BassAgent
2014-07-11 05:23:00 UTC
I'll start off by saying that anytime I go somewhere, and am unable to see my bike through a window or something, I start to worry if someone might roll up and take my bike away.
The most common occurrence is when I go to see a movie. That's at least 2 hours (or more) of the bike just sitting out in the parking lot without me being able to see it at all. I really stress out hard over whether or not it may still be there when I come back out.
Am I being rational in always being worried that my bike might get stolen?
How do you guys feel about this?
Do you have certain limits as to how long you will leave your bike parked and unattended?
Share your experience/thoughts please
Colonel_Klinck
2014-07-11 05:35:00 UTC
BassAgent
2014-07-11 05:37:00 UTC
jaycee
2014-07-11 05:41:00 UTC
I've only had one attempted theft and a sharp-eyed taxi driver chased them off. Still fooked my ignition barrel and steering locks though.
bic_bicknell
2014-07-11 07:19:00 UTC
Mostly now I ride in ways that doesn't require I leave the bike. Trackdays, rideouts, short trips shopping that only mean the bike is left for minutes, not hours. If I need to leave the bike for hours or overnight then I have to take along a big chain and lock as well as the disc lock to make myself feel easy. And I also take a lightweight cover so the bike is not visible to opportunistic thieves. I has sort of spoiled my enjoyment of biking over the years. I hate that feeling as you come round the corner expecting it to be gone and then the relief when it's still there. My bike is worth way more than the insurance would pay out for so if it goes it's a lot of financial loss. I'd never replace it or want to replicate what I've achieved over the last 6 years.
I'm glad I don't commute on it everyday. I used to. That's when these bikes are most at risk I think, a known bike arriving every day in the same place. And you get a bit sloppy when it's routine and forget to do the whole security thing all the time. It's so much hassle. (And an Almax chain weighs a ton to carry about with you all the time!)
In some ways the only consolation of an aging bike is that as the years go by the '07 Superduke is dropping from the 'desirable bike to steal' list and there are loads more bikes that are more attractive - both to the professional gangs and opportunistic joyriders. The fact that mine is starting to show signs of general wear and use means that it just doesn't have the appeal and is more likely to be overlooked. I always try and park up next to bigger, newer, shinier bikes so they would be targeted first!
Mackie
2014-07-11 09:17:00 UTC
At home on my driveway I just use steering look and pull the key unless I'm going away.
locked garage, disc lock, sisters family nextdoor and the big almax chain if I'm going away for a long time.
On parkinglots I'm just worried about stupid parents who think it's ok to place their offspring on others property.
fatbob
2014-07-11 09:18:00 UTC
But the sad truth is, if they really want your bike they will get it, no matter what. If they are professional bike thief they will find a way of taking your pride and joy, and there is very little you can do about it.
Having a good insurance helps, but as we all know it's never a 100% of what she is worth.
I read somewhere recently that around 20.000 bikes are stolen in the UK alone, and only around 8000 is recovered. Scary, right?
WhiteSoul
2014-07-11 10:50:00 UTC
Aphex
2014-07-11 11:59:00 UTC
Like all of you, I don't use it everyday, so if it's stolen when parking in the street, it's by an opportunist thief...
Stratkat
2014-07-11 14:23:00 UTC
Where do you put your lid? Do you stick it to the floor covered in slurpee and popcorn?
I'm fortunate enough that my bike never has to be left outside. It's in the garage at home and in the garage at work, if I'm going out some where and can't park it where I can see it I'll just take my car. No one wants to steal that piece of shit.
Either way, if some one wants your bike bad enough they'll get it. That's why I have full coverage, my boss had a really nice 1958 Hydra-Glide it was parked at a popular bar. The thieves moved other bikes out of the way to get to his and load it into their van
AGRO!
2014-07-11 14:56:00 UTC
ktmguy
2014-07-11 16:47:00 UTC
BassAgent
2014-07-11 18:23:00 UTC
That said, I'll probably not sleep well tonight worrying about it going missing by morning.
AGRO!
2014-07-12 01:30:00 UTC
I won't even ride the SD to the shops. When I go to the shops I take the car.
MADDOG53
2014-07-12 07:03:00 UTC
Post missing.
ktmguy
2014-07-12 07:21:00 UTC
scamb66
2014-07-12 07:42:00 UTC
Post missing.
ktmguy
2014-07-12 15:43:00 UTC
Sean
2014-07-13 01:56:00 UTC
Post missing.
AGRO!
2014-07-13 12:23:00 UTC
Leave the bike where ever and usually dont even bother locking it.
At home it just sits in a unlocked garage, even left the keys in for 8 days when I went away.
BTW none of you guys know where I live, right???
AGRO!
2014-07-14 08:51:00 UTC
Post missing.
Mackie
2014-07-14 08:53:00 UTC
Post missing.
Mr_Trecolareco
2014-07-14 08:58:00 UTC
but i don't usually take it when going to stay in somewhere for long periods of time.
take it for a ride, go for a coffee or lunch here is usually no problem.
Sean
2014-07-15 04:58:00 UTC
Post missing.
ebags
2014-07-16 14:40:00 UTC
SDNerd
2014-07-19 00:23:00 UTC
81forest
2014-07-19 00:46:00 UTC
Most days it's parked on the walk in front of the office - all day - as often as not, with the key in the ignition.
Want it bad enough? Come and get it.
If did that on say, a GSX-R, it would be gone by the second day.