When an Indian rider chasing his round-the-world dream stepped away for breakfast in Nottingham and returned to find his KTM 390 Adventure gone, it wasn’t just a stolen motorcycle. It was the erasure of identity, gear, memories, and livelihood — all in a matter of minutes.

The footage Yogesh Alekari shared — helmeted thieves riding away his loaded bike — is a stark reminder of how quickly a journey years in the making can collapse. For Indian riders who idolize epic solo tours, this isn’t just his misfortune. It’s a wake-up call. Grit and passion aren’t enough. Security, planning, and awareness are non-negotiable.

What was the incident ?

Yogesh Alekari, 33, left Mumbai on a mission to ride across the world. In Nottingham, UK, while stopping for breakfast at Wollaton Park, his KTM 390 Adventure was stolen along with everything he carried — gear, gadgets, cameras, and critical documents.

The loss wasn’t just material. For a rider on an international leg, a stolen bike means stranded identity, broken continuity, and a sudden stop to the dream.

Support poured in quickly — biker communities amplified his story, strangers shared CCTV footage, and a GoFundMe was set up to help him recover. But the damage was done, and it raised two painful truths:

1. Modern motorcycle travelers are high-value targets. Pannier-loaded bikes with cameras, laptops, and passports are magnets for organized theft.

2. Emergency systems don’t always work fast enough. Yogesh received a crime number, but not immediate relief. For riders abroad, local bureaucracy can mean being stuck at the worst possible moment.

Hard Truths Riders Must Accept

• Busy ≠ Safe. Cafés, parks, and tourist hotspots are prime grounds for thieves.

• Your bike is your bank. It often carries cash, cameras, passports, and identity — losing it can derail the entire journey.

• Police response varies. Don’t assume urgency. Always prepare to be your first line of defense.

Before you plan: Read this Information Carefully!

If you’re an Indian biker planning anything from an extended Europe leg to a full world tour, take this as a wake-up call. Below I’ll be blunt: some of the habits many of us treat as “part of travel” are dangerous. I’ll then give practical, realistic steps and kit recommendations that fit Indian riders (tight budgets, long distances, variable accommodation standards) so you can travel smarter — and, if the worst happens, recover faster.

Pre-ride planning (what to do before you leave India)

1. Documentation & backups
   • Make two physical photocopies of your passport, visa pages, driving license and any carnet/vehicle papers. Keep one set on your person, another hidden in a separate bag.
   • Upload encrypted scans of all documents to cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox) and keep unlocked offline copies on a secure USB or phone.
   • Register travel plans with the Indian consulate/embassy in your destination region where possible.

2. Insurance & financial safety
   • Buy travel insurance that explicitly covers theft of property and documents, plus emergency repatriation. Also check whether a separate comprehensive policy is available to cover the motorcycle while abroad.
   • Carry multiple payment methods — one card in a hidden pouch, a backup prepaid card, and a small emergency cash reserve.

3. Route & resupply intelligence
   • Pre-identify safe overnight options (hostels, biker-friendly B&Bs, hotels with secure parking). If you plan wild camping, pick spots with controlled entry or gated parking.
   • Join local and international biker communities and forums before you go (use apps like Asteride to connect with riders and local groups) — they often have real-time safety tips and trusted contacts. (Asteride is a good starting point for India-centric rider networks.)

On the road: defence, not convenience. Don't take things for granted, stay aware, watch everywhere and everyone, be prepared for anything .

1. Treat the bike like a bank vault
   • Never leave essential documents, passports or primary devices in panniers when you leave the bike unattended in public. Keep passports/IDs on your person (hidden travel wallet) and carry the essentials into a café.
   • If you must leave the bike for a short time, remove small valuables (phones, cameras) and lock panniers with tamper-resistant locks.

2. Layered physical security
   • Disc lock with alarm — light, portable and an audible deterrent for brief stops.
   • Heavy chain + ground anchor for long stops (carry the anchor if you have long stays or choose accommodation where you can bolt the chain). If a ground anchor is impractical on lightweight tours, chain through wheel + frame and secure to an immovable object where possible.
   • Pannier locks and tamper seals for soft luggage — make it harder for quick smash-and-grab thefts.

3. Tech you should pack
   • A GPS tracker with international SIM or eSIM compatibility, hidden inside the bike frame or a pannier; choose trackers that allow live tracking, geofencing and tamper alerts. Consider a second low-cost Bluetooth tracker inside important baggage.
   • A dashcam or camera pointed at the bike (or a small portable camera in your bag) can capture thieves in motion; these clips are powerful for police and social sharing.
   • Cloud backups for content — your photos and footage are replaceable only if backed up.

If theft happens: dont hesitate, recover your senses and take immediate actions.

1. Preserve evidence - CCTV, witness contacts, photos.

2. File a police report immediately and get a crime reference number.

3. Contact your embassy for emergency travel documents.

4. Activate trackers and share with trusted riders or communities.

5. Use social media responsibly - evidence, not emotion, accelerates help.

Why Indian riders should change travel culture

Indian motorcycling culture celebrates grit, improvisation and the romance of minimalism. That’s beautiful but treating travel-security as improvisation is a risk. Modern theft is organised; it exploits routine. Being deliberate about security doesn’t make you less adventurous, it makes you a smarter rider. Companies that make travel content also have a responsibility: influencers should be transparent about risk, not romanticise “sleeping next to the bike” as sufficient protection when crossing unfamiliar cities.

Quick packing checklist (tour-ready)

1. Passport + hidden photocopies; cloud backup.

2. Primary phone + backup power bank + unlocked roaming/SIM plan or eSIM for tracker.

3. Disc lock (with alarm), folding chain, pannier locks, tamper seals.

4. Hidden GPS tracker(s) with subscription for international roaming.

5. Compact camera/backups + encrypted cloud upload plan.

6. Emergency contact list: local embassy, local biker clubs (Asteride/groups), insurer contacts

Closing a call to better practice

Yogesh Alekari’s tragic theft is a sobering lesson: romanticism without rigorous security invites disaster. Protect your journey by organizing documents, partnering with law enforcement preemptively, and investing in layered security combine physical locks with live trackers. Lean on rider communities for vital intelligence.

To help, share Yogesh’s verified information and donate to the official fundraiser, directing all tips to police with the crime reference. For your own safety, keep passports on you, ensure trackers are active, and publicly share your best security tips so all can learn.

Trust your tribe, but trust your locks more. Stay alert, stay secure, and keep the spirit of adventure alive safely.

Use Asteride to Ride Smarter

With the Asteride app, you can:

Plan rides easily - solo or with your crew
Discover new routes and riding groups across India
Stay updated with events, causes, and riding tips
Relive your rides with the Roadbook

📲 Download Asteride – Built for riders who care about every mile