Small bikes are the most stolen bikes
125s and small nakeds are light enough to lift into a van and common enough to sell on. If you park on the street, this is a bigger practical risk to your ownership than anything mechanical.
The good news is that theft is largely opportunistic, and layers of deterrence work.
The layers, roughly in order of value
1. Where you park. Free, and the biggest single factor. Overlooked, lit, near foot traffic. Away from vans that can back up to it.
2. Anchor it to something immovable. A chain through the frame to a ground anchor is far better than a chain through the wheel to nothing. A bike that cannot be lifted cannot be lifted.
3. A good disc lock with a reminder cable. The cable exists because everyone eventually tries to ride off with the lock fitted.
4. A cover. Underrated. Thieves target what they can identify. A covered bike is an unknown quantity.
5. A tracker. Recovery rather than prevention, but in some markets it also reduces your insurance premium enough to pay for itself.
Insurance implications
Security devices frequently reduce premiums, sometimes substantially — but only if you declare them and they meet the insurer's specification. Check what your insurer recognises before buying, and keep the receipt.
If the worst happens
- Report it to the police immediately and get a reference number
- Tell your insurer straight away
- Post it in your country's regional section here — bikes do get spotted
- Have your VIN and registration recorded somewhere safe beforehand. You will need them and you will not be thinking clearly
What works where you live?
Post your setup and your country. Theft patterns differ enormously between cities, and local knowledge is worth more than general advice. If you have had a bike stolen, telling us how it happened may prevent the next one.