Paranoia and bike safety while traveling

[takemeaway]

This may have come up, but I have not been able to find it in previous threads. Please set me in the correct direction if you know it.

I'm starting to plan my first long distance trip with some friends and was wondering what others think, or have experienced, concerning bike safety.

The people I will be traveling with are not campers, so we will be hotel/moteling it. We will be traveling to Washington DC, so will be in urban areas. I can take the side cases in at night. The pelican trunk is bolted on, but easily emptied before walking away. I have a Zumo mount on the handlebars and few other easily removed farkles.

1) What lengths do you go to to secure your bike at night when it is out of sight?
2) Do you lock the bike to an object when you can?
3) Do you lock it to other bikes?
3a) If yes, do you lock front tires and frames or just tires? Or something else?
4) When practical, do you park/lock on the centerstand at night or the sidestand?
5) Should I be concerned about ease of wheel/rim removal? Are these stolen??

I am concerned that I am being paranoid and over-thinking this. But I come from a highly populated, large city where you guard against crime. I can't just drop that mentality while planning.

I was hoping to get your views. TIA.

[tobes]

When I first got my bike I would use a front disc lock and bike cover when traveling. Now I just lock the forks and find the best lit place to park it. Last several times I've traveled I've stayed at Best Westerns and they let me park the bike overnight in the check-in area next to the front desk. Or, I just park it outside the room. Knock on wood, I haven't had any trouble yet.

[michael Tobias]

Hi, I travel a fair amount during the warmer months and go from upstate NY as far as Miami or west thru Memphis and down thru the delta....up around the great lakes.

I usually remove everything I can when staying in a motel. I lock the front fork, put the bike on the center stand and lock the side cases. I will take in the bag liners which I use as luggage. the zumo comes off at night. the xm is mounted to a hoon mount and I usually leave it alone, take off the tank bag, wipe the bike down and cover it with a bright red bike cover and bungee that to keep it from blowing away. (This was on my K1200GT). this will be my first summer on the R12 but I don't think it will be any different. I also usually try to find a motel that has parking in front of the room. I have been known to pull the bike up on the walkway near the door, or ask to park it in the entry way near the front desk....unless there is something really strange most motels are very accomodating.

my favorite parking is at the Sheraton in downtown Nashville. the bike parking is right next to the parking kiosk...covered, guarded, and carpeted with astro turf...a very tidy place to park ;>)

I don't see anything wrong with being very careful. loosing your stuff on a trip will be a drag. there is no reason to take unnecessary chances or flaunt your goodies.

I hope your trip is a good and safe one.

[mogu83]

Naturally IMHO.
I usually travel alone and security is a concern, but not enough to stop me from going. I usually try to pick a motel ( if I'm not camping) outside of town, take a quick look around to see if you get a warm fuzzy feeling (no burned out cars, adjacent bars, people sleeping in corners), if it don't seem right it usually isn't a good place to stop.
I think the best news for Beemer riders is that the bike isn't high on the hit list for motorcycle thieves, reselling a hot bike or even the parts would be a problem considering how relatively small our community is compared to say 'The Famous American Brand' or something popular with the go-fast crowd. My major concern is vandalism, someone walking by that will twist a mirror off or scratch their name (or the name of the "Famous American Brand")in the tank.
I carry a light weight bike cover that covers the whole bike, not so much for weather protection but to hide the bike from inquiring eyes. It doesn't have to be an expensive cover, the one I carry came from WalMart, it's a full cover that is perfect for the R1200R with bags and it costs $19.95 and packs small. Usually if they can't see it (and it's obvious it's not a HD) they won't be interested in it. I also carry a 3/16 plastic coated cable about 6/8 feet long with loops on the end, if traveling with two bikes we run the cable through the frames or wheels and put a good sized lock through the loops. if the bikes are covered leave the cable and lock out where it can be seen, so there is no doubt the bikes are locked together or to something (if you elect to do that). If they are pros and they really want the bike, a cable won't stop them no matter how big it is, your just trying to scare off the amateurs. The idea is to stop them before they decide to try to move the bike. You can also use a long thin cable to secure your jacket, helmet and other riding gear if you have to leave them on the bike while your off somewhere.

