Motorbike Protection: Theft Prevention Tips for your Bike

Top tips for motorbike protection

On average, 24,000 motorcycles are stolen in the UK each year. Sadly, some riders fail to secure their motorcycles properly and make it easy for thieves to get their hands on them. The main thing to remember is that the less secure and more visible your bike is, the more likely it is to get stolen. Don’t make your bike attractive to thieves: taking simple preventative measures can make all the difference in motorbike protection. In this post, we’ll be looking at some basic tactics and products to protect your bike from theft.

Parking to prevent theft

When your bike is in plain sight, you’re more likely to be the victim of professional thieves, who may be driving around the streets looking for attractive or popular motorcycles which they can sell for parts. If possible, protect your bike by keeping it away from the road, especially at night and when you’re away from it for a long time. However, if you’re in an unfamiliar town or city and you stop to go into a shop or restaurant, try to keep your bike in plain sight so that you can keep an eye on it.

If you store your bike in a garage, invest in protection measures such as window bars, sturdy locks and motion-sensor lights to make it harder to break in. You could install a CCTV system, or even a fake camera, outside your garage or in a yard, but always make sure you include signage to let thieves know that they’re on camera- this can be a powerful deterrent. If you have no place to store your bike other than the road or driveway, reduce its visibility by using a cover. This will conceal it from drive-by thieves who will go for the most easily visible motorcycles. Another tactic is to keep changing the location of the bike; some thieves learn a rider’s habits and location to steal a particularly desirable motorbike.

When it comes to parking, the most deserted or out-of-the-way place may not be the best choice for keeping your bike safe. If you can pick a spot with CCTV and good lighting this will help; but proximity to other people could be an asset to motorbike security too. If you know that the bar across the street has night time door security, make sure they can see your bike. Park it in a well-lit area, with lots of pedestrians, and a thief is less likely to risk getting caught. If you’re riding with others, you can both be more secure by locking your bikes together; much harder for thieves to make off with.

Products to protect your bike

There are several kinds of security locks and chains which can be used for motorbike protection. A steering lock will make it hard for a joy rider to use your bike, and they may give up at the sight of one. A disc lock is also a good deterrent for joy riders, but offers little protection against professional thieves and can cause damage if not removed before riding. You can, however, buy an alarmed disc lock which may be more effective at deterring thieves. Some also come with stickers to alert thieves to their presence and brightly coloured cords to remind you to remove them when riding off.

More security measures will provide an extra deterrent, and it’s a good idea to use both a chain and a lock. When using a chain, use it in the right way to make it more effective. For example, make sure that your chain doesn’t rest on the ground- this makes it easier to attack with a hammer. It should be attached to the frame of the motorbike if at all possible, not the wheels, because wheels can easily be removed by thieves and the frame is harder to cut through. If you use a motorcycle security chain, always attach it to an immovable object or ground anchor. Right now on our website all Oxford chains come with a FREE ground anchor for an effective motorbike protection combo.

You’ll need to balance the cost and benefit of any motorcycle security equipment; a thin, poorly made chain may be cheaper but thieves will have an easy time breaking it. Your chain should be resistant to chemicals, bolt cutters and hammers, so make sure it’s approved and tested. Whichever type of lock or chain you use, make sure it’s Thatcham Institute for Vehicle Security approved. These have to pass rigorous standards of security testing and most insurers will offer discounts to riders who use Thatcham security products. Oxford is a trusted brand of motorbike protection accessories which are Thatcham approved. Take a look at the full range of Oxford security accessories on our website and get kitted out.