Motorcycle Security while on the Road -Update re: Air Tags and GPS trackers

Large Disk Brake Lock

There is a lot of concern, both real and imagined, about security of your bike while on the road. If you want to sleep at night, and not worry about the bike take some precautions. In fact once organized you can do this all in 5-7 minutes. Time well spent considering waking up or walking out to find your bike or valuables gone!

Deterrents, Preventative, Attention Alarms, Tracking devices (Air tags versus GPS trackers)

Techniques break done into several categories, where a barking dog can act like a deterrent, but is difficult to deploy while travelling. Preventative systems such as those listed below are effective and can also be a deterrent when used together. 

Many lock systems now have local alarms and some even will message the owner that the bike is being tampered with or stolen, however it may bring the owner in contact or response to a number of culprits who may use physical force on the owner.

Tracking Devices

In this day and age of technology 'solutions' to age old problems like theft or misplaced objects, the Airtag, an Apple product was developed. It lacks two key important features for motorcyclists. 

1. It does NOT prevent or deter thefts

2. It does not provide active (realtime tracking), moving of a tag. Though it may help find or locate objects.

Object Locator versus Object Tracker

Airtags are often referred to as an object tracker, but it really is an object locator. What’s the difference? Static versus dynamic reporting. Airtag uses a technology called "Ultra-Wideband" (UWB) to communicate with nearby Apple devices and help them locate the Airtag with accuracy. To do so it is dependent on the presence of other Apple devices in close proximity to triangulate and report using SIM technology. The Airtag is a useful tool for finding lost items and is a good application in populated places where Iphones are present. Should the object move “in the absence of Iphone signals”  it can only report the last known/recorded location.

In contrast, GPS trackers  use satellite signals to provide accurate, real-time location information and most but not all have monthly subscription fees.  Because they are not dependent on Iphones but only a GPS signal they offer a more independent and universal environment in the world. This author as a security professional worked at using GPS tracking devices in remote locations on heavy equipment, and at installing them on helicopters used by the company and monitored by the Corporate security group.

How  do thieves now react to Airtags?

Given that these devices are being hidden on/in bikes and cars, thieves now will steal a vehicle and leave it for a day or so in another location to see if it's retrieved and that way they know it had an airtag. IF it isn't retrieved they then take it to where it will be shipped or disposed of.

Steering Head Lock to left

Helmet Lock attached to mirror
(see disk brake warning
lock orange cable as well)

The most obvious security rules are to use the locks provided with your motorcycle, in particular the steering head lock. If yours locks in 2 different positions, use the position that locks it hard left. The bike can only be moved in a left circle that way and is more difficult to walk. Use the helmet lock if one is provided. 

Helmet Locks

The V Strom has a keyed alike helmet lock  on the frame with a stainless cable so 2 helmets can be locked together, but I am not fond of the location, so we use two combination padlocks that lock the helmet D rings to the mirrors. While the mirrors could be unthreaded, with the steering head lock in place they can’t be. The helmets can be locked in place and even turned so rain couldn’t get at them.

Disk Brake Lock

Immobilizing the bike further we also use a disk brake lock. This type of lock comes in a number of different configurations, none of which are bullet-proof completely. Some lock the disk brake tightly however the lock itself is more vulnerable to drilling or popping. The small diameter hoop lock we use is thick in the hoop so that an attack with the grinder will take some time, and the hoop is so small when placed through the disk that a hydraulic spreader can not be inserted to deform the hoop bales. The key is the rotating pin variety, which is the most difficult to pick, drill or slide hammer. Larger hoop locks should be avoided since they can easily be deformed with a small hand held hydraulic ram. (Example>>>>)

Use a bright cable bungee on the end of the lock that will run to your handlebar (clutch or brake side) and remind you that you have your disk brake lock on or you could try and ride away to some very unfortunate result.(See the orange cable in the Large disk brake photo).

Clothing lock - A 6' long bicycle lock

Clothing lock

When you’re riding and stop to visit an attraction a lot of times you are wearing your riding jacket. A simple 6’ long bicycle cable lock works well to thread through the sleeve (s) of the jackets, one inside the other and through a frame or hand hold on the bike. I noticed in Toledo Spain a Swedish fellow on a BMW GS use a laptop cable lock that he ran through the sleeve and to a grab rail. This cable is very thin and could be more easily cut with vice grips but it does offer some deterrence.

Bike Cover

But the best security device we have had recommended to us by Pat and Belinda Peck is the bike cover. You can have the shiniest bike on the planet but covered it looks like a $300 scooter, and it prevents rain and sun from getting at the bike, and riding gear you may have left on it temporarily or birds from crapping on it. Two times that I did not put the cover on I came back to find a bird had sat on the bar looking into the left mirror and crapped on the gas tank. This device is compact enough that it fits in a small bag and is bungeed to the rack and deployed all the time now. The bike becomes invisible.

Bike Covered in Gibraltar - It almost disappears
 and can be locked

Air Tags and GPS Trackers

Its geographic location cannot be used directly by the user to locate the Airtag in real time. Unlike GPS trackers, the Airtag does not have real-time tracking or mapping capabilities. It cannot be used to track an object's movements in real time or to display location history. It is primarily designed to help users quickly locate nearby lost objects.

The latest extra security comes in the form of grommets in the cover that allow you to secure the cover to the wheel or under the bike as ours is.

Lock to the front wheel or under the bike as ours is.

We keep all of our electronics including the netbook, the smartphone, camera, video helmet cam, Ipod, GPS in our tank bag, which converts to a backpack or shoulder bag. If you don’t want to lug it, lock it into the top case before you cover the bike and it is generally safe.

Motorcycle Parking

Another fact of life when travelling in Europe and Morocco is parking. In Europe they(Hotel Owners) do everything possible to help you secure your bike. In Morocco there is an industry that preys on the fact everything is up for grabs here and it is the career of 'parking guardian'. This person sets up shop with a chair, generally a blue smock, an official badge of some sort, possibly issued by local authorities to guard your car or bike in an area for a fee. It’s a reality, and the coaching we have received is to pay about 10 dirhams a day for the ‘service’. But make sure you use all your own security devices because these people won’t be held liable if something happens.

Scooter Rider we saw today in Venice

Theft Insurance

And that brings us to theft insurance, something you can buy with your liability insurance in Europe at a very costly rate, and that has absolute exclusions for places like Morocco. 

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

(The author is a retired corporate security practitioner who has significant years of experience in applications and use of these devices, plus over 100,000 kms without a loss over 10 yrs.

And now here is the latest youtube update on security. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH8kD3Dp9to