Please comment - I'm about to get my first bike ever next week (A Fat Bob) and would like to hear member comments on the following: Besides the obvious and common sense things bike owners need to do to protect their bikes - what are your experiences and lessons earned others may not know? Here are some areas of concern:

1) Are HD's high(est) value targets for thieves?

2) Lessons learned after bike "jackings" (if that's happened to anyone).

3) Alarm system success/failure experiences.

4) Stupid security mistakes you've seen others make.

5) Things I wish I had (special insurance, AAA, etc) after a theft.

If one tip I didn't consider comes out of this - it's worth asking to me.

Thanks people...

 

Just keep good insurance from a reputable insurer and get gap coverage if you need it. Enjoy the new scoot!

I like my factory security mostly because I hate keys and locks. I just turn it off and walk away with the fob in my pocket most times. if someone wants it they can have it. I'm not going out of my way to lock it with special locks and devices. They're making newHD's every day, is my opinion.

 

Use the factory locks, and security systems if you have them, use common sense where you leave the bike, and you'll more than likely be fine...I've never had a bike stolen, and neither have any of my friends I ride with...but the bottom line is, if a PRO thief wants it, they're gonna get it, and being paranoid and spending huge $$ won't help. Relax...

 

Get the AAA motorcycle package - your car package won't cover a bike.

At least in theSan Diego area H-D's and cruisers in general in fact are low on the list of stolen m/c's. The crotch rockets by far are a huge majority of m/c's stolen in this area. Maybe other area's are different, but an auto-theft detective has told me this more than once regarding this area. I think he said it's like 90% crotch rockets and 10% of cruisers as far as percentage of stolen m/c's.

Park in common sense places of course. At restaurants I try to park where I can see it. At stores I try to park near the front where it's not in an obscure corner of the lot. Always lock it up andhit the alarm button.

Carry good insurance from a reputable company.

Get the package to cover accessories/custom parts if you have a big investment in those. A standard insurance package usually only covers the bike and bringing it back to stock configuration if I'm not mistaken.

Have fun and relax!

 

If I'm traveling and park in a motel lot,I will use a Xena disc lock with motion sensor and tie a bright orange cord from the lock to the handle bars. Kind of tells them to go jack an easier target.

The Kung Fu master and his student were training in the jungles of China. The student asks what technique the master would use if a tiger attached. The master said he would run.

The student asked if he could run faster than a tiger. The master said he didn't have to, he only had to run faster than the student.

 

I am going on a roadtrip this Friday andwhen I get to where I am going I will rent a car to park in frontof my bike while at the hotel. If it does get jacked then at least I still have a ride.

 

I am double insured first by AIG and then as a back up I got Glock.

 

I dont have security at all, I use my locks & I have gap insurance, thats about it...