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Locking your bike in Central and South America
I was wondering if anyone had any information on locking your bike while you are on the road, also what kind of lock would you recommend? I imagine I will bring my bike into my hostel area as often as I can but those times I have to park it outside while in the internet cafe or just away from it for a while I would like to feel comfortable about leaving it alone. Any information would be great.
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I'm looking at buying an alarmed wheel lock, about 60 bucks aud and much smaller & lighter than a big chain. I am also going to take my cable-wire lock which I've used for the last year at home so I can lock my helmet & jacket up with the bike when required. Those big chains which are sold in bike shops weigh alot, I think they're a bit of overkill and a battery operated angle-grinder can get through anything in a few seconds, big or small. Keep your steering locked whenever parked to stop opportunists. |
I agree, the big chains are bulky. I would assume most use a cable wire with a padlock. That is what I am going to use with a locked steering wheel. I guess I will just have to use caution where ever I am. :scooter: what time is it in your neck of the woods PocketHead? it is 8:30 PM here this is when I post the most because I am out of work.
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Grant has a story about alarms .. in South America ..
The little kids activate it .. see the mad gringo come running out .. look around ... fumble in his pockets .. alarm goes silent .. goes back inside ... and they do it again .. it is great fun for the local kids. Bicycle cable locks are light weight and small ... Eastern Australia is GMT+10. Boulder is around GMT- 9? so about 19 hours in front of you there. 9pm -19 = 21-19 = 2 am .. that is not right .. so 1 pm here ..13 .. 21 there= 8 hours difference + 1 day = 24-8 = 16 so you'd be GMT-6 ... |
Why not just carry a bike cover. Out of sight, out of mind is a lot more effective than most people think! During my travels, getting my bike stolen was the last thing on my mind. A fully loaded R100GS on it;s centre stand is quite intimidating, and although it drew a lot of attention, it was never a problem. I don't think anyone would know how to get it off it's stand, get on it, start it and ride away without dropping it and never being able to pick it up without a small army. The little things that are easy to walk away with was a much bigger concern.
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Hmm 10am when you messaged, I am at work all day bored so I troll the forums between calls :cool4: come to think of it I am online alot hehe |
It's true... don't bother with a lock/alarm system. It's more trouble than it's worth. I carried a sturdy disc lock, and a decent (but light) cable lock. Lock the frame to something solid when you can, use the disk lock when you can't. Always lock your steering. You can't make the bike impossible to steal, but you can make it difficult. I've never really worried much about it, though. Use common sense and park inside where possible.
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locking bike
No need really to carry all manner of security locks and chains for the bike. In 30 years of travel thru Mexico and CA and elsewhere I have never had any theft problems while relying solely on using the steering lock and helmet latch on any of my bikes. The trick is to not carry all manner of visible gadgetry which might attract theft and to pick your parking spots in highly visible areas , strike up a conversation with a shop keeper and ask him to watch the bike , buy some refreshments from him. Park at the door of the internet cafe. Avoid parking in dark alleys in "bad" neighbourhoods. Find an inexpensive hotel for the night and leave the bik e parked in their secure garage or lobby and walk all over downtown.
The cable lock is a good pracrice to tie down your jacket if you don't want to carry it about. I do carry a modest combination padlock so I can lock my helmet to the bike and it is a lso handy to use at some of the country hotels where they hand you a padlock for your room door |
Great advice guys, thanks a lot. I was hoping to hear from experienced riders who have done this before. I figure I will bring a cable lock to lock up helmet and jacket if need be. I also will be bringing a cover, anyone know where I can find one of the big covers that fit over my whole bike fully loaded. I have seen pictures of them but cant seem to find them anywhere. Thanks for the help
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Dave,
I´m on the road now with a heavy-duty armored cable lock Cables Armored. It´s big, heavy, expensive, and has been nothing more than a hunk of metal in my top box, that has been used on 1 occassion. If it weren´t so expensive I´d donate it to someone here. IMHO, there´s always a secure place to park your bike, or you´ll be so far out in the middle of nowhere that you don´t have to worry about it anyways. A cable lock for your gear does come in handy though. I picked up my bike cover from Wal-Mart (the blue and silver one), and I think I bought the largest size. -Jeff |
Hey Jeff, Glad to see your still alive! Thanks for the heads up on the cover. I need one that isnt so bulky like the one I have. Anyway, I will bring a small cable lock with a decent size padlock and go from there, nothing to fancy or expensive. Headed down to Durango area this weekend. Glad to here from you,
Dave |
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Sjoerd has the right idea.
Most latin towns have a central plaza or Zocalo with a church, market and police station. We would ride in and spot the local cop and park right in front of him. Strike up a quick conversation about his town and he would gladly watch the bike for you. We also had a small diameter(3/16) cable about six feet long that would reach through the front wheel and back to lock to the pannier locks. It was coiled up next to the handlebars with a velcro holder and could be used for locking helmets,jackets, a couple of bikes etc... We also used a bike cover, which was a deterent in itself as it had been pi**ed on by most domestic animals from Canada to Thailand to Ushuaia... I gave up on my disk lock as it was heavy and I kept forgetting it was on and was ruining my disk trying to ride away...It ruins the cool gringo moto-traveller image when your bike falls over, but you do get to meet helpful people We only used these deterents when the bike was in a out of the way place or parked overnight outside. Bien viaje |
As usual, lots of good advice, I bought a cheap cover from a Wal-Mart in the states, it fitted a fully loaded BMW R1200GS lasted two 9mth trips before self desructing and I am sure it was well below the price that Mr Ron mentioned. On the subject of riding off with the disc lock in place, I have a BMW key for another bike that will not start mine, (quite important to the success of the plan) to which I have fastened a red tape the other end of which is attached to the disc lock. Put the false key in the ignition and then fit the disclock. Come the time when you wish to start the bike you have to take the false key out of the ignition before you can put the real key and anyone with even a modicum of curiosity will investigate what is on the other end of the flag. I cannot claim any credability for this idea, years of doing before flight walkrounds on helicopters and removing everything that had a red flag attatched to is to blame. Ride safe.
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