Best ways to keep your motorcycle safe from thieves

We look at the best ways to keep your motorcycle safe from thieves, and some of the best security products available to prevent them from getting their sticky mitts on it.

Best ways to keep your motorcycle safe from thieves

Last year in London alone over 9000 motorcycles were stolen. That’s a staggering figure. 

As a biker who rides in London pretty much every day I hate to see thieves get the better of us. So it’s time to fight back, not literally as some of these bastards are armed. Instead, let’s look at some of the best ways and products to prevent your motorbike from going walkies whilst at home and away. 

Top Tips

Follow these tips to keep your motorbike safe from thieves:

  • Chain up the rear wheel of your motorcycle to something immovable like railings, lamp posts or a ground anchor. Keep the chains as tight to the machine as possible and try to ensure they are off the ground as they’re harder to cut through.

  • If you can, keep your motorcycle in an alarmed secure garage, especially at home.

  • If you’re out and about, park your motorcycle where it can be seen, not tucked away down a quiet alleyway. It might be tempting to hide your bike but the more eyes on it the less attractive it becomes to a potential thief. 

Products

Locks, chains and ground anchors 

Almax Immobiliser Series IV UBER 19mm + Squire SS65CS Stronghold Lock + Defiant Ground Anchor

Millenco Snaefell Diamond Lock and 22mm Chain

Although ground anchors are a bit of a mission to install, they are a solid immovable object you can chain your motorbike to - making the thieves job even harder. And because most thieves are lazy this makes your precious ride less worthy of nicking. 

When buying locks and chains always look for the sold secure marking, this way you can rest easy knowing it will be a proper pig to cut through.   

Covers 

Oxford Aquatex cover

No thrills here, cheap and cheerful is the best way. If you spend anything more than fifty quid on a bike cover in London then chances are it will get stolen. Just keeping it real.   

Disk locks

Oxford Alpha XA14 Alarm Disc Lock 

Abus GRANIT™ Detecto XPlus™ 8077

Disks locks are a quick and easy way to add additional security to your bike, although a chain and padlock are always the more secure option. Some disk locks are alarmed, which is handy, as you don’t want to faff around with installing a Thatcham approved alarm system. 

Alarms 

Datatool: Evo

Alarms might be a bit of a thorn in the side at times (especially if fitted incorrectly), but they are fairly effective as a deterrent. Just bear in mind that they drain the bike's battery if you don’t ride every day, so be sure to keep it on a trickle charger over the winter.

Personally, as someone with a Datatool alarm fitted to their bike, I'd prefer an alarmed disk lock, but if you are in the market for an alarm then Datatool is the way to go. 

Trackers 

Trackers in replacement of an alarm are without doubt the better option, and most motorcycle dealers offer them free of charge on new bikes, such as Honda (Datatool), and Ducati (Biketrac). 

Trackers alone won’t stop your bike getting stolen, but they will help you to get it back by alerting you via call or text message if your bike is being tampered with. If you rely on your bike every day then you need a tracker.

Moni moto 

A big plus over a traditional alarm system is that the MoniMoto tracker is completely wireless! Pretty cool aye.

Biketrac

For both of the trackers to work, you’ll need to purchase the tracker itself and then pay a monthly subscription fee of around ten pounds. Totally worth it in my humble opinion. 

Combine all of these products above together and you've got yourself one 'hot' motorcycle, and by that I mean ain't no one going to wanna nab it. 

Combine all of these products above together and you've got yourself one 'hot' motorcycle, and by that I mean ain't no one going to wanna nab it.