motorcycle security advice from henry Squire

Around 34,000 motorcycles and scooters are stolen every year, most of which are never recovered, yet half of owners do not lock their bike.

Investing in the right security for your motorcycle is crucial, which is why Squire has developed a range of award-winning motorcycle locks designed to keep your bike fully secure.

Here are our top security tips:

• Invest in good quality products. A good quality chain and padlock, or D-lock are highly versatile, so you can lock your bike to fixed objects or street furniture. They can be heavy, but can be kept in carriers clipped to the pillion seat or a tank bag. Never wear a chain over your body whilst riding your motorcycle, this is unsafe practice. And choose padlocks with hardened and closed shackles, and hardened chains.
• Use a combination of security products. A good disc lock will deter thieves, but are most effective when used with a secondary security device. Often with a disc lock it is impossible to lock your motorcycle to an object, however Squire's ML2L Squire Disc Lock can be used together with a chain.
• Ground anchors are essential. Buy only 'Sold Secure'. When at home, lock your motorcycle just as though you were out and about. Fit a ground anchor in your garage or shed and lock your motorcycle to the anchor.
• Look for 'Sold Secure' approved D-locks which are stronger and resist attack for longer than non-Sold Secure products. They are often lighter and easier to store and carry than a padlock and chain, but they're not as easy to lock your motorcycle to an object. The most common thefts are when bikes are lifted into the back of a van, so securely locking your motorcycle to a fixed object is vital. The longer the D-lock shackle, the more likely you are to be able to lock your motorcycle to a fixed object.
• Always lock your motorcycle in your garage, in your shed, when it's at your house and when you take it out. It is important to secure your garage or shed as well as the motorcycle itself with good quality locks and padlocks. Pay attention to vulnerable areas, for example windows. Consider an alarm for your shed or garage in addition to the alarm on you motorcycle. Make sure that tools are looked away, thieves often use their victims' tools to steel a bike.
• Security-mark your motorcycle
  Use a proprietary part marking system. These are a great deterrent to the professional thief, improve the chance of getting your bike back if it's stolen and will help the police bring prosecutions.
• Electronic Motorcycle Security
  This includes a combined alarm and immobiliser, some have an option for a pager which sends text messages to alert you of attack. The pagers don't work over very long distances, but can help alert you to your bike being stolen. These systems are normally professionally fitted. Systems designed to be 'DIY' fitted are normally less expensive, but as they are normally less effective, they don't attract insurance discounts.
• An alarm is an essential deterrent. Insurance companies may insist on an alarm being fitted as a condition of your insurance and by their own installers. Sometimes this can make an alarm installation unnecessarily expensive and the exact specification of their own alarm can be vague. Make sure you get a written specification with the quotation. Don't bow to hard sell, buy the best alarm you can, with a known and quantifiable specification, fitted by a highly qualified technician with a sound knowledge of your make and model of motorcycle.
• Always buy 'Sold Secure'
  Always buy Sold Secure approved products when securing your motorcycle. Three grades of security are available - bronze protects against attack for at least three minutes duration, sliver protects against attack for at least five minutes duration and gold, the highest level of resistance protecting against attack for at least ten minutes duration.
• Don't leave your motorcycle in view
  Don't leave your bike outside or at the front of your house. Put it in the garage or lock it away at the back of your house.
• Always lock your motorcycle
  Lock it in your garage, in your shed, when it's at your house and when you take it out.
• Always remove your keys
  Don't leave your keys in your bike, ever. Always keep your keys with you. Don't leave them at home either.
• Don't leave your keys in a vulnerable place in your home.
  Thieves break into houses to steal keys to motorcycles. Ideally your keys should be in a safe, but if you don't have one make sure that the keys are kept in a safe place and most certainly out of view. Keep your registration document separately again, preferably locked away in a safe.
• Parking in public
  If you need to park outside frequently, use a cover that covers the whole bike. Thieves who steal to order are more likely to steel something that they can see easily. If you have to park outside in a public place then it is best if it is well lit. Being seen is a deterrent for thieves.
• Don't buy used spares
  The problem of thieves 'breaking' stolen bikes to sell as spares is so widespread that if you buy second-hand parts, the chances of them being from a stolen bike is very high - sadly - too high to take the risk.
• Use your lock effectively
  Try to keep your lock off the ground as it will make it less vulnerable to attack. Loop cables and chains through the frame of the bike rather than the wheel which can easily removed by thieves.