Don't lose your motorbike to thieves | Security kit that actually works

Unfortunately, motorbikes are a huge draw to thieves, but many will be put off by decent motorcycle security. A disc lock, lock and chain, ground anchor and a cover will help, and a tracker could mean you get your bike back again, even if it is stolen.

Casual motorcycle thieves who simply want some fun at someone else’s expense and potentially bait the police into a chase will be the easiest to deter, but even an organised operation stealing to order or to break the bike into parts and ship them far and wide can be tackled with enough layers of good kit.

There are plenty of steps that you can take to make life harder for thieves. Ultimately, the idea is to make your bike as unattractive as you can and force them to move on completely or, at least, to the next bike. This is easier at home, but there are portable motorcycle security products to take with you, too.

We’ve gathered what we feel are the top motorcycle security products to help ensure that you keep your bike and it doesn’t disappear without a trace.

Other Deals at a Glance

• 38% off Oxford Quartz XD10 Disc Lock – was £39.99, now £24.99
• 30% off Oxford Brute Force Mini Ground Anchor – was £24.99, now £16.99
• 30% of Oxford Magnum Duo U-lock with 1.2m cable – was £59.99, £39.84
• 41% off Yale Chain & Lock 1100mm – was £58.99, now £34.87
• 11% off Master Lock Certified Garage Door Lock – was £111.99, now £99.99

The best motorcycle disc locks

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to add a layer of security to your motorbike – especially when you’re out and about – is a disc lock.

Relatively inexpensive and easy to carry around, a disc lock is clipped into place on your bike’s brake disc and prevents the front wheel from turning. Some are also alarmed or can double up as padlocks for your home security chain, too.

Sadly, disc locks will only deter opportunist thieves and the smallest examples can be smashed off with a hammer. Thieves carrying angle grinders can also chop out a section of the disc itself to remove the lock. That’s not to say a disc lock isn’t a useful addition to your arsenal, especially when layered with other measures.

Best motorcycle locks and chains

The next step after a disc lock is a good quality lock and chain. These range from portable options you can carry with you to enormous units that are meant for use at home.

Many chains are available in different lengths and it’s recommended that you choose the one that means you can secure your motorbike to an immovable object without leaving the lock on the ground (to make life harder for a thief). Try to feed it through a section of frame rather than a wheel, as wheels can be removed swiftly and easily with minimal tools.

It’s also worth thinking about the practicalities of threading the chain through a substantial part of your bike. A particularly massive chain I once had would only fit through the rear alloy wheel of my ZX-10R and couldn’t be used at all on the spoked Ténéré 700 I had before that.

Best ground anchors

A lock and chain is only as good as the thing you secure it to. If you have more than one bike then chaining them together is a good option. If not, and you don’t have anything else to use, a ground anchor is a great solution.

Typically, these are a hoop or tunnel that is either bolted to the floor or wall or cemented into place. Make sure you get the placement right first time because – for obvious reasons – they’re a pig to move afterwards.

Best motorcycle shelters and covers

It may sound obvious, but one of the best ways to keep your bike safe from thieves is to hide it from prying eyes. If you’ve got a shed or garage then you already do this, but if not then a cover or shelter might come in handy.

The cheapest and easiest option is a cover, which start from just a few quid and range up to about £100 depending on the features included.

Other motorcycle security products to consider

Keeping your bike under lock and key is a great start, but there also steps you can take to make your shed or garage more secure and tracker products that help recover your bike if it does get stolen. You might even consider forensic tagging that may not save your bike in the first instance, but helps to secure a prosecution for the thief that took it.

Things to consider before you buy motorcycle security

When you’re buying security products, look for the Sold Secure logo. This is a not-for-profit scheme run by the Master Locksmiths Association that tests and rates products depending on their resistance to attack.

Look for products that have Motorcycle ratings and, ideally, Gold or Diamond for the highest levels of attack resistance.

Chain reaction

When you’re securing your bike with a lock and chain, make sure you wrap the chain around something immovable; a bike with a chain only through the wheel can be lifted by a few burly blokes and loaded into a van, but if it’s locked to a post, then they’ll have to cut it, and that makes noise and takes time. Also, keep the chain off the ground so it can’t be attacked with a sledgehammer.

The best motorbike security is the stuff you actually use, so make sure you opt for a kit that is practical for you. Even casual thieves these days might take on a disc lock, but if you layer up with a chain, too, it might put them off.

Statistically, your bike will be less likely to be stolen if it’s under a cover, too, so think about carrying one for when you park up.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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