Saddlebag theft...where?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
The biggest spate of thefts that I read about were at hotels and in Las Vegas. But others have reported them elsewhere. I frankly wouldn't worry about it when you go into lunch. They don't know if you are the guy standing 20 yards away. Parked over night is the biggest exposure.
I have always just parked and gone inside and my bags have always been there the next morning. But I have a trip to New Orleans in the planning stages and plan to stay downtown so I bought a set of the Brukus fasteners for a little more peace of mind. They have been sitting in my garage. But now that I am heading to the Jersey Shore this weekend, I will probably throw them on tonight.
I have always just parked and gone inside and my bags have always been there the next morning. But I have a trip to New Orleans in the planning stages and plan to stay downtown so I bought a set of the Brukus fasteners for a little more peace of mind. They have been sitting in my garage. But now that I am heading to the Jersey Shore this weekend, I will probably throw them on tonight.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 0
From: Mount Pleasant, SC
FYI - more and more dealers are carrying our products, so if you live in the area of any of the dealers listed, you can pick up the SaddlebagSecure locally. And we are adding dealers every week.
~ Monterey Harley-Davidson in Salinas, CA
~ Harley-Davidson of Victorville in Victorville, CA!
~ Killer Creek Harley-Davidson in Roswell, GA!
~ The Pit Crew, Florissant, MO!
~ Zack's V Twin Cycles in Hyde Park, NY!
~ Maxomation Motorparts in Essenbach, Germany!
~ Glendale Harley-Davidson of Glendale, CA!
~ Bartels Harley-Davidson in Marina Del Rey, CA!
~ Ventura Harley-Davidson in Camarillo, CA!
~ Orange County Harley-Davidson in Irvine, CA!
~ Quaid Harley-Davidson in Loma Linda, CA!
~ Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, CA!
~ Kutter Harley-Davidson in Janesville, WI!
~ Renegade Classics Biker Outlet in Middle River, MD
~ Las Vegas Harley-Davidson in Las Vegas, NV!
~ Hall's Harley-Davidson in Springfield, IL
~ Wild Prairie Harley-Davidson in Eden Prairie, MN!
~ Oakland Harley-Davidson in Oakland, CA!
~ Barger Harley-Davidson in Canoga Park, CA!
~ California Harley-Davidson in Harbor City, CA!
~ Santa Maria Harley-Davidson in Santa Maria, CA!
~ Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson in Lancaster, CA!
~ Folsom Harley-Davidson in Folsom, CA!
~ Chester's Harley-Davidson in Mesa, AZ!
~ Trev Deeley Motorcycles in Vancouver, BC!
~ Low Country Harley-Davidson in Charleston, SC!
~ Monterey Harley-Davidson in Salinas, CA
~ Harley-Davidson of Victorville in Victorville, CA!
~ Killer Creek Harley-Davidson in Roswell, GA!
~ The Pit Crew, Florissant, MO!
~ Zack's V Twin Cycles in Hyde Park, NY!
~ Maxomation Motorparts in Essenbach, Germany!
~ Glendale Harley-Davidson of Glendale, CA!
~ Bartels Harley-Davidson in Marina Del Rey, CA!
~ Ventura Harley-Davidson in Camarillo, CA!
~ Orange County Harley-Davidson in Irvine, CA!
~ Quaid Harley-Davidson in Loma Linda, CA!
~ Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, CA!
~ Kutter Harley-Davidson in Janesville, WI!
~ Renegade Classics Biker Outlet in Middle River, MD
~ Las Vegas Harley-Davidson in Las Vegas, NV!
~ Hall's Harley-Davidson in Springfield, IL
~ Wild Prairie Harley-Davidson in Eden Prairie, MN!
~ Oakland Harley-Davidson in Oakland, CA!
~ Barger Harley-Davidson in Canoga Park, CA!
~ California Harley-Davidson in Harbor City, CA!
~ Santa Maria Harley-Davidson in Santa Maria, CA!
~ Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson in Lancaster, CA!
~ Folsom Harley-Davidson in Folsom, CA!
~ Chester's Harley-Davidson in Mesa, AZ!
~ Trev Deeley Motorcycles in Vancouver, BC!
