[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

In the Harley-Davidson world, if you go on a trip and leave your bike parked at a hotel or campground, the best way to keep it from getting stolen, is to use a Bike Cover that proclaims there's a Honda under the cover.

Are there really that many golf carts stolen around TV? I've never much worried about it, but if I was, I'd just attach an Air Tag or a Tile to it, like someone else mentioned. Now that I think about it, I'd probably stick it in my golf bag, where it would be harder for a thief to find. Seeing my golf bag is always on my cart, I'd be protecting my clubs and cart.

A "kill switch" would certainly help, but that's a little bit of a pain and very old school.

IMO that would attract thief cause he knows the reliability of Honda’s.

[dhdallas]

I'm covering my cart with duct tape & then every time I leave the cart, I am going to remove the steering wheel and carry it around with me wherever else I go on foot.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

IMO that would attract thief cause he knows the reliability of Honda’s.

If Bikers really cared about reliability, Honda would outsell Harley-Davidson, 10:1 in the Heavyweight Cruiser category (which is the only market H-D is in).

Instead, Honda is just a novelty in the market. Cruisers for Camry owners. Honda makes "transportation vehicles", Harley-Davidson markets "cool" (or as H-D puts it, "lifestyle"). What other vehicle manufacturer sells toilet paper with their Logo on it and has loyal customers who get the brand, tattooed on their arms & chest?

& just for the record, I've owned 8-10 Harleys, but once I grew up (mostly), I bought a real motorcycle.

[Caymus]

Any accurate stats on the number stolen each year?

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Caymus

Any accurate stats on the number stolen each year?

I love to see some. I'm sure it happens, but doesn't seem like it's much of an issue in a place like TV. Of course, it's a huge issue to the few people who have their cart stolen.

[TheWarriors]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

If Bikers really cared about reliability, Honda would outsell Harley-Davidson, 10:1 in the Heavyweight Cruiser category (which is the only market H-D is in).

Instead, Honda is just a novelty in the market. Cruisers for Camry owners. Honda makes "transportation vehicles", Harley-Davidson markets "cool" (or as H-D puts it, "lifestyle"). What other vehicle manufacturer sells toilet paper with their Logo on it and has loyal customers who get the brand, tattooed on their arms & chest?

& just for the record, I've owned 8-10 Harleys, but once I grew up (mostly), I bought a real motorcycle.

Harley’s are for old men. This is why they continue to have long term viability issues. Young people have no interest in Harley’s. Check out Sturgis, it’s The Villages with black shirts.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

the fuzz will find it and the bad guys real quick.

When was the last time you heard the therm fuzz? 🙂

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

If Bikers really cared about reliability, Honda would outsell Harley-Davidson, 10:1 in the Heavyweight Cruiser category (which is the only market H-D is in).

My first motorcycle was early 60s HD 125 dirt bike (really an Aermacchi), 50 years later my last was a Honda St1300 with 35000 miles on it. I couldn't wear out either one of them. After owning 3 or 4 'modern Harley's' I came to hate them due to them becoming a status symbol for posers and their horrible reliability (the reason they use so many chrome parts on HD is so they are easier to find in the ditch after they've fallen off). Most of favorites were Yamahas.

[MarkD1981]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

When was the last time you heard the therm fuzz? 🙂

An episode of The Mod Squad in 1972

[GizmoWhiskers]

Originally Posted by Laker14

I thought it would be a useful conversation to have, to discuss various products designed to make one's golf cart less attractive for thieves. The theory being, of course, that we can't make it impossible, but a little deterrence will make it more likely that a thief will move on to someone else's cart.

I was going to post links to all of the products, but that's really a PITA, so anyone who is interested in finding more information online needs merely to GOOGLE a few keywords to educate themselves.

1. "unique" keys, vs. "common" keys, vs. "uncommon" keys. From what I've gleaned on searching "Buggiesgonewild" ( golf cart forum), an "uncommon" key might be what you have if you've had a headlight kit installed on your Yamaha. While it is harder to find than the "common" keys, it is more easily defeated than a "unique" key. As I understand it, to get a "unique" key ignition you have to buy a new one, so labelled, and have it installed.

