Leaving bike luggage on?

Do people leave their panniers/tail bag/tank bag on their bike when parked somewhere? Are they locked or open? Has anyone had anything stolen? For example, I have a stealable magnetic Lidl tank bag, I have only left it on my bike twice in Oxford centre and nothing has been stolen so far. But I now have very nice Oxford panniers and want to know if things tend to get nicked.

Yes I do all the time, take my tankbag but leave my tailpack. I even sometimes leave cheap stuff in the bag. I've got this strange attuitude that at somepoint my stuff will get stolen but I willing to put up with it for not having the hassle of taking things off all the time.

I leave the topbox on the bike, its secure. With a tank bag, it depends, but i never leave anything valuble in there - only stuff I can easily replace

Matt

[northwind]

Top box isn't really all that secure, but it's enough to deter total opportunists. I leave luggage on the bike all the time, as long as it's fairly well attached (panniers or tail pack, never tank bag) but I wouldn't usually leave anything of value in them.

Originally Posted by northwind

Top box isn't really all that secure, but it's enough to deter total opportunists. I leave luggage on the bike all the time, as long as it's fairly well attached (panniers or tail pack, never tank bag) but I wouldn't usually leave anything of value in them.

same here really. Panniers are hard to get off and require a knife or someone to force the seat off, same with tail pack. The tank bag just comes off so its an easy target. You can get a pac-safe steel net that goes over panniers. its the same stuf you use to secure your rucsac at youth hostels etc so no one can nick it. it makes it harder to get stuff out of it (but not impossible) and means the bags are effectivly locked to the bike. still wouldnt leave anything more than clothes in em though.

Strange one this - it actually came up in my insurance quote - the option to have luggage and contents covered, though only with lockable 'hard' Givi-style stuff.

I took them up on it as I sometimes have my laptop in there when doing a Uni run - obviously I'm using it there, but if I pop into the shops, post office or something on the way home it stays with the bike... but them I'm 'Mobility challenged' so taking it out and carting it with me is just too much hassle. If I was like regular folks I think I'd take it with me, regardless of insurance coverage.

Originally Posted by Warthog

Do people leave their panniers/tail bag/tank bag on their bike when parked somewhere? Are they locked or open? Has anyone had anything stolen? For example, I have a stealable magnetic Lidl tank bag, I have only left it on my bike twice in Oxford centre and nothing has been stolen so far. But I now have very nice Oxford panniers and want to know if things tend to get nicked.

As soon as you park up, rest assured i will be waiting for the chance to pounce on your valuables.

leave the contents of my trousers out of this! But on a serious note, noone has ever had anything stolen?! That's good.