What is the best way to secure a motorbike?

Every motorbike owner understands how important motorbike security is. On average, a motorbike is stolen every 6 minutes in the UK. Meaning ten bikes an hour is stolen. To combat this, motorbike enthusiasts are always stressing how essential security is for your bike. In fact, it is recommended that for every 10k your motorbike is worth, you should spend an additional 1k in security measures. So, say you’ve just purchased a nice bike for 15k, it is recommended to invest another 1.5k in security to protect it.

Some of the best ways to protect your motorbike are keeping it from sight. So, if you do have the luxury of a garage or a shed you should keep your motorbike secured in one of those. This will not stop a professional thief, but it will keep your belongings away from the greedy eyes of opportunist thieves.

A garage or shed on its own is not enough to stop thieves and you should be investing in garage security as well as motorbike security if your bike is kept in the garage. Things like CCTV, working lights, and burglar alarms can make a huge difference to the security of your garage. In a study of convicted thieves, it was found that 60% of them would avoid attempting to steal from a home if they had visible CCTV or burglar alarms.

The products

It can feel like a minefield navigating what you need and what function it plays in your motorbike security. The short answer is any security is better than nothing, but the best security is a lot of it. It is recommended for the best security to layer your products. All the relevant motorbike security products will be listed below with examples of layering.

Alarms

Garage alarms have been mentioned above, but the truth is, any alarm is a good addition. With the growth of smart technology, we’ve seen alarms be incorporated into other security products. For example, an alarmed chain and lock, such as the Zovii ZCL10-120, features smart technology to connect to your smartphone and send you real time SMS messages about the security of your bike. It also features a 120dB alarm that sets off if your device is tampered with.

There is a selection of other alarmed products such as padlocks, shackle locks, grip locks, etc. All come with the same smart technology to link to your phone.

Barriers

Garage or shed barriers are a new, innovative way to secure your motorbike in the garage/shed. Barriers, like the Guardsmen, work by extending their arm across the exit of your doorway. The barriers are incredibly visually impressive and are designed to withstand every form of attack. The barrier sits tall enough that the average bike cannot fit under, or be lifted over, and the barrier comes with a 10-year guarantee. In our opinion a barrier is an essential if you have a garage or shed.

Ground anchors

Another visually striking deterrent is a ground anchor. Ground anchors work by being bolted to the ground, so they are unmovable. They’re fitted with a link for a security chain to slip through and attach to your bike. They’re mainly used to stop your bike being wheeled away. If you’re looking for a worthy ground anchor, the Apex Pro is the best on the market. It’s the only ground anchor out there that adorns the Sold Secure diamond rating – if you’re not aware of Sold Secure, they’re the UK’s leading test house for motorbike security, and their badges are a big deal.

Security chains

A security chain should be the absolute bare minimum of your motorbike security. A security chain is pretty self-explanatory; it can be linked through other objects and connected to your bike to secure it from being wheeled off. Security chains work alongside ground anchors, barriers, padlocks, etc to secure your bike. Chains should be an essential part of your security if you’re out and about too.

Padlocks

Padlocks work to connect your bike to something else, often with a security chain. Smart padlocks have also been manufactured to connect to your smartphone and send you real time updates on your bike’s safety.

Layering

If you’re confused about what layering actually means, it just means having multiple security products used in conjunction. So, say you’ve already got a shed or garage to keep your bike in, you can add other products to beef it up. Such as:

·         Guardsman barrier, which comes with an anchor point to secure your bike to

·         An alarmed security chain attached to the barrier.

·         Padlock

·         Bike cover

If you’re on the go:

·         Bike cover

·         Alarmed grip lock

·         Alarmed chain and lock (secured to an unmovable object such as a U post.

No garage/shed:

·         Bike cover

·         Ground anchor

·         Alarmed grip lock

·         Alarmed chain and lock secured to the ground anchor

Other tips

·         Do not keep your bike out, unsecured

·         If you have to keep it outside, make sure you have some form of security and/or CCTV

·         Write your name and postcode on parts of the bike. If it does get stolen, the parts are less likely to be stolen

·         Be vigilant