Cable Lock for soft luggage

[triman11427]

I'm looking for ideas to lock a duffle and panniers to my rack to discourage theft. I was thinking of something along the line of Lockstraps but at 8.5' they're a bit too long. Lockstraos sells a helmet lock which is 2'. Too short for my application. A retractable cable setup would be great but the ones I've seen are to short and just a thin wire. Any ideas?

 

[squarebore]

I have seen a small wire net that goes over luggage, retracts and then locks. Can't remember where though. Will do a search.

 

[Wistrick]

google PacSafe...

Dan

 

[triman11427]

I've seen that. I need to use the straps to attach the Mosko Moto duffle to my Altrider rack. Then, run the cable lock through all the bags to lock to the bike. At least that's my plan.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Bicycle cable locks from Walmart and Target are $10 or less when on sale. You can also lock up pants, jackets, and helmets when off the bike.

(Actually this is one of the ones that cost more than $10 but same idea.)

 

[triman11427]

The right idea but the cable is a bit too thick and cumbersome. I don't want the lock to take up too much storage space and it should be easy enough to use so it's not a PIA. I'll be heading to Walmart, Target etc and see what's availble.

 

[richarddacat]

Could go to Lowe's or Home Depot and check out their coated cable selection. Make up you own?

I've used some 1/8" cable and made it long enough to go through my jacket, helmet and tank bag then to my brake disc lock. Small enough to coil up and pack.

 

[EricV]

You're working too hard at it. People will take it if they want to. Small cables won't discourage a prepared thief looking to score moto gear specifically. The others will just cut whatever with a knife to get to the hoped for goodies inside fast.

Don't leave valuables on the bike. Accept a certain amount of risk, but do what you can to mitigate it, like parking in view of where you will be, (restaurants).

I don't have locking mounts or lock my tank bag 99% of the time. There is nothing really valuable in there, all that goes in the jacket pockets, and the jacket comes with me, regardless of if it's a pita, unless I have an empty pannier to lock it in. And I do run hard bags. You've got more bulk in your forum profile pic that I run with hard luggage.

My wife and I have had our tank bags quickly gone thru. Likely the perp parked next to us in something large enough to hide his/her activities. Nothing taken, because nothing was there to take.

Sure, I'd be pissed if someone took the tank bag or helmet, (which I sometimes lock if we're going to be away for an extended period), but at the end of the day, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen.

 

[arjayes]

You're working too hard at it. People will take it if they want to. Small cables won't discourage a prepared thief looking to score moto gear specifically. The others will just cut whatever with a knife to get to the hoped for goodies inside fast.

Don't leave valuables on the bike. Accept a certain amount of risk, but do what you can to mitigate it, like parking in view of where you will be, (restaurants).

I don't have locking mounts or lock my tank bag 99% of the time. There is nothing really valuable in there, all that goes in the jacket pockets, and the jacket comes with me, regardless of if it's a pita, unless I have an empty pannier to lock it in. And I do run hard bags. You've got more bulk in your forum profile pic that I run with hard luggage.

My wife and I have had our tank bags quickly gone thru. Likely the perp parked next to us in something large enough to hide his/her activities. Nothing taken, because nothing was there to take.

Sure, I'd be pissed if someone took the tank bag or helmet, (which I sometimes lock if we're going to be away for an extended period), but at the end of the day, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen.

My thoughts as well. Even if you find a cable system you like, I bet that having to carry it and deploy it on a regular basis will wear on you. Not worth it IMO.

 

[triman11427]

You're working too hard at it. People will take it if they want to. Small cables won't discourage a prepared thief looking to score moto gear specifically. The others will just cut whatever with a knife to get to the hoped for goodies inside fast.

Don't leave valuables on the bike. Accept a certain amount of risk, but do what you can to mitigate it, like parking in view of where you will be, (restaurants).

I don't have locking mounts or lock my tank bag 99% of the time. There is nothing really valuable in there, all that goes in the jacket pockets, and the jacket comes with me, regardless of if it's a pita, unless I have an empty pannier to lock it in. And I do run hard bags. You've got more bulk in your forum profile pic that I run with hard luggage.

My wife and I have had our tank bags quickly gone thru. Likely the perp parked next to us in something large enough to hide his/her activities. Nothing taken, because nothing was there to take.

Sure, I'd be pissed if someone took the tank bag or helmet, (which I sometimes lock if we're going to be away for an extended period), but at the end of the day, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen.

Thanks for noticing my luggage volume )I use that set up as an extreme when I'm touring. As George Carlin would say " you feel better traveling when you bring all your stuff"
I agree that basically any locking system will just be to keep honest people honest. A thief will always find a way. That being said, I do like to carry anything of value on my person but I have invested a lot of money in my bags themselves and don't want them to disappear. It's 6 degrees here today and I'm enjoying this thread. This has been an issue for as long as I have been riding distances which take me beyond a day trip.
It so happens I've been in contact with Lockstraps who seem to make the product I'm looking for.

 

[WenWa]

It so happens I've been in contact with Lockstraps who seem to make the product I'm looking for.

Let us know about the product.
I've been kicking around the idea of getting a Wolfman Boulder Beta bag, but would like someway to harry a thief walking away with it.
Interestingly, I see that Great Loop Great Basin has a channel underneath to thread a cable through to lock it to the bike. Cool idea.

 

[TheHelios]

I used to care about locking soft-luggage when I used it but came to the realization that zippers are terrible at security. All you need to do is stab a random section of zipper with a pen, break the hold, and unzip the rest of it. The worst part is that you can run over the open section with the "locked" zipper and you'd never notice.

I'd recommend a motion alarm (Bully U-Lock is a decent option), toss it somewhere in/on the bag, and arm it. I'd rather know someone is trying to steal from me at that moment in time rather than hope whatever protection I'm using actually protects.

 

[Don in Lodi]

That's a tough call. Secure the bags with locks and steel cable and have somebody with a sharp Swiss Army make scrap out of your bags, or maybe find the unharmed bags minus a few things in an ally dumpster. Most will go for a quick snatch and grab, open, glance, and grab, rather than going through the whole process of undoing loops and straps and pins that pretty much only somebody that has installed said bags knows how to undo in the first place. Again with the Swiss Army knife though. Go Aluminum! LOL. You can pop my locks with a 6" screw driver.

 

[timothy.davis]

I am in total agreement that a determined thief is going to get what they want and will have the means to get it. On the other hand sometimes a minimal deterrent will keep the honest, honest. Recreation Equipment Incorporated (REI) has a pretty good selection of light duty affordable cables to select from. They are almost as cheap manufacturing one from a local hardware store and I see they now stock a 35 inch retractable.

 

[Langolier]

Could go to Lowe's or Home Depot and check out their coated cable selection. Make up you own?

I've used some 1/8" cable and made it long enough to go through my jacket, helmet and tank bag then to my brake disc lock. Small enough to coil up and pack.

Yep that worked best for me made it as long as needed. But as others have said it's only a small deturent if they want it bad enough they will get it.

 

[WenWa]

This is the Pacsafe 85 liter security web. As you can see in the photos, it doesn't quite cover the entire setup. The issue is the cable that cinches on the bottom doesn't open wide enough to fit over everything. I'm not sure if a larger capacity net would work, but I'm going to try a 140L net.

Now, does it work?

To a determined thief, no. To a lazy thief, yes (except for the right side saddlebag).

It took a few minutes to put it on, but can easily go on in 1-2 minutes once you get use to how it works. It packs fairly small.
I foresee using this in urban areas, but not for motorcycle camping.

I think the best deterrent would be this net plus a half cover on (out of sight, out of mind theory).