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16 Aug 2011
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Bike Cover
I'm yet to travel, however I'm planning on soft luggage with a hard top box. I've got a pac safe in which I can pop things I don't want to loose whilst away from the bike (mostly riding gear). I'm going to try a bike cover too. Got a cheap one off eBay that is light but pretty well made, this will hopefully make the bike disappear whilst parked. It will also keep things left on the bike dry if I'm camping out....at least this is the theory ;-)
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16 Aug 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
Now that's the way to do it !  |
Totally agree, although may still be more thieves appealing than the 50 y/o old saddlebags (definitely they way to go, on two wheels!). However... "not without my (hopefully forthcoming) pressure cooker" 
Hard luggage: just knock the side of the pannier to listen/find out whether it is full or not, so...
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17 Aug 2011
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This is what I was comfortable with on my trips.
Hard luggage offers the about 30 seconds more security than soft. This will never stop anyone who wants to get inside but this combined with a cover as others have said and a cable may put them off and get them to keep walking. As others have said you shouldn't leave anything in there that will end your trip. I carried all my goodies either on me (Passport, etc) or in a tank bag that I took with me everywhere.
Personally I use soft luggage off road and hard on road. Easy choice if you are doing one or the other. I prefer hard on road as I can pack more in, it wont flap about while riding, does offer some crash protection in terms of keeping the bike off you, slightly more secure and usually waterproof for longer.
At the end of the day you do what you are comfortable with for me its hard luggage, everybody is different.
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17 Aug 2011
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For years now I've used the Kriega soft luggage system. I have 3 bags on the tail of the bike (totalling 40 litres, but it can be up to 70 litres), a 5 to 20 litre tank bag and a 15 litre rucksack for water and my laptop. I leave this on the bike always. All through Europe, all around the UK. No issues so far.
Not only is it waterproof, very easy to unpack and versatile (as all the bags can easily be swapped for different sizes) but it looks too complex to steal. It's all strapped to the subframe and easy to release if you know how, but it looks complex and can't just be lifted off. The rucksack is just left on the seat usually though and since I'm within sight of the bike at all times, no one has even had a look.
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17 Aug 2011
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Ironically I had my tank bag stolen while on the bike in traffic just near where the picture of the car in this thread was taken in Esfahan, Iran! But there were warnings that I just didn't pickup on.
I road with soft panniers (had things in there that didn't matter if they got stolen) and a locked old top box for more important things. I would definitely do the same again (just attach my tank bag in a better way!!!) I used smaller lightweight waterproof bags to put my stuff in soft bags so just grabbed what I needed for the night from my bike and put an old cover over the rest. No problems at all but I was also in countries that I think are relatively low risk.
Cheers
Adastra
Ride Pray Laugh....... the not so MiddleEast Adventures (now)
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17 Aug 2011
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That's something I hadn't considered, but it is another reason why magnetic tank bags aren't a good idea. Top tip for soft luggage: Kriega packs are waterproof already, but take liners anyway to separate stuff.
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17 Aug 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adastra
Ironically I had my tank bag stolen while on the bike in traffic just near where the picture of the car in this thread was taken in Esfahan, Iran! But there were warnings that I just didn't pickup on.
I road with soft panniers (had things in there that didn't matter if they got stolen) and a locked old top box for more important things. I would definitely do the same again (just attach my tank bag in a better way!!!) I used smaller lightweight waterproof bags to put my stuff in soft bags so just grabbed what I needed for the night from my bike and put an old cover over the rest. No problems at all but I was also in countries that I think are relatively low risk.
Cheers
Adastra
Ride Pray Laugh....... the not so MiddleEast Adventures (now)
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Sorry to hear that. Iran is in general an extremely safe country, although bad luck may happen to all of us. We actually "adopted" one British guy who got robbed (knife at hand at 4am in Tehran; passport, cash, Ipod, etc) so he could save a bunch in transport and others. Very rare case, though. Hope you enjoyed it anyway (and still have nice souvenir of Esfahan).
Pacsafe had a tankbag with a steel cable lockable to the front.