I am not absolutely sure I understand all of the nuances of this, and would welcome more discussion from someone more knowledgeable. I think I do understand , however, that even such a system can be defeated by someone willing to put the cart in neutral and pull it onto a trailer. Certainly not as easy, and certainly more likely to arouse suspicion, than merely acting like you own the cart with a key that works and driving off in a matter of seconds.

Which leads me to another set of products that in one way or another immobilize the cart mechanically, such as:

1. A wheel boot.
2. A pedal to steering wheel lock bar (which can be used to fix the steering wheel to a part of the frame if the pedal hook doesn't fit the pedal for your particular cart).

3. A pedal lock, which fixes the gas pedal in one spot, and some of them fix the brake in the "set" position making rolling it onto a trailer even more difficult, if not impossible.

My inclination is to get a pedal-to-steering wheel lock bar. Simple, not too expensive (around $30-$40), and immediately obvious to the causal thief that there is easier prey available.

Thoughts?

I use a wheel boot. Makes the cart less attractive. Towing it off harder so a would be theive moves on to an easier target.

[Snakster66]

Would it be gauche to say, park next to carts that are MORE attractive to thieves?

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by TheWarriors

Harley’s are for old men. This is why they continue to have long term viability issues. Young people have no interest in Harley’s. Check out Sturgis, it’s The Villages with black shirts.

I live in the town next to Laconia, NH. I've watched it for years. It's the sorriest bunch of losers imaginable and dying a slow and a not nearly painful enough death.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

My first motorcycle was early 60s HD 125 dirt bike (really an Aermacchi), 50 years later my last was a Honda St1300 with 35000 miles on it. I couldn't wear out either one of them. After owning 3 or 4 'modern Harley's' I came to hate them due to them becoming a status symbol for posers and their horrible reliability (the reason they use so many chrome parts on HD is so they are easier to find in the ditch after they've fallen off). Most of favorites were Yamahas.

The photo of my FLSTS I posted a few posts back? This was my License Plate.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Snakster66

Would it be gauche to say, park next to carts that are MORE attractive to thieves?

In other words, don't park next to one of those carts from Yesterday or Street Rods? You're sure to have yours stolen?

[Sully2023]

Originally Posted by Laker14

I thought it would be a useful conversation to have, to discuss various products designed to make one's golf cart less attractive for thieves. The theory being, of course, that we can't make it impossible, but a little deterrence will make it more likely that a thief will move on to someone else's cart.

I was going to post links to all of the products, but that's really a PITA, so anyone who is interested in finding more information online needs merely to GOOGLE a few keywords to educate themselves.

1. "unique" keys, vs. "common" keys, vs. "uncommon" keys. From what I've gleaned on searching "Buggiesgonewild" ( golf cart forum), an "uncommon" key might be what you have if you've had a headlight kit installed on your Yamaha. While it is harder to find than the "common" keys, it is more easily defeated than a "unique" key. As I understand it, to get a "unique" key ignition you have to buy a new one, so labelled, and have it installed.

I am not absolutely sure I understand all of the nuances of this, and would welcome more discussion from someone more knowledgeable. I think I do understand , however, that even such a system can be defeated by someone willing to put the cart in neutral and pull it onto a trailer. Certainly not as easy, and certainly more likely to arouse suspicion, than merely acting like you own the cart with a key that works and driving off in a matter of seconds.

Which leads me to another set of products that in one way or another immobilize the cart mechanically, such as:

1. A wheel boot.
2. A pedal to steering wheel lock bar (which can be used to fix the steering wheel to a part of the frame if the pedal hook doesn't fit the pedal for your particular cart).

3. A pedal lock, which fixes the gas pedal in one spot, and some of them fix the brake in the "set" position making rolling it onto a trailer even more difficult, if not impossible.

My inclination is to get a pedal-to-steering wheel lock bar. Simple, not too expensive (around $30-$40), and immediately obvious to the causal thief that there is easier prey available.

Thoughts?

I added a golf cart alarm and feel confident if someone tries to take it, the entire neighborhood will hear it.