[MY LIFE]

OK. With the talk about bikes falling and idiots sitting on your bike it got me to thinking. As bike riders we all know that you don't sit on any ones bike. So the ones who would sit on your bike, must be none bike owners. So if one of these idiots are to sit on your bike, are you better to have the steering locked or unlocked.

My view has always been to lock the steering and if someone was to sit on my bike, they would discover that they can't straighten the wheel, so they wouldn't pull the bike off the kick stand. But if they would continue, am I taking a bigger chance of them dropping the bike, because it will be unbalanced?

Your turn.... ;D

 

[Skwerlee]

i always lock it...i don't think it increases the likelihood of an unwelcome quest dropping the bike.

 

[ROADKILL]

Re: Should You Lock Steering... Don't Lock Steering. (Chance of dropping bike)

I never lock mine...it won't prevent someone from stealing the bike if they really want it....plus I've seen too many people drop their own bikes because they forgot....as for someone sitting on your bike just ask them nicely to get off then kick'em in the balls.

 

[christopher]

Locking the handle bars doesn't really have anything to do with someone sitting on your bike. Instead it is to make it harder for them if they try to push it up on a trailer or in the back of a van/truck and take off with it. There was a theft ring going on right here on the base a few years back. But weather the steering was locked or not didn't make a difference. When they found a bike that they could grab and four guys would hop out of a moving van with two 2x4's. They stuck one 2x4 through each wheel and just picked the bike up and walked off with it into the van. Now this is a worse case senerio. But locking the steering helps not to temp an honest person. Its like the saying goes, "Locks aren't there to keep out a crook. They are just there to keep an honest peson honest."

 

[christopher]

Its kinda like I only leave my bike parked in nuetral if i'm not parked on a hill.

 

[NOLAStryker]

Its kinda like I only leave my bike parked in nuetral if i'm not parked on a hill.

Parked in neutral? Am I supposed to be parking in neutral or in gear?

 

[sfcmcgan]

I have personally never seen anyone drop a bike because steering was locked... I have seen them forget to put the kickstand down and get off the bike.... but never because the steering was locked....

 

[middleagecrisis]

I lock it when I'm gonna leave it parked for a while in a high foot traffic area. This will only deter some because the lock is easily broke by pushing the handle bars back to the right.

 

[11Stryker]

I always lock it- just habit like locking the house, vehicle, or business. Insurance companys like it much better.

 

[dejablu110]

Ive got stories...... : : : :

 

[toby]

Wife wont leave her bike without the forks locked. I on the other hand rarely look mine unless it's going to be out of my line of sight for more than a few minutes.
Reason being that I turn my wheel to the right because it's more comfortable to me to get of of it that way. I also think it looks better parked that way. The forks only lock to the left. To answer the question whether it would fall over easier with the forks lock and you got on it it just might. But I always stick my key in and unlock it before I get on it. Because I always put my helmet and gloves on before I get on my bike and you cant get your key out of your pocket with gloves on.
As far as some one getting on it and falling over because the forks where lock not sure if it would matter if they were locked or not because any one dumb enough to get on another mans bike without permission would probobly fall over anyway. And I would hope it fell on his leg and pined him there long enough for me to get over there and pick my bike up and then jump up and down on him to break his ribs and leg and say the bike did it. ;D

 

[Mentat Ix]

Wife wont leave her bike without the forks locked. I on the other hand rarely look mine unless it's going to be out of my line of sight for more than a few minutes.
Reason being that I turn my wheel to the right because it's more comfortable to me to get of of it that way. I also think it looks better parked that way. The forks only lock to the left.

I don't know that locking the forks will make it tip over any easier, but I can tell you this: with the wheel all the way to the right, the bike WILL tip over easier. I've seen this demonstrated quite conclusively.

Maybe not a concern for you, but I have three kids. If I leave the wheel to the right and one of them climbs up on the right foot peg fooling around, the bike will go right over.

 

[onebadstryker]

^ So true. I've seen it happen in person, Twice! ???

 

[dreadly]

My wife locks hers ... I'm waiting for that day when she forgets lol :-X

 

[strykenshane]

I always lock mine unless I'm gonna be somewhere I can keep an eye on it.

 

[galo8]

I've always locked mine

 

[strykerjan]

I always lock mine and put it in gear when parking uphill.

 

[iweldit]

A couple of the guys I ride with didn't never locked their bikes. Last trip we took, they got up late one morning, so we moved their bikes to other side of hotel, then watched out the window while they started counting bikes, then realizing theirs were missing, then the frantic search was on for a few minutes. Now we all lock them, paybacks can be a b!tch.