Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[smenard415]

Greetings,

Two weeks ago six of us went on a ride to Bardstown Kentucky from Ohio to start a week long trip for three of us and a long weekend for the others.   We stopped the very first night at a Hampton Inn.   The area near the front door was all occupied so we all decided to park together under a bright parking lot light.  As you might have already guessed three of the six bikes were broken in to and the contents of all the saddlebags taken.  All of the saddlebags and tour packs were locked.  The tour packs were untouched but the locked saddlebags were opened, apparently, by simply pushing down on the back of the saddlebag lid which smashes the gasket enough to unhook the hooks on the back side of the lid.   Rain gear, sunglasses, coats, etc. gone.   Great start to the trip.   The good news is that the bad guy or bad guys did not put one scratch on any of the bikes.  Bad guys with some small bit of morals???  Who knows.  Really messed up my trip as my wife and I went on to Tybee Island, Georgia and rode home without coats and rain gear.  Why yes thank you it did rain.

Officer Bill Buckman of Bardstown PD took good care of us and wrote up the report even though another Bardstown officer was ambushed and shotgunned to death just hours prior to our calling.  He was super nice and was a biker as well.   Bardstown and the Bourbon tour were great, unfortunately like most towns in America they too are home to some scumbag thieving bastards (who strangely were careful not to tear up bikes).  They were lucky that we were old and heavy sleepers as there was a significant amount of firepower among the travelers.  40 years riding motorcycles and that's the first time anyone has ever touched my Harley.

Lessons learned:

1.  Remove all of your chit from the bike.   Buy the liners and use them to haul your stuff in with you.
2.  Check the lot for cameras.  This particular Hampton Inn did not have cameras anywhere but at the front door.
3.  Sweet talk the hotel/motel staff and park under the portico or overhang if possible.
4.  If you are 6'4" and 275 don't even pretend that you can buy replacement gear on the road.
5.  Tried again and I still cannot drink Bourbon.  Give me a beer anytime.
6.  Wife rode 850 miles in one day without proper gear and never complained one time.  Good wife.  Now if she would just learn how to pack for a bike trip.  Light is not in her vocabulary.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Steve M

[Panhead_Jimmy]

"The tour packs were untouched but the locked saddlebags were opened, apparently, by simply pushing down on the back of the saddlebag lid which smashes the gasket enough to unhook the hooks on the back side of the lid."

My Technician showed me how easy that is to open lids right after I'd installed Brukus saddlebag secure bolts.  All the things you can do will only keep the honest people honest.  I had a 1980 Sturgis stolen and know a little about the dark thoughts a person has when these things happen to them.  Sorry about your loss, but I would've paid money to see what might have happened if you'd caught this a'hole with his hands in your bagger.

[smenard415]

Hell!  Me too.

SteveM

[GregKhougaz]

Thanks for the report. 

I think we should all consider taking the saddlebags and tour pack into the hotel rooms with us. 

[Midnight Rider]

Really sorry to hear of your misfortune....there's a lot of assholes on the loose out there.  At least they didn't actually harm the bags.

The Brukus bolts are really just to keep folks from stealing the whole damn saddlebag or the bag falling off while going down the road (it's happened).

I think it's time that HD redesigned their saddlebag lid latching/locking mechanism so that what is now the latch becomes the hinge mechanism, do away with the aggravating brackets on the inside and make that the locking mechanism side with a push button lock/unlock or something similar.  Or have the lid open forward.  Anything to do away with the rinky-dink hooks.

I have been fortunate enough to talk the night desk clerk into letting me park underneath the portico where they could see the bike when I have to stay in motels that I cannot park the bike right outside the door to my room.  I try to find motels that are designed so you can park just outside the door, but they are generally older type places and not always available when traveling.  I generally cover my bike at night when traveling, especially when I do have to park somewhere like you had to do.  I take an Exigent "Dresser" cover with me...it covers the bike all the way down under the exhaust pipes and most of the front tire/wheel.  It also doesn't have a big Harley Davidson insignia on it, so it's a little harder for someone to readily discern what kind of bike is underneath the cover, or at least it makes it take a little longer for them to get to stuff.  The Exigent cover does not take up a lot of space either.  I've always used the liners too, but often leave the rain suits in the bike as you did.  

Good luck getting the wife to pack less stuff...

[Fired00d]

Greetings,

Two weeks ago six of us went on a ride to Bardstown Kentucky from Ohio to start a week long trip for three of us and a long weekend for the others.   We stopped the very first night at a Hampton Inn.   The area near the front door was all occupied so we all decided to park together under a bright parking lot light.  As you might have already guessed three of the six bikes were broken in to and the contents of all the saddlebags taken.  All of the saddlebags and tour packs were locked.  The tour packs were untouched but the locked saddlebags were opened, apparently, by simply pushing down on the back of the saddlebag lid which smashes the gasket enough to unhook the hooks on the back side of the lid.   Rain gear, sunglasses, coats, etc. gone.   Great start to the trip.   The good news is that the bad guy or bad guys did not put one scratch on any of the bikes.  Bad guys with some small bit of morals???  Who knows.  Really messed up my trip as my wife and I went on to Tybee Island, Georgia and rode home without coats and rain gear.  Why yes thank you it did rain.

