Thruxton Lock Cap Pointless?

I can’t really see the point of having a locking petrol cap on my T1200, the bike is garaged and I’m never far away from it when out, besides petrol theft went out in the 70’s didn’t it?, is there an alternative screw on cap with no lock? (I’m guessing the key won’t come out of the lock if I leave the current cap in the unlocked position).
PS I guess the only benefit is you’re less likely to accidentally leave the key in the bike when going to pay for petrol.

 

I've never understood the locking gas cap thing, either. In my years as a rider (ten-ish) and among all the folks I ride with, not one of us has ever had an issue or had someone try to siphon gas from our motorcycles. Has anyone out there had a problem with this??

 

I agree that fuel theft isn't an issue but a locking cap stops some scumbag putting something like water etc in your tank

 

If he's that motivated to make sure that you don’t get home, he'd let down yer tyres or get his snips out (if he's an arsehole) if he can’t get to the tank I think?
One snip in the right place and you are fooked...

 

I remember one lad being caught taking a pee in a fuel tank, good enough reason for me to lock mine..

 

Guess I never thought about someone actually stealing the actual cap! I probably shouldn't say it (again) because I may jinx myself. But after years and miles of riding to many different places, I've never had an issue. That said, I certainly don't really mind that my Speedy has a locking gas cap. It was a bit of a pain for initially as I wasn't used to it but now it's just part of the routine.

 

Apart from stopping folk pinching it, peeing in your tank or worse, I do agree that a locking cap does help to not leave the key in the ignition when you go to pay for fuel. My Hastings insurance clearly says I get no money if someone pinches the bike when either the engine is running or keys in the ignition... so anything to prompt my thick brain and avoid a catastrophe is very welcome...

 

I am more concerned about what someone might put IN my tank than take out of it. Admittedly, it has never happened to me. But it HAS crossed my mind. ...J.D.

 

If anyone doesn't want to bother with the lock I think you can use it without the lock - twist on/off. Not tried it but it's what I hear.

 

With the 1200 XC (and probably XE as well) you can use the key to leave the gas cap in either use case - turn the key to connect the handle to the cap so it spins off (the unlocked position) or turn the key back so the handle spins on the cap (the locked position). So if you want to never have to use the key again, leave the cap in the unlocked position.

 

I have a locking cap on my 900 Thruxton but I never bother locking it.

 

The locking gas cap the came with my Thruxton was a PITA, having to use both hands to unlock. I got the push and twist type that fit under the Monza Style oem flip up and never looked back.

 

Never bothered on the bikes, but I have one on my 80 gallon capacity RV.

 

Cant say in 48yrs of motorcycling that i have ever had fuel or cap stolen and i don't think anyone has ever pi55ed in or put sugar in any of my tanks.
I got rid of the tacky looking chrome locking thing on my SS and replaced it with this.


On another note, we used to have locking caps on the HGVs, until the local Caravan Utilizing Nomadic Travellers broke into the yard one night, helping themselves to 500+ ltrs of derv. However to gain access to the fuel they had to wreck the tanks which meant two waggons off the road for several days. An instruction came down from above not to lock the tanks overnight in the future.

 

I'm not bothered myself.
But many years ago a friend ran a Norton ES2.... Featherbed frame...with a Norton embossed petrol cap...the cap was always getting stolen.
He reckoned that the factory probably made one fewer cap than they did petrol tanks....so when he saw another Norton, he helped himself to the petrol tank cap ...using that theory as a justification.

 

All my current bikes have locking caps. It doesn't take any additional time to remove at fill up time, so don't see the issue..

 

I prefer the added reassurance that some clot can’t just unscrew and walk off with the cap for a laugh and leave my fuel tank open for the next twerp to drop a match into. .. or for the tank to fill with rain ..paranoia I know but why stress over an extra thing ... bad enough leaving the whole bike unattended

 

It ain't paranoia if they're really out to get you . . .