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To most riders, motorcyles represent more than just a means of transportation. Losing a motorcycle to theft, while certainly a hassle, is likely to be much more psychologically painful than returning to an empty space where the family car was parked. To make matters worse, motorcycles are easier to steal than cars, Thoughtful theft-deterrent techniques and proper use of anti-theft products will diminish the change of getting your bike stolen. Before looking at defensive measures, it is well worth maintaining financial protection by insuring a bike against theft. This yearly insurance component is not very expensive, usually amounting to about the cost of a few tanks of gas. Be sure to keep receipts for any farkles you've added, and take pictures on occasion to prove to an insurance adjuster that the bike was kept in tip-top shape. Parking choices are a factor in the probability of losing a motorcycle. Apartment parking lots are favored shopping sites for seasoned motorcycle thieves. If you live in an apartment, keep your bike out of sight by renting a garage in the complex and use it for nightly parking. A single garage can hold several bikes; try to find a neighboring motorcyclist willing to share the rental cost. If you’re on a trip and staying at a hotel, your chances are better because a pro hasn't been planning his move for several days. It’s still a good idea to keep it out of plain sight. I know some folks who routinely roll their bikes into their rooms (much easier done if your room is on the ground floor). This particular maneuver is allegedly best when the hotel manager is tending to new arrivals in the office and not on a smoke-break outside, watching you dethrone. Time is of the essence to a professional thief. The time needed to remove a motorcycle from the premises greatly factors into his decision to take it. So, beyond keeping it out of his reach in a garage or hotel room, the next best line of defense is to make the theft a time consuming hassle. Here are a few ways to do just that. Brake disc locks are among the easiest safeguards to carry and install. Disc locks constructed of stainless steel over an inch thick are preferred. Don’t buy the $30 variety and expect it to survive a pro’s toolbox of cutters. In addition, put the lock on the rear wheel, not he front. Front wheels are easier to swap out that rear wheels. Also, locking the rear wheel makes it harder to the bike away by propping the front wheel on a truck bed or bumper mount. The next level of deterrent is to run a cable or chain through the frame of the bike and around an immovable object or another bike. Hardened, thick chains are best and will take longer to cut. Also, keep the chain as high as possible off the ground, so the thief can’t leverage one arm of a chain cutter on the ground to get additional cutting power. A locked bike cover is another deterrent. Covers can easily be torn away, but, to a nearby observer, that is an obvious theft action. In addition to adding more time to the operation, a cover also prevents the thief from seeing what else you might have underneath, and this complicates his game plan. This leads us to electronic theft deterrents. There are a variety of audible cycle alarms on the market. Again, the most convenient device to carry and deploy is a disc lock, and some are available with a built-in motion sensor and alarm. Xena® makes a popular series of stainless steel disc locks that automatically arm themselves when coupled to a brake disc. Once armed, any movement of the lock will trigger a loud 120 dB warbling alarm that is sure to draw attention to the situation. The locks come in several sizes and colors to accommodate different types of motorcycles. Next up in terms of complexity is a wired-in motorcycle alarm. Some motorcycles come stock with an audible alarm. For those that don’t, there are a few easy-to-install, off-the-shelf kits. To be most effective, these kits need to be installed properly and hide the wiring well- embedded in the factory loom if possible – as experienced thieves will be looking for added electronics. Some motorcycles come with coded electronic ignition keys that are required to start the engine. Gorilla Automotive ® makes two relatively inexpensive alarm kits that incorporate three different sensors: tilt, shock (impact) and voltage. The tilt sensor will activate if the bike is raised from the side stand; the shock sensor is triggered by a physical impact or jolt to the bike; and the voltage sensor activates if the battery voltages unexpectedly changes – as caused by a hot-wiring attempt. The less expensive kit includes a three-button transmitter that will arm, disarm and set off the alarm remotely. The higher-priced model also includes a two-way pager that will alert the owner if any of the alarms trigger. Online prices for these alarm kits are $100 and $150, respectively. An alternative, but much more expensive alarm system, is the Scorpio® SR-i900. The Scorpio® system is similar to the Gorilla® kit in functionality, but offers an optional proximity sensor that will trigger the alarm if someone, or something, gets too close. A wired-in alarm with a proximity sensor and the use of a locked cover almost assures the alarm will sound if your bike is tampered with, but can also produces false-triggers when an innocent person or car gets too close to the bike. Last but not least, if you are on a very strict budget or forgot to bring your locks, is to prevent the casual thief from riding your motorcycle away by removing the clutch lever when you park the bike. On some bikes, this is as simple as removing the pivot-point bolt and popping out the cable end with a screwdriver or pen. If clutch level removal is too difficult on your machine, you can also remove the shift-lever or pull out the electrical fuse that supplies the starter motor with electricity as another theft deterrent. In 2012, more than 46,000 motorcycles were stolen in the United States. Texas ranked third in motorcycle thefts at 3,400 with the largest percentage stolen from the major metropolitan areas of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. If you are riding a popular model only a few years old, your chances of getting nailed are higher than if you are on an older, less valuable bike. Whatever your ride, new or old, and whether you’re staying in a big city hotel or country motel, your bike is vulnerable to theft. Hopefully one of these tips will help keep your bike safe. –Wayne Roth When riding, don't forget to wear a custom painted helmet or a carbon fiber helmet
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