Motorcycle Security - Keeping Your Pride and Joy Safe

Security – it isn’t a dirty word, and yet it’s something that many bikers overlook. Unlike cars, bike security is still a tricky proposition, but there are ways and means of making your bike less attractive to thieves; let’s check some out.

The first thing to clear up is that there is no security device out there that can truly stop a motivated or capable thief from taking your bike, but that’s not to say none of them actually achieve the aim of keeping your bike safe. In effect, the security on a bike has to be enough to make a bike not worth the trouble of stealing. If you had two identical bikes next to one another with their steering locks on, but one is attached to a ground anchor, the one that’s not attached is going to be the one that gets nicked.

Of course, not all security devices were created equal, and of course not all of them are equally practical for touring, commuting etc. Much like protective gear for a rider, the key is to have a device that does the job at minimal inconvenience to the rider, that way you’ll actually use it!

Motorcycle Disc Locks

First up, everybody’s favourite token security solution – the disc lock. Arguably this is about as basic as it gets, but it remains better than nothing. These prevent a wheel from turning by clamping onto a brake disc, making a bike much harder to wheel away. For the lone bike thief these can be a stumbling block, however if there are two of them (or more) they can just as easily lift a wheel to get it into a van. A slightly increased deterrent is an alarmed disc lock, but we’ll come onto alarms later. If you’ve nothing to attach your bike to, a disc lock is an easy boost to bike security, but a minimal one, although they gain points for ease of use and their small size. Just remember to take it off before you ride off to prevent fork damage, or worse! The Oxford Titan is a good example of a basic disc lock – small and easy to use but only offering basic protection, while the Abus 8077 Granit disc lock features a 100dB alarm and a chunky 13.5mm bolt, but of course carries a premium.

Motorcycle Chains and Padlocks

Next up, chains and padlocks. These can form the basis of decent bike security, but they also rely on you having something to attach them to, and that something being as sturdy as the chain. The main drawback of these is the weight, size and inconvenience that make them only really useful at home or regular destinations. Keeping them wrapped tightly against the anchoring point and bike is also key in making it trickier for a thief to cut, strike or freeze the chain. A good mid-range example is the Oxford HD chain and padlock, with a hardened 9.5mm link and double locking padlock, which can also double as a disc lock. A determined thief will get past this with freezing or cutting, but it will take time. It’s also available in different lengths, so you can weigh up weight and flexibility. Sitting above this is the Oxford Boss alarm lock and 12mm chain – this weighs and costs more, but features an alarm and more steel to get through. Meanwhile, the Oxford Nemesis 16mm chain and padlock is rated to last five minutes of conventional attack (no freezing), just be aware of its size!

Ground Anchors and Wall Anchors

Complementing a chain and padlock, and making them potentially easier to use at home, is the ground or wall anchor. These either bolt or can be sunk into masonry to offer a secure point to attach your chain and padlock to. The fact they can be placed right where you want to park your bike makes them very convenient, massively boosting the likelihood of you using them. The Abus WBA 100 Granit anchor is good example of one that’s easy to install, featuring a 16mm shackle, but a design that allows for tyres to run over it.

Keep Your Bike From Prying Eyes

That mostly rounds off physical security, but one underrated tactic is to use a bike cover if your bike’s kept outside. While a dedicated or opportunistic thief might see your bike while you’re cleaning it, or whatever else, a cover is an excellent way to keep your bike’s profile reduced, and many covers include holes to put your chain through. Beyond this, keeping your bike away from prying eyes whenever it’s near to where it’s stored regularly reduces the odds of your bike being scoped for being pinched.

Don't Be Alarmed - Motorcycle Alarms and Trackers

Onto electronic means of security, and this includes alarms and tracking. The main benefit of these is that you don’t need to lug them around or physically attach/remove them every time you ride. That being said, your mileage will very much vary with these techniques – alarms can be troublesome devices as they draw on your bike’s battery if they’re wired in, and are notorious for going off when you don’t want them to, or even not going off when you would expect them to. Conversely, they can offer peace of mind in a way a chain on its own never could, by drawing attention.

Tracking technology is another double-edged sword. While they can be a deterrent, and on occasion a viable route to recovering a bike, thieves have got wise to tracker installation – either they are very good at finding and removing the system, or are able to block/jam the signals needed for the tracker to work. That being said, for a less capable, opportunistic bike thief this could be the difference between getting your bike back or never seeing it again.

Another electronic solution is to use surveillance cameras if you have your own driveway, although be sure to consider the privacy implications of you and your neighbours, especially for systems that rely on cloud-based services to function properly. There are multiple systems available nowadays for not all that much money that will be a mild deterrent to any would-be thief.

If you need some expert advice, then you can have a chat online with us via web chat on our website. We’ve finally reopened with our café opening for takeaway at the weekends. If you’re a bit far from Stevenage, our online shop is alive and well, and taking orders for delivery.  You can also check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £50 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365-day period – see our returns page for more details.