Solo Cruiser run - security?

[Mfidget]

I'm taking a long, looping run through the southern California - Arizona deserts in a few weeks. I'll be staying at least a night or two in highway motels. What do you do to make sure the motorcycle is still there in the morning?

I'm obviously going to lock the forks, but what other precautions are reasonable? That is, a balance between security and the small amount of storage space I'll have available on the road.

I don't really want to schlep around a huge motorcycle cable, but not sure what a lower weight alternative might be.

Any ideas?

----Mfidget

[Trapper]

I've thought about this and I think I came up with the best idea ever. Bring along some fishing line. To one end tie a couple of tin cans for noise adn put themin the room. On the other end tie it to your bike. Cheapskate alarm. This will only work if you are in a ground floor room and you can park outside the window. Don't take it down the elevator. hehe

[Firedog]

You could get a disc lock.. Just be sure to remove it before attempting to go. One thing, however, if you meet a determined thief, your bike will be gone regardless of the security...

[tlwisner]

Just leaving San Diego should make your bike more secure according to Progressive Insurance statistics...

[Atlas68]

Just to take Trappers suggestion a step further, if you ARE on the ground floor...(looks left, looks right) bring it in the room with you. No kidding.

[BlaznBlu]

I put a Gorilla alarm on my bike.
$60, easy to install, visible LED above indicator cluster, and easier to ride with than an actual gorilla.

[blackie1491]

Use a good disc lock and a alarm.
You can get a cover, with a carry pouch, at Wal-mart for a few bucks.
Out of sight out of mind.

[Colorado Cajun]

First floor motel room and park it at the foot of your bed.

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by BlaznBlu50

I put a Gorilla alarm on my bike.
$60, easy to install, visible LED above indicator cluster, and easier to ride with than an actual gorilla.

But I LIKE the idea of having a gorilla riding 2up with me on the bike! LOL

--

Seriously, get a ground floor room, take the bike in with you and park it over a cloth or small tarp or something similar so the management can't get mad at you if (by chance) something happens to drip off the bike. That way the carpet won't get stained and you can't get charged for cleaning or replacing it.

[stp1971]

I put a disc lock on my front and my rear discs. If you can get it in the room all the better. Also put it next to something as to where you turn the handlebars and lock them it will roll into the wall or whatever. Then us the front and rear disc locks if you have them.

[hammersfan]

Buddy of mine stayed at a flea bit motel for daytona bike week, took his bike into the room with him ! Its a big Harley as well !
I like Trappers idea as well (smart fellows those maritimers )

[MYC50T]

Definately use the fork lock, disc locks work, just don't forget about them, an alarm is good, a cover on the bike with a lock helps (if they can't see the bike it becomes less desireable than one that can be seen), there's also this I found ▼
http://www.grip-lock.com/
Put all these things together and the bike is more secure for the simple reason it is more compicated to get into a rideable state, although that is also true for the owner of the bike, but heh, we would go to the ends of the earth to protect our baby, right

[svjoe]

disk lock..............amen!!!!!!!

[DS06C50T]

I'm doing a 3-dayer in July from my home in CenCal through Yosemite Park to Mammoth Lakes. If I can't get the bike inside my motel room, I'm taking a monster chain/lock. If parked outside overnight, my bike will be among 6-8 other bikes (including HD's and Goldwings), so hopefully mine won't look like candy compared to the others!

I'm sure not going to let the worry ruin my trip though, that's for sure...

Enjoy your trip,
Daryl

[Cliff]

So far, my plans for the summer are to ride from eastern Virginia to St. Louis, then Denver (stay for a few days) and then to the Grand Canyon with the same return path.

I'll be stopping at a KOA campground near St Louis, so I will have a disk lock on the bike and the bike locked to a tree or pole somewhere close to my tent. I have a very small tent, but perhaps if I had a big tent I could just park the bike inside with me!

Some people have said I should take my pistol with me for a "just in case" event, but I said I didn't think it was a good idea. LOL

[DS06C50T]

Originally Posted by Cliff

So far, my plans for the summer are to ride from eastern Virginia to St. Louis, then Denver (stay for a few days) and then to the Grand Canyon with the same return path.

Some people have said I should take my pistol with me for a "just in case" event, but I said I didn't think it was a good idea. LOL

Cliff:

Wow, that sounds like alot of saddle time. That St. Louis to Denver stretch is a long one. Just a thought: instead of returning via the same path, why not take a different route so you can see more and not the same thing again? I'd take I-40 out of Arizona straight across Arizona, NM, north TX, OK, AR, to the 81 and back into eastern VA. In other words, make a loop so you can see more country. You'll see twice the number of states that way!

Either way, I'm envious of your trip. Have a safe journey. Leave the gun at home with the gun lock on it, ammo separate, locked away from harm's way. though the 2nd Amendment exists, you never know what laws exist from state-to-state and god forbid you get pulled over and searched. You don't need to tarnish your trip with valuable time wasted in custody while the local cops decide if they should retain you or release you. Avoid that whole ugly scenario altogether. Besides, what are you going to do, shoot someone for stealing your bike? Just isn't worth it...

Have a great trip, relax and enjoy!

Best,
Daryl

[DrBob]

I have travelled to all 48 lower states by motorcycle, being on the road alone for weeks at a time. Never had a problem. The VS800 fits very easily in the door of a fist-floor hotel. If you can't get a room with an outside, ground floor entrance, a short cable lock from the front wheel to the exhaust pipe is enought to discourage most attemps. During the day use it to secure your pack to the sissy bar, so it won;t take any storage space. Park right outside a window, even if it is not YOUR window, so the would-be thief is under the impression you are watching the bike.
A buddy works for a major insurance company, helping to set the rates for motorcycles by sorting through the data on thefts, accidents, etc. He claims 95% of all motorcycle that are stolen are a result of the owner making NO ATTEMPT AT ALL to secure the bike. So ANY lock or alarm will go a long way towards making them steal something else.

[robertc729]

Originally Posted by DS06C50T

Cliff:

Leave the gun at home with the gun lock on it, ammo separate, locked away from harm's way. though the 2nd Amendment exists, you never know what laws exist from state-to-state and god forbid you get pulled over and searched.

I have the right to carry a gun, I own a gun, and I carry my gun to 95% of places I travel to. I don't worry about cops, it's never concealed.

[DS06C50T]

Originally Posted by robertc729

I have the right to carry a gun, I own a gun, and I carry my gun to 95% of places I travel to. I don't worry about cops, it's never concealed.

I guess I'm just erring on the side of caution. Any cop who see's a gun on someone will draw down on them, prone them out, relieve them of their gun and once their safety is satisfied, THEN they will look into whether or not you have a CCW permit or the local/state laws allow guns to be worn... even in plain sight. That's how it is in CA anyhow. Guess it's different in KY.

[DrBob]

Most things are different in the People's Republic of California. That's why I live in the South.

I carry 95% of the time, including %100 of the time at work: a .25 semi-auto goes in a wallet holster in my back pocket. About 80% of the time when I ride, and about 50% of the time overall, I also have a 9mm in a shoulder holster.