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Motorcycle Security Tips

Posted by Dave Shaw on Thursday, January 11, 2024 Under: Motorcycle Security
Motorbike theft statistics show that springtime is when motorcycle thieves are most active. So now is the time when all motorcyclists should take a good look at how they secure their valuable bikes. In this post we provide some practical recommendations that we know will help in keeping scooters and bikes safe and secure.



It has been reported that the most popular bikes, targeted by thieves, are sports bikes and some of the most common models of motorcycles. The reason is that criminals know how difficult it is to sell stolen motorcycles, due to trackers, HPI checks (hire purchase investigation) and increased public awareness of how to avoid buying stolen bikes. So they focus on vehicles they can break up into parts which they know can be readily sold on the black market.



Why You Need the Best Motorbike Security

The Office for National Statistics records around 40,000 motorcycle thefts a year in England and Wales. In fact more motorcycles are stolen, in the UK, than are bought new each year. And it`s worth noting that 80% of stolen bikes are taken from their owners’ homes. These statistics show there`s around a 3.3% chance your bike will be targeted by thieves.

And motorbike theft statistics for London show how this risk increases to an incredible 12.9% in the city, which means around 1 in 8 motorcycles used in London are likely to be targeted by by criminals. This is why motorbike insurance is so expensive for city dwellers and why motorcyclists need to take rigorous security precautions.

As noted, time of year is a factor in the motorbike crime statistics which show how motorcycle theft incidents increase in the spring with a peak in April - which is why now is the time to beef-up your motorbike security.

How Thieves Target Motorbikes

The most common technique used by experienced motorbike thieves is to lift the targeted bike off the ground and load it into a van. No need to override the ignition and no need to ride the bike away. The technique is quick, quiet and highly effective as the stolen motorbike is immediately hidden from view, alarms are muffled and criminals can overcome security devices without being seen. Even a large sports bike, that might weigh around 200kg, can be easily lifted by four criminals who may use scaffolding pipes under the front forks and rear shock absorbers to hoist the bike into their vehicle in just a few minutes.

Another important security consideration that must be noted is that it is often easier for criminals to break into a motorcycle owner’s home and steal their keys than it is to directly target their motorbike. Criminals are known to follow riders to their homes and once they have the keys they can unlock the bike, disarm any security and simply ride the bike away. This is why it`s important to ensure rigorous home security and to make certain that vehicle keys are always securely locked away.

Although many modern motorbikes are protected with immobilisers and other forms of electronic protection, thieves can readily obtain kits and gadgets to overcome these systems. Regardless of whatever new form of electronic security is in place, thieves use specially designed wiring looms and override circuits that allow them to hot wire and start targeted motorbikes very easily.

Thieves have even been seen to use skateboards, placed under the front wheels of immobilised motorbikes and scooters, allowing them to be pushed away, around a corner, where they can work on overcoming the bike security with less risk of being seen or challenged.

Small, battery-powered tools, such as mini angle grinders, are now commonly used by bike thieves. While these tools are not as powerful as their mains-powered counterparts, they can enable criminals to quickly cut through some lower quality security devices.

Bolt croppers are another tool commonly used by criminals. A pair of 42 inch bolt croppers with tough jaws can cut through security chains with links that are less than 15mm in diameter.

Using freeze spray (liquid nitrogen) is another technique used by experienced bike thieves. Freezing metal locks and chains makes them brittle and therefore vulnerable to shattering when hammered.

Lock picking is also used but takes considerable time and is most commonly used on cheap locks or those which are known to be easy to pick.

Approved and Certified Motorcycle Security Products

It should always be ensured that the highest quality, tested and approved motorbike security products are used. Sold Secure certification is one way to assess the level of protection offered by a product. For example, Sold Secure Motorcycle Diamond certification provides a very high level of security and all Sold Secure rated products must undergo recertification every year.

European CEN ratings (alongside British Standards) are another commonly used security product standard, typically used for padlocks, with ratings from 1 (lowest security) to 6 (highest).

Secured by Design (SBD) is another useful resource. It`s the official police security initiative that provides a product based accreditation scheme.

Motorcycle Ground Anchors

As previously noted - the most commonly used motorbike theft tactic is to quickly lift targeted vehicles into the back of a van and take them away. This immediately highlights the essential need to securely anchor motorbikes and motor scooters to immovable anchor points. And since around 80% of motorbikes are stolen from their owners homes this is clearly where robust anchor points are needed.

A robust ground anchor provides the required anchorage. Importantly, the motorcycle ground anchor should meet the highest possible security approval rating.

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