How effective is motorcycle security?

Question

I have been thinking about getting a sport or tour bike lately (something for the open road), but I am wondering about how big a problem theft would be, because I’m not really familiar with motorcycle security (I only have ridden the family collection of motocross bikes). I know you can get heavy chains and disk locks, but do they really work well? I have heard about roll-aways. I am wondering how often motorbikes get stolen off the street? Can I see some statistics or something?

Answer 1

now that is an interesting question

Answer 2

They  can pick it up and toss it in a truck in seconds. Lock your steering column. It keeps the honest honest. Or at least in circles.

Answer 3

I still have my bike and only use the front fork lock.  I do have an alarm that if you don't switch it off when you stand the bike up it will sound.  Seems like the only one it catches is me so I very seldom use it.  

Answer 4

i really dont think its a problem because if u r thinking about getting a touring bike then people arent going to be able to lift un that 6 to 7 hundred pound bike on to a truck or roll aways i dont think will be a problem n e wasy because if they try to take in the day they most likley get caught and if night it should be in a garage bt if it isnt i dont think that someone will be able to roll it away without tripping over it i hope i helped

Answer 5

it is always best to be able to lock it to something.  those brake locks will prevent a roll away but the bike can still be lifted into a truck.  the stats will vary by where you live.  the risk is probably no greater than a car being stolen.

Answer 6

I would recommend a security system (similar to a car) with a starter kill installed.

Mechanically, anything through the rear wheel spokes will make it pretty difficult to move.

Answer 7

My harley has a system that will flash lights and not allow the bike to start unless my key fob is near it(no key needed to start). Also has the standard fork lock. I really like the system but it could be better. In my ten years riding the only problem I have ever had was vandalism. They tried to take some of my chrome off. I have to agree with an earlier post that its not likely someone will throw a 700 lb bike in a truck and take off.

Just use common sense and dont leave it somewhere you know you shouldnt. I think the best protection for my bike is to park it where I can see it whenever possible and make friends with your neighbors so they can keep an eye out for you.

Answer 8

I was reading an article on this in this month's "Ride" magazine (a UK magazine) and it did an article on bike security. The results were not encouraging.

First of all, a couple of guys can pull up in a van put down a ramp and have your bike in it within a few seconds if it is not secured. One popular method is to pull up in a van, take out some scaffolding posts and stick them through the wheels. The bike can then be lifted and put in a van.

A lot of things like the steering lock can be broken simply by having two guys force the handlebars round. The alarm systems are also ineffective as they only come on if someone tries to hot wire it. Most thieves don't bother with that and just stick it in a van.

Chains do offer some protection, but not as much as you think. The magazine rated several of the main chains out there and none of them scored more than 10 out of 30 as they all failed relatively quickly (either the chain or the lock itself). They tested them with the lock lying on the ground and hitting with a sledge hammer initially, then moved onto power tools and hacksaws, and then had an expert try and crack it. Basically, if a thief wants your bike and has access to cordless drills a chain will barely slow them down.

Wheel locks were not tested and I think they are quite robust.

Basically, if you use a chain, the best thing to do is loop it round the front forks of the bike and around a robust object and make sure it is tight and the lock is not lying on the ground. If the lock is lying on the ground, it is very susceptible to blows from a hammer.

A wheel-lock would also be good as it is hard to get a good clean blow to it.

Bikes do get stolen all the time. I don't know what the statistics are for where you live, but given the prices of parts then they are very attractive to thieves. A bike can be in the back of a van within seconds (and who would question a couple of guys loading it, all they have to do is say it is broken down if asked) and then taken to a yard and stripped with the parts sold relatively quickly.

If you want to protect your bike, make sure you use as much protection as you can (I use a chain round my front wheel and fork, and a wheel lock on the back wheel), park it somewhere where there are people walking past and is brightly lit (a thief will not sit there hammering or sawing at a lock if they think someone may see them). If your bike is a hard target a thief will move on to a softer target as there are a lot of bikes which have no security at all.

Also be careful if you put things in panniers. All the ones I have seen have flimsy locks and would not be hard to break into.

Answer 9

>> how often motorbikes get stolen off the street?

Not often. But they happen, especially if they are NOT locked up.

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Chaining is the best way.  Wheel locks are good for temporary parking (like at work during the daylight).  Alarms mean nothing on motorcycles.  

Motorcycles are prone to stealing because it is so easy to just pick up up and throw in the back of a pickup and/or van.

Good luck...