Do Motorcycle Locks Work?

I just read a Bloomberg article claiming the surge of motorbike theft cases might be because of a pandemic. I thought, why shouldn’t I write a post on do motorcycle locks work and how can you protect your motorbike from thieves. 

Motorbike locks protect your motorbike from thieves by increasing the theft time. Some locks also come with an alarm which adds more security to your motorbike. In short, the motorcycle locks work. Not all locks are 100% effective, and to increase safety, you can enable multiple but different locks. 

Let’s look at what it means for you and what you can do about it.

Do Motorcycle Locks work? 

Yes, motorbike locks work, and that’s why you should also buy it for your motorbike. 

Motorbike locks just increase the theft time by adding more resistance to your motorbike. And honestly, you don’t need a ton of locks around your motorbike. 

Even a couple of locks would be enough. 

Think in this way, your group goes to the jungle to surf, and there’s a bear behind you. In this case, you don’t have to run faster than a bear but faster than your whole group.

Because we all know bears will choose someone with the least resistance. Same in the case of robbery. 

Robbers never attack motorbikes with locks, not just because they can’t break locks, but because they want to rob a motorbike with the least resistance. 

They want to rob motorbikes in as little time as possible. And motorbikes with locks won’t give this opportunity.

There are many types of locks available in the market and each one has its pros and cons. 

Types of Motorbike Locks work and How they Work. 

There’re many types of motorbike locks available in the market, and each has its pros and cons, which you need to focus on. 

Motorbike Disk Brake Locks: 

Motorbike disk brake locks are the most common and effective lock available in the market. 

Disk brake locks come with a pin that you need to install on one of your front wheel disk vents so that your wheel can’t move. You’ll get a reminder cable with a lock that you need to hook on the handlebar to constantly remind you whether the lock is enabled.  

Now focus on an important question. Is a motorbike disk brake lock effective? 

Motorbike disk brake locks are effective and can prevent your motorbike from being robbed unless robbers come with a van and high-tech equipment. 

Disadvantages: 

I love disk brake locks, but unfortunately, there are some disadvantages of using disk brake locks that you need to know. 

Connection with Fixed Object: 

Disk brake locks prevent your motorbike front wheel from moving, but it still can move if thieves have a truck with them. 

Personally, I prefer parking my motorbike around my window to get to know if thieves are trying to move my motorbike. 

Fortunately enough, nowadays, motorbike disk brake locks come with sensors and alarms, which adds more security to motorbikes.

Alarm and Sensors: 

Alarms and sensors are good things to have in the disk brake. But sometimes, I feel the sensors in my disk brake locks are too sensitive.

Don’t know if it’s only with me or something broken, even sometimes it rang without any reason. 

May Damage your Brake Disk: 

Motorcycle disk brake locks can damage your disk brake if you don’t unlock your motorbike and start riding.

Disk brake locks may even deform or bend the disk, and it would be best for you to hook a reminder cable on your handlebar. This reminder cable will remind you to deactivate the lock before riding. 

Here’s the video demonstrating how lethal a small device could be. 

Motorbike Grip Locks: 

The second most common lock is grip lock or handlebar locks. 

Motorbike grip locks slide into your motorbike handlebar and lock the throttle and brake lever. They work by enabling the front brake and locking throttle simultaneously. Grip locks also come in an attractive color for reminding you to disable the lock before riding. 

Disadvantages: 

Here are some disadvantages that I feel while using grip locks. 

Connection with Fixed Object: 

Like motorbike disk brakes, the grip lock also doesn’t facilitate us to tie the motorbike with some object.

Anyone can lift the motorbike with the help of a truck since grip locks only lock the front wheel.  

Traditional Chain Locks: 

Traditional chain locks are the only hope to secure your motorbike. The chains are not only strong but also facilitates you to connect your motorbike with a fixed object.

And make sure you only buy hexagon or square-shaped chain links because only these chains provide maximum security to your motorbike. 

But there are some disadvantages too while choosing the traditional chain locks including low portability.

Things You Need to Know about locks. 

There are tons of things that every lock manufacturer wants to hide from you. Here’re some harsh truths about locks: 

Things Manufacturers are hiding:	How:
Effectiveness.	Every lock can be broken, some take longer time while some take shorter.
Save Money.	You can even maximize the security for your motorbike after spending a couple of hundred dollars on different types of locks.
Use the Garage.	Park your motorbike in the garage and lock it further for maximum security.
Harder Steel is Harder to Steal.	Harder steel locks increase robbery time insanely.

Effectiveness: 

Almost all manufacturers claim their locks as 100% effective. Let me tell you one thing, there is nothing as 100% effective. 

Every lock can be broken; some take longer time while some take shorter.

I don’t want you to spend hundreds of dollars for just a simple lock that thieves can easily break down. 

Instead, always go with multiple types of locks and install them into your motorbike. 

Remember, the goal is not to flood with locks on your motorbike but to increase robbery time and adding more resistance for thieves. 

Save Money: 

I read almost everywhere, “you should spend at least 10% of what you paid for the motorbike on locks to secure it”.

I mean, really? Do you want me to spend over $2000 for just locks to secure my touring motorbike? 

It would be insane if someone did this. 

I want you people to understand that locks don’t guarantee you 100% security. You can even maximize the protection for your motorbike after spending a couple of hundred dollars on different types of locks. 

Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned. 

Use Garage: 

You can also park your motorbike in the garage and lock it further for maximum security. 

Doing this will ensure your motorbike can’t be stolen by anyone; secondly, you’ve increased robbery time insanely, which thieves can’t afford. 

Think in this way, they first have to break your garage lock to access the garage, then they have access to your motorbike, which is locked further. 

Hard Steel is Harder to Steal: 

Honestly, lightweight, maximum security advertisements are sucks!

The reality is, the harder the steel, the harder it’s to steal. And this is the reason why I always recommend heavy steel chains for your motorbike. 

You may also want to read my post about some ways through which you can save your motorbike toll. Click here to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

Do motorcycle locks work? Motorbike locks protect your motorbike from thieves by increasing the theft time. Some locks also come with an alarm which adds more security to your motorbike. In short, the motorcycle locks work. 

Not all locks are 100% effective, and to increase safety, you can enable multiple but different types of locks. I’ve mentioned some types of locks and their advantages as well disadvantages which you need to consider while buying any one of them.