Theft of stuff (expensive) from panniers

[Globetrotter]

That's the thing...if I pull up anywhere and change my clothes and nip out to a restaurant or go for a hike somewhere random and get back to broken panniers and top box with all my gear gone, it makes it a nightmare to find a new helmet and then the pain of the losses. Still stumped, as my house insurance, bike insurance or travel insurance just wont cover this. Any ideas?

=========

I have started you a fresh thread.

Richard

 

[Globetrotter]

Could always do what Sly does and put the panniers and top box on top of a posh dinner table somewhere

 

[wessie]

That's the thing...if I pull up anywhere and change my clothes and nip out to a restaurant or go for a hike somewhere random and get back to broken panniers and top box with all my gear gone, it makes it a nightmare to find a new helmet and then the pain of the losses. Still stumped, as my house insurance, bike insurance or travel insurance just wont cover this. Any ideas?

how many instances of theft from motorcycle luggage have you read aboout on here?

my bike policy covers the luggage and contents if they disappear with the bike, a more likely event in my view. My bike is the V85TT Travel with integral luggage as part of the insured bike as stated above. I am not covered if my topbox is forced open and my overnight bag taken.

It would be an inconvenience if you helmet and other contents were stolen but there is not a great value in dirty, used bike gear. Contrary to popular belief, there are shops in foreign lands selling bike gear and generic clothing.

If you are worried about the cost, stick £100 a year into a savings account, effectively self insuring and draw down this account to cover any costs from theft. I bet after a decade you will have enough to cover the cost of a decent Goretex suit from Richa or one of the other sub-Rukka brands.

 

[Globetrotter]

how many instances of theft from motorcycle luggage have you read aboout on here?

my bike policy covers the luggage and contents if they disappear with the bike, a more likely event in my view. My bike is the V85TT Travel with integral luggage as part of the insured bike as stated above. I am not covered if my topbox is forced open and my overnight bag taken.

It would be an inconvenience if you helmet and other contents were stolen but there is not a great value in dirty, used bike gear. Contrary to popular belief, there are shops in foreign lands selling bike gear and generic clothing.

If you are worried about the cost, stick £100 a year into a savings account, effectively self insuring and draw down this account to cover any costs from theft. I bet after a decade you will have enough to cover the cost of a decent Goretex suit from Richa or one of the other sub-Rukka brands.

Are you alright mate?

To be honest, I don't fancy losing VERY expensive kit.

 

[wessie]

Are you alright mate?

I am fine. We all have different perceptions of risk. It is why BMW makes shit loads of money from extended warranties, house insurers make loads from boiler and plumbing insurance and Curry's sell loads of breakdown policies for microwave ovens

To be honest, I don't fancy losing VERY expensive kit.

don't take it on a trip then if it worries you. Wear a £70 helmet, Oxford Bike Clothing and Primark boxers.

 

[Wapping]

Any ideas?

Worry less.

If you want to disrobe and change into black tie for lunch, buy a decent cable lock and thread it through your (expensive) jacket, trousers and helmet, feeding the cable through something solid on the bike. Your boots you can put into a pannier, no doubt.

It’s that easy.

 

[Wapping]

and get back to broken panniers and top box with all my gear gone, it makes it a nightmare to find a new helmet and then the pain of the losses. Still stumped, as my house insurance, bike insurance or travel insurance just wont cover this.

Are you very sure that your household and / or travel insurance does not cover theft from locked containers (whether that be car boot, car glove box or motorcycle panniers) provided there has been violent or forcible entry?

‘Broken panniers’ would, on most normal levels, meet the forcible entry criteria.

 

[DJ123]

Check with your insurer what is covered when it comes to your luggage and theft.

 

[Wapping]

how many instances of theft from motorcycle luggage have you read aboout on here?

Or indeed anywhere.

Does it happen? One can only assume yes, sometimes. Is it widespread? Seemingly not.

I might guess that more helmets are stolen when bods wander off, leaving them hanging on their mirrors and / or jackets lifted from cafes, than there are smashed open panniers. I’d also guess that more stuff is left behind in hotel rooms, than is stolen.

 

[glenn2926]

Has the above scenario ever happened to anyone on here? Not second hand tales from the fat lad down the pub but a real, first hand scenario?

 

[Wapping]

Has the above scenario ever happened to anyone on here?

Smashed open panniers? Not that I can recall.

Slashed, stolen or rifled soft luggage or tank bag? Not that I can recall.

Stolen GPS unit? Not that I can recall.

Given the accumulated man miles ridden over years and the clear lack of ‘bad news’ posts, one can assume that the risk (whilst not zero) is very low.

 

[er-minio]

It’s fairly uncommon to be fair.

Save the money for the extra premium somewhere and create a small emergency fund to cover for this scenario IMHO.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Park at the restaurant and sit at a window seat so you can keep a beady eye on your steed at all times

Seriously I have never heard of it happening as you describe which is not to say it hasn't ever but eliminating all risks means you would never go further than your own front door

 

[Wapping]

Park at the restaurant and sit at a window seat so you can keep a beady eye on your steed at all times

Except when you have your nose down on the menu / wine list, the bike is perhaps 50 metres away and you are dressed in your bike gear. You happen to spot youths admiring your steed and think “That’s great, love to see lads looking at motorcycles”. Then, just as you are trying to explain to the waitress in Franglais, that you’d like lashings of ketchup on your scran, you think you see one of the youths has a screwdriver. In horror, you lever yourself out of your chair, push the waitress headfirst into the salad buffet, dance / waddle / swerve and sweat between diners, collide with the door, leg it (sort of) across the corridor (wishing you’d had a piss earlier) and out into the car park. Now sprint (or not) the 50 metres and regret not having your trusty curtain pole…..

That is the likely reality.

 

[ymfb]

I try and avoid the type of places this is more likely to happen. London, Swindon…..

I use a helmetlok and pacsafe for anything that doesn’t fit in my hard luggage. Never say never but I think the likelihood is low, if that’s not good enough don’t go to the iffy places or use the car.

 

[dean0n0]

It's a worry.

 

[Berin]

Are you very sure that your household and / or travel insurance does not cover theft from locked containers (whether that be car boot, car glove box or motorcycle panniers) provided there has been violent or forcible entry?

‘Broken panniers’ would, on most normal levels, meet the forcible entry criteria.

Mine does under my all risks section

 

[Wapping]

It's a worry.

Second only to where to park in Leicester, and a smidge above whether it will rain in the Picos after lunch on 17 April 2027.

 

[Barnoe]

I've never had any issue with theft from luggage and i don't know anyone who has.
I had never really though about it until i read this thread, but goes to show its very rare.

Scroats probably don't even know the value of Rukka and Klim stuff and wouldn't know a good helmet if you twatted them with it.

The only people who know the true value of bike gear is other bikers and we are not thieving shits generally.

 

[SBD]

I've never had any issue with theft from luggage and i don't know anyone who has.
I had never really though about it until i read this thread, but goes to show its very rare.

Scroats probably don't even know the value of Rukka and Klim stuff and wouldn't know a good helmet if you twatted them with it.

The only people who know the true value of bike gear is other bikers and we are not thieving shits generally.

true, I think. But someone's buying the stolen bikes / bits of stolen bikes.