Raul CB750K1: I'm not loosing sleep. I don't covet and idolize my bike. I am concerned about having to spend and re-spend money for things I already purchased. Not everyone's pockets are perhaps as deep as yours. Can you honestly tell me that if you walked out to jump on your bike and someone has stolen the side covers/seat/pick your part. that you wouldn't be mad? That it wouldn't set you back having to track down a new expensive replacement part? Maybe you're rich and don't care? Maybe you've never been a victim of theft? There's also the added benefit that Steve F brought up. Anything you do to make it more dificult for a thief to walk off with your side cover is going help protect it from flying off. Look I'm not interested in a flame war, as I stated, I'm interested in hearing what others may have done.
Inigo Montoya: I had a set of the Maier side covers, they are ugly and don't fit. I had to buy and extra long screw to make the right cover fit. I wouldn't recommend them.
It is not a question of money, but of attitude about material things.
My sidecovers are original K1. If I had to buy them NOS, they will cost more than $200, simply because that's what somebody is willing to pay.
If my sidecovers are stolen, what have I been stolen? $200? or two pieces of plastic?
Obviously, in such a case, I would not spend that money on new sidecovers. It is not a question whether I'm rich or can or can't afford it, it is just whether I think they are worth that much. Sure thing, I have spent $30 on badges that are also just pieces of plastic, but I don't have to worry about stealing because I can always buy new ones. Does it piss off? Yes, but I guess it is the price you have to pay for owning an object of desire. Just ask any Mercedes or Porsche owner what do they think about badge stealing.
Now let me share a little personal story. When my car stereo was stolen 4 years ago, I didn't like any of the new stereos, so I bought one the same I had been stolen out of eBay. It was about $30, and let me tell you, it is no crap, it is a high-end Kenwood.
Couple months ago my car was broken into again. The burglar forced the lock and, being unable to open the door, broke the window too. My stereo flew away, as well as some other small things.
I have full insurance but for the stereo. Losing $30 every four years seems reasonable to me. I just bought another stereo out of eBay, damn I like it. But the fact of having my door and window broken pisses me off big time, not for the financial cost, but for the cost of having to be without the car for some days.
I told the mechanic: Is it possible to key the lock in such a way that any key or screwdriver will open it? -kinda what happens with the Honda gas tank lock-. The mechanic looked at me startled. My point was: Listen, my car has a remote opener. I never use the key to open the car. When the burglar inserts the screwdriver in my door lock, it is already too late. He is going to force it open. Why then not making things easy for him? I don't care if he takes my $30 stereo, as long as he doesn't break my door or window.
"but then anybody will open your car" Obviously, but how is anybody to know the lock is not keyed? The mechanic told me it was not that bad idea, because he even know cases when the owner takes the stereo faceplate with him, the burglar will destroy the stereo contacts to ruin the stereo because he can't take it with him.
There is a great joke in the Simpsons, when Homer wants to get rid of a trampoline. Bart ties it with a lock and chain. Five seconds later, Snake is cutting the chain off. Just by showing the fear you have for something stolen, you are directing attention towards it. Over here, it is common that envious people will scratch your brand new Mercedes or BMW, they can't stand watching you detailing it. Now, have your $60.000 car dirty, and nobody will do anything to it. Why? Because people will scratch it if they think it will piss you off. By showing you don't care, nobody else will.
