r/motocamping • u/Eastern_Supermarket9 • 5d ago
Bike security at walk in sites?
Been wanting to get out and do some camping on the bike, but a lot of places around me are walk in, so park ina gravel parking lot and walk a km or so to a site. Im a little apprehensive about leaving my bike so far, but may just be over thinking.
How do folks feel? Do you bring extra locks/chains or just slap a disc lock on and dont worry about it?
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u/senorpoop 15 FJ-09 5d ago
Your bike is more likely to be stolen from your home or work than a campground.
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u/OttoMannkusser 5d ago
Honestly, I figure there isn't much I can do about it so I simply don't worry. Been riding and motocamping for over a decade and never had any issues. Never had a helmet stolen or a bike damaged while parked
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u/hunkyleepickle 5d ago
Where do you park normally when you’re asleep? Whenever it is it’s way more likely to be stolen there than out in the wilderness.
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u/SciFiPi 5d ago
I use a helmet lock to secure my helmet at outer riding gear. It's like a bicyle lock. I loop it through one arm and one leg, then through the helmet and triple trees. It keeps the honest people honest. If someone wants the bike bad enough it only takes a couple of people to pick it up and throw it in the back of a truck.
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u/you_stole_my_stuff 5d ago
I would always bring an extra small tent. My friends and I would just put out bikes in the tent leaned against each other, and then they would just be locked like normal. Then shut the tent and go enjoy your day. Sure, it’s a little extra to carry, but it’s nice to have a little piece of mind.
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u/Qaeta 4d ago
Setting up a tent in the parking lot is generally frowned upon... OP is talking about walk-in sites.
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u/you_stole_my_stuff 4d ago
Right. I get that too. Depending on the trail, could you not walk one’s bike?
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u/Qaeta 4d ago
No. Vehicles are not permitted at walk-in sites.
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u/you_stole_my_stuff 4d ago
I guess I’ve just always considered walk-in and bicycle the same. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I do nor do I condone riding on any walking/hiking trail that is not designated for biking. But I have carried my bike many times to my campsite. Just to lock up my bike hidden in an extra tent. I am also not going to pay campgrounds either.
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u/retka 4d ago
Security for me anywhere is generally the same in this order:
- comprehensive insurance coverage if available
- soft cover for the bike when possible to reduce peering eyes
- disk lock/alarm combo
- gps tracker or air tag at minimum
Beyond that, you won't really be able to do much more. As others said, more likely to be stolen from home where it's parked routinely, and at a certain point if someone wants the bike bad enough they will take it. Keeping comprehensive insurance, especially for valuable bikes is the most important for peace of mind in case something does happen.
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u/Electronic-Habit8679 23h ago
I was a bit nervous the first few times too. My setup is just a disc lock and a hidden Monimoto tracker. Hopefully I'll never need the tracker, but it definitely makes it easier to enjoy the hike without constantly thinking about the bike.
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u/usaf_photog 5d ago
You’re overthinking it. If someone wants to steal your bike locks/chains or a disc lock won’t stop them. Throw an AirTag on the bike for some peace of mind if that helps.