What kind of lock to take on international trip?
 

Hi all, taking my Honda AT CRF1000L through former Yugoslavia and Italy over the coming weeks, can't wait!

I'd like to hear what people recommend in terms of a lock to take on this trip. I have a disc lock that is very small and light, and I also have a bigger chain lock that will add *a lot* of weight to my bike. Why I'm thinking of taking the chain is in case I leave the bike locked to something rather than on its own and prevent would-be thieves from lifting into a van as I go explore a city. But it's just so heavy...

Any thoughts? thanks!

Be aware than in some countries it's no legal to lock the bike to any element on the street (trees, traffic signals...).

BTW, I always travel with a small disc lock, with alarm (XENA), and always tray to leave the bike under some kind of surveillance, even at Africa.

I'm guessing you may be British? Maybe you could add this to your profile BTW?

If so, I can understand your quandary. However, one area the UK leads the world is thievery. Your poor benighted Italian or Formerly-Yugoslavian chav scumbag typically lacks things we take for granted like liquid nitrogen, petrol powered angle grinders and contacts in the Russian Mafia.

A disc lock of the £70, known brand, 5 minute rated type is like bringing an atom bomb to a knife fight when the locals don't even use their ignition locks.

Your camera or phone are more likely targets than the bike.

Andy

In 25 years of motorcycle holidays in Europe from France, across to Greece and down to Morocco we have never had anything nicked and often leave our bikes unattended, with all our bags and camping gear on the back, to go sight seeing/swimming etc..

We camp with bikes next to the tent but if you’re in hotels a disc lock will be fine - I accept no liability doh:cool4:

Enjoy your holiday

I've just come back from Croatia and Italy and I never felt the bike was at risk. There are dodgy looking areas but just don't park in them. Ask at your hotel if they have secure parking.

I use (as well as the steering lock) an Oxford alarmed disc lock and I have a 3-metre steel cable that coils up neatly in luggage/topbox. It's not Fort Knox but it'll deter all but the most determined thief.

What to do?
 

Interesting point! During my trip from Italy to Central Asia on my CB500X I carried a big chain but that was way to heavy... In October I will leave for a 3 months trip across Albania & Greece on my new CRF250L and I’m trying to find a solution. I always carry the steel cable for the helmet BTW!

Of course you should lock your helmet and bags if left on the bike - everywhere. Otherwise the rule is simple: In countries where you need a lock, the thieves know how to open a lock so better use a guarded parking or area within a hotel. On continental Europe, I never had a problem not using a lock leaving the bike outside.

I've never carried a lock but think a lightweight bike cover is as useful as a theft and pilfering deterrent.

In what cases do you use the cover?

Whenever the bike is parked overnight in a public/populated area.
Where I usually travel (Morocco) bikes are almost always parked off the street or even inside the building. But not below - rare example.
A cover also means you can risk not having to remove every last vestige of baggage or other loose items from the bike.

See also: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...0-2#post607863

For what it's worth, I've spent the last 20 years touring all sorts of countries (all of Western Europe, all of the Balkans, Morocco, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, etc.) with my Honda ST 1100, and never once locked it up. Never used a cover either. Never had a problem of any kind related to security.

I stay in hotels or pensions (no camping), and there is always somewhere reasonably secure to park the bike, even if that is at the front entrance, within sight of the desk clerk.

Having said that, I do acknowledge that a brand new BMW GS 1250 loaded up with Touratech stuff like a German dentist who just won the lottery might attract more attention than a PanEuropean.

So far as parking in a city during the day and exploring - just look for paid parking, rather than free parking, and park it near the attendant's booth.

Michael