Hope this is some help.

[deilenberger]

+1 on a cover. I have a Kwikover on my bike at all times. It mounts to the bike and takes about 10-15 seconds to deploy or put away. I got it originally to keep bird poop off the bike, but it serves several other good functions. "Out of sight - out of mind" - hides my tankbag and my GPS. Keeps my tankbag from sun fading/cracking (which killed about 4 different BMW bags through the years). It is just plain useful. www.kwikover.com I do take the GPS off at night, and take everything out of the bags (and leave them unlocked.) Tankbag comes off for overnight stops.

I also have been known to ask if I can park under a motel canopy (tuck it in a corner so it's out of the way of errant luggage carts and cars.) If not - I'll ask for a ground floor room near the desk where I can park the bike right outside my window. I'll try parking next to more attactive targets (Harleys, Hyubusas, 600cc sport bikes.) And as I think Harry said - if I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling from a motel, I'll keep moving until I find one I do. And if you'll feel more secure cabling the bikes together or to something -go for it. It's not hurting anything, and if you sleep better - that's a good thing.

My experience has been - with the cover on - no one even comes near to the bike. Cover off - people come over to look (and admire?) it. I've never had any problems while on the road..

YMMV - and safe roads!

[Dale_K]

I lived around DC for many years. You're at a pretty high risk IMO if you staying in the city, and only slightly less in the suburbs. Maybe call Bob's BMW and see if they have any recommendations. Possibly a BMW owner in the region will let you park it in their garage.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

Some good info...I am heading out on my first solo trip from Ontario, Canada to Rhode Island in the next couple of weeks so the timing for this thread is great for me...Although I don't have an R1200R yet (test ride this weekend) It is nice to get some travelling tips no matter what bike you are riding. It is good to know that some hotels allow the bikes to be parked near the entrance...

[takemeaway]

Everyone, THANK YOU for the great info!! It allays some of my fears...but thanks, mogu, for putting the paint scratching one in. I really like the idea of the cover and will definitely go in that direction.

@Dake_K, we'll have to stay near the city because the primary reason for traveling is for one of the group to get his foreign passport renewed. Darn...horrible reason for a long distance trip. So the sightseeing will be more along the way rather then in DC...hopefully. I think they said they have a friend that lives there. And I haven't yet heard if we will be staying at her place or not.

Thank You Again!!!

[famousperson]

I share your paranoia. I had a car broken into in Houston a few feet from the motel office's glass doors. Other than camping, my overnights with the bike have seen it on an open trailer (flame suit on!). The problem with that is that trailers have to be parked out of the way---which means not in front of the office and not in front of my room. I have the trailer locked to the truck and the bike cabled to the trailer but talk about sleepless nights! It is with a great sigh of relief when I walk out the next morning and the whole thing is still there.

If it's not on a trailer, where no matter what it is going to stick out like a sore thumb, I like the idea of a cover. I didn't know there were cheap, light-weight ones. I also think a brake disk lock would be nearly unbreakable, and would be effective if the wheel is chained (cabled) to the frame and, in addition, to a lamppost. With one of those, though, I know I'd forget to take it off at least once and prang something badly. If it isn't attached to a lamppost, nothing keeps several strong men from throwing the bike into a truck and driving off with it, locks and all (which happened to a friend of mine who stupidly left his R90S on the street one night in NYC).

Having said all that, however, my paranoia doesn't keep me from traveling. I just like it better when I'm camping and have the bike practically in the tent with me.

[lewellen]

]
The people I will be traveling with are not campers, so we will be hotel/moteling it. We will be traveling to Washington DC, so will be in urban areas. I can take the side cases in at night. The pelican trunk is bolted on, but easily emptied before walking away. I have a Zumo mount on the handlebars and few other easily removed farkles.

