Before reading the following, your attention is drawn to the Disclaimer.

08-07-2008

Article re-written- Statistics published by www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk

It's a sad but unavoidable fact that there are many people out there who are only too willing to take your pride and joy off of your hands without paying you a penny. Around 60% of stolen motorcycles are broken up as thieves can often make more money through the sale of individual parts. It also avoids the issue of missing paperwork, and makes the bike very difficult to trace and recover. Less than 14% of stolen motorcycles are recovered. Of the 50,766 motorcycles stolen in 2003, 76% were small capacity Mopeds and Scooters.

The NC30 comes fitted with a steering lock and a lockable pillion seat, hardly sufficient today. Relying upon the steering lock fitted to any motorcycle by the manufacturer is ill-advised; the majority are inadequate and surprisingly easy for thieves to overcome. It is important to take some additional steps. Security can be split into two main categories: Mechanical and Electronic/Forensic. Mechanical Security includes items such as Locks and chains. Electronic Security encompasses Alarm Systems and Forensic Marking.

Electronic Security should not be seen as a substitute for Mechanical Security, or vice versa. To be truly effective a combination of the two, together with common sense, should be employed.

Mechanical Security

Disc Locks, Cable/Chain Locks and U-Locks are all types of mechanical security designed to inhibit the moving of a motorcycle whilst the device is in place. Similarly, Brake Lever Locks work by locking the brake lever to the handle bars; also preventing throttle operation. Of these, disc and brake lever locks are the most portable. Most are small enough to be carried beneath a pillion seat and can be sufficient to deter joy-riders. However, organised gangs often steal a bike by lifting it into a van and deal with security devices later. The other three items have the advantage of being able to physically attach a bike to something solid; however due to their size transporting them tends to be impractical. You should never carry a cable or chain lock by wearing it over your shoulder whilst riding.

An example of a combined U-Cable lock is the one shown, produced by Oxford Products. This comprises of a 15mm thick high tensile steel cable, long enough to pass around most immovable objects. The cable is vinyl coated, preventing the steel from rusting or damaging paintwork. The U-lock itself is constructed from hardened steel; the lock mechanism is also recessed. The U-Piece is removable when unlocked, allowing the cable to be looped through itself, the U-Piece can then be attached as a disc lock (shown).

Giving consideration to where you park can decrease the chances of your bike being stolen. Try parking your bike somewhere conspicuous; thieves are less likely to attempt to steal a bike in full view of passersby. Also avoid parking in the same spot every day. If you are riding in a group, locking bikes together makes it far more difficult to lift them into a van. When using either a chain or cable lock it is important to keep it off of the ground. This will inhibit anyone trying to use heavy-duty cutting tools to sever it.

Security at home is as important as security out and about, especially as statistics show that around 80% of motorcycle thefts take place from the riders own home. Garage or no garage it is important to lock up your bike. One very simple step many people forget is to cover their motorcycle. In a garage this can be as simple as dust sheets. Anything that will hide the fact there is a motorcycle in there from prying eyes is good.

Garages should be fitted with good quality doors and locks; additional bolts on the main doors are advisable. A concreted in ground anchor of some form will provide a very secure object to lock the bike to. Some purpose built ground anchors will retract down into the floor when not in use, saving space. This can be done outside as well if you do not have a garage. When positioning a ground anchor, choose a location that will make it difficult for a thief to get to it with a sledge hammer or disc cutter; close to a wall or in a corner is effective.

As well as locks, external security lighting with motion sensors fitted is definitely worth investing in. Garage alarm systems are also becoming more popular. It is important to give careful consideration to placement of both of these items. Ideally they need to be made as difficult to access as possible, giving a thief less opportunity to attack and disable the device.

If you do not have a garage, insurance costs can dramatically increase. However, there is an alternative. Bikesafe produce heavy duty galvanised steel sheds to house your bike in. They come in a range of sizes to accommodate all motorcycles and have a variety of inbuilt security features (lock points on the door, points to lock the motorcycle to internally). Keeping your bike in a Bikesafe will give you the reduction in insurance premiums usually associated with a brick garage as well. Visit the Airflow Safe website for details.

Electronic and Forensic Security

Datatag and SmartWater marking are forms of Forensic Security that make your motorcycle identifiable to the Police, even if it has been broken up. Admittedly, this may not be much comfort, but at least it increases the chances of securing a conviction. Datatag claim that a court case in which Datatag identification has been used as evidence has never been lost.

A Datatag kit is made up of several components, one of these being electronic transponders. Transponders can be hidden in a multitude of locations on your bike, giving it a unique fingerprint. Chemically Etched ID numbers, unique to your bike, can be placed on body panels. Attempts to remove these result in parts being irreparably damaged. Hundreds of tiny microdots are also provided. They too bear the ID number which Police can read using special microscopes. These can be used to mark a massive number of components- patience permitting. Datatag warning decals serve to deter thieves, although they probably won't put off the casual joy-rider.

The aim of Forensic Marking is to make the risk of parts from a stolen motorcycle being identified unacceptably high. For more details, check out the Datatag and SmartWater Websites. You can mark the bike yourself. The paperwork to register with Datatag is included in the kit. Many insurance companies will give you a discount if you state your motorcycle is marked and have the paperwork to prove it. When I bought my NC30, it had been Datatagged by a previous owner. This meant I only had to provide proof of ownership and a fee of £12.50 (price as of 2004) to have the Datatag details registered in my name. The fact that the bike is marked is well publicised through warning labels on the bike.

An Alarm system is a wise investment. Alarm/immobiliser combined systems are better still. An alarm provides an audible alert to those around the bike if it is tampered with. Many also flash the indicators. The immobiliser makes it difficult for the bike to be started without proper authorisation from the transmitter. Some alarm systems now provide the option for an alert to be sent to a mobile device (mobile phone or pager) if the alarm is triggered.

Alarm systems provide several levels of protection. Most simply, warning labels displayed making no secret of the alarms presence make a bike less appealing. Movement of the motorcycle with the alarm set usually initiates warning beeps. After a certain number of beeps, the alarm is triggered. The sensitivity of this can be adjusted on more expensive systems. In a system where an immobiliser is combined with the alarm, tampering with the ignition (hot wiring etc) will also trigger a full response. Even if the ignition switch is forced “on”, the bike still won’t be able to be started with the immobiliser active.

Systems such as the Datatool System 3 incorporate anti-tamper measures to protect the alarm unit itself. A protective trigger switch protects the alarm from unauthorised access. This can be placed beneath the seat, fuel tank or side panels, depending on where the alarm is situated. If the switch is interfered with, then the alarm will sound. If the wires connecting the alarm to the battery are cut, the alarm has its own internal backup battery power supply. The alarm will sound until the power supply is reconnected. To protect against thieves working with more hi-tech equipment, the transmitters used for arming/disarming the alarm are randomly coded (or ‘anti-scan’) to prevent scanning and reproduction of the digital signal.

Alarm systems that are Thatcham approved will often get you an insurance discount, usually on the proviso that they are fitted by the insurance company’s installers.

Motorcycles are twice as likely to be stolen as cars. Taking security steps will dramatically reduce the risk of you becoming a statistic.

Security Summary