Motorcycle Security Guide

Your bike is one of your favorite things you own, and it serves you well as a form of transport for errands, commuting and pleasure riding. Motorcycles tend to catch the eyes of passersby because of their sleek designs and roaring engines. You might bask in some of this attention—and why shouldn’t you?—but not all of it is desirable. Thieves, for example, may take note that you live near them and own something expensive and alluring that they could either steal for themselves or try to pawn off to make a quick buck. Motorcycle theft is fairly prevalent since motorcycles are easy to stow in a trailer or the back of a truck, so it’s wise to try and prevent it however you can.

Eastside Harley-Davidson, with locations in Bellevue and Lynnwood, has assembled this security guide to help you keep your prized possession protected and, most importantly, in your possession! Come to us with any questions you may have after reading.

The Strategy Behind Crime Prevention

Your goal is to make your motorcycle as difficult to steal as possible. Thieves are looking for something that is easy and quick to steal so they don’t get caught. If it takes them a very long time to find your bike, release it from its bindings and make off with it, then they’re more likely to opt for an easier target.

Analyze Your Living Situation

How you protect your motorcycle will differ, depending on where you live. Some housing situations may be safer than others from theft, but none are perfect. You’ll have to do the best you can with where you are.

Those who live in apartment complexes are more vulnerable to theft in general because of the high concentration of people in one space as well as the high amount of traffic in and out of the building and its parking lot. This allows a purloiner to slip in unnoticed to case the joint and determine how they’ll make off with their target.

Residential neighborhoods and gated communities are safer by comparison, but still prone to theft, if only because people let their guards down. Carelessly leaving your bike exposed on the street or in your driveway means that anyone driving by can lift it under cover of darkness.

Smart Parking

When parking your bike, consider where you live and how you can reduce the risks of theft. In a complex, try to park in a well-lit area near doorways and ideally under the watchful eye of a security camera. A locking garage is obviously ideal, but not every complex will have these. In a residential area, it’s best to park your bike behind your fence or within a garage or shed that locks and has no windows. Investing in a good-quality cover for your bike will prevent thieves from scoping out what brand it is and what condition it’s in, and it creates another layer of protection that may result in them turning their gaze elsewhere.

Using Chains & Locks

Try to use high-quality locks and chains to secure your bike. The more security, the better, although it can be somewhat expensive and annoying for you if you truss up your bike too much. Steering locks secure your steering column so the bike can’t be moved, and disc locks clamp to the brakes so the wheels won’t spin. If you use chains, which you should when you have to park your bike out in the open, thread them through a part of the bike that can’t be removed and anchor them to something secure, like a post in concrete or a ground anchor you install yourself.

With some forethought and care, you can keep your bike from being stolen or damaged by enterprising thieves. Still don’t have the bike? Come down to one of our dealerships in Bellevue and Lynnwood, Washington, to see our selection of new and used motorcycles for sale, including models by Harley-Davidson®. Eastside Harley-Davidson proudly serves the greater Seattle metropolitan area as well as the rest of Washington State.