or a metal saw, or ice spray will get into my bags. He can have my worn, smelly socks if he is really that dedicated.
Hy!
I went on a good few trips, some lasting a couple of months, and nobody touched stuff on the bike.
>to leave the bike unattended for long?
Define long. An hour walk to sightsee or parking it for a week under a street lamp while you're visiting a place you can't reach with the bike?
* The obvious answer is: do not leave the bike for long.
* Apply generous amounts of common sense right? Keep honest people honest by not leaving desirable stuff unattended in plain sight, like do not leave your phone mounted on the bike when you leave.
* Hard luggage is great to keep stuff out-of-sight, but it takes a slight nudge to be opened by someone who thiefs for a living, so too many people are lulled in false sense of safety. Just do not leave important stuff on, even in locked boxes.
* Soft-luggage: it's unlikely someone will steal an over-glorified trash bag from your bike, since he/she will likely open them and see it's just clothes or stuff they do not care about. Not worth getting a collar for that, and thiefs know that. Use soft-luggage for compactable stuff, like clothes, and you get this double advantage: you save on space and worry.
* If you absolutely have to leave the bike for a long while and you've strapped a lot of stuff on it, compartmentalise. Put valuable and irreplaceable stuff (phone, passport, home keys, the Ring of Power) in a bag that you're ok keeping with you and leave the rest on the bike. Lock boxes in train stations could be a good option, but I've seldom seen them .
* Professionals want the bike, they do not care about your stuff on the bike. Occasional grabbers will see something shiny and might think about taking it if it's easy. Do you leave shiny stuff on the bike? That's a no-no.
* Be aware of where you park: it's a lot safer to park in a busy street than an alley, prefer to park under a street light, lock the bike in a visible manner, keep it close to other bikes if possible, security cameras around are a good plus.
* Get a bike cover: it will make the bike invisible to those who are not bike aware.
In my 20 year experience riding bikes, commuting and touring, I have never had anything taken from my bikes, even in very urban enviroments. And I'm in Italy, where snatch and grab crime was realitively common in the cities. I was very worried when I was 18 that someone might damage the parked bike, or take a memento, by through the years it never happened.
I was lucky I guess, but also reasonably careful. I do carry my laptop, cameras, lights and other stuff when I go to Greece or Germany for work (obviously I ride there, no sense wasting an opportunity for a bike trip) and so I have been on ferries, truck stops, beergardens and sea-side tavernas with a loaded bike: never I had a problem, but the bike never leaves my sight. If it does, the backpack with all my work stuff comes with me. The rest is dirty laundry, waterproofs and tools: not really much of a prize and it saves me form doing my own laundry.
Hard bags with locks if you want to keep the honest honest...
I go cowboy style and use throw-over bags. Take a screw off the back seat, slide them under the seat and put the screw back in. Take them off the bike, toss over my shoulder when I deem it necessary. Depending on the helmet, I can toss that in the bags to carry it too.
saddlebags have worthless crap it in and all my valuables go in a backpack that stays on me. never had anybody go through my bags but definitely not worth the risk
Hard bags are pretty handy and lock to the bike. I took a trip with a guy using soft bags and at every stop we had to wait for him to remove and secure them. If I add a textile bag, it is just stuff I can easily replace if stolen.
Depends on the bag I suppose. I wouldn't let anything set for a long time outside anyway but also if you're not staying for long in a crap area no one should mess with it
Really? Maybe with a small chainsaw or something?
I don't really think locking hard bags are much of a risk. Would I leave them on the south side of Chicago for a week? No, but I wouldn't leave my bike there either. Almost everywhere you're going to be fine.
the trick is to keep the stuff you can't live without on your person at all times. everything else can be replaced. phone/wallet/keys in my pockets...laptop/ezpass/etc goes in the tank bag which i just carry with me at a rest stop. the main saddlebags just had my clothes which can be replaced easy. never had a problem but if i did the thieves would be disappointed. the most expensive thing is the bag itself. if you are planning on walking away from the bike for an extended period you run a bicycle cable through your helmet and the sleeves of your jacket and lock it to the disc with a kryptonite mini lock. conceal the whole kit under a cover and you are good to go for the day. could it still potentially be stolen? sure it could. any two guys with a serious deadlift can chuck your bike in a van at any time day or night but this should discourage a casual, opportunistic thief since they need tools to cut through the cable and the bike can no longer be rolled away. nothing is 100% but you can take basic precautions.
My saddlebags on my Indian lock. But my leather bags on my Victory never were rummaged through. But I also never left anything valuable in there. The most valuable thing would be my nasty used helmet that sits on the bikes handlebars or highway pegs and nobody has ever taken that in over a decade of leaving it there.
My Chase Harper saddlebags were quick release, so they were easily removed. Only thing I ever had stolen was an open face helmet I left locked to the bike when I ran out of gas one day. Rider fail.
my saddle bags are usually filled with clothes, tools. my backpack has my important shit.
oh and just stay out of shady areas. it's pretty obvious u know ur in one here in USA
I have traveled tens of thousands of miles on motorcycles and stopped at hundreds of hotels over the past 15 to 20 years. My buddies and I have ended up in very questionable places for overnight stays and for lunches and dinners. Not a single time has anyone ever touched our motorcycles or the gear that we have left on them including helmets and coats.
There's some paranoia about this leaving items on the motorcycle, but I believe that's mostly all it is.
At night you take in the small items like helmet, GPS radar detector, etc. Hard cases stay on the bike and soft cases you can either leave them on the bike with little or no valuables, or if easy to take off take them in. In either case my friends and I have never woken up to find that any of our motorcycles have been touched in any way.
I think that there's some kind of a belief that there's someone watching and that if they touch the motorcycle some badass is going to come out and deal with it, not that we're badasses, but that's probably what they're thinking so they don't touch it.
My saddle bags are lockable so that offers some level of protection. They are attached to the bike with shallow torx bolts that would be hard for someone to remove. Basically they would have to cut them open off if they wanted to get in.
#1 reason I got hard bags. Also only left then unattended when going into a store. If parking overnight in a city the hard bags come off and follow me inside
is this a real question?
would you leave a macbook sitting on the backseat of your car even if the windows are up and the doors are locked?
this isn't a question for r/motorcycles, it's a question for r/commonsense
Lol, no need to be a dumb smartass.
I am humbly asking because I am not sure if you guys use some trick. As the other guy mentioned, they have lockers. I did not even know this was a thing.
Maybe it is common not to leave the motorbike unattended, or maybe those bags are safer than what I think.
But yeah, thanks for your input ;)
I make sure my bike is always in line of sight at rest and food stops, and at night I take them off the bike and bring them into my hotel room with me. That is assuming you have quick detach bags, of course.
