5 tips for securing your motorbike

Freedom, speed, independence, friends. A motorbike is simply a way of life. Every biker wants to make the most of the end of this year's season and is planning a few more rides. But they shouldn't forget practical matters such as securing their motorbike, both on the road and at home. So what is the best way to protect a motorbike against theft?

A chain lock – the basis of motorbike security

No biker should be without a chain lock. But of course, not all locks are created equal. Forget the cheapest ones for €20, which would at best protect a bicycle. To secure a motorcycle, use a quality lock made of hardened steel with a protective sleeve that will withstand any attempt to cut through it, as well as extreme temperatures. Your chain lock should have a special locking mechanism that cannot be drilled out or ripped off. When securing your motorbike with a chain lock, also remember that the other end needs to be attached to a heavy object or a steel ring set in concrete. If you choose a flimsy, rusty railing, even the best steel lock will be of no use to you. The lock should also hang in the air along its entire length, to make it harder for a would-be thief to get at it. Prices for better chain locks for securing a motorcycle start at around €60; their slight drawback is their weight, which can reach up to 7 kg depending on the length.

Securing a motorcycle with a disc lock

A disc lock is a special lock that is fitted to the front wheel of a motorbike and prevents it from being ridden. Compared with a chain lock, its advantages are that it is compact and lighter. On the other hand, it is not as effective on its own, because the motorbike can still be carried away with the lock fitted. That is why this type of motorbike security is often sold with a built-in alarm that sounds if anyone tampers with the motorbike without authorisation.

A motorbike alarm with additional sensors

A motorbike alarm can, of course, be bought not only as part of a disc lock but also on its own. For the best possible motorbike security, choose an alarm with shock sensors and seat load sensors, which notify you on a mobile phone of your choice that someone is tampering with your motorcycle or sitting on it without permission. Even the cheapest motorbike alarms now have a built-in immobiliser. More expensive ones also offer a sensor that monitors the ignition and a remote engine cut-off function in case a thief manages to get past the immobiliser.

Securing your motorbike with a GPS tracker

Modern technology in the form of GPS trackers can also help protect your motorcycle against theft. They alert you by text message or via a mobile app whenever someone tampers with your motorbike. And if it were stolen, they would let you follow the motorbike's movements and current location.

Don't forget to secure your motorbike in the garage

It often happens that a biker thinks through their motorbike's security on the road down to the last detail, but forgets to protect it against theft from the garage. Garages themselves tend to be very poorly secured and therefore often become an easy target for thieves, who go there for motorbikes, among other things. The best way to secure a motorbike inside a garage is with anchor systems such as the X Safety Box. These can be drilled into almost any material, from wood and metal to brick. You then attach your motorbike to them with a quality chain lock, as discussed at the beginning of this article. What's more, this mechanism can secure not only a motorbike but also other valuable items such as expensive bicycles or lawnmowers, so it is definitely a worthwhile investment. Don't forget to fit the same mechanism in the cargo area of your van if you often transport your motorbike by road. Transport vans are a similar weak spot to garages and are therefore often targeted by thieves.

Interested in tracking your motorbike with GPS? Read about the options for vehicle tracking.