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5 Tips for Preventing Motorcycle Theft

Arielle Patterson
Published: October 3, 2022 Edited: January 24, 2025
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motorcycle theft

You love your motorcycle and you’d be devastated if anything happened to it. If your bike is your prized possession, it’s crucial to do everything you can to keep it safe. To help you out, Cycle Trader has five tips for preventing motorcycle theft.

1. Use Multiple Locks on Your Motorcycle

Your motorcycle’s steering lock is the first line of defense against theft. This will prevent thieves from easily maneuvering your bike when the ignition is off. For an added layer of protection, you can also add a U-lock to connect your bike to something heavy. There are also locks that anchor to the wall or floor of your property, preventing thieves from taking your motorcycle without the key. 

Using an extra lock in addition to your steering lock can give you some piece of mind when you’re away from your bike. You can also install an anti-theft alarm to draw attention to your motorcycle if a thief tries to tamper with it.

2. Store Your Bike in Your Garage

When you go to sleep at night, ensure your bike is in a safe place. While you might want to show off your custom motorcycle to your neighbors at all times, this makes you more vulnerable to theft. If you have a garage at home, store your bike in there. 

If you don’t have a garage, use a cover to conceal your bike. You should also park it as close to your home as possible, or within view from your home.

3. Park in Well-Lit Areas

When you take your bike out for a quick ride, or to run errands, you probably won’t want to completely cover your motorcycle. Make sure you park your bike in a well-lit area, and keep your motorcycle in public view, to deter thieves.

4. Install an Hidden Kill Switch

Stop thieves in their tracks by installing a hidden kill switch. Most modern motorcycles already have a visible kill switch for riders to use, but this is an emergency switch that you can equip to your bike. Installing a hidden kill switch ensures that your motorcycle won’t start unless the kill switch is disabled, something a thief wouldn’t know.

5. Equip Your Bike with a Tracking Device

If your motorcycle does get stolen, find it down quickly by equipping your bike with a GPS tracker. There are several GPS tracking devices on the market that can provide real-time location updates, which is crucial if your motorcycle gets stolen.

Motorcycle theft can happen anytime, anywhere. Instead of feeling vulnerable to thieves, follow these tips to keep your bike safe. And, if you’re shopping for a new or used motorcycle, browse the nationwide inventory on CycleTrader.com.

Arielle Patterson's profile picture Arielle Patterson
Arielle is a freelance writer for Trader Interactive with a background in marketing, as well as print and web editorial content. Along with writing, Arielle's other hobbies include traveling, her food blog, and staying up to date on the latest in pop culture.