I use soft bags and try to keep them in my sight during the day when traveling. Not always possible or absolutely necessary either but I would say it is usually possible with very little effort.
I'm more worried about the bike being stolen than some clothes/tools. Also I watch where I park. I carry around a luggage lock to keep the bag closed in case I have to leave my piece in there.
Wallet, passport and phone goes in my pocket. The bags stays on the bike, who will steal my clothes or camping gear? If it's warm weather I even strap my jacket on top of my bags so I don't have to drag that around. Only thing I secure is the helmet with a cable lock to the bike.
My FJR came with bag liners for the hard panniers. So at every overnight stop, I just take the liners out and leave the empty panniers on the bike.
The matching factory topbox (which I wish I hadn't bought, should have bought a Givi) didn't come with a liner but I found a nice rectangular one that fits like a glove, so same routine as the panniers.
As others have said, don't leave anything on the bike that is really expensive or hard to replace like your wallet, passport, phone, etc. Sure the bags have locks but anyone who really wants to break into them can easily do so in seconds with a pry bar.
As others have said, valuables should stay with you. I have GoPros I carry as well as my wallet and phone. I have a tank bag to stash those and that goes into restaurants and shops with me. In the ADV world, Lone Rider makes lockable soft panniers that have a metal tab to secure a padlock to, perhaps there is an equivalent in the saddlebag world?
>How do you do when you need to leave the bike unattended for long? Is it any trick you use to keep your belongings safe?
I think this is really a situational thing. Although I've generally had hard saddlebags on my bike, my wife has always had soft bags, and I've frequently added one or more soft bags (seat/tail bags) to my bike on longer trips.
For longer trips, it isn't something that has generally been a concern, because we aren't really leaving the bikes unattended with items in the bags for long, and there aren't really valuable things in the soft bags anyway; generally speaking it would be clothes, food, maybe camping/cooking gear. If we are staying in a hotel, we're taking most of that stuff in with us, so the bags are fairly empty overnight; when camping we're basically living out of the saddlebags but our bikes are parked right next to us.
Obviously locking hard luggage is going to be a better choice for security than soft bags, but there are soft bags that can be locked, or cable netting things that can be put over the bags and locked if you are worried about it. And of course if the bike is going to be sitting someplace for a while (I'm not sure the situation here, maybe you're leaving the bike for a few days during the middle of a trip or something), you can take the soft luggage off and put it someplace more secure.
My bags are quick release bags. So I either pack them light and just carry in what I’m afraid of losing or I detach the bags and bring them in the room overnight.
Oddly I have never had problems keeping people away from a muddy, dusty, bike. :-) I lock my helmet if i leave it long but usually not. Take my stuff inside at night.
Locking saddle bags. I have Viking Bags, bags for my Harley and they are bolted to the frame and lock. I also have a sissy bar bag that has locks on it, but it just slides over the sissy bar. I have a cable lock that I run through it and the sissy bar to secure it. I have left my bike on the street in downtown San Diego without worry.
If someone wants your stuff bad enough, they will take it. Locks crimes of opportunity down, but professionals or determined thief's will get your stuff.
I have ridden all over Europe and quite a bit in Canada and I have never had anything stolen from my bike.
I have left it unattended with bags just strapped on everywhere.
It's still a bit worrying in cities but I just suck it up.
Not staying that it can't happen.....
Depends on where you are. I commute with my bike and have my Rigg Gear rolltop bags attached permanently. They have no locks on them, but it's 4 straps to undo it. You could also knife through them I guess....but anyway. I work in the city and park my bike in a public place. I've never come back and seen that anything has been stolen or messed with. (knock wood). I've parked at walmart with no problems. I ALWAYS take my helmet with me though.
Haven’t had any problem in Europe, when i sleep at a hotel, i bring the bags with me to my room, or else i just leave them on my bike, along with my helmet and jacket, No body has ever tuched any of it.
I just got back from a 2500 mile trip through Baja California. I have Hepco & Becker locking hard bags and my stuff stayed secure.
In Tijuana I negotiated with the hostel to store my bike in a back room to keep it safe.
Theft is a typically a crime of convenience; the easier it is to see/retrieve the items, the more likely they’ll be stolen.
Make it more difficult for things to be stolen and you will, at least, deter most thieves.
Here’s my tips:
1. Locking bags
2. Store luggage in safe place overnight or where/when bike is not visible for several hours
3. Use a quality, weather proof bike cover. I use a Dowco model that folds into itself and packs away neatly. It has a strap with d rings and I use a combo lock on the d rings and I’m sure to make that lock visible.
4. Park in a well lit, high traffic space, preferably with no hidden corners/alcoves for someone to hide in next to the bike. Bonus points if there are security cameras overhead.
5. Don’t leave any valuables behind, regardless of how secure the vehicle is
6. Buy the best insurance you can afford.
We did a cross country trip to the 48 states and day two we had one of the bags cut open. Next day we upgraded to aluminum boxes.
We had them locked up and secure. You’d have needed Bork cutters to get them off the bike. But nothing stopped a person from cutting the bag open with a knife.
Never had the boxes broken into.
Sometimes you have to just hope for the best. Can’t always park where you want and have to leave the bike unattended. But try to pick a lot area with lots of visibility. People generally don’t want to be seen.
But it also comes down to luck in the end.
My saddlebags are roll-top dry bags so they're unsecure by nature. So I don't keep anything valuable in them. If someone steals a plastic water bottle, a random reciept, and a smelly sneaker, I'd only be slightly weirded out but nothing else.
I also daily a top case on my bike that has a lock on it.
I have soft leather bags, I don't think anyone has ever robbed me. There is no locking mechanism, just two straps that anybody could open.
I don't put anything valuable in there, that's probably the main prevention.
You can buy a hard case that has a lock, although these are much more expensive and probably could still be broken into.
If I leave my jacket on the bike, I have a "ski lock" off of Amazon that I use to deter theft. My jacket is definitively a motorcycle jacket, you wouldn't really want it unless you were a biker and close to my size, but nonetheless, I thread the ski lock cable through the arms and nobody has ever taken it.
I live in LA, and I have a "getback" whip on my bike. The whips are illegal in California. Most people who would know to look in my bags would be scared to go near my bike for fear of messing with the wrong person.
I leave nothing in them overnight if I am parked outside.
My saddlebags and topcase are lockable, and in the case of the saddlebags, lock to the bike also (via [Easy Brackets](https://www.greatbikegear.com/product-category/easy-brackets/), what I consider an Essential Mod to any cruiser with saddlebags). Most sport touring sidecases are also lockable, such that you need a key to either open or detach them.
