There is no inviolable anti-theft system, but there are anti-theft systems that force the thief to work too hard... and thieves, by default, don't like to work. For this reason, if a motorcycle involves too much effort and too much risk, they will go for another that can be carried with less difficulty.
Understanding this is the first step to knowing how to make it more difficult for motorcycle pirates. And obviously the second one necessarily involves getting good protection systems and, if possible, even a GPS marker.
About these elements and their most correct way of use we already talked about previously; however, there are also some simple tricks that, conveniently incorporated into our habits, increase the security around our machine even more. Because it must be very clear that in most motorcycle thefts the carelessness or lack of caution of their owners ends up being more decisive than the audacity of the thieves.
There is a ranking of risk models, a list of the most stolen motorcycles for which thieves tend to have a predilection, since they have more outlets and are more profitable on the black market. In reality, it does not have so much to do with its price - in fact, there are several cheap models - as its popularity and the consequent demand for spare parts.
Of course, we are not saying that you should not buy the motorcycle that you like if it turns out to be among those on the list, but it is a good idea to know and be warned to act with more caution.
In many cases it is complicated, since most urban spaces for motorcycle parking are directly at the foot of the road but, to the extent that this is feasible, try to park as far as possible from the road or with some urban element -type fence or bench or parterre- that stands between one and the other. One of the most common methods of robbery is to stop a van in front of it, load it up and leave at full speed. The further the motorcycle is from the road, the more difficult it will be to do so.
Oddly enough, good general condition is still the main factor that thieves pay attention to when taking an interest in prey. That does not mean that you have to have the bike made some foxes, but it does not have to look like it has just been taken from the dealership every day. An "urban camouflage", a little bit of dust or dirt - nothing that can't be fixed with a wipe down - won't hurt either. Using a cover that completely hides it is not a bad idea either.
If we park right outside the cinema or 20 meters from the soccer field, we are clearly telling the thieves that they have 90 minutes to do what they have come to do. Friends of others are bothered by uncertainty; not knowing if the owner of the motorcycle will suddenly appear or a patrol will pass and they will have trouble... and we must play with this factor in our favor. It costs nothing to park a little further away and not give clues about where we are and when we are going to return.
Somewhat along the lines of the above, and in the same way that we look at that motorcycle always parked in the same place at the same time and on the same days, theft professionals also do so. We must insist on this: there is no better anti-robbery formula than uncertainty and not always repeating the same parking spaces is a good way to generate it. The thieves "check" very quickly where they usually park the motorcycles that interest them.
The motorcycles are stolen, in the vast majority of cases, to be sold for parts as spare parts on the black market or to travel disassembled as scrap to be later rebuilt in countries where the supply is expensive and scarce. For this reason, criminals always look for the most standard motorcycles possible. It is a fact that those with some custom mechanical or exterior part are stolen less because they are more difficult to place as a replacement and at the same time they are easier to identify.
85% of motorcycle thefts in Spain are by chance. This means that although the thieves plan to commit the crime in advance, the time and place to do so depends on fortuitous circumstances and chance.
Leaving the keys on, for example, to go to pay at the gas station checkout or to pick up a package or carry out a small errand, is one of those golden opportunities for criminals. No matter how brief the stop, you always have to remove the keys and lock the steering.
Fortunately, nowadays there is no longer any obligation to carry the documentation with you and you can always opt for a certified photocopy or simply by downloading the MyDGT app. For practical purposes, the fact that the thief also has the original documentation of the motorcycle that he steals greatly complicates the subsequent complaint and, if necessary, even the collection of the insurance while it makes things easier for him.
That our motorcycle sleeps in a closed environment should not be a reason to lower our guard. In fact, the majority of thefts with prior planning occur -logically- in private community garages. This means that even under cover, anti-theft systems must also be installed and remain cautious, especially not leaving the keys in the place or items of equipment in sight.
Hiring a good theft insurance will not remove the displeasure if the theft finally occurs, but it will alleviate its effects on the pocket. However, you have to pay attention to what you contract because in many cases the fine print differentiates between robbery and theft. If the motorcycle is loaded into a van or jumpstarted, it falls under the category of theft and the company will pay the compensation. But if the theft of the motorcycle occurs because the keys were in the insurance, it can be considered theft or negligence on the part of the policyholder and not take responsibility.
