Possible Vandalism or attempted theft...

Message

sharpmagna · Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:53 pm

Let me paint a picture:

Well I haven't ridden my bike for about 10 days because I've been waiting for the replacement front tire to come in and my scheduled date to bring it in to the shop. I'm also getting Progressive Fork Springs as well as getting the valves adjusted so I wanted to knock it all out at once.

My bike had it's steering locked and I had a cable lock going through the front wheel and the engine guard and covered with a Dowco Guardian cover. When I uncovered it this afternoon, everything looked good. When I hit the engine start switch, the whole assembly rotated about a 1/4". I thought that was wierd because I never noticed that it did that. It took a bit to start it, but I figured since it has been sitting for a while that it just needed some more throttle. I looked at my guages and noticed that the neutral light looked wierd. It was half yellow and half green when normally it is just green. It looks like the green covering was knocked loose. This tipped me off that something was not right. I walked around the bike and noticed that there was some fresh scratches on the right exhaust pipe as well as on the rear turn signal. At this point I'm pissed. My bike is 20 years old and I've only had it a few months, but I know what scratches are already there and I know I didn't add these new ones.

I'll have to ask my neighbors if they saw anything funny going on, but they all go to work during the day too. At night the porch light is motion activated so hopefully it is somewhat of a deterrent. Unfortunately I have no garage, so the bike sits in front of the porch about 30 feet from the street.

I'm now going to invest in an alarm system, probably one that pages you. My friend said the Scorpio alarm is really good. Also since I can't always be near the house when I don't ride, I'm thinking of getting a wireless camera that can snap pictures when activated by motion. I guess it could have been worse and the bike could have been stolen so a couple of scratches isn't such a big deal. Still makes me mad though.

Well just needed to vent.

rapidblue · #2 Unread post by **rapidblue** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:38 pm

that sucks dude.

I know what it feels like to park your bike only to come out and have it f*cked with. The feeling sucks because you can't do anything about it.

Hopefully it's nothing serious

cheer up!

sharpmagna · Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:10 pm

yeah scratches are minimal and I can deal with it, it's just the principal.

The worst part is the pipes on these bikes are not easy to come buy. Turn signals are easy. Gotta get me a garage...

#4 Unread post by **Kal** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:02 pm

This sounds too familier

When you find them - CRUCIFY them

#5 Unread post by **MrGompers** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:23 pm

Is it possible your bike was knocked over during high winds. And someone came by and just happened to pick it up ? So, you wouldn't have known it was knocked over in the first place.

JC Viper · #6 Unread post by **JC Viper** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:53 pm

did you tie up the Dowco using the included holes? This way it'll be impossible for someone to lift up the cover when you use a lock and cable going through the covers included holes.

sharpmagna · Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:02 am

MrGompers wrote:Is it possible your bike was knocked over during high winds. And someone came by and just happened to pick it up ? So, you wouldn't have known it was knocked over in the first place.

Not likely. We haven't had any highwinds lately and I doubt anyone would be nice enough to pick up a fallen 550lb object just to be nice.

sharpmagna · Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:04 am

JCViper528 wrote:did you tie up the Dowco using the included holes? This way it'll be impossible for someone to lift up the cover when you use a lock and cable going through the covers included holes.

Unfortunately I haven't been doing that lately. It's been a PITA because I have to run the cable through the holes and under the bike and then through the front wheel. Now that this has happened, I'm going to take the time to do it. Hopefully with the alarm system I'm planning on getting, it'll be enough.

xsyamahadg · Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:33 am

You would be surprised what happens when you are not around. Years ago, I left a BSA Victor Special sitting in front of my house parked at the curb. We went away for the afternoon, and when I came back the front brake handle, head light rim, and gas tank were damaged. I couldn't figure out what happened until a neighbor told me the city street department had knocked it over while thay were removing a downed tree limb. They sat the bike back on the side stand and just left it there. I called the police and made them file an accident report against the city.

sharpmagna · Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:41 am

xsyamahadg - you got bad luck with your parked motorcycles! lol. Well I guess since you've been riding so long, you've had a lot of experience.

I guess something like that is possible, but my bike is parked on my walkway at least 20-30 feet from the road. I'm still mad.