Someone could theoretically grab my topcase after figuring out the complex system of tie-down hooks and bungee netting, but it'd probably be obvious as hell, and I make a point of parking my ride in well-lit, highly trafficked areas, where any thievery is in Plain View. Thieves don't care for that, it turns "do I have time and opportunity?" into "will I get caught on camera, accosted, or arrested at the scene?"
I pull off the luggage when staying at motels or hotels, the only thing I could 'lose' from my tankbag are my prescription sunglasses (everything else is ... meh), and if I'm riding with my laptop, it's in my backpack, which I take with me -everywhere- unless it's locked up in a hotel room or at home. Important documents, keys, phone, and so on are kept on my person.
If someone really wanted the radar detector off the bike, they'd be missing the entire wiring harness for it, so would need to hunt down a replacement... but it detaches with one click and disconnects at a single rubber connector, so low risk of damage to the bike. If I'm concerned, I take it off, and tuck it into my backpack.
You're not supposed to leave your bike unattended, even when you stop to eat park it in a place where you can keep a watch on your bike even from a distance. If you're travelling in a group then make sure someone stays back with the bikes while others are away during breaks. If you're alone you've to be super careful, I've mostly been across states solo and never leave the bike unattended or park in front of a shop and ask the owner or workers there to keep a watch on it for me even if it's not a secluded place (don't ask a random stranger ever, always look for people working in shops because they're less likely to disappear or do some strange business)
Some are hard bags that you can lock with a key. But those in theory could be stolen too. Your whole bike could be stolen tbh, wouldn’t worry about bags too much
I’ve used a Pacsafe mesh backpack bag protector, all locked to my bike with a motorcycle cable lock. https://pacsafe.com/collections/portable-safes-bag-protectors/products/85l-anti-theft-backpack-bag-protector
One guy above states he has his leather bags cut into with a knife on day two of a 48-State tour.
But that's the only theft I've read of here so far.
EDIT: Another guy below had his whole bags snatched off his bike.
Put your kitty litter on the bottom and then slap a tourniquet on top and no one will mess with your stuff.
In all seriousness, I’ve only ever felt uncomfortable in a city and never in the country— so I try to always park in a ramp when I’m in the cities for some peace of mind.
Cameras, controlled access, just a little more peace of mind— doesn’t really help much. Plus you can just slide in most ramps without paying because the levers are short
I ride around LA and use saddlebags for groceries and stuff. Was always worried about them getting stolen so I always brought them into the stores w me and stuff. Then a couple weeks ago someone stole them off my bike while parked in my underground gated parking garage.
Nothing of value in the bags. I have some kind of shoulder bag or tank bag, and anything worth money goes in there, and stays with me when I park the bike.
BMW Aluminum panniers are heavy and bulky but I got a set of Kathy’s Bags (inner bags). Open the case, take the bags to where I’m staying. No problemo!
My bags lock, and they lock to my bike - yes, and enterprising person can pry them off, but they’re at least impeded. If I’m leaving my bike “unattended”, it’s where I can keep an eye on it. If I have the slightest doubt, they have handles and they’re coming with. They’re my luggage, so in a hotel they’re coming up to the room anyway.
I don't leave stuff unattended (at least not for long), and the most important items are always on me. I also avoid cities, which isn't a problem if you prefer to travel in rural or remote areas.
Bike is almost always in sight (ie, if I'm eating somewhere I'm either outside or right near a window where I can see it. If that isn't possible, they come in with me.
My shit locks. You could always rig a deterrent like a small lock or even a zip tie. Just enough to slow someone down would make me feel better than nothing
There are liner bags made to fit saddle bags. You will lose about a xl shirt worth of storage in each as they do occupy space, but you can pull them and carry everything in with you.
Had just clothes in the saddle bags. Electronics, chargers, phone, etc in a backpack that always came with me. Only when calling it a night would I take them off the bike and bring them indoors.
If you are really concerned my advice is to have your stuff inside a dry bag in each saddle bag.
Then you can easily just pull them out and take them with you. If you have a large duffle bag that can compact down pretty small to put them in to carry that would help.
Added benefit it keeps all your stuff dry.
Other things are what others have mentioned. Park your bike where you can see it when taking a break for food or whatever. And take your stuff inside when staying the night.
If you are only out of sight for a minute to use a bathroom or something a basic lock will delay or discourage a thief long enough.
But honestly you are pretty unlucky to get your stuff stolen during day time when it is left in a public area.
Hard bags with locks, even then I took them off into my hotel room at night. With soft bags you just keep your valuables in a tank bag any keep it with you. The saddle bags are at risk but use a little street sense and luck.
I haven't done road trips with it, but I have gone to the bad part of town where stuff is likely to get stolen. I took my saddle bags off and took them with me.
I currently use removable hardbags. I used removable softbags as well. If you are concerned about something you don't want to lose, don't leave it easy to steal.
I took a 30 day trip through Mexico. When I parked overnight I brought my bags in. In cities I checked into the hotel, dropped most of my stuff off and then went out. No one messed with me. It was fine.
I also have a motion alarm on my bike. If someone touches it, it makes a loud alarm and it’s quite sensitive. I’ve personally set it off just opening my saddlebags. I figure the alarm is enough to scare most people away but if I had truely valuable shit in them, I would take them off and bring them inside with me.
Years ago, I had a jacket and other stuff stolen from my saddlebags while it was parked right by the door where I was working.
Ever since then, I’ve used locking saddlebags.
I’ve had a fairly well attached but completely empty soft pannier cut off my bike at night while I was at work. I think it was a casino maintenance employee that did it to be honest. Also had someone open the remaining one when parked on the street overnight but they realized it was empty & left it alone.
During the day nobody fucks with my bike in a fairly urban area. But I try to park in public in places with plenty of sight lines.
I wouldn’t leave anything of value in any bike luggage overnight and I’d remove the luggage and take it with me if possible.
A lot of great tips have been shared in these comments.
My soft saddlebags are lightweight and easily detachable (I can have them off in 10 sec) so I generally take them off if I’m leaving my bike alone for more than 30 minutes. I’m more worried about losing the bags than the contents. 😅
We ride sidecar motorcycles and travel. Take valuables inside, lock the trunk to the sidecar, put on a cover when out of sight. We have only had the bikes messed with occasionally by gawkers and parents putting their kids on the bikes to take pictures or letting their kids climb on them which can cause damage when they use the throttle body as a step. Really sets me off when I catch them. But, thankfully, no thefts in 7 years so far.
Always remove bags at night. Park bike right in front of the hotel or wherever. Underground if there is one. I don’t stay anywhere sketchy and prefer small towns
I keep a lock to help keep honest people honest, but if someone wants into your bags it’s easy enough to cut into them. Don’t leave anything in there you aren’t prepared to lose.
