Complete guide to motorcycle security to prevent thefts

Among the many advantages that a motorcycle or scooter can bring to our lives, there is also a weak point that is impossible to avoid: these vehicles are easy to steal because they are light, simple to move, and it only takes two people to make an unattended motorcycle disappear in a few minutes. 

It is the intrinsic nature of this type of vehicle, and to avoid having our beloved two-wheeler stolen right under our eyes, it is important to know and apply some precautions to increase security and sleep peacefully.

First of all, it is important to face reality: there is no anti-theft system capable of protecting our motorcycle 100%. If a thief has the opportunity to tamper with the vehicle for an indefinite time, in a context where they can act undisturbed and make all the noise in the world, they will surely find a way to take it away.

In Italy, 26,707 vehicles are stolen annually between motorcycles and scooters (ministerial data referring to 2021), with the latter prevailing as the most stolen two-wheelers. We have published statistics, data, and rankings on this in our article "3 motorcycle thefts every hour! Which models are stolen the most".

For this reason, we wrote this short but complete guide that teaches you to apply simple but important rules to keep thieves away from your motorcycle or to discourage them from stealing it if they manage to get their hands on it, whether you are private individuals or professionals managing fleets of scooters for delivery or couriers. 

At the end of the article, you will also find 5 tips to take your vehicle’s security to the highest level.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT MY MOTORCYCLE FROM BEING STOLEN?

First of all, it is important to identify the context. If – as we said – the thief can easily access the vehicle without being seen and without worrying about noise, nothing will stop them from trying to steal your vehicle. Therefore, we act smartly with the three basic security principles:

1. Keep the motorcycle in a private space such as a garage or courtyard
2. If you do not have an enclosed space, park where it is easily controllable
3. Make life difficult for any thief by using efficient security systems

Point number 1 is simple and immediate: if the thief does not have direct access to the motorcycle and cannot reach it from the street because it is behind a gate or in a private area, it is much harder for them to steal it. Difficult, but not impossible.

There are organized criminals who track the movements of vehicle owners and have no qualms about entering your home or condominium courtyard when they know you are not there and can act undisturbed. These cases are very rare, but they still happen today, and it is often in those situations that they manage to work unnoticed.

If point number 2 reflects your situation, it is useful to keep the motorcycle within sight, from your apartment window for example, or in a crowded place monitored by public security systems. A steering lock is mandatory, and maybe keeping it among other scooters or between two cars will make it less visible to those thieves patrolling neighborhoods with vans ready to load the "easy prey."

Point number 3 is the most important concept you should never forget: "if I can't prevent thieves from touching my motorcycle, I can at least make their life as difficult as possible." 

There is no other way but to use valid security systems that can make them waste a lot of time and force them to make a lot of noise to disarm them. We will list them later.

IN THE MIND OF THE ENEMY: HOW DOES A MOTORCYCLE THIEF OPERATE?

We must not only know the accessories and methods that make our motorcycle safer, but it is also important to understand how thieves operate and how thefts occur to maximize the efficiency of security systems in the various contexts we find ourselves in.

First, let's make the necessary distinctions between city thieves and "provincial" thieves. In an urban context, your motorcycle or scooter will be at greater risk: thief gangs operate much more in cities (mainly in the 5 main Italian municipalities) because they simply have the highest concentration of scooters and two-wheel vehicles. 

An easy comparison is that of a fisherman: they always go to the most fish-rich seas, both for the quantity and variety of fish that can guarantee a good profit with less effort.

In the city, organized gangs are very common; they move around in small groups (2 or 3 people) in vans. Their goal is to collect as many scooters and motorcycles as possible, generally targeting easy prey—those easy to load because they lack security systems and are easily accessible from the street.

Their main market is for used spare parts, so they often also target low-value scooters that are not in perfect condition. 

There are also other types of thieves who target valuable vehicles (BMW GS, Ducati, and other large-displacement motorcycles) for illegal resale abroad. They act more deliberately because they follow the owners and try to better plan "the hit," but basically, they also operate in groups and use vans to quickly take the unlucky vehicle.

Out of town, in the province and countryside, the same rules above apply, but in this case, you need to be especially careful with those who act like apartment and villa burglars. 

