07UltraGuy is correct on how the barrel key works. I'm just looking to keep the honest people out.

But I look at as making it more difficult so that someone will go on somewhere else if it requires too much effort. Kind like people who steal bikes, there is only so much you can do to stop them so make if difficult and and they are likely to move on to something easier. I theives!

Paul

 

You don`t need a lock to keep honest people out, you need a locking cap to keep thieves and vandals out...

 

Yes, I know. It's play on words. People that even try to steal are theives too.

Paul

 

Are there really people that walk around with sugar, cement, etc. with the purpose of ruining someone's tank/engine?

I’d be fine having someone steal a couple gallons of fuel. That’s a few bucks. A lock costs more. And based on my 10 years of motorcycle ownership without any fuel being stolen, I just may escape this life without having any fuel stolen. Even once or twice wouldn’t be anything to worry about.

 

There are lots of fuel thefts that occur regularly. That's more of an incovenience and not a big expense. If it happened, I'd wonder what else they may have done. But I like the idea of having some, even if it's actually very small, control over things like that.

I just think it's odd that HD felt it was a good idea to add a security system to their bikes, but don't do anything to protect other ctirical areas. To me, adding a lock to the gas cap is just an extension of that mindset.

Paul

 

Never had a locking cap or any gas stolen. Then again I don't lock my forks. I do lock my bags, not that that's going to stop anyone that really wants in, it does help keep them from popping open going down the road. As far as vandalism, do you carry an extra set of plug wires, throttle cable, brake lines, or an extra fuel hose? A pair of nippers will leave you stranded much quicker.

 

My theory is that anyone desperate enough to go through the effort to steal gas would likely do it from a vehicle that holds more than 5-6 gallons max.
They'd rather punch a screwdriver through the tank on a car or truck due both to the ease that such an act would yield in rewards and also because there's no place to hide while doing so from a bike.

 

Because its not a critical area...no need for a locking gas cap and thats what the majority feel, and Harley noticed that years ago and discontinued the locking gas cap for that very reason...

If you feel you need one, then by all means buy one...if HD made one that is...

 

I have never had gas stolen from any of my vehicles since I started riding in the late 60`s, and don`t know anyone who has.

I had a metric bike that had a lock on the gas cap, it was a pain in a$$.

 

For info.. This conversation is in the 2024+ touring model forum. The new bikes have a completely different style of gas cap. There's currently nothing available from Harley or from aftermarket sources that can provide a locking feature.