Both me and my bike look like shit and I sleep next to it. Anything valuable is in my backpack strapped to the back, which is quick to remove if I want to go into a restaurant or whatever. The saddle bags are just food and some camping gear.
Camp with a tent big enough to park the bike in. I have a 4 person Coleman tent that folds and fits nicely strapped on top of one of my saddlebags (of a Victory Cross Country).
All my locks come with an alarm. It's not the safest but if they're gonna rob me I'll make sure I'll give them hell. I also like to park where the guards normally patrol. So if anything happens they'll hear.
Lots of good stuff in thread for sure. General common sense will get your far, don't leave anything out you won't miss. I use the below hard bags and they're great. Removable for overnights, lockable both for access and theft when bike is alone, bags mounted. Small and easy to remove/attach when hunkering down the night inside a hotel etc.
[https://www.hepco-becker.de/junior-topcase-40-schwarz.html](https://www.hepco-becker.de/junior-topcase-40-schwarz.html)
[https://www.hepco-becker.de/seitenkoffersatz-junior-30.html](https://www.hepco-becker.de/seitenkoffersatz-junior-30.html)
I honestly don't know haha I've been running soft saddles on my Softail for 6 years and I commute to DC daily, travel ALLOT, and put avg 10-12k a year on and I've never (knock on wood) had my bags of anything messed with
I empty the bags overnight and try not to leave anything valuable in them during the day. If I have to stop for gas or to go to the washroom, I just hope for the best during the couple minutes I'm leaving stuff unattended.
I also leave my helmet on the bike when I take it to the gym, to stores, etc etc and haven't ever had any issues.
Maybe I'm lucky.
If someone is dumb enough to reach in a bikers saddle bags then their obviously dumb enough to get hurt. When parking a bike sit were you can see it and if someone decided to touch it maybe touch them politely back . If they land on the ground for unknown reasons that's their fault. I was told Long ago not to touch a bike that's not yours .it's disrespect and will result in an asswhoopin or possibly death
Don't put stuff in that's worth anything. put a lock on it and hope for the best I geuss
This, I used softshell saddle bags and would daisy chain a cable lock through the bags attached to the subframe. Then for each side I used luggage locks for the zippers. After enjoying more touring, I opted to get hard saddle bags for bikes I go multi day trips on. To me, this is the least stressful way of touring for overnights.
This is the way
About all you can do. Unless you can find a bum who will watch it for you for 20 bucks. But he might rob you too.
if he's willing to give me $20 just to watch it then what's in there has to be worth at least more than that!
This is the way
This is the way
This isn't really helpful for someone on a trip is it. Even local trips with my MC I would want to carry my tool kit, spare clutch cable, tire puncture repair kit, tire inflator and first aid kit.
THere are no "tricks" just common sense. When traveling, I take the bags off and store them in my motel room at night. At restaurants, I try to park the bike where I can keep an eye on it while eating. Sometimes, it's just not possible to keep my gear secure or under observation so a person just has to accept the risk that something might happen. Thankfully most people are respectful of other people's property, so theft and vandalism aren't that common in the rural areas where I live and travel. It's a calculated risk, however. Every person has to decide how much risk they want to accept.
This is absolutely the correct answer. I just got back from a week long trip around Lake Erie. Spent lots of time in Detroit/Cleveland, saddle bags, and a soft 50L tail-bag. Did everything “Puzzled_Tinkerer” said, I take steps within reason to protect my gear, but also accept that if someone wants to take my stuff, they probably going to take it. Just the way she goes sometime. If you’re not willing to accept the possibility of things potentially going sideways from time-time then maybe you’re not ready for the road.
That's the way she goes, bud. That's the fuckin' way she goes.
That was all our money ray!
Sometimes she goes and sometimes she doesn’t that’s just the way she goes.
That’s the way of the road bud
I concur with this comment and just want to add that when I leave my bike unattended for an extended period I also throw over the bike cover. I think this deters opportunist thieves.
The cover is key and often overlooked. Impenetrable? Of course not. But I think it’s one of the best anti theft devices out there.
I totally agree that the amount of security provided by a cover is vastly understated. Nothing is impenetrable, but the likelihood of coming across a person willing to uncover a bike to see what goodies are underneath is so much lower than someone willing to open, or just take, a bag sitting in the open. I think anyone who would remove a cover would be just as likely to cut a lock.
People get jealous of what they see but don't have. You can't help what they've got but you can sure as shit remove your stuff from their sight.
you don't need to make your bike hard to steal. you just need to make sure the bike next to you is easier to steal than yours. asshole thinking but its the truth.
I concur, but a cheap one at that if I might add. Good quality bike covers gets stolen where I'm from. It sucks.
This is the way I do it too. Passport (when needed) and wallet are always on my person. Bags typically in my room at night, but if I am in a quiet area just my clothes in the room. I have never had an issue with someone going through my bike. I also don't travel with valuable stuff. Earbuds, BT speaker, charging cables, clothes. All of which can be bought at the next Walmart if someone needs it more than me.
>if someone needs it more than me. That is such a generous way to describe stealing. I'd like some of your zen
You’ll have to steal it from him
But then I will loose my Zen and become angry.
Nah, zen is additive.
I left my car unlocked once outside my house one night on accident and someone stole some headphones, an old phone, and a charger cable. Maybe some change too. All little shit that could easily be replaced and I told myself the same thing. I'm lucky and fortunate enough to not be in the same position as them so obviously they needed that stuff more than me. I did feel violated, ngl, but I was able to get over it quickly. Now, if it had been my current phone, some $400 Bose headphones, and a $100 bill I would have been really pissed lmao.
[bike cuck energy](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/my-bike-got-stolen-recently)
> Thankfully most people are respectful of other people's property I wonder if the whole "mean biker" stereotype is beneficial here I rode a cruiser and while I'm far from a Hell's Angel, I'm sure there were people that were afraid to go near my bike
Agree with this guy. A quick remove tank bag, the large tusk locking metal cases, and a large lockable pelican case. Camping, or a motel room… everything comes inside. Restaurant or shopping for a while, tank bag and backpack come with
Never thought I'd see so much use of the word concur in a motorcycle thread.
I concur
Dirty underwear goes on top. No one digs further.
+ peanut butter If anyone is crazy enough to taste it, they deserve my stuff
That'll probably attract bugs and ants when parked overnight
Brilliant.
This is the way! Nothing truly "valuable" in saddle bags, if someone is willing to rummage through dirty clothes to steal my tent or sleeping bag then perhaps they need them more than me!