Quote:
Originally Posted by houltmac
Not only is it waterproof, very easy to unpack and versatile (as all the bags can easily be swapped for different sizes) but it looks too complex to steal.
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Don't count on that complexness in Spanish cities on the Mediterranean coast, I am sorry/ashamed to say  . In my hometown, Seville, they may last less than 5 min unattended (not exaggerating); we locals get robbed as well! Your Kriegas, they may look fancier, nice looking, so straps cut (no more complexness); and when profis show up, your lock nicely opened overnight in the place of your bike meaning "find something more difficult to open, pls". Sad to say: always attach to a solid anchor, vans are big enough for bikes sometimes... 
Anywhere else (where robbery is not fierce), as Ted said: crap looking (and some common sense) is a great "deterrent".
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17 Aug 2011
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IMHO... never leave anything on the bike you can't afford to have stolen. I never take anything of serious value with me when travelling, and keep documents on me at all times in a money belt.
I've never been robbed while travelling, and maybe I am paranoid, but I'd rather not have the hassles if I am robbed.
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14 Feb 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by estebangc
Sorry to hear that. Iran is in general an extremely safe country, although bad luck may happen to all of us. We actually "adopted" one British guy who got robbed (knife at hand at 4am in Tehran; passport, cash, Ipod, etc) so he could save a bunch in transport and others. Very rare case, though. Hope you enjoyed it anyway (and still have nice souvenir of Esfahan).
Pacsafe had a tankbag with a steel cable lockable to the front.
Don't count on that complexness in Spanish cities on the Mediterranean coast, I am sorry/ashamed to say . In my hometown, Seville, they may last less than 5 min unattended (not exaggerating); we locals get robbed as well! Your Kriegas, they may look fancier, nice looking, so straps cut (no more complexness); and when profis show up, your lock nicely opened overnight in the place of your bike meaning "find something more difficult to open, pls". Sad to say: always attach to a solid anchor, vans are big enough for bikes sometimes...
Anywhere else (where robbery is not fierce), as Ted said: crap looking (and some common sense) is a great "deterrent". |
I also was rubbed in Iran ( pasdaran???) and I had a nasty experience with the police when reporting the rubbery. i still dont understand why there is so much effort in saying tha Iran is safe whe it is clearly not ( you just can check in the foro people that has been rubbed ) rgs
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15 Feb 2015
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I actually sent back my pacsafe from Iran because it was just a PITA and of no use at all...
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16 Feb 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AntonioVdE
I actually sent back my pacsafe from Iran because it was just a PITA and of no use at all...
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Pacsafes are like that. They can be a pain if you use them all day, everyday.
But when you need one. You need one !
I suppose it depends on your trip. If you're staying in communal dorms or you're in a situation where you have to leave valuable luggage around then they are great. And I've used mine A LOT when backpacking in rougher places. They're also great if you're leaving luggage in storage while doing day trips or stashing your gear in the back room of a dubious hotel.
If you're camping, staying in hotels or travelling in a group where you usually have someone to watch over your bike/stuff, then I agree that they are more of a hindrance than help.
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29 Jun 2015
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Wanted to start a new thread but it seems this one will fit 
I'm contemplating whether to get pacsafes to lock the camping gear on the bike. I have hard cases and then couple of drybags strapped on top of each of them with nothing but camping gear. Now getting pacsafe mesh for both of them is not cheap, so I'm wondering whats the common wisdom, should I bother? It just looks so appealing to steal as you only need to undo 2 straps and thats it. Maybe there are other (cheaper) options in my case?
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2 Jul 2015
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I ran a simple cable with a small padlock through the loops of the bags on the back of my bike when crossing borders, just in case anyone was tempted while I was away from the machine. Otherwise the bags were unlocked for my recent ten week trip in southern Africa. Always ALWAYS have what you really can't loose on your person (in my case in my tank bag which I never left on the bike) and relax, most people are honest.
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3 Jul 2015
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I zip tie the buckles together or use small cable combination lock similar to those use by airline travelers.
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4 Jul 2015
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As noted keep anything valuable on your person, keep clothes etc on your bike and do not flash anything, out of sight out of mnd.If they really want what you have regardless Of soft or hard luggage it's gone.
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