Overlanders of the world-

I'm planning a month long ride from Costa Rica to the US. I'm young, inexperienced and completely ignorant to what will confront me. This may be the least of my worries, but since I am traveling alone, what advice could you give me about making sure that the supplies on my bike doesn't suddenly disappear when I'm looking the other way?

Thanks,

Dave

I did London to Sydney overland by bike a couple of years ago alone... 18 months and a lot of fun, although some mediocre days and the odd crap day too, and anyone that says they have never had bad days travelling is either lying or in denial... however, the excellent, the good, the mediocre and even the odd bad day are all part of the travel experience and memories you will treasure for ever. As regards theft, i cant comment on your particular trip but i never lost anything to any sticky fingers until i arrived in Perth... where someone nicked a guide book! but that was it for the whole journey.

keep stuff locked up when on your bike, as there will be times when you have to leave stuff on your bike and go in somewhere, good locks on panniers, tank bag etc and keep personal stuff in a hidden wallet on you under your shirt with only the minimum of cash ever on display, just use the same sensible precautions you would if you were in your own home town.

Mind you, there was the opposite problem... people trying to give me stuff, i still have night mares about the bus people determined to pass me a water melon from the passenger windows as they were overtaking me at sixty odd on a narrow road...!!

I am sure you will be fine too, have a great time and enjoy the whole experience.

Will

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Will

Some day so soon....

Thats the first and coolest reply I've ever gotten. I think my rickter scale of anticipation just went from a 9 to a 15. Thanks a lot. I hope someday that I will be able to make a large such a long treck like London to Sydney.

Dave,

The biggest problem is when camera gear, etc is showing. Before you get to a rest stop or town, put everything out of sight.

Other than that, Will pretty much said it, but there's more than the "so we can watch each others stuff on the bikes" reason for hooking up with other riders. What if you break down or have an accident???

I had a hard lockable case on the back and a backpack/tankpack. Usually I would throw the tankpack on my back to go into a store, but what works too it to use zip-ties on all the zippers. Takes them longer to figure out what they are and if they are pulled tight, it is difficult to get a knife tip inside them. You can easily clip them with a wire-cutter.


(on the bridge over the Iguazu river between Brazil and Argentina)

Also another trick is to stop at the market or somewhere they sell food on the street. Park your bike right there, stop and eat, make friends of the proprietor, then ask him/her to 'keep an eye on it' as you step into the market.

Also, we in the west are so regimented, we think we have to park neatly on the street, then go into a store where we can't see the bike. No, ride right up on the side walk, shut it off and politely push the bike into the store opening. The people understand, and after all you are coming to buy.

Also, go to your hostel/campground first, leave the bike there, then take LOCAL transport around to do your errands.

The simple people are the most noble, beware of big cities. Plan your trip away from anything over 50,000 pax. Heaven forbid you try to go thru Mexico City !!!!

Toby (charapa) Around the Block 2007 |

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'We build the bike (in Peru) for your Epic Ride of South America.'

Dave get yourself a black bike cover, make it look used, very used. Roll it in the dirt, a little oil here and there. The shittier it looks the better. Some covers have eyes at the bottom that you can put a padlock through, but that's a bit extreme. I use a bungie cord through both holes just to stop it flapping about or being blown away
Next thing you can do and it is so simple, is to get a 2 metre length of plastic coated wire rope around 6mm I think mine is, made up with eyes swaged on each end. When you stop somewhere take of your jacket and helmet, grip the end of the cable in one hand and feed it down one of the sleeves, grab the end of it with your other hand and pull it through, feed it through the helmet. Padlock the lot to your bike through the back wheel and up over the seat
It secures your riding gear and your bike. The cable crushes if bolt cutters are used but is still susceptible to a grinder. Cable rolls up to take up minimal space. It in effect buys you more time
Hope this helps
Glen

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Feb 2014, currently travelling the America's on a Tiger 800XC

Live every day like it's your last, one day you'll get it right!!!

Remember that almost anything can be replaced on the road if they get nicked. Irritating but hardly the end of the world.

The obvious exceptions are your passport, bike papers, money and bike keys. I kept my passport and credit card and a bunch of cash in a neck wallet inside my clothing at all times. My bike keys I got duplicated and kept one on a cord around my neck. I kept two seperate stashes of cash in other places, for emergencies.

Everything else, including cameras etc. you just have to be philosophical about. As said, get good locks for your panniers and try to stay as wise as possible to dodgy situations, but don't worry about it too much or it will ruin your trip. Actually I don't think theft happens all that often. I've done a fair bit of travelling over the last fifteen years or so and the only time I had anything knicked was when I left a wad of notes on the passenger seat of my car with the windows rolled down in Morocco! (Talk about complacent!)

Matt

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http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

My thoughts would match all the above. Don't worry if somebody takes a liking to the bag of fruit under your cargo net they probably need it rather more than you.

Stuff you can't replace easily I'd suggest getting a bit organised with. If it becomes automatic to put your GPS in your right hand jacket pocket and your papers in the swimmers pouch round your neck, your less likely to leave it on the seat and give some kid the opportunity to make a few quid simply because they can. The only major theft I've know was a chap who left his GPS on the seat at the Ceuta customs post.

