Riding motorcycles should be about freedom, right?
When you’re riding, it certainly is. But as soon as you park up, especially in unfamiliar locations, anxiety grows.
I’m talking about the fear of having your bike stolen, which can overwhelm the excitement and adventure felt when you’re out exploring the world on two wheels.
So what can you do to keep your pride and joy safe? To find out, we’ve teamed up with world-leading experts in motorcycle security BikeTrac to bring you invaluable advice on keeping your bike safe.
Following it could just make the difference between riding home on your bike or feeling your heart sinking while staring at an empty parking spot.
Layer up
As adventure bikers, we’re familiar with the concept of layering with the gear we wear: combining waterproof layers with thermal layers in the cold and using the ventilation on our textiles in the summer.
But when it comes to motorcycle security, layering is just as important. It’s simple logic: the more layers of security you use, the less likely your bike will be stolen.
In practice, there are a number of ways to do this.
An effective way of making your bike less appealing to opportunistic thieves is by using a cover. Immediately, you’ve obscured your bike from prying eyes.
But what if one decides to peek under and sees the shiny new GS beneath?
That’s where disc locks and chains come in. By immobilising the wheel and tethering your bike to an immovable object, your bike is far more difficult to nick.
At home, installing a ground anchor and using a big, beefy chain is the best way to secure your bike. If possible, installing a ground anchor on the wall, rather than the floor, keeps the chain off the ground, making it harder to cut.
A garage door defender and an alarm for your garage or shed are also worth considering.
But as adventure bikers, we’re often out riding both near and far, so how do you secure your bike while you’re exploring the world on two-wheels?
A combination of hard security measures, such as the portable disc lock and chain ‘grab bag‘ that BikeTrac offers, provides maximum security while being compact and transportable, which is ideal for when you’re on tour.
Make sure the chain and padlock are kept off the ground and looped through your bike’s frame if possible, with the chain taut. This will all make it harder for thieves to break through them.
If you’ve got a U-shaped disc lock (like the one in BikeTrac’s Grab Bag), fit it through the rear sprocket of your bike and attach a chain through it, ideally securing it to a solid, fixed object like a lamp post.
What if the worst happens?
Despite our best efforts, a committed thief with enough time and the right tools can defeat even the toughest chains and locks.
That’s why a tracker is a worthy investment. In the event that your bike is stolen, you can still fight back. BikeTrac’s industry leading tracking unit is one of the most comprehensive ways to recover a stolen bike.
If the unit detects a theft, a specialised security team receives a notification and alerts you. If you confirm that it’s a theft, the team will begin monitoring your bike’s movements and help you liaise with police.
The unit’s powerful GPS and RF technology gives BikeTrac unrivalled tracking accuracy, allowing them to pinpoint your bike to within one metre, even if its in a garage or shipping container.
You’re also covered in Europe, and BikeTrac has also partnered with private security firm Securitas to help recover bikes in the event that the police can’t attend quickly enough.
In fact, motorcycles fitted with a BikeTrac tracking device have an incredible 94% recovery rate. Check out BikeTrac’s Facebook to see their amazing list of recoveries.
Secure your bike and your freedom with BikeTrac
To us, the peace of mind that these security measures bring are worth the cost.
Being able to leave your bike where you want and not have that nagging thought in the back of your mind is a wonderful feeling, both at home and on tour.
You can find out more about BikeTrac’s range of tracking devices and hard security over on their website HERE.
BikeTrac will be also at the ABR Festival again this year, and we thoroughly recommend dropping by and saying hello to Bill and the friendly team.
They’ll be happy to talk all things bike security, and they’ve even got an exclusive show offer for festival goers. You can find them in the Exhibitor Village.
If you haven’t got your tickets to the ABR Festival 2024, there’s still time – just. Grab your tickets today here before they sell out.
Finally, if you’d like to learn more about motorcycle security, check out Moto Guardian. It’s a publication written specifically to educate motorcyclists on all aspects of bike security.
You can check out Issue 1 here.
