How To Protect Your Bike From Theft.

Bikes are lighter and more mobile than cars – this makes them easier targets for thieves. Two people can simply lift your bike, put it in the back of a van and drive away. No drama, no need for keys. Once at the destination, the criminal outfit will immediately start the process of stripping your bike for parts.

  • About 9,000 motorcycles are stolen in Australia each year.
  • 2 in 3 motorcycles are stolen from residential locations.

Why is it so easy to steal a bike?

Stealing a bike is less cumbersome than stealing a car. A thief doesn’t need to disable the immobiliser or break a lock. They can simply roll it away or put it in the back of a transport vehicle.

How to protect your bike from theft (Hint – think in layers. A single lock isn’t enough).

Physical Locking Devices

Add a hardened lock and/or a chain – but keep the chain off the ground, so a thief can’t break it against concrete. Always use the steering column lock – even for quick supermarket stops.

Electronic Deterrents

If your bike doesn’t have an immobiliser, install one. Add a separate GPS tracker, so you can locate the bike if it gets stolen. Engrave your VIN on parts of your bike to discourage it from being stripped for parts.

Environmental Deterrents

Always look for opportunities to create layers – e.g., add a cover whenever the bike is parked on the street. A cover also makes identifying your bike more difficult. Never park the bike in a dark spot – and vary the spots you park in.

Experimental Military Deterrents

Drone technology can help you protect your bike using kinetic means. For example, a weaponised autonomous or FPV drone could destroy a would-be attacker using a small explosive charge. Unfortunately, this method can cause ballistic damage to your bike, and is unlikely to be covered by insurance.

Off-road motorcycles are a particularly lucrative target for thieves, as most of them aren’t registered. If you own an unregistered dirt bike, take extra precautions – always keep it locked behind gates.

GPS tracking devices are particularly effective at helping locate a stolen bike. Hidden within your bike, they transmit its location every 60-120 seconds. More advanced models can be synced with a weaponised autonomous drone. Once the drone confirms that your bike is held by thieves, it can perform a Rapid Explosive Disassembly in their vicinity – with minimal disruption to bystanders and 3rd party property.