Officer Bill Buckman of Bardstown PD took good care of us and wrote up the report even though another Bardstown officer was ambushed and shotgunned to death just hours prior to our calling.  He was super nice and was a biker as well.   Bardstown and the Bourbon tour were great, unfortunately like most towns in America they too are home to some scumbag thieving bastards (who strangely were careful not to tear up bikes).  They were lucky that we were old and heavy sleepers as there was a significant amount of firepower among the travelers.  40 years riding motorcycles and that's the first time anyone has ever touched my Harley.

Lessons learned:

1.  Remove all of your chit from the bike.   Buy the liners and use them to haul your stuff in with you.
2.  Check the lot for cameras.  This particular Hampton Inn did not have cameras anywhere but at the front door.
3.  Sweet talk the hotel/motel staff and park under the portico or overhang if possible.
4.  If you are 6'4" and 275 don't even pretend that you can buy replacement gear on the road.
5.  Tried again and I still cannot drink Bourbon.  Give me a beer anytime.
6.  Wife rode 850 miles in one day without proper gear and never complained one time.  Good wife.  Now if she would just learn how to pack for a bike trip.  Light is not in her vocabulary.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Steve M

Just wondering... Were the alarms set on these bikes and did they activate? Would think w/the force to release the hooks that it should have shaken the bike enough to activate the alarm.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[smenard415]

Greetings,

We talked about that.  My bike is a 2009 s/e roadglide which has a alarm.  The bike parked in front of me was a brand new 2013 roadglide and was untouched.  After we all accused him of being the guilt sob we came to the conclusion that my bike must have chirped and the lights flashed which made them move on to the trucks they stole from in the back of the motel.  You really have to move the bike a lot or set it upright to get the alarm to scream.

SteveM

[TN]

Sorry for yer misfortune. Glad you looked on the brite-side, yer bikes not being damaged and still made the trip. These A-holes will have to answer to somebody one day.   

[Fired00d]

Greetings,

We talked about that.  My bike is a 2009 s/e roadglide which has a alarm.  The bike parked in front of me was a brand new 2013 roadglide and was untouched.  After we all accused him of being the guilt sob we came to the conclusion that my bike must have chirped and the lights flashed which made them move on to the trucks they stole from in the back of the motel.  You really have to move the bike a lot or set it upright to get the alarm to scream.

SteveM

Thanks for the reply. I have the pager system attached to my alarm system that "should" activate w/any activation (chirps) of the alarm system was the reason for me asking. Hopefully the combination of the two might catch the stealing SOB w/his hands in the cookie jar (saddlebag) and introduce him to some "whoop a$$" (or lead poisoning if situation dictates).

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Hog95023]

Sorry it happened to you. I'd take the time to send a note to the chief of police there so a letter of accommodation can be placed in that officers file. Will help him later on.

I don't like traveling on the bike because I never feel comfortable parking it anyplace out of sight, but unfortunately it's a neccessary evil cause I like taking the bike

[smenard415]

Greetings,

Sent thank you notes to Officer Bill and one to his chief as well.   Bill gave me his personal cell phone number in case I needed anything else while in Bardstown.   One other thing strange as it may seem had delicious sushi right across from Hampton Inn.  There were even real Japanese families eating there.  Worthless factoid, Japan is the second biggest importer of bourbon in the world second only to Australia.   Damn they must drink a chit pot full of bourbon.

[Mano]

Like Midnight Rider I too like to put a cover on. It's even a cheap one. Let's face it. If they want it or something they will find a way.

[phato1]

Sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately there are plenty of idiots breeding out in the world.

 I am glad you were apparently able to make the best of a crappy situation and enjoy the rest of the trip as best you could.
And yes, you have a good woman sharing the ride with you --but you know that -- now go out and buy her some new gear..

[tweeter13]

Some people just suck,  I would gladly spend the night in jail just to catch the sob stealing from me or one of my friends.

My house was broke into once,  I was so damn mad and felt so violated.  Never did catch who did it. 

I wish the police could let you alone with them for a few min in a closed up room before they book them.   I would be tempted to throw a couple hundred dollars their way if I could do that.   

Some countries cut people's hands off for crap like that.  Tattoo thief across their face for all i care.  Worthless people. 

Sorry I starting venting also. 
Can't stand thieves.   

Glad you didn't let it ruin your vacation.  And by your size I sure wish you would have walked out when they were out there at the bikes.   It might have been a different story for officer Buckman.   He might have been taking a report on removing boot out of someone's rear end.  I would have rather read that story anyhow.   Some day we will get that chance. 

Todd.

[D-N-D]

Sorry about your loss, Who steals Rain gear and used sunglasses and other small B.S that we keep in our bags what can you really get for them, Wish you would have caught them with the firepower in hand !!! the police report would have been much different I'm sure. We all leave stuff in or on our bikes for some reason or another not sure I will anymore, Glad the bikes did not get damaged that would be more gas on the fire for sure.