If you’re anything like me, your motorbike will be your prized possession. The security of your bike is therefore of paramount importance, so below is some of the most effective precautions you can take to ensuring nothing unwanted happens to your bike.
Where to keep your bike
If you’re only going to take one piece of advice from this blog, make sure this is it – keep your bike stored in your garage. Leaving it outside with just a cover is basically inviting thieves to steal your bike, whereas if it’s kept in your garage, people won’t even know that it is there. However, keeping it in the garage means nothing if your garage isn’t securely locked, so make sure your garage has locks that actually do their job and consider installing an alarm for extra protection. Make sure all of your bike’s accessories are also securely stored; this includes your helmet, your Chain Monkey and your boots.
Although it’s not ideal, if you don’t have a garage, you could consider buying a motorbike storage shed. Obviously, it’s not as safe as a garage, but it is much better than keeping it outside for everyone to see.
Location trackers
Placed in a secret location on your bike, a GPS tracker allows you to know whether your bike is still in your garage when you are tucked up in bed through an app on your phone! If you are unfortunate enough to have it stolen, you will be able to see the exact location of your bike, massively increasing the chances of retrieving your bike (as long as the thief isn’t crafty enough to search your bike and remove the hidden tracker!)
Chains and locks
This might seem simple in this technology inspired world, but there are few things that are more effective than chains or locks. However, don’t just get the first lock you see, make sure you get a sturdy, metal lock that will make it near impossible for thieves to break through – we recommend a D-lock. Make sure the lock is attached to a solid, immovable object and ensure that the lock goes through the frame of the bike, not the wheels.
You should also use chains and padlocks when you are out and about to make sure that wherever you park, you are confident your bike will still be there when you come back. If there is no car park near, try to park in a busy and well-lit area, as having loads of people around will discourage any thieves from stealing your bike.
Although your bike should be safe when in your garage, just to be sure, lock it to the ground with an anchor. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Motorcycle immobilisers
Another handy device is a motorbike immobilizer, which will prevent your engine from running unless the correct key is present. If you’re yet to purchase your bike, some manufacturers can put this on for you at an additional cost.
Read more: 6 things to check on your motorcycle before riding
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