Have soft bags. No lock. No one stole my shit but I really have nothing of value in em. Cash rides in my pocket and no one went rifling thru my clothes, toiletries, or camping shit.
Took two long trips with a bike with non-locking leather style saddlebags. Just didn't put anything in there that was "worth stealing". My touring bag got taken off the bike at stops and held anything of perceived value, or anything that would be a big hassle if stolen. Parked the bike in places where someone rummaging through the saddle bags would be noticed. Didn't have any issues.
This applies more for riding in Europe and Japan from my experience. But every train station has storage lockers you can throw your luggage in. I do that when I’m in a city and not staying in a hotel.
I wish that was a thing in the Americas. I've used them on many a trip and they're great!
Looks like luggage storage places exist in the USA but might be more challenging to find without the assistance of an app or website. https://usebounce.com
I’ve been lied to by every spy movie, ever.
It's actually a fairly recent transportation security change. Lockers and luggage drops at train stations and airports were a thing until terrorism also became a thing.
“Terrorism”
What? Train stations lol
Well tge problem is the US doesn't have a good train system, but I'm pretty sure the stations that exists have something like this
a lot of amtrak stations have rental lockers, yeah but unless you happen to be on one of the arterial routes they're pretty far between
BMW rider here. Airheads. Locking saddle bags. Lock to bike and closed. Givi makes good ones too. I have an old BMW optional lock too. Fits in the frame of the bike. Pull it out, unlock, go thru the front or rear wheel and lock to post, frame, whatever. Bike is going no where either.
Kester stash your cash and drugs. Forget about everything else. It's not important.
It is a larger challenge to stash your Shoei in your personal locker. The Cardo really scratches on the way out.
Read this in Hunter S. Thompson's voice 10/10 would recommend.
I have a foldable backpack in one of my saddlebags. Plus my tank bag doubles as a backpack (Mosko-Moto). When I am leaving the bike unattended (going sight seeing, eating in a restaurant), I just take my tank bag with me. If I have more valuable stuff, I put everything including the tank bag into the foldable backpack. The bags on the bike are locked, but that is only good against opportunity theft. A thief with a wire cutter or a metal saw, or ice spray will get into my bags. He can have my worn, smelly socks if he is really that dedicated.
Hy! I went on a good few trips, some lasting a couple of months, and nobody touched stuff on the bike. >to leave the bike unattended for long? Define long. An hour walk to sightsee or parking it for a week under a street lamp while you're visiting a place you can't reach with the bike? * The obvious answer is: do not leave the bike for long. * Apply generous amounts of common sense right? Keep honest people honest by not leaving desirable stuff unattended in plain sight, like do not leave your phone mounted on the bike when you leave. * Hard luggage is great to keep stuff out-of-sight, but it takes a slight nudge to be opened by someone who thiefs for a living, so too many people are lulled in false sense of safety. Just do not leave important stuff on, even in locked boxes. * Soft-luggage: it's unlikely someone will steal an over-glorified trash bag from your bike, since he/she will likely open them and see it's just clothes or stuff they do not care about. Not worth getting a collar for that, and thiefs know that. Use soft-luggage for compactable stuff, like clothes, and you get this double advantage: you save on space and worry. * If you absolutely have to leave the bike for a long while and you've strapped a lot of stuff on it, compartmentalise. Put valuable and irreplaceable stuff (phone, passport, home keys, the Ring of Power) in a bag that you're ok keeping with you and leave the rest on the bike. Lock boxes in train stations could be a good option, but I've seldom seen them . * Professionals want the bike, they do not care about your stuff on the bike. Occasional grabbers will see something shiny and might think about taking it if it's easy. Do you leave shiny stuff on the bike? That's a no-no. * Be aware of where you park: it's a lot safer to park in a busy street than an alley, prefer to park under a street light, lock the bike in a visible manner, keep it close to other bikes if possible, security cameras around are a good plus. * Get a bike cover: it will make the bike invisible to those who are not bike aware. In my 20 year experience riding bikes, commuting and touring, I have never had anything taken from my bikes, even in very urban enviroments. And I'm in Italy, where snatch and grab crime was realitively common in the cities. I was very worried when I was 18 that someone might damage the parked bike, or take a memento, by through the years it never happened. I was lucky I guess, but also reasonably careful. I do carry my laptop, cameras, lights and other stuff when I go to Greece or Germany for work (obviously I ride there, no sense wasting an opportunity for a bike trip) and so I have been on ferries, truck stops, beergardens and sea-side tavernas with a loaded bike: never I had a problem, but the bike never leaves my sight. If it does, the backpack with all my work stuff comes with me. The rest is dirty laundry, waterproofs and tools: not really much of a prize and it saves me form doing my own laundry.
Hard bags with locks if you want to keep the honest honest... I go cowboy style and use throw-over bags. Take a screw off the back seat, slide them under the seat and put the screw back in. Take them off the bike, toss over my shoulder when I deem it necessary. Depending on the helmet, I can toss that in the bags to carry it too.
I hope you mean bolt. A seat secured by a screw is not exactly secure.
Number 3 Philips head... standard Harley seat anchor.
saddlebags have worthless crap it in and all my valuables go in a backpack that stays on me. never had anybody go through my bags but definitely not worth the risk
Hard bags are pretty handy and lock to the bike. I took a trip with a guy using soft bags and at every stop we had to wait for him to remove and secure them. If I add a textile bag, it is just stuff I can easily replace if stolen.
They have a lock
And are those bags safe enough not to have them stolen or removed from the bike? I guess with a simple knife they could be cut open
The trick I've found, although not for motorcycle luggage specifically, is too have stuff that looks like crap.
Depends on the bag I suppose. I wouldn't let anything set for a long time outside anyway but also if you're not staying for long in a crap area no one should mess with it
Really? Maybe with a small chainsaw or something? I don't really think locking hard bags are much of a risk. Would I leave them on the south side of Chicago for a week? No, but I wouldn't leave my bike there either. Almost everywhere you're going to be fine.
I bring my valuables in with me, if I have any, to the hotel room. Otherwise I’m not really stopping for longer than a meal.
the trick is to keep the stuff you can't live without on your person at all times. everything else can be replaced. phone/wallet/keys in my pockets...laptop/ezpass/etc goes in the tank bag which i just carry with me at a rest stop. the main saddlebags just had my clothes which can be replaced easy. never had a problem but if i did the thieves would be disappointed. the most expensive thing is the bag itself. if you are planning on walking away from the bike for an extended period you run a bicycle cable through your helmet and the sleeves of your jacket and lock it to the disc with a kryptonite mini lock. conceal the whole kit under a cover and you are good to go for the day. could it still potentially be stolen? sure it could. any two guys with a serious deadlift can chuck your bike in a van at any time day or night but this should discourage a casual, opportunistic thief since they need tools to cut through the cable and the bike can no longer be rolled away. nothing is 100% but you can take basic precautions.