In 13 years and three continents I've never had anything stolen except a tube of epoxy glue, a bunch of bannanas and a side stand hockey puck thing (than one annoyed me, It must have been another biker), so don't worry too much.

Andy

Ha! That's where I got my wad of notes nicked!

Matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Others have more knowledge on this than I do but one piece of advice I did listen to was to get a Pacsafe.

If you haven't seen one, it's a wire mesh which you can put over soft luggage or your jacket or whatever when you stop and secure it to the bike. Don't keep it on all the time as it'll rub on bits of the bike, just when you stop and think you're going to be away from the bike for a while.

Good luck with your trip.

Indoors.

take two wallets for mugings (heaven forbid), that way if someone wants to rob you you can happily hand over a wallet with a few token notes in, some expired credit cards etc

I wish I was as blessed as you guys! I've been on the road for 19 days now, and have been robbed twice. Yes yes, I know you're thinking here's a guy who's wet behind the ears etc, but I really consider myself not to be. First one was at campsite in Vienna after 5 days, where some cheeky fekr snuck inside my tent while I slept, and stole my tank bag that was at the bottom of the tent and under my sleeping bag and other kit. That contained my passport with Russia, Kazakh, Uzbek, and Indian visas. Luckily had 2 other passports elsewhere (spare UK and one USA), but the Russian consul in Vienna made me go back to the Uk to get my multi entry business visa. Buggers. Then to make up time, my riding buddy and I decided that I'd hotfoot it up to Kiev t get the replacement Uzbek visa. I ended up leaving the bike in Lviv at a friend's place and getting the train there for the friday to get my visa. I came back to Lviv last night to find my spare Michelin T63 gone, fuel cans gone, mirrors gone, and tank bag harness gone! What on earth use are most of those things to anyone!! Pretty pissed off now, and want to get out of Ukraine. Could Russia be any worse..?

Those thieving b***ards creeping in while you slept is a worry....

What an absolute bummer..........some scumbag going in the tent while you are asleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Not heard of that before..might have to think about sleeping sideways across the entrance or one of the fishing bite indicator bells clipped somewhere, long as its not windy... much more surprised you were in Vienna, if it were Rabat I would have been less astonished....
When wandering around giving a tip to the parking man and promising the same small amount when you return always buys you some peace of mind...good with overnight watchmen at parkings.if you are in places where there is one of course....find out when he leaves so you can get back before he goes if overnight...dont tell him when YOU are coming back and he will keep an eye on your bike ( exactly the objective) so you dont slip off without his tip..
not too worry too much is probably the best advice or you will ruin your wandering around experience..I know thats easier said than done...

Bummer Nick. Hopefully your bad luck is now over.

To reiterate a few things, old and tattered is good. My van's 30 years old and from the outside looks like a piece of crap, EVEN in third world countries. Stay away from big cities. In Lima, Peru, I stayed in a hotel, (usually camp) and had a canvas bag of dirty laundry inside the van. In the morning it was gone. The doors don't lock, so, what was I expecting? However, what I thought was interesting, was they grabbed the bag, but didn't look in any cupboards/drawers etc. So now, I've got a broken digital camera subtly displayed in the hope that if this happens again, they'll grab the camera, think they'll have scored, and run. I also have a hidden compartment for real valuables. This might be possible to do at the bottom of panniers for passport etc, though I realize space is more crucial on a bike. Still have the wallet with old credit cards, but after a few years, it's getting dusty... And yes, those routines of having a special place for each item is important when you're tired!!!!!
Lorraine

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some of the packsafe items PacSafe from REI.com | 100% Satisfaction Guarantee | Customer Reviews
some good items here some locks and alarms (kids love them) Locks and Alarms :: Prevent Or Repair :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear
Get a bungee net by the way

Nothing will stop a determined thief all this stuff dose is keep the honest people honest and adds a little piece of mind. And all your stuff is gust stuff most of it you dont need. Paper work is a pain to keep the neck safe is a good idea so is having copies and spares at home tucked in to hidden places on your bike.
To tell the truth when I started riding and traveling I lost more of my stuff off the back of my bike dew to bad tie downs, poor packing, and me just forgetting stuff trying to make time. Last year on a little week long trip almost ended when I came up to gas station to fill up and my bag on the back was gone man I had that funny feeling, do I go back look for it, gust get new stuff? Well to hell with all that I need a cold drink and gas first.
Walk around the bike to get all the tie downs and theres the bag in the ground! I did it again after tens of thousands of miles I pull another noobie mistake, under packed bag last checked at 7,000 feet at 40f and Im pulling in to near death valley at 0 feet 110f. Bag got hot vented all the air shrank down tie down bungees did not have enof spring geting hot and soft to hold the bag down it was only staying on because the road is strait, tilt the bike over on the kick stand and it slid off. I had enof stuff to fill the bag and a bungee net that will have fixed the problem but I dint use them. After all Im skilled I know what im doing its a short trip down the hill the straps im using rok straps are grate made gust for this bahh its good enof. Net NET! I dont need no stinking net! Some times I need to be taken down a peg I guess.
I lost my passport when I got home, think it went in the bin