Fluster thieves with our pick of the best motorcycle alarms

We’ve said before that creating layers of security around your bike are key to helping prevent it from being stolen – and a motorbike alarm can be a great additional layer.

A disc lock will stop a thief from snapping the steering lock and pushing it away, either on foot or with an assist from an accomplice on another bike.

A chain and lock, particularly if secured to an immovable object, will prevent this as well as several thieves picking the bike up and loading it into a van.

Something else thieves dislike intensely is noise; they prefer to ply their trade in the dark and in silence so anything that creates a lot of noise as soon as they begin to attack a bike is a very good thing – it draws attention which is something they hate and hopefully, will make them give up and move on.

Related: Best motorbike ground anchors

There are several forms of bike alarm; ones that are fitted to the bike and wired in permanently so they cannot be immobilised, standalone alarms that are taped or fitted to the bike with a strap, others that forms part of another security device such as a padlock or disclock and the siren sounds when they are tampered with.

An alarm to create attention if the bike is tampered with is a useful addition in your armoury of security devices – just make sure you choose (and set-up) one that is stable and doesn’t suffer false alarms and you’ll be good to go.

There are four levels of sensitivity and a 125dB siren that is controlled by two remote keyfobs. The instructions are a bit dubious so if you’re not confident you might need to get an auto electrician to install it but for that money, it has to be worth a try.

Pros:

Inexpensive

Alarm and immobiliser

DIY or pro fitting

Cons:

Instructions not well translated

In either case, if the lock is tampered with, it will set off a 120dB alarm alerting passers-by to the theft and potentially scaring the thief off.

Pros:

Use as padlock

Integral 120dB alarm

Offers layers of security

Cons:

Bulky to carry

It is controlled by a remote-control keyfob that arms and disarms the alarm and can also set the alarm off as an SOS call if you fall off, for example. Reviews are good.

Pros:

Simple to install

One integral unit

Broad functionality

Cons:

Battery powered

The remote-control keyfobs have randomly generated codes so they cannot be grabbed by thieves and duplicated and the alarm itself has an energy-saving mode for when the bike is parked for some time.

Pros:

Dual-stage triggering

120dB siren

Energy-saving mode

Cons:

Reviews suggest still flattens battery

Battery life is said to be ‘long’ and the alarm function can be turned off, so it operates solely as a traditional disclock.

Pros:

Physical deterrent

Use with or without alarm

Waterproof

Cons:

Needs carrying somehow

Find more disclocks here

Pros:

Designed to work with covers

Add another level of security

Easy to fit

Cons:

May not work with all covers

There are switchable chips for arming and disarming (not permitted in the UK) and there is also a transport mode, so the bike can be transported safely without the alarm being triggered. There is also an optional seat trigger in case thieves try to remove the seat pad to access the bike.

Pros:

Easy to fit

Range of useful features

Great value

Cons:

None we can think of

There is a more involved version, the Pro, for an extra £10 that uses nine wires to add extra functionality, such as an ignition cut.

Pros:

Simple to fit

Uses bike battery

Visual and audible deterrent

Cons:

Could flatten bike battery

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