1) What lengths do you go to to secure your bike at night when it is out of sight?
2) Do you lock the bike to an object when you can?
3) Do you lock it to other bikes?
3a) If yes, do you lock front tires and frames or just tires? Or something else?
4) When practical, do you park/lock on the centerstand at night or the sidestand?
5) Should I be concerned about ease of wheel/rim removal? Are these stolen??

I am concerned that I am being paranoid and over-thinking this. But I come from a highly populated, large city where you guard against crime. I can't just drop that mentality while planning.

I was hoping to get your views. TIA.

1. I use a disk lock (with a cable to the handlebar so I don't forget it...) and a light-duty but full-length (and "generic") cover after it's cooled off enough. I also lock the cover under the bike.

2. Depends on the neighborhood, but generally no.

3. No.

4. Depends on the terrain, but usually the sidestand - because beemer riders put their bikes on the centerstand more than other riders. So putting it on the sidestand helps mask the fact that there's a high-dollar bike underneath. I also put on the disklock such that rolling the bike back to get it onto the centerstand is difficult at best - because it's easier to put the bike on furniture rollers or skateboards or whatever if it's on the centerstand.

5. I suppose they could be, but if they're going to go to that extend, I'd expect they'd just go for the bike.

The bottom line is, if someone wants your bike badly enough they will get it ... if by no other means than by putting the bike on furniture rollers and rolling the whole kit-and-caboodle into the back of a panel truck.

So, to me, the thing to do is to, first, buy a bike that's not in high demand for chop-shops (i.e. no sportbikes with lots of expensive plastic); hide the lines of the bike whenever possible (e.g. non-branded cover) albeit this can be hard to do with an R-series BMW; and make it inconvenient for the casual thief (e.g. disk lock, locked cover) to make an attempt.

Some people I know get ground-floor rooms and wheel their bikes into their room at night. But this might not be practical because of the R's heads; and it might make some hotel owners unhappy.

Good roads,

- John L.

[ka5ysy]

Of course, the best thing about owning a BMW is that most thieves are into stealing Harleys and various UJM's. We are low on the radar ! Lo Jack solves the rest

[kay bill c]

Do what you can to protect it but don't go over board it will drive you crazy.I travel alot never had a problem[knock on wood].I mean you can lock your doors and windows at home but if a theif really wants in their going to get in.same with a bike a set of bolt cutters a couple of pipes thru the rims most bikes can be loaded in a van in less than a minute by 4 theifs patrolling the streets. Enjoy your trip have Insurance and forget about it.

[Lost Rider]

In all my travels I've not worried about my bike, heck, for the most part I don't even remove the keys, just put my gloves over them, helmet over my GPS... Walmart, restaurants, gas stations, etc. though mostly in rural areas.
I pay a ridiculous amount for good insurance and refuse to let fear ruin my adventures, even while I was in Mexico in VERY sketchy areas.
I use common sense and park in obvious places, sometimes on sidewalks next to bike racks.
Look like a traveler, not a tourist... I think a nice and dirty bike helps with that.
DC's a rough town, and I wouldn't recommend leaving the keys in it there... just insist on parking it right in front at the hotel, take your crap inside, and have a good time.


I always thought having a nice worn in HUGE leather holster for a .44 magnum sitting empty on the seat would be a good deterrent, though in a city that might not be such a good idea.

Stop watching FOX news, be smart, and have a good time!

[LumpyCam]

In One Man Caravan Fulton rounds the globe in 1932 on a Douglas. He goes through war zones, markets, jungles, cities, and everything in between.

After a year and a half traveling the world, and just a few days from his final destination in New York, his bike gets stolen... in Texas while parked by a barn.

Be smart, safe, and get on with it. Whatever you worry about will likely be the wrong thing anyway.

[takemeaway]

So the consensus is: take precautions, don't go completely overboard and just go out and do it and have fun!!

Thank you everyone for your advice and insight with your travels. I'll let you know how it goes.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

I have heard story's of people leaving snakes on the bike or in the luggage's...
and also big empty gun holster attached to the bike.

While I myself still try to catch the guy that will install properly all my electrical add-ons
including my last model of Scorpio Alarm