Safely Locked: Motorcycle Anti-Theft Tips

What is the best motorcycle lock?

There is no such thing as the best motorcycle lock. Simply because one lock is insufficient to keep thieves at bay. The best thing you can do is to create a combination of motorcycle locks that will take a thief longer to bypass everything. So long that the chances of getting caught increases and it is no longer worth the risk. We advise you to combine as many of the following locks from our entire RAD range as possible and to take all tips into account. You will not always be able to take every possible lock with you, but remember that a combination is always better than a single lock.

Steering Lock

The first motorcycle lock that you can make a good habit of is your steering lock. Every recent motorcycle is equipped with a steering lock. For an experienced thief, this can be bypassed easily, but an amateur will at least lose extra time with this.

Disc Brake Locks

The most compact lock that you can use as a rider is the disc brake lock. Easy to attach to your brake disc and easy to store in your motorcycle clothing or under your saddle. The disc brake lock will lock your front wheel, preventing full rotation of the wheel. Very useful to keep away a thief who wants to ride off with your motorcycle. The most interesting addition is an alarm system to your disc brake lock. There are disc brake locks from Abus, Kovix and Oxford where an alarm is built in. It immediately attracts attention, causing the potential thief to flee.

Chain Locks

Slightly heavier and harder to carry than a disc brake lock. But a lock that can make a big difference. Because your motorcycle can still be taken away with your steering lock and your disc brake lock, it’s best to block and anchor your wheels with an additional lock. With a chain lock, you can secure the other side or the rear wheel of your motorcycle to something. Whether it’s a fixed object or a floor or wall anchor, it ensures that lifting your motorcycle is no longer an option. A must-have if you don’t want someone to be able to load your motorcycle when there’s no one around. Make sure your chain lock is always lifted off the ground, this makes it significantly harder to cut through the chain. There are also chain locks with a built-in alarm for extra security of your motorcycle.

Locks with certification labels

All locks are tested and the best locks are given a certification label. Thus, with a good lock, you will find an ART or SRA label on the packaging. If you want your motorcycle to be insured against theft, an ART or SRA certified lock will be required. The level of the lock will depend on the type of insurance you want to take. Is there an unbreakable lock? No, but the higher the ART or SRA class, the longer it will take to crack or break the lock. This is the ultimate goal. The longer the theft will take, the less likely they are to attempt it.

ART-certified

ART is a Dutch foundation that has developed a special quality mark to distinguish the better locks. The prevention score is indicated with stars from ART1 to the safest ART5 lock.

Class SRA

SRA stands for Sécurité et Réparation Automobile. It is a French association in which many insurers from the sector are united. SRA has tested various types of chains, padlocks and anti-theft devices. Products that pass the tests can receive the “SRA Class” logo. The classic mechanical devices approved by SRA guarantee a minimum level of safety.

Motorcycle storage and parking locations

At home, you may be able to park your motorcycle or scooter in your garage or a shed. Not everyone has this option. When you’re on the go, you certainly don’t have this option. The place where you park your motorcycle will make a thief think twice before they attempt to steal it. Park your motorcycle in a busy place or somewhere a lot of people pass by. Don’t park in a dark secluded route, but try to keep your motorcycle well in your sights. If you’re on the road at night, park under street lighting or secure your motorcycle with a chain to the street lighting. Even if you have the luxury of a garage or shed, it’s still recommended to lock your motorcycle. It’s a good habit to always use your steering lock and your disc brake lock. Anyone who has this habit won’t need a memory cable to remind them to remove the lock before riding.

GPS-tracker as a last resort

If your motorcycle gets stolen despite everything, it’s useful to be able to see its location through a locator app, right? With a small GPS tracker, you can quickly trace the route taken and the motorcycle and inform the authorities. Organized thieves will steal your motorcycle and take it abroad as quickly as possible. Amateurs will keep it in the country first and then figure out how to best sell it. It’s important to hide GPS trackers well, because if they take off your saddle and can immediately remove the GPS tracker, it obviously doesn’t make much sense. A GPS tracker needs a SIM card with roaming turned on before you start using the device. An activated tracker that is well hidden can save your motorcycle in case of theft.

Theft Insurance

You can, of course, insure your motorcycle. Depending on the type of chosen insurance plan, the insurance company will also have their requirements for the use of locks. You will need a lock with a minimum ART4 rating. Check the certification of your locks annually. It could expire, causing your insurence company to no longer view the lock as valid. Keep in mind that most insurance companies will reimburse you for the residual value of your motorcycle in the event of theft.

Consider for yourself whether the residual value will be sufficient for you. By saving the money you would possibly pay the insurance company, you could save a nice amount of cash. If your motorcycle would be stolen, you’ll have this available. If it is not stolen, you’ll have a budget for an extra motorcycle or an upgrade to a newer/bigger model.

The golden lock combination

The best way to secure your motorcycle is the golden combination of the steering lock, a disc brake lock, and a chain lock that secures your motorcycle to a fixed object or an anchorage. Make sure the chain is lifted from the ground and ensure that you use at least one lock with a built-in alarm. Every thief will need time to break these locks and the alarm will meanwhile attract attention.

Additional tips

• By covering your motorcycle with a protective cover, it becomes harder to see the beautiful bike you’re hiding underneath. This protects your motorcycle from dust and fading due to UV light. Alternatively, you can let your motorcycle get dirty to deter thieves.
• Park close to other motorcycles, this reduces the chance that your motorcycle will be chosen.
• Never leave valuable papers or items in your motorcycle.
• Take as many photos of your motorcycle as possible. This way you have plenty of references if ever needed. If you have a special edition motorcycle or have made various modifications to your motorcycle, this makes it harder to resell in case of theft. It also makes it easier for you and others to recognize your motorcycle.
• If you lose one of the keys to a lock, have it duplicated as soon as possible. This way you always have a spare key available if needed. And store your spare keys in a different place.

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We can secure motorcycles and scooters with many locks so that no thief would ever find it worthwhile. But when providing locks, don’t forget that you’ll have to lock and unlock all of them yourself when you want to ride. You could load your motorcycle with disc brake locks and chain locks, but it must remain within the bounds of practicality. Take into account the factors where your motorcycle is parked, how secure you estimate the neighborhood to be, and provide the security you deem suitable. We hope that nobody experiences their motorcycle being stolen and that you can enjoy your motorcycle for many years to come. Check out all possible locks online or come by your favourite RAD store where we’d be happy to assist further.

Related links:

• Motorcycle locks & anti-theft
• ART4 disc brake locks
• ART4 chain locks