These “professionals” find ways to sneak into homes (mainly those with gardens) or condominium garages after careful study of the chosen target, which can last even days. 

Here, home alarms and cameras are very helpful, but first and foremost, there is always the principle of "making it take as much time as possible" regarding the motorcycle.

WHAT SECURITY SYSTEMS EXIST?

• CHAIN OR D-LOCK: this is the classic heavy-duty chain to hook onto the wheels and secure the motorcycle to an external element like a pole, a railing, or a dedicated metal loop. The D-Lock is the D-shaped version, less mobile but equally secure. The more you spend, the higher the security.

• STEERING LOCK: the classic standard system on almost all motorcycles on the market. It locks the handlebar to the left to make movement much more difficult, but it can also be easily neutralized with a well-placed kick. It is always better to activate it and use it in combination with other mechanical systems.

• DISC LOCK: with this accessory inserted, the wheel is not free to turn and is much harder to move. It can be neutralized by unscrewing the Allen screws that hold the disc anchored to the wheel, although it takes some time. Being a compact and lightweight system, security is not at its highest, but it is a good deterrent combined with other solutions.

• BRAKE LOCK: it fits on the throttle grip and blocks its rotation while holding the front brake engaged, which consequently immobilizes the front wheel. The system is small and not very robust, easy to remove, but it is still a valid "plus" to use in combination.

• EASYBLOCK: like a disc lock, it prevents the rotation of the (rear) wheel, but in this case, it is a system that works with a steel pin that locks the sprocket (in motorcycle versions) or the wheel (in scooter versions). Unlike others, it is installed on the swingarm or the casing, so it becomes part of the vehicle and is more safe and convenient to use.

• SOUND ALARM: a classic always used for cars and homes. A sensor detects sudden movements on the vehicle and triggers an acoustic signal via siren that deters the thief from acting. It can be deactivated by disconnecting the battery or cutting the cables of the signaler but remains a good solution to alert those nearby the attempted theft.

• SATELLITE OR GPS ALARM: it is a passive system, so it targets the recovery of the vehicle after theft by communicating the vehicle's location to the owner via satellite connection. In many cases, it is associated with a phone alert via message or call.

It is obvious that the more systems you use together, the more the vehicle's security increases, but since it is impossible and impractical to adopt them all at once, it is recommended to have at least a couple that you can choose based on your needs and the context in which you keep your two-wheeler.  

5 TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR MOTORCYCLE FROM BEING STOLEN

A series of practical tips that could be very useful to you:

Use security systems even if you keep the motorcycle in a garage

As we wrote in this article, no one is truly safe and thieves come up with something new every day.

Even if you put the motorcycle in a locked garage and away from prying eyes, an EasyBlock or a chain (or both) are always an extra security that will let you sleep peacefully.

Use mechanical anti-theft devices

If you leave the motorcycle outside, be smart. If a mechanical anti-theft device from those listed wastes the thief's time, two will waste twice as much time and a good deal of motivation, three even more!

So if you are willing to sacrifice a little time to install two or more systems every time you use the motorcycle, you will have an extra guarantee against theft.

Anchoring a motorcycle with a chain to a pole or railing 

Making life difficult for a thief also requires ingenuity: anchoring a motorcycle with a chain to a pole or railing is ideal, but it is even better if you keep this chain off the ground and in a spot difficult to reach with a tool like an angle grinder or large bolt cutters, for example very close to a wall.

Even with the Easy Block, it is good to park with the wheel almost touching a building or a large obstacle, the thief must not act comfortably and must struggle as much as possible to break your anti-theft device.

Park your motorcycle in crowded places with security cameras

Sometimes it is worth under penalty of parking the motorcycle in a crowded and constantly monitored by cameras like squares or near venues, rather than having the motorcycle in sight all the time.

Just being distracted for half an hour and your vehicle can disappear, while in a place where people create a constant flow or there are cameras pointing at the street, it is likely that a thief won't even approach.

Study!

Online You can always find useful information about the latest technologies and the theft methods that thieves use and evolve over time. Stay informed about the events in your city and neighborhood; it will help you increase the security of your vehicle. when necessary.

By doing so, you will be able to avoid particular places or times where it is easier to encounter bad experiences. The safest motorcyclist is also proactive and never underestimates the skills of those who professionally steal other people's motorcycles and scooters!