Leaving a loaded bike while I've gone sightseeing or for lunch or something is something I've never been happy with or managed to figure out the safest way of doing. Opportunistic thefts are not the end of the world but they can be inconvenient and I'd prefer not to have to spend the best part of a day again trying to replace a battery stolen when I was sightseeing.

In contrast with other posters I've had enough stuff stolen over the years to make me worry about what might vanish this time and when I'm staying in a hotel all the luggage comes off. Many years ago six of us on three bikes stayed overnight in a hotel in central Spain and paid extra for secure parking with a night watchman. Confident that everything would be ok we left all the luggage on the bikes only to return in the morning to find every lock forced and anything of value taken. The watchman had "seen nothing" and the hotel pointed us at their no liability small print. No Trip Advisor in those days sadly. Ever since it all comes with me and the easiest way to do it is remove pannier and contents in one piece.

Some hotels have been helpful and rather than leave the bikes in the street have suggested we bring them into the foyer, something easier said than done with a loaded GoldWing. Even as one hotel did, have someone sleep overnight under the bike, didn't really put my mind at rest as I wasn't sure whether it more or less safe like that. It didn't help in the morning that I wanted to leave before he woke up either.

This is probably the best anti-theft device I've ever come across but can be a little difficult to pack away when you want to leave




(A friend's trip in Georgia or North Florida a few years ago)