After you report your stolen motorcycle to the police we encourage you to also report your stolen motorcycle to StolenMotorcycle.net where it will never be removed from the database until it is recovered.
But how do you prevent motorcycle theft?
Wooley, my riding partner and co-founder of StolenMotorcycle.net dug a hole in the floor of his shop and buried a big steel hoop set in concrete to which he hooks a huge chain and giant padlock. Then he parks his truck so that it blocks his bike inside. It's not perfect but it's on par with my attack rooster. No, my rooster could care less about my motorcycles but he'll have no part of anyone getting too close to his hens who like to congregate under my motorcycles whenever a stranger comes around.
Be careful who your friends are.
Here in North Carolina, if you loan a vehicle to someone and that person never returns your vehicle, he or she cannot be charged with theft. I'm sure we're not the only state where motorcycles can be stolen by borrowing.
Security cameras might help.
Don't forget to keep your key in your pocket.
Never travel with your title.
When traveling with others you can padlock your bikes together.
Buy BFLs and heavy duty chains or stainless steel cables to secure your bike. What's a BFL? Big eFfing Lock.
Make sure that no part of your lock and chain is laying on the ground while locked to your bike. A lock on the ground is far easier to break with a BFH. You know, Big eFfing Hammer.
Here's something you might not think of. Make sure your lock and chain are locked up when not locked to your bike as a thief will sometimes steal your lock so that he can catch you at a bad time and steal your bike before you can get a new lock.
Is your automatic garage door opener still set to factory defaults? Change your codes ASAP.
Don't leave tools near your bike that could be used to steal it.
File the key codes off your locks.
Demand first floor motel rooms.
Watch for people following you.
A friend of mine used to hang all sorts of metal things, soup cans, broken tools, cow bells-- anything metal-- from the ceiling of his unlighted garage where it would all start clanging together whenever anyone went inside. At night, even he couldn't get in and out without waking up half the neighborhood. Then he added bear traps.
Back in my early days we used to make the prospects watch our bikes, dogs and wives. If anything happened to the bike or dog the prospect would be shot, hung, beaten and forced to remain a prospect for a few more miserable years.
Be very careful about who gets the papers. I once saw a woman legally steal a Delorean Sports Car. I'm not sure how she did it but I'm sure she could steal a bike the same way.
Rent a secure place to store your pride and joy. Over the years I have known countless people whose bikes were stolen from in front of apartments and townhouses. Or from off of front porches.
Keep your bike hidden from view. And if people start coming around out of the blue and asking if you want to sell it then be very wary.
Teach your wife or girlfriend that she'll have to share the house or apartment with your motorcycle. This worked really well for me until I came home one night and discovered that my dinner was being served out of my brand new, chrome plated primary cover. Hell, I thought she didn't even know what an Allen wrench was...
Lock your forks.
Lock your wheels.
Lock your frame to something really big like a California Redwood or a telephone pole.
Buy a Lojack tracking device.
Dogs can help-- especially if they're loud. Feed them in the mornings so they'll be awake at night. Peacocks and guinea fowl are louder and more alert than dogs. Emus and Llamas are meaner.
One year many years ago, while at Mardi Gras, I slept with my helmet on and my motorcycle chained to my body. No, it wasn't comfortable but I rode my bike home while others rode Greyhound. Yes, the thieves could have killed me and taken my bike but with so many easier targets, why would they bother?
Motorcycle alarms are available-- some better than others.
If you're selling a bike make sure that anyone who test rides your bike can provide you with a drivers license before you hand them the key. Take a photo of the buyer and their license or write their info down. If the buyer appears to be on foot then tell them to come back with some wheels of their own to leave with you while test riding your bike.
Years ago, after misplacing his key, a friend of mine wired his Triumph with 6 toggle switches in series. All of them had to be in the "on" position before the bike would start but for some, "on" was up and others down. And about once a month he changed his "combination."
Have your VIN number engraved in several hidden locations. If word gets out most thieves will look for less tempting targets.
Buy an electric fence charger and hook it to your bike making sure it has a battery back-up so thieves can't shut it off by tripping your breakers. Just don't forget to turn it off before you go for a ride.
Block or remove your license plate when photographing your bike as thieves sometimes gain access to DMV records and can find out where you live.
Place a StolenMotorcycle.net sticker somewhere on your bike where thieves will be sure to see it.
