Now that the weather is getting nicer, you might want to take the motorcycle out more often. You might prefer driving along on your bike to being in a car. Your bike is your pride and joy, and you’d be devastated if anything were to happen to it. So if your bike were to be stolen, that would be a disaster. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent motorcycle theft. Here are some tips.
8 tips to prevent motorcycle theft.
1. Turn off the ignition and lock the bike.
Every time you hop off your bike, maybe going to the store and running errands, you need to turn off the ignition. Leaving the bike running is just asking for trouble. The bike also needs to be locked up so no one can grab it. Even if you’re just going to be gone for a second, take care to secure the motorcycle properly. That’s really important for preventing motorcycle theft. Thieves can strike quickly and without warning. Thwart them by turning off the bike and locking it.
2. Lock the disk brakes.
Okay, so we already mentioned locking up the motorcycle. To really derail the plans of any potential thieves, lock up the disk brakes. Even better, have locks that are bright and colorful, easily visible so that passersby know that your bike is not going to be easy to take. The locks might just dissuade a motorcycle stealer from even trying to take your motorcycle. So, pick out some funky locks that you like – be bold, make a statement!
3. Be smart about where you lock the bike.
You also have to be strategic about where you lock the bike. Be clever about it. If you’re with a group, lock the bikes together. (It’s probably harder to steal three bikes locked together than one lone bike, right?) If you’re traveling on your own, lock your bike to something that can’t be taken apart or moved – a light post, for instance. Basically, make it as difficult as possible for someone to steal your motorcycle. And then you can lower the chances of motorcycle theft.
Pro tip: Park near a security camera if possible.
4. Have an alarm.
You can also have an alarm installed – one that will make a lot of noise if someone tries to mess with it. Alarms can be very helpful. So, consider getting an alarm installed on your bike to protect the motorcycle.
5. Keep an eye on the bike.
When you park the bike, be sure to check on it from time to time if you’re at a public event. Take care especially to check on it after you arrive. Not that you want to be paranoid, but it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on your motorcycle. That way you know your bike is safe and sound.
6. Keep the title for the motorcycle safe.
Don’t leave the title for the motorcycle in the saddlebag or one of the bike’s compartments. The title is really important, so it’s best to keep it safe. It’s a good idea to keep the title safe at home. That way, should the bike be stolen, the title won’t be stolen along with it.
(Also, if you’re riding your bike, it’s important to keep your registration and insurance information with you. If you get pulled over, the police will probably want to see this information, and they probably won’t be impressed if you can’t produce it.)
7. Distinguish your bike.
You can make sure your bike is identifiable by having a unique symbol on it. Then take photos of it. Should the bike be stolen, you can give the police the photos so they can investigate and hopefully track down the bike. It helps if there’s some sort of distinguishing feature to the motorcycle.
8. Be careful when selling the bike.
Someday, you might decide to sell the motorcycle, and if you do, you should take care throughout that process. When a potential buyer comes to test drive your bike, don’t hand over the title until you’ve done a background check and the buyer’s payment clears. (Also, check that the buyer’s personal information matches their identification.) The bike, even if you’re selling it, needs to be protected from motorcycle theft.
Your motorcycle is a big investment, so it’s important to protect your bike. Prevent motorcycle theft by locking up the bike, having an alarm installed, and keeping the title safe.
Motorcycle insurance can help you protect you if an unforeseen disaster befalls your bike. Get quotes for motorcycle insurance by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us. (And we can also help you with your car insurance, home insurance, or renters insurance – if that’s something you need as well!)