~ Low Country Harley-Davidson in Charleston, SC!
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Streamwood, IL
flhr.
basically all you need is a screwdriver, and you can get the stock fasterers off in seconds without opening the bag.
for me, its 1/2 security 1/2 less way they can fall off, 1/2 that one of my pins was MIA.
the kits are 27 shipped from bruckus.
or 10ish for the parts.
the bruckus is a good deal. if i wernet broke, i prob would have just bought the kit.
basically all you need is a screwdriver, and you can get the stock fasterers off in seconds without opening the bag.
for me, its 1/2 security 1/2 less way they can fall off, 1/2 that one of my pins was MIA.
the kits are 27 shipped from bruckus.
or 10ish for the parts.
the bruckus is a good deal. if i wernet broke, i prob would have just bought the kit.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 0
From: Mount Pleasant, SC
There was a band of thieves caught in the Phoenix, AZ area because a customer had our SaddlebagSecure on his bike. Several were having lunch and someone came in and said they thought someone was messing with the bikes. They ran out and there was one guy driving the van and 2 other guys popping the bags off. But they got hung up trying to get our customer's bags off.
I actually came up with this idea (which is patented, by the way) back when riding to Miami, as I was concerned for the pins bending and breaking and I saw how easily they could be popped off.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
I used 3/8's hardware.
It was snug, but seemed more secure. I also used
a variety. 2 reg bolts, 1 allen & 1 torx. I also put locking
nuts on two of em.
I am also considering changing the 1/4-20 bolts that ATT
the L-shaped brtks the bags att to. That way they can't be
removed W/O the bags being off. I'll use torx or something.
As it is, someone could remove the whole thing brkts & all
with a 7/16 wrench - or a crescent.
If they want the damn bags bad enough, they'll get em -
but may as well make it difficult.
It was snug, but seemed more secure. I also used
a variety. 2 reg bolts, 1 allen & 1 torx. I also put locking
nuts on two of em.
I am also considering changing the 1/4-20 bolts that ATT
the L-shaped brtks the bags att to. That way they can't be
removed W/O the bags being off. I'll use torx or something.
As it is, someone could remove the whole thing brkts & all
with a 7/16 wrench - or a crescent.
If they want the damn bags bad enough, they'll get em -
but may as well make it difficult.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
If you go the Brukus kit (I recommend them, I have them and they are great) make sure you get the Brukus seat bolt also. I think seats getting stolen would be as much an issue as saddlebags, and easier to do. Those Brukus saddlebag bolts will also prevent you from worrying about the bags falling off while riding. Of course you still have to secure the lid, which I forgot one time and some guy driving next to me told me about my lid flopped open......
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Found some nice SS allen head cap screws and the u-nuts at Ace - works dandy. Not sure why we'd worry about a torx, or tamper proof bolt within the bag.
Last edited by ColoSpgsMark; May 23, 2013 at 01:45 PM.
Supporter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 147
From: Grays Creek, NC
If you go to this link for our SaddlebagSecure, you will see the video my wife took of me removing my bags from the outside of my Road King. This was my 3rd try, only because the video wasn't right - and I am NOT a thief. A local HOG president in San Fransisco had his bags stolen and when he called the police, he said thieves have them off in 15 seconds.
There was a band of thieves caught in the Phoenix, AZ area because a customer had our SaddlebagSecure on his bike. Several were having lunch and someone came in and said they thought someone was messing with the bikes. They ran out and there was one guy driving the van and 2 other guys popping the bags off. But they got hung up trying to get our customer's bags off.
I actually came up with this idea (which is patented, by the way) back when riding to Miami, as I was concerned for the pins bending and breaking and I saw how easily they could be popped off.
There was a band of thieves caught in the Phoenix, AZ area because a customer had our SaddlebagSecure on his bike. Several were having lunch and someone came in and said they thought someone was messing with the bikes. They ran out and there was one guy driving the van and 2 other guys popping the bags off. But they got hung up trying to get our customer's bags off.
I actually came up with this idea (which is patented, by the way) back when riding to Miami, as I was concerned for the pins bending and breaking and I saw how easily they could be popped off.