Topic: Anyone have an idea to prevent side covers from being stolen? Or flying off?

[xenoscr]

By the time I'm done spending money on my brand new reproduction side covers I'm estimating that I'm going to have spent in the neighborhood of $250 for my side covers. Kind of pricey for something that can be pulled off in seconds without tools. In a perfect world where every one is honest and respects your property this would not concern me. However, that world does not exist and I know it.

My question to the community is this: Have any of you employed any type of protection to prevent a thief from making off with your side covers?

I've got a 1975 CB750 K5 that I'm thinking of epoxying a metal plate to the back of the covers and attaching a steal cable that's looped around the frame. I think this could work... however if some thief tries to take my covers they'll probably just get mad and break them...... What are your thoughts?

XenosCR

[egor]

I've tried to think of ways to prevent them from being stolen or basically falling off as well.....due to they are expensive.  I have a cb550f with hard to find covers...plus they are custom painted to match the rest of my bike.

One idea was to drill a small hole in each peg then threading them together and around the frame with some steel wire.  If you have access via unlocking the seat, you could get to where the wires are connected together.

I could totally see a thief breaking them when trying to get them off or just in frustration as well.

[bikerbart]

strap an angry pit bull to your bike.

[egor]

Guess you would need a sidecar then...whole other issue.  I guess you could just drag him behind.

[55fbomb]

put em in your backpack.

[xenoscr]

put em in your backpack.

That's so crazy it could work....  However, that seems like something I would eventually get to lazy to do. Good special case solution though.

XenosCR

[shizzomynizzo]

Wouldn't it be easier to put the side covers in your backpack?

You could buy an alarm for your bike...I had one on my sportster. Had remote start too! It was under 100 bucks and I installed it in under 3 hours.

Now I know what your thinkin... How's a couple honks going to keep people away? Well the one I had was a 170 db siren. It was earpiecing to say the least! I got it off ebay 5 years ago. Might still have them on there.

Other peoples' faces are priceless when you walk up to your bike and it starts with noone on it. It was kind of cool.

If you go that route, make sure it's in nuetral everytime you park, because it bypasses the clutch safety switch.

[Raul CB750K1]

I would never stole anybody's sidecover. I would not be able to enjoy looking at my bike, knowing they belong to somebody else.

For the same reason, I don't protect them. These bikes are usually -at least over here- owned by mature people, and most of them doesn't have to make ends meet. I was once stolen a hub cup on my Audi. I would rather buy a new one than being embarrased found stealing. Sure thing, my honesty does have a price but not that cheap.

[xenoscr]

shizzomynizzo: You're right, taking them with me would be the easiest work around if I have to park somewhere I'm not so sure about.

Raul CB750K1: If everyone thought like that, we wouldn't need jails. It's too bad.

After reading another post about a side cover being stolen on this forum it got me thinking. I've spent a lot of money on something that could be so easily taken and I don't like the idea of being ripped off. I just was wondering if there where other owners that had the same thoughts and had done something about it. I've been the victim of a break ins, home and car, the sinking feeling is not something you forget. I'm still interested if someone has another clever idea.

XenosCR

[gane]

All, Z1 & Kz side covers have a tendancy to exit unannounced at high speeds when air box has been removed/rubbers degenerate.... open your' seat, & see if any of the securing posts are visible/accessable w/ seat up from inside. if so, simply drill post & insert a Jesus clip (re-usable cotter pin) requires opening seat to remove covers, but is cheap insurance. G

[xenoscr]

I hadn't even really considered them flying off at high speed. Thanks for the tip.

XenosCR

[Steve F]

I tethered mine with small dia. aircraft cable.  Helps keep the honest people honest 

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=19798.msg207096#msg207096

Steve F

[xenoscr]

I tethered mine with small dia. aircraft cable.  Helps keep the honest people honest 

That's pretty much what I was thinking about doing. How did you attach the cable to the back of the side covers? What did you use?

XenosCR

[Raul CB750K1]

What I meant is that I ride my bike, park it and never care what will happen to it or its parts. I can't have a watching eye 24/7, and I want to enjoy life. If any of my world posessions get stolen, I will get another one. I don't have anything that couldn't be bought again. It is just a matter of money.

Truth be told, I don't own many -if not any- thing that is coveted, no reason for being sleepless. Sure thing, I use disc locks, wheel locks, and the like, but I know pretty well that when somebody wants badly something you have, he will get it. And if aircraft cable impedes him taking the sidecover with him, chances are you will get a broken sidecover.

¿Are we #$%*ing crazy?Since when a lousy piece of plastic deserves to be protected from burglary?

[Inigo Montoya]

This is the 1 area where the meier sidecovers shine. you need a screwdriver to take them off.

[Steve F]

I tethered mine with small dia. aircraft cable.  Helps keep the honest people honest 

That's pretty much what I was thinking about doing. How did you attach the cable to the back of the side covers? What did you use?

XenosCR

Go to the link that I attached, and scroll down a few posts, and there is another pic of a metal tab that I fiberglassed in place with epoxy which the cable attaches to.
Steve F

[xenoscr]

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.

[xenoscr]

I updated the topic to include flying off, since any solution that would prevent the cover from flying off and becoming lost would also make it more difficult to steal.

XenosCR

[paddy paul]

Keep them in the garage on the wall  

[Blasbo]

strap an angry pit bull to your bike.

Guess you would need a sidecar then...whole other issue.  I guess you could just drag him behind.

put em in your backpack.

The side covers or the pit bull? 

[mgbgt89]

Both of mine have blown off on the 650. Once i was riding with a friend on the interstate.. he saw it fly off and i went back the next day in that area and found it.

The other was lost on a 100 mile strech... no idea when or where.

I have since got lucky and found a pair at a salvage place, they are in a box on my shelf of bike parts. I put them on for special occasions.

[mark]

baler twine holds 'em on pretty good.

[xenoscr]

baler twine holds 'em on pretty good.

AWESOME!! That's perfect!  At this point connecting them with a cable looks like the best option. I can still get the the fuses pretty easily and they won't go careening across the freeway. Thanks for the ideas.

XenosCR

[domer]

just my 2 cents, but if i were to go and steal your side covers (i wouldnt) and you had some how secured them on... i (the thief) would not know this and probably think they are just stubborn and pull harder almost certianly causing breakage. just a thought.
now if your goal is just to keep them from flying off at a high rate of speed, that changes things... but if you are honestly worried about them getting ripped off (which i have seen happen) then you might want to leave em at home.

[mark]

....... I can still get the the fuses pretty easily ......

Me too. They're under the seat.




Happy trails.