Traveling with items on your luggage rack

[Thomkm]

Wife and I are planning some road trips this summer. We were wondering what everybody does with the items u have strapped on your luggage rack when to stop for a break.

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

For certain is my cane/crutch. I have to have that everywhere I go

[Lakeman]

I guess you could always use a bicycle chain/cable lock. Just make it a little difficult to get at it. Have it in a bag so no one can see what it is. You could get a trailer.

[Jakeboy]

I've never had a problem in all the years I've been riding. I make sure not to place anything in view that might be attractive. It's a good idea to put your things in a duffle of some sort if for nothing else than protection from the weather.

My valuable stuff (camera, lap top computer, diamond pinkie rings, etc., are carried in the lockable compartments.

[GARYD]

I'm with Jake. In all the years I've been traveling, I've never had a problem with theft. When I put something on the tour pak rack with a bungie net. I thread the hooks through the webbing and the rack so that it will be time consumming to get it off.....unless someone just cuts the net.

I've even forgot my GPS a few times and nobody stole it.

I think a smart thief would think that there is only shirts and socks in the bag and not worth stealing. Who in their right mind would put something valuable in a bag on top of a bike?
Fortunately I ride solo so I have all my valuable stuff in the tour pak or trunk and clothes in a Saddleman Ultra seat bag.

If I was you, I wouldn't worry about it. Unless your carrying that gaudy Christmas sweater your Aunt Bessie gave you for which you HAVE TO WEAR every Christmas. LOL

[IBTRIKED]

I am getting siren 2 for just that reason. Any movement it chirps and flashes which will scare off most scum bags. Further movement gives full siren and pages me.Unless you park in a bad area this should do it. Ray

[Memnoch451]

My valuable stuff, diamond pinkie rings, etc., are carried in the lockable compartments.

I laughed out loud at this one.

[Bruce]

We've been traveling for years on a bike and trike and never had any problems -- just for piece of mind I always park where I can keep an eye on it.

[screwball]

I'll second, third, and fourth most of the above. Wife and I have traveled extensively on motorcycles and trikes. Never had a problem with anything disappearing. We try and park the scoots where we can see them, not always possible. We have left the GPS, MP3 players, and even the Go Pro cameras mounted. Probably the worst problem you will have is trying to leave with several 'looky-loos' standing around your trike asking questions. We pulled into a highway rest stop one day and she was mobbed by a bus full of Asian tourists wanting pictures standing next to the white lady on the "Harrey"

You are going to have SOOOooooo much fun!!!

[TNTriker]

I'll second, third, and fourth most of the above. Wife and I have traveled extensively on motorcycles and trikes. Never had a problem with anything disappearing. We try and park the scoots where we can see them, not always possible. We have left the GPS, MP3 players, and even the Go Pro cameras mounted. Probably the worst problem you will have is trying to leave with several 'looky-loos' standing around your trike asking questions. We pulled into a highway rest stop one day and she was mobbed by a bus full of Asian tourists wanting pictures standing next to the white lady on the "Harrey"

You are going to have SOOOooooo much fun!!!

Agree...Since I ride solo, I have a T bag that I use also and put it on the sissy bar and it sits on the passenger seat. I also put my camra bag in front of it cruched between the T bag and the rider seat. I use one of those stretchy things that cover all the stuff and it hooks on at different places. That is to keep it from jaring off during riding, not necessarily for protection from thiefs. What do you call those things, it's kinda like a net, but it's like a bungee? I don't know what things are called, I just know what they do and what I want. LOL That's funny about the Asian tourists...Most of the tourist you see around here like that...they run from you thinking you are some kind of wacko! We do our traveling in long distances in the toyhauler now, so don't have to worry about all the stuff, but I still carry the stretchy thingy, you just never know when you want to buy something that you have to get back to the RV! LOL

[Oldmsocko]

I have never had an issie but I pack it with items that if stolen would be easily replaced. Shoes, shaving kit, blow drier, etc.

[msocko3]

We pulled into a highway rest stop one day and she was mobbed by a bus full of Asian tourists wanting pictures standing next to the white lady on the "Harrey"

Your right, you do get a lot of questions when you stop some place.

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Your right, you do get a lot of questions when you stop some place.

LOL, had the same thing happen back in 2008 @ the Hoover Dam. There were 2 bus loads of Japanese tourist. My buddies and I were there for almost an hour. I got a idea of what famous people can go through.... not for me.

[Guido Gonzeaux]

The only thing I ever lost on a bike trip was a helmet I forgot on the passenger seat. The considerate thief pulled my gloves and goggles out of the helmet and left them on the handle bars. This was in Nashville and a local policeman escorted me to a place to buy a replacement.

Actually always considered this my fault for leaving it unsecured.

[Ozarkryder]

Was out in Sturgis a few years back, parked along the curb along the main street. Ran in to a shop to see how my brother in law was doing with a new tat.
Talked to my sister for a while, then we got bored and wandered off. Got back to the bike a few hours later, and the camera (SLR) was still on the seat, but in a plastic bag with a note saying someone had bagged the camera when it started to sprinkle. One scumbag can ruin a day, but the good coming out in people like this is remembered for years.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't take a few precautions to protect your stuff - we lock most in the trunks or trailer if it is along, and we have a bag for the luggage rack we lock to the trike and lock closed if we are out of sight of the trike.

[cpt logger]

Times All of the above!!

My wife and I have been on bikes for over 25 years now and have NEVER had anything stolen from any of them. Of course it helps that I am big and ugly! Did I mention I am mean also!?!

Like others, I leave nothing of value in plain sight. I would not worry about it.

IHTH Matt W.

[Bikerbozo]

For some bags strapped to outside, I carry a Ski-Lock. This is a retractable metal cable usually with a 3 or 4 number thumb lock. Compact, easy to carry, easy to use. not major security, but just enough.
That said, I had a Rubber Chicken stolen off a bike once at a Motel 6 (can't make this stuff up) on the way out to Sturgis. NOTHING get's stolen at Sturgis as someone else pointed out.

[Rick Kay]

I call items like an iPod, GPS, or phone an "attractive nusance". They will get your vehicle broken into quicker than you can bat an eye. I never leave them exposed to prying eyes, even in my truck or car. Same goes for leathers on the bike. I put everything away, and only leave the helmets out of locked storage when we are not with the vehicle. Sorry, but working in southwest Detroit will do that to you...

[GARYD]

TNTriker, I call it a "bungie net" or just cargo net - bikers will know what you mean.

Guido, I've never had my helmet stolen because as soon as I get one I scratch it up a lot. Nobody is going to steal a beat up helmet.

It may look ugly, but I don't have to carry it with me or lock it up someplace.

[Guido Gonzeaux]

TNTriker, I call it a "bungie net" or just cargo net - bikers will know what you mean.

Guido, I've never had my helmet stolen because as soon as I get one I scratch it up a lot. Nobody is going to steal a beat up helmet.

It may look ugly, but I don't have to carry it with me or lock it up someplace.

That's what I found funny about this incident, the gloves and goggles were much nicer and way more valuable than the helmet. I'm hard on helmets and boots. If there had been other bikes around I would have suspected someone picked up a unplanned passenger, but I was the only bike in the lot.