Hotel parking question
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 767
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
RE: Hotel parking question
As I rode toward Memphis I heard there was a lot of theft there. It seemed every gas stop someone asked where I was heading and I heard about theft. I stayed at a hotel near Beall Street. Some years ago a friend's van was broken into near Beall Street, adding to my paranoia. So at the hotel with a parking garage I felt safe just being in the garage. I couldn't get the gate to go up on my way in, so I rode around the gate. I parked on an end spot, as close to the wall as I could get so it was less likely to get hit from a car on the side.
Many little hotels the desk clerks tell me, without me asking, to park where they can see it from the window.
I have parked with the back wheel against a curb and the front wheel cranked into another curb with the forks locked.
The dad of a friend who got me into Harleys before I had a license said "everyone" who doesn't put the bike in the room parks right in front of theirroom,ties fishing line to the bike, snakes the line under the door, and ties it to something fragile that will be loud if it falls, like the TV or a lamp. Should the bike move while your sleeping, (assuming the crooks don't see the line) the crashing furniture will wake you up.
I've never done that. I can tell you, it's one of the lessons that tought me to never touch someone's bike. Old Man Miller always carried, and even drunk he could do some damage. I would hate to have even bumped his bike in the middle of the night as I know he would shoot first and ask questions later.
May not be the best idea, but I never heard of one of his bikes going missing.
(The only time I, or his only son EVER touched that bike is when the old man "let" us wash it.)
Oh, and to electraRICK, you might be encouraging someone to burn your bike to the ground to remove the image.
Many little hotels the desk clerks tell me, without me asking, to park where they can see it from the window.
I have parked with the back wheel against a curb and the front wheel cranked into another curb with the forks locked.
The dad of a friend who got me into Harleys before I had a license said "everyone" who doesn't put the bike in the room parks right in front of theirroom,ties fishing line to the bike, snakes the line under the door, and ties it to something fragile that will be loud if it falls, like the TV or a lamp. Should the bike move while your sleeping, (assuming the crooks don't see the line) the crashing furniture will wake you up.
I've never done that. I can tell you, it's one of the lessons that tought me to never touch someone's bike. Old Man Miller always carried, and even drunk he could do some damage. I would hate to have even bumped his bike in the middle of the night as I know he would shoot first and ask questions later.
May not be the best idea, but I never heard of one of his bikes going missing.
(The only time I, or his only son EVER touched that bike is when the old man "let" us wash it.)
Oh, and to electraRICK, you might be encouraging someone to burn your bike to the ground to remove the image.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 883
Likes: 2
From: Clearwater, FL
RE: Hotel parking question
ORIGINAL: JB
One more step a light weight that says Honda.
One more step a light weight that says Honda.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
From: Davenport, Iowa
RE: Hotel parking question
Ive stayed a few times in hotels. first time they let me park right by the front door under the canopy where the front desk clerk could see it. Got real lucky the other time and there was a HD store nextdoor, I went over and asked the manager, they let me park inside thier service door & I picked it up when they open next morning
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
RE: Hotel parking question
ASK ASK ASK the manager, if necessary, BEG BEG, BEG.
The cover is absolutly key, and some up-front tipping will help with any valet.
If you're like me, you won't sleep well.
Don't go nuts with cable-locks, if they want it, it is gone.
Daytona has been using bait-bikes for a couple of years (bait-trailers too), and several officers I have spoken with were simply amazed how fast bikes are lifted and gone. The bait bikes have LoJack installed and thieves are rounded up pretty quickly. The pros keep thelocks intack, they roll the stolen bike on make-shift dollies up ramps into panel vans.
Bait bikes are typically deployed in those large parking garages, open lots, and un-lit side streets.
The data isn't out yet for this year's Daytona Bike Week, but Biketoberfest last year; there were something like 21 arrests for grand theft (combined bike & trailer stats).
When parking at hotels I also look for where the video cameras are mounted and ask at the desk if they's check their monitors. I'm friends with several LEOs and it is amazing to me that car-theft (in general) is not their highest priority on a busy call night.
Remember, you are smarter than the dopes doing this, so just out-witt them.
[sm=bustedsign.gif]
The cover is absolutly key, and some up-front tipping will help with any valet.
If you're like me, you won't sleep well.
Don't go nuts with cable-locks, if they want it, it is gone.
Daytona has been using bait-bikes for a couple of years (bait-trailers too), and several officers I have spoken with were simply amazed how fast bikes are lifted and gone. The bait bikes have LoJack installed and thieves are rounded up pretty quickly. The pros keep thelocks intack, they roll the stolen bike on make-shift dollies up ramps into panel vans.
Bait bikes are typically deployed in those large parking garages, open lots, and un-lit side streets.
The data isn't out yet for this year's Daytona Bike Week, but Biketoberfest last year; there were something like 21 arrests for grand theft (combined bike & trailer stats).
When parking at hotels I also look for where the video cameras are mounted and ask at the desk if they's check their monitors. I'm friends with several LEOs and it is amazing to me that car-theft (in general) is not their highest priority on a busy call night.
Remember, you are smarter than the dopes doing this, so just out-witt them.
[sm=bustedsign.gif]
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Nov 21, 2005 07:41 PM
