1.Lock It
Lock it, or you just might lose it. A determined, professional thief may get
your motorcycle no matter what you do, but plenty of motorcycles are
stolen by opportunist. Your fork lock is just a start. Adding a disc lock is better. But why stop there? Use a strong, motorcycle U-lock and a chain to attach your bike to a solid object, or another motorcycle. Looping the chain through the frame is better than draping it through the wheel, which can be removed. Make the chain as tight as possible to offer less access for bolt-cutters, and don’t let it drape on the ground, where it can be chiseled.
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Put the locks in hard-to-reach spots—if it’s more work for you to put the lock on, it’s more work for a thief to get it off. Maybe he’ll move on to an easier target. A lever lock on the clutch adds another layer of hassle for the thief, especially if you leave the bike in gear, unbolt the shift lever and take it with you. And remember that the same chain you use to secure your bike can also secure your gear. Run the chain through your helmet and jacket sleeve so you won’t have to carry them around all day.
2.Cover It
No, a motorcycle cover won’t stop a determined thief. But it might mean your bike attracts less of the wrong kind of attention. So after you’ve locked it, cover it. A plain cover is best. After all, the purpose is not to advertise your loyalty to a particularly valuable brand of motorcycle, but to avoid letting thieves know what you’ve got. A cover with metal grommets can be locked in place to help keep prying eyes away, and to prevent the cover itself from being stolen.
3.Consider an Alarm
An alarm in conjunction with a lock can be a difficult combination for a thief, especially if the alarm is hidden. Cutting chains and removing locks is likely to set off the alarm, which could stop a theft attempt before it succeeds. What if your bike is parked where you can’t hear the alarm, or if you live where nobody pays attention to screaming vehicles because there are always false alarms?
Get an alarm with a pager that notifies you when someone tampers with your bike. Alarms attached to a cover can be really effective. Lift the cover, and the noise starts.
4. Don’t Be a Show-Off
Some people are so proud of their bikes that they park them in the front yard for everyone to admire. That just makes it easier for thieves to admire also. Always try to park your bike inside a garage if possible. Keep the door closed and consider covering the windows. When parking outside, use a cover. The more your bike is out of sight, the more it’s out of a thief’s mind.
5. Secure Your Garage
Always lock your garage and get an alarm. Installing a U-bolt in the garage floor gives you an easy way to lock your bike. Don’t confuse a garage-door opener with a lock. A simple lock on the frame inside the door will keep it from opening unless the thief pry’s on it. That might create enough noise to wake you up.
Installing a U-bolt in the garage floor gives you an easy way to lock your bike. You can extend your home security system to include the garage. Some people even mount a closed-circuit video camera so they can check on their bikes from inside the house. Park your car behind it makes the thief lift your motorcycle over the car if he wants it that bad enough.
6. Disable Your Bike
Locking your bike to something stops a thief from lifting it into a truck and hauling it away, but you can also temporarily disable the motorcycle to keep someone from riding it away. It can be as simple as removing the main fuse and dropping it into your pocket after you park. Some owners install hidden switches that disable the ignition. If you have fuel injection, a switch that cuts power to the fuel pump will keep the engine from starting. Anti-theft measures are so the thief runs out of patience and walks away leaving your bike.
7.Choose Parking Spots Carefully
In a parking lot, don’t park next to a panel truck, van or other vehicle that can conceal thieves at work. Choose a spot where thieves cannot intentionally use their stolen-bike transporter to block the view of your motorcycle.
Try to think like a Thief and change your behavior to make your machine less of a target. You can stop the Thieves, it all comes down to a test of who is more determined you or them. Luckily you have a lot of resources at your disposal, and with a little prevention we hope you’ll never have a lonely ignition key as the only reminder of the motorcycle you once owned.
Last but not least: don’t feed the monster. Stop the demand and this might slow the theft. Don’t buy stolen bikes and parts.
