Yes, it's a good read and a useful reminder of the precautions needed in just about any western nation; isn't that "the rub" - in many other countries of this world there is much more respect for personal property, even though (or because) folks have far less possessions.

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Dave

I like that last comment the most. Had a look at that padlock and wish the made them like that in miniature. It's 1.2kg on its own.



I'll stick with an alarm disk lock on trips.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

nice post makes for some very interesting reading

Great information for a new rider! Thanks for the post!

I read this article some years back in one of the Brit magazine, IIRC.
Should add attribution to original author.

Big problem with it is they talk to a UK cop ... and then an American thief.
Huge contrast between the two regards bike theft. Would have been much better to talk to a UK thief ... there's plenty of 'em! (apparently)

In the USA bike theft is barely a blip on the radar. The police won't even come out to the scene of a theft in big US cities. You'll have to go to the station to file a report.
Will they investigate? Not a chance.
But why?

See, in America we have something that barely exists in the UK. It's called real violent crime. Lots of MURDER. Everyday. MURDER. Everybody has a gun and we have shootings everyday in cities like L.A. and Oakland. The stats are off the charts and truly stunning.

How many gun murders happen in the UK in a year? Very few, no?
So, for this reason, bike theft is a very low priority for police in the US. The other thing is ... not many thiefs bother with bikes. Far more profit in cars, house breaking or robbing Jewelry stores.

From my multiple visits to the UK and from reading up on the bike scene over the last 20 years ... it's clear bike theft in the UK is endemic. Out of Control. I was warned by everyone I met in the UK to be careful about leaving my bike. (I was)

In the USA most owners would never go to the lengths Brit owners do to prevent theft. I've never seen anyone, anywhere in the USA use a ground anchor. Yet in the UK, nearly everyone has them.

Also, almost NO ONE has Sat trackers mounted and NO ONE uses the little bar codes stick ons to identify parts. Does not exist here. Once again, common in the UK. Some high end guys in the USA may use our Lo-Jak system. But very rare indeed. (expensive)

Here in the USA we often leave our bikes outside. In the UK very few risk it.
Also, in the USA target bikes are much different than the UK. The Stats show that in years past Harley's are high on the list ... or any cruiser. As the American thief says, Supersports are up there too. (Ninja14, GSXR1000, R1,
CBR1000 et al) In UK sport bikes are favored but seems they'll steal anything on two wheels.

Nonetheless ... all the tips in the article are valuable. But I just wanted to point out that bike theft is just not a big deal in the USA. Two type of bikes that are rarely messed with here: Old BMW air heads and beat up dual sport bikes ... like mine.

Here, a cover is a good, simple and cheap way to put off a thief. And as the American thief says ... always lock your steering. In the USA ... just that alone may put the thief onto the next bike in line.

This is what I do when my bike has to live outside or when traveling in dicey areas. (parking garages, street)
Steering locked
Hidden ignition switch (can't be hot wired)
Ignition key cover (hides key hole ... made it myself)
Put bike in 5th gear
Nice Disc lock on rear disc

Leave all the factory safety ignition cut outs hooked up. (clutch, side stand, in gear) All these have the potential to slow down or foil an amateur thief. A thief must be quick above all. Anything to slow them down might help you.

But if the thief is a pro? fug-gett-about-it. Your bike is GONE in 60 seconds!

Yeah, well, there'll be ANOTHER murder if I catch an asshole stealing my bike.

Best way: ride a bike that isn't worth anything. Been parking for years all over, no security.

To confirm Mollydog post , here in the US the bikes are pretty safe most of the time and you will often see helmet on the bike not attached to anything , back to Europe its a very different story as in Paris and most of France you have to lock your bike to a post or it will be gone very fast , same goes for luggage and if you have valuable such as GPS you better remove them even if its only the time to have lunch somewhere . During my trips I always use an old cover and if the place look unsafe I also have a pyton lock that I carry with me . In south and Central America I almost never use it due to the indoor parking situation in hotel and during the day no local want to steal a big bike loaded like a mule , same goes to Asia or Africa . I will be just careful with the tank bag and GPS if I go exploring for few hours . I did find kids sitting on my bike few time but to me its completely normal and my only fear was to see a kid get hurt by the bike falling on them .

This is a great thread.
My motorcycle got stolen in brooklyn one month into my year + trip around north and south america. it was sitting next to ten other bikes but although mine was probably of the least value, it was obviously a "white boy's" bike according to the actual thieves with whom I spoke face to face with after the fact. KLR 650s seem to be the popular choice for cruising around the ghetto and doing wheelies. I was told that it was their bike now since i was in their territory.
I was dumb though, I left it on the street in a sketchy neighborhood for 3 weeks with a disk lock and steering lock. all my boxes were off thankfully. i'm pretty sure they van'd it or used a truck. I made the report and nypd actually came to the scene, no sirens blaring of course. I was sure my trip was done and ready to fly back to LA but luckily stuck around for 2 weeks to get a call that they found it. Luckily the idiots couldn't get it started. dead battery. the tank hadn't been opened and there was about the same amount of gas. I was personally threatened that the bike would be stolen again so i found a garage for it while i waited for parts in the mail; new ignition, rear rotor, rack mounts, license plate, etc.
now i travel with a kryptonite nyc chain, i wrap it around my boxes so it doesn't take up space while traveling, it's heavy as heck though. i will get another disk lock before i leave to mexico and south (back in la now).
short story about it here: lots of little worlds