Motorcycle Security
Your motorcycle is a valuable piece of machinery, and everyone, including would-be thieves, knows it. Motorcycle theft is an issue, but it is one that you can take steps to prevent. We created the following guide to help you keep your bike secure.
Crime Prevention Strategy
Many thieves look for the path of least resistance. After all, their best chance at success is nabbing the item as quickly as possible to avoid getting caught. When an item is harder to steal, it becomes more of a risk for attempted thieves. Make sure you don’t make your bike an easy target! Add a lock or an alarm to your bike so that you can make it known that your motorcycle won’t be an easy getaway vehicle.
Your Location
Where you live and store your bike can have an impact on how likely it is to become a target as well.
Apartment complexes see more thefts for a few reasons. First, there are simply more vehicles there as potential targets. A thief can walk into an apartment parking lot and scope out numerous options. Second, there is more activity on site. People and vehicles are coming and going all day long. It’s easier for a thief to go unnoticed among all the traffic.
Residential neighborhoods are less likely to experience theft, but it still happens. Homeowners can easily get a false sense of security about the criminal activity in their area. They can start to slack in their preventive security practices, which makes it easier for a thief to make off with a bike.
Where to Park Your Motorcycle
The best parking location is secure and out of view of potential thieves. Ideally, you can park your bike in your garage. But if there is no room, or you don’t have one, you’ll need to take a different approach. If your backyard is fenced, position your motorcycle so that people passing by only see the fence and not your bike. If you live in an apartment, park your motorcycle in full view of security cameras and chain it to something if possible.
Security Gear
The right security gear is a great investment – and cheaper than replacing your motorcycle. They also serve a dual purpose of deterring a thief from making an attempt on your bike. If the thief tries anyway, the gear can make it significantly harder for them to steal your motorcycle.
Disc locks keep your wheels from spinning while steering locks make it impossible to steer your bike. A chain, when attached to a non-removable component like the chassis, keeps your motorcycle confined to one location, and saddlebag locks make it difficult to steer any items stored on your bike.
An electronic security system can also be a wise investment. The alarms will alert those nearby of the theft-in-process, which increases the chances the thief will abandon their attempt. A tracking system is also useful if your bike does get stolen. Law enforcement can rely on it to find your motorcycle.
Ready to start shopping for your perfect motorcycle? Visit Bartels' Harley-Davidson® in Marina Del Rey, California. We also welcome customers from Malibu and Santa Monica, so visit us soon!