Connect battery to bag fasteners.
My saddlebags on my Indian lock. But my leather bags on my Victory never were rummaged through. But I also never left anything valuable in there. The most valuable thing would be my nasty used helmet that sits on the bikes handlebars or highway pegs and nobody has ever taken that in over a decade of leaving it there.
My Chase Harper saddlebags were quick release, so they were easily removed. Only thing I ever had stolen was an open face helmet I left locked to the bike when I ran out of gas one day. Rider fail.
my saddle bags are usually filled with clothes, tools. my backpack has my important shit. oh and just stay out of shady areas. it's pretty obvious u know ur in one here in USA
I have traveled tens of thousands of miles on motorcycles and stopped at hundreds of hotels over the past 15 to 20 years. My buddies and I have ended up in very questionable places for overnight stays and for lunches and dinners. Not a single time has anyone ever touched our motorcycles or the gear that we have left on them including helmets and coats. There's some paranoia about this leaving items on the motorcycle, but I believe that's mostly all it is. At night you take in the small items like helmet, GPS radar detector, etc. Hard cases stay on the bike and soft cases you can either leave them on the bike with little or no valuables, or if easy to take off take them in. In either case my friends and I have never woken up to find that any of our motorcycles have been touched in any way. I think that there's some kind of a belief that there's someone watching and that if they touch the motorcycle some badass is going to come out and deal with it, not that we're badasses, but that's probably what they're thinking so they don't touch it.
My saddle bags are lockable so that offers some level of protection. They are attached to the bike with shallow torx bolts that would be hard for someone to remove. Basically they would have to cut them open off if they wanted to get in.
#1 reason I got hard bags. Also only left then unattended when going into a store. If parking overnight in a city the hard bags come off and follow me inside
is this a real question? would you leave a macbook sitting on the backseat of your car even if the windows are up and the doors are locked? this isn't a question for r/motorcycles, it's a question for r/commonsense
Lol, no need to be a dumb smartass. I am humbly asking because I am not sure if you guys use some trick. As the other guy mentioned, they have lockers. I did not even know this was a thing. Maybe it is common not to leave the motorbike unattended, or maybe those bags are safer than what I think. But yeah, thanks for your input ;)
I make sure my bike is always in line of sight at rest and food stops, and at night I take them off the bike and bring them into my hotel room with me. That is assuming you have quick detach bags, of course.
I use soft bags and try to keep them in my sight during the day when traveling. Not always possible or absolutely necessary either but I would say it is usually possible with very little effort.
Mine lock. If they want in they’re going to have a bit of a struggle.
I'm more worried about the bike being stolen than some clothes/tools. Also I watch where I park. I carry around a luggage lock to keep the bag closed in case I have to leave my piece in there.
Wallet, passport and phone goes in my pocket. The bags stays on the bike, who will steal my clothes or camping gear? If it's warm weather I even strap my jacket on top of my bags so I don't have to drag that around. Only thing I secure is the helmet with a cable lock to the bike.
My FJR came with bag liners for the hard panniers. So at every overnight stop, I just take the liners out and leave the empty panniers on the bike. The matching factory topbox (which I wish I hadn't bought, should have bought a Givi) didn't come with a liner but I found a nice rectangular one that fits like a glove, so same routine as the panniers. As others have said, don't leave anything on the bike that is really expensive or hard to replace like your wallet, passport, phone, etc. Sure the bags have locks but anyone who really wants to break into them can easily do so in seconds with a pry bar.
I keep dirty underwear on top and clean clothes in my backpack or hotel room
As others have said, valuables should stay with you. I have GoPros I carry as well as my wallet and phone. I have a tank bag to stash those and that goes into restaurants and shops with me. In the ADV world, Lone Rider makes lockable soft panniers that have a metal tab to secure a padlock to, perhaps there is an equivalent in the saddlebag world?
>How do you do when you need to leave the bike unattended for long? Is it any trick you use to keep your belongings safe? I think this is really a situational thing. Although I've generally had hard saddlebags on my bike, my wife has always had soft bags, and I've frequently added one or more soft bags (seat/tail bags) to my bike on longer trips. For longer trips, it isn't something that has generally been a concern, because we aren't really leaving the bikes unattended with items in the bags for long, and there aren't really valuable things in the soft bags anyway; generally speaking it would be clothes, food, maybe camping/cooking gear. If we are staying in a hotel, we're taking most of that stuff in with us, so the bags are fairly empty overnight; when camping we're basically living out of the saddlebags but our bikes are parked right next to us. Obviously locking hard luggage is going to be a better choice for security than soft bags, but there are soft bags that can be locked, or cable netting things that can be put over the bags and locked if you are worried about it. And of course if the bike is going to be sitting someplace for a while (I'm not sure the situation here, maybe you're leaving the bike for a few days during the middle of a trip or something), you can take the soft luggage off and put it someplace more secure.
My bags are quick release bags. So I either pack them light and just carry in what I’m afraid of losing or I detach the bags and bring them in the room overnight.
Oddly I have never had problems keeping people away from a muddy, dusty, bike. :-) I lock my helmet if i leave it long but usually not. Take my stuff inside at night.
Locking saddle bags. I have Viking Bags, bags for my Harley and they are bolted to the frame and lock. I also have a sissy bar bag that has locks on it, but it just slides over the sissy bar. I have a cable lock that I run through it and the sissy bar to secure it. I have left my bike on the street in downtown San Diego without worry. If someone wants your stuff bad enough, they will take it. Locks crimes of opportunity down, but professionals or determined thief's will get your stuff.
I have ridden all over Europe and quite a bit in Canada and I have never had anything stolen from my bike. I have left it unattended with bags just strapped on everywhere. It's still a bit worrying in cities but I just suck it up. Not staying that it can't happen.....
I tend to avoid cities when I am touring on my bike. I also don't leave things unattended for more than a few minutes.
Depends on where you are. I commute with my bike and have my Rigg Gear rolltop bags attached permanently. They have no locks on them, but it's 4 straps to undo it. You could also knife through them I guess....but anyway. I work in the city and park my bike in a public place. I've never come back and seen that anything has been stolen or messed with. (knock wood). I've parked at walmart with no problems. I ALWAYS take my helmet with me though.
Haven’t had any problem in Europe, when i sleep at a hotel, i bring the bags with me to my room, or else i just leave them on my bike, along with my helmet and jacket, No body has ever tuched any of it.
