HOW TO PREVENT MOTORCYCLE THEFT

It may seem like an obvious step, but never leave your key in the ignition, even if you’re stepping away from your bike for just a moment. Always lock your ignition and remove the key when parking, as many thefts happen when riders leave their bikes unattended for a brief moment.

Any would-be thief sees a shiny motorcycle as an easier target than stealing a car.

There are no doors to be locked, and the best that most motorcycle owners can do is engage a fork lock. While this keeps a thief from riding your motorcycle away, it doesn't stop them from lifting your motorcycle into the back of a waiting van to be disassembled later.

If they really want your bike, they can take it.

The best thing you can do is to keep them from seeing your bike in the first place. This is why we advocate a few different methods that will ensure your bike doesn't become a target.

The streets are easy targets for any would-be thieves, which is why keeping your motorcycle indoors adds an extra layer of protection to your bike. Garage-kept motorcycles are stolen at a much, much lower rate than those parked on the street or in a driveway.

If you are a motorcycle owner with a garage, consider keeping your motorcycle inside and investing in a garage security device. A garage door defender system or a security camera system will alert you to any intrusion into your space.

If you live in a big city, search for a gated parking garage specializing in motorcycle storage. Many motorcycle insurance companies (including Harley-Davidson Insurance Services) may offer discounts or a lower rate for motorcycles that are stored in safer locations.

Not every bike owner will have access to a private or locked garage, so the second-best step you can take is to keep your bike covered with a nondescript motorcycle cover.

A bike cover with no visible branding is even better. A cover on the street will effectively act as urban camouflage. There's nothing about a black or grey cover that catches the eye, which will hopefully mean that a potential thief passes your bike for a flashier target.

Look for parking spots that are highly visible, are directly under an overhead light, or are in highly trafficked areas. The more people that are around, the less likely your motorcycle will be stolen.

While keeping your motorcycle out of sight from a thief is the best line of defense to prevent motorcycle theft, there are a few easy additions you can make to a motorcycle to deter bike thieves and ensure you don't become a victim of motorcycle theft. As we said before, a determined thief is hard to stop, so the best you can do is slow them down and ensure that your motorcycle isn't an easy target.

If you ride a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, there are a few genuine security additions you can make to your motorcycle, but taking multiple measures will deter thieves and keep your bike safe.

This is a system installed on almost every motorcycle where you can lock the fork in a turned position so that a stolen motorcycle cannot be ridden in a straight line. Fork locks can be overpowered but will slow down an opportunistic thief.

A disc lock is one of the most straightforward solutions to safeguard your motorcycle from theft. Almost every modern motorcycle uses a disc brake system. Disc brake locks slot through the holes of a disc brake and makes it impossible for a thief to ride without destroying your wheel and braking system.

Some higher-end motorcycles come with built-in alarm systems, but if you aren't so lucky, you can take a few small steps to add a secondary alarm to your bike.

Many covers also come with a small antitheft device that will activate if not removed correctly.

This is another method that will slow down would-be thieves.

Use a heavy-duty chain lock to secure your motorcycle to an immovable object or a ground anchor. While these can be cut through with an angle grinder or bolt cutter, they will seriously slow down a thief and potentially prevent a stolen motorcycle.

Install a GPS tracker on your motorcycle. While it won’t prevent theft, it significantly increases the chances of recovering your bike if it is stolen. These devices can be discreetly hidden and allow you to track your motorcycle's location in real time via an app, providing law enforcement with valuable information.

It's not just your motorcycle that's in danger when you aren't riding it. A bike thief will be happy to make off with your motorcycle helmet or other accessories. Theft prevention and keeping your gear safe is mostly about common sense:

• If you have a GPS like a Garmin or TomTom, remember to take it off your motorcycle and keep it with your other electronics when not in use.

• If you keep your helmet on your motorcycle, invest in a helmet lock or a top box to store it.

While motorcycle theft can happen, it doesn't have to keep you off the road.

Ensuring that your insurance has comprehensive coverage will mean that you may either replace or purchase a new motorcycle with relative ease in the event of theft.

At Harley-Davidson Insurance Services, we also offer comprehensive coverage with a rental reimbursement option. Ask one of our knowledgeable agents for details.

Call today to schedule an insurance quote with one of our agents to ensure that you can always get where you need to go.