Protecting Your Motorcycle From Theft Risks

A motorcycle is a valuable piece of machinery, both as a full vehicle and for the individual parts that it contains. Therefore, it’s a commodity that might seem very appealing to a potential thief. Theft of a motorcycle, however, can be proactively mitigated by having the appropriate insurance in place from the day you buy the bike. a motorcycle parked in front of a mirror

a motorcycle parked in front of a mirror

Still, motorcycle insurance is not your only line of defense against the risk of theft. It’s actually a measure of last resort, and you should always take practical steps to protect yourself against bike theft. That way, you might be able to avoid having to ever file a claim in the first place.

Preventing Motorcycle Theft

A motorcycle is a fast, small and easily accessed vehicle. It does not have the doors, locks and security systems of the average car. Therefore, someone who wants to steal either a full bike or its various parts often won’t have to work very hard to make a fast getaway.

That’s why you should always be conscious of how you can protect the bike against theft. Just a few ways to do so include:

Chaining the bike to a column, bike rack or other immobile item when you park it.
Arming the bike’s security alarm at all times (even while you are at home).
Never leaving the keys in the ignition.
Taking all saddle bags, equipment and accessories off of the bike after a ride.

Parking the bike in a garage or close to your home, preferably in a well-lighted but discreet area out of sight of passersby.
Covering the bike with a tarp when not riding it.
Investing in a handlebar lock which can add an extra level of security on top of your standard precautions.

Insurance for Motorcycle Theft

Your motorcycle insurance policy can offer coverage for theft of the bike, but only if you have a type of coverage called comprehensive damage insurance.

Comprehensive coverage will help you pay for damage to or loss of your bike when the loss results from anything other than a collision. Theft and vandalism fall under this benefit, along with hazards like fires and severe weather.

If your bike is recovered, then your plan will agree to pay you for the cost of any damage, minus your deductible cost. However, if the bike is a total loss, then your settlement will be based on the bike’s actual cash value at the time of the loss. A bike’s cash value is its used value, rather than the value of a like-new bike. Still, if you want to increase your coverage to replacement cost value protection, then your motorcycle insurance can pay a value similar to that of a like-new bike. Don’t hesitate to work with your agent to customize your comprehensive coverage to your policy.

Protecting Your Motorcycle From Theft Risks

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