Sticky Fingers: How to Keep Your Gear from Getting Lifted
H-D Forum members provide expert advice and suggestions to new riders on how to keep your helmet and other gear safe from thieves during long road trips.
If you own a motorcycle, you’re already familiar with the scenario: You set off on a long road trip and need to devise creative ways to keep your gear from getting stolen along the way. It takes some strategy to deter thieves from nabbing your helmet or other loose gear from your Harley-Davidson motorcycle during those random pit stops along the way when you have to be away from your ride for a random amount of time.
Fortunately, most H-D Forums members have faced and conquered this age-old road-trip dilemma faced by newbies. And quite a few H-D Forum members have come to the rescue of new member Daron J., who is the OP behind this must-read thread for two- (or three-) wheeled road warriors:
“I’m about to leave on my first longish ride for 7 to 10 days,” writes Daron. “I’ll be riding alone and I’m wondering what others do with their helmets, dry bags and such (that can’t be locked) while you are away from your bike [to keep them safe from thieves].”
Also See: H-D Forums: Motorcycle Helmet Lock: Why You Need One
Daron launched the thread on March 25, and he’s already got over a dozen people offering some Sage advice. Of course a few members immediately replied with the first rule of starting out on your first big road trip and that’s the suggestion of picking up a helmet lock before you go.
The invaluable thread becomes a conversation between members of varying riding experience who really do provide a well-rounded response already with just the early replies that came through in the Forum. Some members said they never had a problem with theft from their bikes and now there’s a real Aid scenarios where they did have to be extra careful the cross spectrum of different experiences provides a good background of information for those who are going to start out on a road trip and are new to their Harley.
Also See: H-D Forums: Best Way to Lock Up Bike?
And if you’re new to riding and it suggested to pick up a hammerlock you might need some guidance from those who have learned creative ways of how to use that helmet lock to also secure other parts of your gear from your dry bag to your jacket it’s all there in the forms many different creative suggestions and how to keep your gear safe
“I’ll use one of these PACSafe locks for my helmet or through my jacket sleeves to secure my jacket” writes lmar. “I never had an issue in 46 years of riding. But I do secure my gear on the bike.”
Ultimate HDF Member 2AMGuy smartly suggests planning ahead before you leave and as soon as you put the kickstand down at your destination.
Also See: H-D Forums: How Do You Secure/Lock Your Helmet?
“I try to get into a motel before too late in the evening and unload the bike in case I may have to ride somewhere for dinner, shopping, etc.,” says 2AMGuy.
Planning your own road trip soon now that the snow is thawing? Check out Daron J.’s thread for a reliable road-trip guide from experienced HOG members from across the country and around the world.
Photos: from the H-D Forums, including images by Bike Boy, GWinkleman and Mongomark
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