Motorcycle theft can and does happen all around the world.

According a the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) report released in August, 2020, nearly 41,000 motorcycles were stolen in the United States in 2019, with California reporting the most motorcycle thefts of 6,913, Florida with 4,085 and Texas with 3,165. The warmer the state, the higher the theft rate and of those stolen motorcycles, nearly half were recovered. And while the good news is that motorcycle thefts have fallen 12% since 2016, on the flip side, it’s still happening.

In the UK, motorcycle theft also continues to be a huge problem, although the numbers of motorcycles stolen is decreasing. The MET (Metropolitan Police) in London, UK states that thieves only need a matter of seconds to steal a motorcycle - especially if they are poorly secured.

But, it’s not a problem only in the USA and the UK, this is an ongoing issue all around the world, and chances are either you, or someone you know, or someone you’ve heard about has had their motorcycle stolen. Thieves are quick and they’re brash. But, there are things you can do to help prevent motorcycle theft.

Tips for securing your motorcycle from the MET:

• Disc Lock - used to secure the front brake disc.

• Grip Lock - secures the brake and throttle controls.

• D Lock - used on front wheel to prevent it from being wheeled away.

• Chain - put a chain through the back wheel (not front wheel as it can be removed) and secure the motorcycle to an immovable object. If you can’t do that then weave the chain through the bike frame and the back wheel.

• Cover - certain models are higher theft targets, so using a motorcycle cover may make it less attractive to a thief, and it’s also another obstacle for a thief to deal with.

• Remove Ignition Keys - and use the steering lock.

• Mark Up Your Bike - using tiny microdots which can be as small as a grain of sand - there is a unique personal identification number printed on each microdot that is registered to you on a secure national database - the microdots can be detected by magnifying devices and a UV light - this makes it more difficult for parts to be sold and can also be more easily identified by police - making it less attractive for a thief.

• Put Your Motorcycle Out of Sight - store your bike in a garage or a shed, especially one outfitted with an alarm and either low level lighting or a movement sensor light. If you don’t have a secure area to park in then park as close to your home as possible in an area that is well lit up.

Theft Tracking Devices

And while you can take the suggested steps to prevent motorcycle theft, there is still the possibility that an experienced and savvy thief can get around the stops you put in place, so another option is to use a device that has GPS tracking capabilities.

Images: Bruno Rimkunas - Monimoto

MONIMOTO

Momimoto is a smart GPS tracker for motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and other vehicles. The Monimoto 7 uses an LTE-M network that works globally. It’s a combination of GSM, GPS, Bluetooth and sensors, powered by batteries. 

We interviewed Bruno Rimkunas, a co-founder and business developer at Monimoto.

Website: https://monimoto.com

Images: Bill Taylor - Biketrac

BIKETRAC

Biketrac is a motorcycle tracker that monitors the movements of your motorcycle in real time allowing you to view the status and journey history 24/7 with notification of unauthorized movements.

We interviewed Bill Taylor, the sales and marketing director at Biketrac.

Website: https://biketrac.co.uk

LINKS:

RAW: Motorcycle & Gear Security for Travel: https://adventureriderradio.com/adventure-rider-radio-episodes/2015/11/11/motorcycle-theft-security

ARR: Aaron Steinmann - A Mostly Unplanned Journey: https://adventureriderradio.com/adventure-rider-radio-episodes/2020/4/16/aaron-steinmann-a-mostly-unplanned-journey

SOURCES:

https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/nicb-report-motorcycle-thefts-fall-again

https://www.met.police.uk/scootersecurity