My apologies for the shameless self promotion. If you have more ways to keep thieves away from motorcycles we'd love to know what they are.
But how do you prevent motorcycle theft?
Wooley, my riding partner and co-founder of StolenMotorcycle.net dug a hole in the floor of his shop and buried a big steel hoop set in concrete to which he hooks a huge chain and giant padlock. Then he parks his truck so that it blocks his bike inside. It's not perfect but it's on par with my attack rooster. No, my rooster could care less about my motorcycles but he'll have no part of anyone getting too close to his hens who like to congregate under my motorcycles whenever a stranger comes around.
Be careful who your friends are.
Here in North Carolina, if you loan a vehicle to someone and that person never returns your vehicle, he or she cannot be charged with theft. I'm sure we're not the only state where motorcycles can be stolen by borrowing.
Security cameras might help.
Don't forget to keep your key in your pocket.
Never travel with your title.
When traveling with others you can padlock your bikes together.
Buy BFLs and heavy duty chains or stainless steel cables to secure your bike. What's a BFL? Big eFfing Lock.
Make sure that no part of your lock and chain is laying on the ground while locked to your bike. A lock on the ground is far easier to break with a BFH. You know, Big eFfing Hammer.
Here's something you might not think of. Make sure your lock and chain are locked up when not locked to your bike as a thief will sometimes steal your lock so that he can catch you at a bad time and steal your bike before you can get a new lock.
Is your automatic garage door opener still set to factory defaults? Change your codes ASAP.
Don't leave tools near your bike that could be used to steal it.
File the key codes off your locks.
Demand first floor motel rooms.
Watch for people following you.
A friend of mine used to hang all sorts of metal things, soup cans, broken tools, cow bells-- anything metal-- from the ceiling of his unlighted garage where it would all start clanging together whenever anyone went inside. At night, even he couldn't get in and out without waking up half the neighborhood. Then he added bear traps.
Back in my early days we used to make the prospects watch our bikes, dogs and wives. If anything happened to the bike or dog the prospect would be shot, hung, beaten and forced to remain a prospect for a few more miserable years.
Be very careful about who gets the papers. I once saw a woman legally steal a Delorean Sports Car. I'm not sure how she did it but I'm sure she could steal a bike the same way.
Rent a secure place to store your pride and joy. Over the years I have known countless people whose bikes were stolen from in front of apartments and townhouses. Or from off of front porches.
Keep your bike hidden from view. And if people start coming around out of the blue and asking if you want to sell it then be very wary.
Teach your wife or girlfriend that she'll have to share the house or apartment with your motorcycle. This worked really well for me until I came home one night and discovered that my dinner was being served out of my brand new, chrome plated primary cover. Hell, I thought she didn't even know what an Allen wrench was...
Lock your forks.
Lock your wheels.
Lock your frame to something really big like a California Redwood or a telephone pole.
Buy a Lojack tracking device.
Dogs can help-- especially if they're loud. Feed them in the mornings so they'll be awake at night. Peacocks and guinea fowl are louder and more alert than dogs. Emus and Llamas are meaner.
One year many years ago, while at Mardi Gras, I slept with my helmet on and my motorcycle chained to my body. No, it wasn't comfortable but I rode my bike home while others rode Greyhound. Yes, the thieves could have killed me and taken my bike but with so many easier targets, why would they bother?
Motorcycle alarms are available-- some better than others.
If you're selling a bike make sure that anyone who test rides your bike can provide you with a drivers license before you hand them the key. Take a photo of the buyer and their license or write their info down. If the buyer appears to be on foot then tell them to come back with some wheels of their own to leave with you while test riding your bike.
Years ago, after misplacing his key, a friend of mine wired his Triumph with 6 toggle switches in series. All of them had to be in the "on" position before the bike would start but for some, "on" was up and others down. And about once a month he changed his "combination."
Have your VIN number engraved in several hidden locations. If word gets out most thieves will look for less tempting targets.
Buy an electric fence charger and hook it to your bike making sure it has a battery back-up so thieves can't shut it off by tripping your breakers. Just don't forget to turn it off before you go for a ride.
Block or remove your license plate when photographing your bike as thieves sometimes gain access to DMV records and can find out where you live.
Place a StolenMotorcycle.net sticker somewhere on your bike where thieves will be sure to see it.
My apologies for the shameless self promotion. If you have more ways to keep thieves away from motorcycles we'd love to know what they are.