we stopped in a couple of sketchy areas last summer, I locked my bags, some of the others did not. Either way it didn't appear either time anyone touched anything.

 

When I used to go to the Street Vibrations rally in Reno Nevada there were groups that would come in a Uhaul and steal the whole saddlebags and tourpacks....pretty much an organized theft ring. The hotels bragged about security and had roped off areas just for bikes but there was still a lot of theft. I remember one year I stayed at a hotel that bragged about having the safest bike parking...check the Reno crime log a week later and they had more thefts than any other hotel.

Damn I miss Virginia City on a Street Vibe Saturday. If you know, you know lol.

 

That's great!
But me, having lived most of my life in NYC, you develop the instinct that ANYTHING can be STOLEN ANYTIME, ANYPLACE ANYWHERE!!!
It's like a sickness.......but a good one I suppose.
I do carry a nice array of tools, an air compressor, flashlight, extra long sleeve shirt and a few other "survival" items that, should they be stolen would really make me unhappy.
As for guns.......I'll almost always keep it on my person regardless of the venue.
And I did replace the original bag pins for screw in bolts.
Far more secure and will add a little extra time to someone's theft attempt.

 

I hear ya and I agree.
But how far do you take that cavalier attitude?
Your ride is "just a thing" too.
Would you just blow it off if you came out of your domicile and found your bike/car gone?
I wouldn't be suicidal if my stuff got stolen.
But damn man.......I work hard for my $ and I spend time choosing the things I want to buy.
And some SOB is just gonna take my ****!!!!
I dont think so!

 

Let's stick to the topic. This is not a political soapbox and nobody will be persuaded or change their mind.

 

Bags on a bike have never been any more secure than a ragtop car. If someone wants in it's not hard. A van and 43 or 4 guys can take your bike just as quickly as breaking into your bags.
No mine have never been broken into, but there are places I wouldn't leave my bikes, Jeep, or my old Vette. As far as the firearm, it stays on my side, in the bag does no good. Not political - Fact.

 

Agreed, it is really not too bothersome to lock, and unlock the bags to prevent someone from (easily) stealing your ****.

LOL I do wish I was at a life stage financially where anything that I might value need not be of any concern. I mean, that digital camera that my wife likes to take pictures with when we ride up into the mountains can just be replaced

 

So far never, but at night in hotel lot I remove everything of value.

 

I've never had my bike molested. If I'm not within eye sight of it the ignition is locked. Also used a disk lock, until I lost the key for it. lol
I don't typically leave my helmet on the bike without locking it with a small cable. Also use a ski lock cable and run it through the arms of my jacket and around the front wheel if I don't feel like carryingit around.
Several years ago we were at Americade in Lake George, NY. We spent a couple of hours at the vendors area and when I returned to the bike my camera was still
sitting on the seat. There must have been hundreds of people walk by the bike and yet there sat my camera hours later.

 

Lock my bags? Rarely even lock the ignition unless overnighting. Never leave much of value in the bags to worry about.