High-end road bikes are often the most popular target for thieves due to their high value and lightweight design. These bikes are often used for racing or long-distance rides, making them an attractive target for thieves who can easily sell them for a high price.
But over half (54%) of stolen bikes were taken from the owner's home, either from inside the residence or from an area on the outside of the property such as the garden, yard, the garage or a shed. And this suggests that our bikes are actually most at risk when they are stored at home!
Suzuki's 650 Savage (now called the Boulevard S40), Honda 250 and 450 Rebels (grouped together) and BMW R1200C series cruiser made the top five on both of the least-lost lists, with the Savage topping the least-stolen list.
Bike thieves serve a market – people who want bikes on the cheap! Less desirable bikes are less quick to be bought and therefore less likely to be stolen. A bad colour brown or bright pink or luminous green and purple bike might be deterrents!
It's so easy to get away with it
One major contributing factor to the increase in bike theft is that it's just so easy for criminals to get away with it. A bicycle's very nature makes it an easy target for theft: they are lightweight and simple to disassemble, making them easy to transport.
The Safest Types of Motorcycles
Standard motorcycles are focused on comfort with an upright seating position. Beginners opt for standard motorcycles because they are accessible and easier to ride. Touring motorcycles - Manufacturers designed these bikes with safety in mind.
Bikes are most likely to be stolen from home, during the week in the afternoon (noon to 6 pm) or during the night (midnight to 6 am). We analysed data from the Office of National Statistics to learn more about when your bike is most at risk of theft.
Acquisitive: These thieves steal bicycles for financial gain and usually trade them for cash or goods. The bikes may also be sold in pieces for drugs or money.
Unless you've locked your bike up with a series of D-locks like a daisy chain most bikes are – as depressing as it is – pretty simple to steal within just a few minutes or even seconds. And getting your bike back is, at best, unlikely, with thieves quickly selling them on either in their entirety or as separate parts.
Head-On Collisions
And, it's no surprise that when head-on collisions occur, they're often fatal for the motorcyclist.
Super-sport bikes are the fastest and the most dangerous motorcycle types to control. 2019 IIHS registration data indicated 585,172 registered super-sport bikes, and IIHS fatality statistics show 997 fatalities involving this bike type or 17.03 deaths per 10,000 vehicles.
Bike theft is very common in the UK. Between July 2021 and June 2022, 74,421 bike thefts were reported to the police in England and Wales. That's equivalent to one bike being stolen every 7 minutes.
Buying a stolen bike could have negative consequences for you, including the risk that the police might knock on your door one day. You would also not be sure about the history of the bike, what components have potentially been damaged when it was stolen, or which parts were replaced.
Any bike is easily stolen but not all bikes are worth stealing. Thieves most want bikes that will command a decent price and/or can be easily sold. Expensive-looking road bikes and mountain bikes top the list. Roadsters and hybrids with practical features such as mudguards are less likely to be pinched.
People sometimes ask if its possible to steal a motorbike without keys and the answer is - yes it is.
Garage your motorcycle and put alarms in place. You should also secure your bike to a ground anchor to make it impossible to steal for grab-and-go thieves.
Use your helmet. When you park your bike, use your helmet's straps to block the rear wheel from turning. Place the helmet on the less visible side of the bike if possible so the thief will not see it and, therefore, lose precious time.
A bike lock, complemented with a bike alarm is an effective way of stopping bike theft, as the alarm sound will warn the surrounding area when a bike thief tries to steal the bike. A bike lock with an alarm provides great safety and peace of mind since it attracts unwanted attention.
Electric bikes are more likely to be stolen due to their higher value. Studies have shown that electric bikes are three times more likely to be stolen than non-electric bikes. It is important to take precautions such as using secure locks, storing the bike indoors when possible, and considering electric bike insurance.
The first and most common, is the "opportunist" thief, who is certainly carrying cable cutters, maybe some medium sized bolt cutters, maybe even a crowbar. The opportunists are looking for any bikes secured with cables, weak u-locks and puny chains and padlocks. No bike is too cheap or tatty to escape their attention.