Motorbike theft is on the rise – secure your motorbike safely
According to NimbleFins, around 40,000 motorbikes are stolen each year across England and Wales. Around 15,000 of these stolen motorbikes were taken in London alone. Whether you ride a motorbike daily or you are considering booking your CBT, you need to know how to look after and secure your motorbike safely every day, so you don’t join the statistics shown above.
The chances are, if your motorbike is stolen, 50% of you will not see your bike again. No longer are chancers taking motorbikes to ride themselves. Thieves are stripping motorbikes down to sell parts on eBay as a way of avoiding being caught and making a lot of money in the process. If you are concerned about the safety of your motorbike, AVSCO has some top tips on how you can secure your motorbike during the day – whether it’s with you in the workplace or at home in a locked garage.
Consider where you are keeping your motorbike during the day
Whether you use your motorbike every day to commute to work, or you are leaving it locked up at home during the day, it’s important to secure your motorbike when it’s not in use. If you have the luxury of a garage, make the most of the protection you have by ramping up your security measures. Check the locks on your garage doors and windows to ensure they are in proper working condition and the locks are working correctly. Whilst they are not particularly attractive to look at, metal bars along your windows can secure your motorbike well and act as a thief deterrent. If you live in an area where crime is higher, you may wish to consider looking into CCTV to monitor your home and motorbike.
Are you riding your motorbike to work every day? Be sure that you are leaving it somewhere safe whilst you are at your workplace. It is a common misconception that hiding your motorbike down an alleyway or somewhere out of sight will be enough to stop thieves from taking a chance and stealing your motorbike. Dark alleys also work in favour of those who don’t want to be seen stealing a motorbike. Secure your motorbike by keeping it somewhere highly visible, out in the open in bright daylight. If you have CCTV in your workplace, consider trying to park in sight of the cameras so your bike is protected whilst you are not around.
Invest in some heavy-duty locks to secure your motorbike
To fully secure your motorbike, you may wish to invest in some clever locking systems that will deter or at least slow any bike thieves down. Here are some extra locking ideas to keep your motorbike safe when it’s not in use:
Steering locks
Whilst steering locks can be overcome by an experienced motorbike thief, they do provide an extra step for them to overcome before they get your bike on the open road. Steering locks make your bike difficult to manoeuvre, meaning a thief will be unlikely to be able to move it out of sight to try and get it started.
Disc locks
Disc locks are a great way to secure your motorbike from the average thief. A disc lock links through the holes in your brake disc using a locking pin. The pin passes through the hole and locks on the other side, preventing the discs from moving until it is unlocked. We suggest investing in a slightly more expensive disc lock that will sound an alarm if someone tries to move your bike without unlocking it first. Whilst this will not stop gangs from loading your bike onto the back of a truck, it does prove incredibly helpful in generally securing your motorbike.
It is worth noting that not only will you be protecting your motorbike from the common thief, but you will also be in favour of your insurance company. Insurance companies like to know that you are using extra layers of protection for your motorbike, and if you adopt the above locks, you may even see your premium reduced.
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AVSCO courses support you to be confident with your motorbike
AVSCO has been delivering high-quality rider training for over 40 years. We are a government-approved training provider and offer a range of courses to suit every rider. Our sole aim is to get more riders on the road. So we have a vested interest in keeping you and your bike safe. We do this by providing the best rider training, backed by our team of highly-qualified instructors and industry professionals.
Our courses are based on the best available knowledge in the area of rider training, and we offer a variety of courses to help you learn the skills you need to ride with confidence. For more information about the courses we provide, or to speak to a team member about booking a course today, simply get in touch with us via our website or by phone. We look forward to helping you get on the road with your motorbike soon!