Keeping Your Motorcycle Safe and Secure
Everyone remembers their first motorcycle! Whether it was new or used, YOU didn’t care. It was YOUR bike and you have those memories tucked away in your mind forever! What people don’t want to remember, was the time that their beloved motorcycle was stolen. Here are some ways to prevent that from happening!
If you want to protect your motorcycle from potential theft, here are a few tips and tricks that will make it harder for that NOT to happen.
Physical Security Deterrences
Numerous security devices are on the market to deter thieves, and the old fashioned lock can be one of the most effective deterrents to keep your ride safe. Motorcycle locks aren’t particularly expensive, considering what they’re protecting, so remember to always go for the highest quality versions you can afford. Disc locks attach to your disc brakes and keep them from rotating, meaning the thief basically has to remove the wheel and brakes if they want to take the bike. A steering lock will secure the steering column and make it impossible to turn the bike so a thief can’t ride it away. A simple lock and chain connecting the frame of your bike to a secure post or pole can also be a helpful countermeasure against theft.
Neighborhood and Housing vs Apartment Complex or Condos
Where you live makes a big difference in what specific security measures you’ll need to take to keep your motorcycle safe. Residential neighborhoods filled with single-family homes will have slightly different security profiles than apartment complexes because they have different population densities. Since an apartment complex is full of people, it’s a natural source for criminal activity. A thief scanning an apartment complex parking lot will often have multiple potential targets to choose from and all that’s needed is to pick which one presents the most potential value for the least risk. On the other hand, a residential neighborhood won’t necessarily be free of crime. Some thieves prefer the relative quiet of neighborhoods. It’s easier to pull off a theft if you have fewer eyes around to see you stealing someone’s bike!
Electronic Security Measures
Here is a more modern approach but a little more costly: Just like with cars, you can purchase motorcycle alarm systems that are sensitive to tampering on your bike. Not only will this attract attention, it will also make it much more difficult for the thief to focus on their task. If the thief does get away with your bike, a GPS tracking system can help you recover it. While these are slightly more expensive, they can be the difference between recovering your bike and not. Some even come with this technology or it can be added at the time of purchase.
Smart Parking
Parking your motorcycle is also a major consideration. Keep in mind that what thieves can’t see, they can’t steal or attempt to steal. Keeping your bike in a locked garage, storage space or shed is ideal. If that’s not a possibility, parking your bike in a place that’s harder to see from main roads is always helpful. When you’re parking away from home, try to park in high traffic areas where a theft will be obvious to passersby.
With these tips and tricks, you should be able to sleep, park and ride a little easier knowing that you are doing everyting you can to deter thieves from stealing your motorcycle.