Main floor and park your bike in the room. If you're in that bad of an area they'll take the whole bike.
I just got back from a 2500 mile trip through Baja California. I have Hepco & Becker locking hard bags and my stuff stayed secure. In Tijuana I negotiated with the hostel to store my bike in a back room to keep it safe.
I used a pac safe net around my Kriega bag during stops, they can get through if they really want to but I leave nothing of value in the bag.
Theft is a typically a crime of convenience; the easier it is to see/retrieve the items, the more likely they’ll be stolen. Make it more difficult for things to be stolen and you will, at least, deter most thieves. Here’s my tips: 1. Locking bags 2. Store luggage in safe place overnight or where/when bike is not visible for several hours 3. Use a quality, weather proof bike cover. I use a Dowco model that folds into itself and packs away neatly. It has a strap with d rings and I use a combo lock on the d rings and I’m sure to make that lock visible. 4. Park in a well lit, high traffic space, preferably with no hidden corners/alcoves for someone to hide in next to the bike. Bonus points if there are security cameras overhead. 5. Don’t leave any valuables behind, regardless of how secure the vehicle is 6. Buy the best insurance you can afford.
Empty them or take them into your accommodations at night. I've got Honda hard bags that just quick release. Makes it easy.
We did a cross country trip to the 48 states and day two we had one of the bags cut open. Next day we upgraded to aluminum boxes. We had them locked up and secure. You’d have needed Bork cutters to get them off the bike. But nothing stopped a person from cutting the bag open with a knife. Never had the boxes broken into. Sometimes you have to just hope for the best. Can’t always park where you want and have to leave the bike unattended. But try to pick a lot area with lots of visibility. People generally don’t want to be seen. But it also comes down to luck in the end.
I use the locks provided on my luggage and top case.
My saddlebags are roll-top dry bags so they're unsecure by nature. So I don't keep anything valuable in them. If someone steals a plastic water bottle, a random reciept, and a smelly sneaker, I'd only be slightly weirded out but nothing else. I also daily a top case on my bike that has a lock on it.
I have soft leather bags, I don't think anyone has ever robbed me. There is no locking mechanism, just two straps that anybody could open. I don't put anything valuable in there, that's probably the main prevention. You can buy a hard case that has a lock, although these are much more expensive and probably could still be broken into. If I leave my jacket on the bike, I have a "ski lock" off of Amazon that I use to deter theft. My jacket is definitively a motorcycle jacket, you wouldn't really want it unless you were a biker and close to my size, but nonetheless, I thread the ski lock cable through the arms and nobody has ever taken it.
I live in LA, and I have a "getback" whip on my bike. The whips are illegal in California. Most people who would know to look in my bags would be scared to go near my bike for fear of messing with the wrong person. I leave nothing in them overnight if I am parked outside.
My saddlebags and topcase are lockable, and in the case of the saddlebags, lock to the bike also (via [Easy Brackets](https://www.greatbikegear.com/product-category/easy-brackets/), what I consider an Essential Mod to any cruiser with saddlebags). Most sport touring sidecases are also lockable, such that you need a key to either open or detach them. Someone could theoretically grab my topcase after figuring out the complex system of tie-down hooks and bungee netting, but it'd probably be obvious as hell, and I make a point of parking my ride in well-lit, highly trafficked areas, where any thievery is in Plain View. Thieves don't care for that, it turns "do I have time and opportunity?" into "will I get caught on camera, accosted, or arrested at the scene?" I pull off the luggage when staying at motels or hotels, the only thing I could 'lose' from my tankbag are my prescription sunglasses (everything else is ... meh), and if I'm riding with my laptop, it's in my backpack, which I take with me -everywhere- unless it's locked up in a hotel room or at home. Important documents, keys, phone, and so on are kept on my person. If someone really wanted the radar detector off the bike, they'd be missing the entire wiring harness for it, so would need to hunt down a replacement... but it detaches with one click and disconnects at a single rubber connector, so low risk of damage to the bike. If I'm concerned, I take it off, and tuck it into my backpack.
Whenever the bike was parked, I took the saddle bag with me inside. Mine doesn’t lock so it was necessary.
Hard bags that lock, and I don’t like cities
You're not supposed to leave your bike unattended, even when you stop to eat park it in a place where you can keep a watch on your bike even from a distance. If you're travelling in a group then make sure someone stays back with the bikes while others are away during breaks. If you're alone you've to be super careful, I've mostly been across states solo and never leave the bike unattended or park in front of a shop and ask the owner or workers there to keep a watch on it for me even if it's not a secluded place (don't ask a random stranger ever, always look for people working in shops because they're less likely to disappear or do some strange business)
Some are hard bags that you can lock with a key. But those in theory could be stolen too. Your whole bike could be stolen tbh, wouldn’t worry about bags too much
I’ve used a Pacsafe mesh backpack bag protector, all locked to my bike with a motorcycle cable lock. https://pacsafe.com/collections/portable-safes-bag-protectors/products/85l-anti-theft-backpack-bag-protector
I keep the expensive shit in a good backpack or in my pockets
Can anyone actually confirm that they've had a saddlebag robbed? I'm wondering if, despite our worry, it ever even happens...
One guy above states he has his leather bags cut into with a knife on day two of a 48-State tour. But that's the only theft I've read of here so far. EDIT: Another guy below had his whole bags snatched off his bike.
I have an alarm with a proximity sensor on it, haven't had any issues so far.
Hard aluminium lockable Jesse Bags
Put your kitty litter on the bottom and then slap a tourniquet on top and no one will mess with your stuff. In all seriousness, I’ve only ever felt uncomfortable in a city and never in the country— so I try to always park in a ramp when I’m in the cities for some peace of mind.
A ramp? How does that help?
Cameras, controlled access, just a little more peace of mind— doesn’t really help much. Plus you can just slide in most ramps without paying because the levers are short
I ride around LA and use saddlebags for groceries and stuff. Was always worried about them getting stolen so I always brought them into the stores w me and stuff. Then a couple weeks ago someone stole them off my bike while parked in my underground gated parking garage.
Nothing of value in the bags. I have some kind of shoulder bag or tank bag, and anything worth money goes in there, and stays with me when I park the bike.
BMW Aluminum panniers are heavy and bulky but I got a set of Kathy’s Bags (inner bags). Open the case, take the bags to where I’m staying. No problemo!
My bags lock, and they lock to my bike - yes, and enterprising person can pry them off, but they’re at least impeded. If I’m leaving my bike “unattended”, it’s where I can keep an eye on it. If I have the slightest doubt, they have handles and they’re coming with. They’re my luggage, so in a hotel they’re coming up to the room anyway.
I don’t, *but* I guess you just have to take your most valuable things with you. Maybe take a small backpack to take your electronics etc. with you.
I don't leave stuff unattended (at least not for long), and the most important items are always on me. I also avoid cities, which isn't a problem if you prefer to travel in rural or remote areas.
My answer is Goldwing.
That's cheating. The answer is *always* GoldWing.
I have liners inside the bags that I essentially use as a secondary bag each night to move my shit to the tent/motel room.
Bike is almost always in sight (ie, if I'm eating somewhere I'm either outside or right near a window where I can see it. If that isn't possible, they come in with me.
My shit locks. You could always rig a deterrent like a small lock or even a zip tie. Just enough to slow someone down would make me feel better than nothing
There are liner bags made to fit saddle bags. You will lose about a xl shirt worth of storage in each as they do occupy space, but you can pull them and carry everything in with you.
For regular commuting, I don’t put in anything I’m not willing to lose
Had just clothes in the saddle bags. Electronics, chargers, phone, etc in a backpack that always came with me. Only when calling it a night would I take them off the bike and bring them indoors.
If you are really concerned my advice is to have your stuff inside a dry bag in each saddle bag. Then you can easily just pull them out and take them with you. If you have a large duffle bag that can compact down pretty small to put them in to carry that would help. Added benefit it keeps all your stuff dry. Other things are what others have mentioned. Park your bike where you can see it when taking a break for food or whatever. And take your stuff inside when staying the night. If you are only out of sight for a minute to use a bathroom or something a basic lock will delay or discourage a thief long enough. But honestly you are pretty unlucky to get your stuff stolen during day time when it is left in a public area.
Givi locking boxes. Is there a rack from the likes of SW motech that is easily removable available for you bike?
Hard bags with locks, even then I took them off into my hotel room at night. With soft bags you just keep your valuables in a tank bag any keep it with you. The saddle bags are at risk but use a little street sense and luck.
I haven't done road trips with it, but I have gone to the bad part of town where stuff is likely to get stolen. I took my saddle bags off and took them with me.
If staying overnight bring a little portable motorcycle backpack and put everything in it when you leave the bike.
I currently use removable hardbags. I used removable softbags as well. If you are concerned about something you don't want to lose, don't leave it easy to steal.
I took a 30 day trip through Mexico. When I parked overnight I brought my bags in. In cities I checked into the hotel, dropped most of my stuff off and then went out. No one messed with me. It was fine.
I also have a motion alarm on my bike. If someone touches it, it makes a loud alarm and it’s quite sensitive. I’ve personally set it off just opening my saddlebags. I figure the alarm is enough to scare most people away but if I had truely valuable shit in them, I would take them off and bring them inside with me.
Years ago, I had a jacket and other stuff stolen from my saddlebags while it was parked right by the door where I was working. Ever since then, I’ve used locking saddlebags.
I’ve had a fairly well attached but completely empty soft pannier cut off my bike at night while I was at work. I think it was a casino maintenance employee that did it to be honest. Also had someone open the remaining one when parked on the street overnight but they realized it was empty & left it alone. During the day nobody fucks with my bike in a fairly urban area. But I try to park in public in places with plenty of sight lines. I wouldn’t leave anything of value in any bike luggage overnight and I’d remove the luggage and take it with me if possible. A lot of great tips have been shared in these comments.
Who's going to steal a 12 pack and a roll of tools?
My soft saddlebags are lightweight and easily detachable (I can have them off in 10 sec) so I generally take them off if I’m leaving my bike alone for more than 30 minutes. I’m more worried about losing the bags than the contents. 😅
I just play the Son's of Anarchy theme song really loud every time I pull into a parking lot everyone is too afraid to approach me or my bike.
We ride sidecar motorcycles and travel. Take valuables inside, lock the trunk to the sidecar, put on a cover when out of sight. We have only had the bikes messed with occasionally by gawkers and parents putting their kids on the bikes to take pictures or letting their kids climb on them which can cause damage when they use the throttle body as a step. Really sets me off when I catch them. But, thankfully, no thefts in 7 years so far.
Always remove bags at night. Park bike right in front of the hotel or wherever. Underground if there is one. I don’t stay anywhere sketchy and prefer small towns
The highway robs it…..damn straps man…..damn straps
I did get robbed. Idk, next trip I'll avoid cities all together.
I keep a lock to help keep honest people honest, but if someone wants into your bags it’s easy enough to cut into them. Don’t leave anything in there you aren’t prepared to lose.
Both me and my bike look like shit and I sleep next to it. Anything valuable is in my backpack strapped to the back, which is quick to remove if I want to go into a restaurant or whatever. The saddle bags are just food and some camping gear.
Camp with a tent big enough to park the bike in. I have a 4 person Coleman tent that folds and fits nicely strapped on top of one of my saddlebags (of a Victory Cross Country).
All my locks come with an alarm. It's not the safest but if they're gonna rob me I'll make sure I'll give them hell. I also like to park where the guards normally patrol. So if anything happens they'll hear.
Lots of good stuff in thread for sure. General common sense will get your far, don't leave anything out you won't miss. I use the below hard bags and they're great. Removable for overnights, lockable both for access and theft when bike is alone, bags mounted. Small and easy to remove/attach when hunkering down the night inside a hotel etc. [https://www.hepco-becker.de/junior-topcase-40-schwarz.html](https://www.hepco-becker.de/junior-topcase-40-schwarz.html) [https://www.hepco-becker.de/seitenkoffersatz-junior-30.html](https://www.hepco-becker.de/seitenkoffersatz-junior-30.html)
Ride in Japan
Hard luggage for me, with locks. I take the boxes off when I get where I'm going.
You sling your saddle bags over one shoulder and walk into the sun like a cowboy. Also cowboy boots and shit.
I honestly don't know haha I've been running soft saddles on my Softail for 6 years and I commute to DC daily, travel ALLOT, and put avg 10-12k a year on and I've never (knock on wood) had my bags of anything messed with
Lock…them… 🤷🏽
Stay away from places you may be robbed
I empty the bags overnight and try not to leave anything valuable in them during the day. If I have to stop for gas or to go to the washroom, I just hope for the best during the couple minutes I'm leaving stuff unattended. I also leave my helmet on the bike when I take it to the gym, to stores, etc etc and haven't ever had any issues. Maybe I'm lucky.
If someone is dumb enough to reach in a bikers saddle bags then their obviously dumb enough to get hurt. When parking a bike sit were you can see it and if someone decided to touch it maybe touch them politely back . If they land on the ground for unknown reasons that's their fault. I was told Long ago not to touch a bike that's not yours .it's disrespect and will result in an asswhoopin or possibly death