Is Your Bike Protected? Tips to Protect Your Bike from Theft and Weather Damage

There is nothing quite like the freedom of riding a motorbike. It is a beautiful experience from the feeling of air rushing against your face, the buzz of weaving in and out of traffic, to the power and responsiveness of your machine. It is something to savour. 

When you’re not riding your motorbike, however, is when it is at its most vulnerable to both the weather and thievery from nefarious types. As such, it is important that you provide protection from both. 

In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into how that can be accomplished, featuring products and practical advice to keep your pride and joy protected.

Your Climate and Waterproof Motorcycle Covers

Motorcycles just left to the elements are vulnerable to the weather, especially rain and the cold. This can lead to corrosion and other mechanical damage. 

If you live in a climate where the sun is mostly absent, the chances are that your bike could need a good waterproof motorcycle cover to keep it safe from the elements. 

Even if your motorbike is in a garage the chances are it isn’t heated, and in the winter, low temperatures cause damp which in turn causes corrosion and other issues.

The solution is a high-quality winter motorcycle cover. This will give your bike protection against the cold, including frost, and ensure that if it is parked outside, it is protected against the rain. 

If you live in a country where the weather is particularly harsh, say northern Europe, you should opt for a heavy-duty motorbike cover. 

As a rule of thumb;

• Ensure you get a waterproof motorcycle cover.
• Make sure you get one that fits your bike.
• If you tour and stay away from home overnight, ensure your cover is heavy-duty and fit for purposes.
• Buy from reputable manufacturers and remember secondhand may mean the wear and tear may limit the effectiveness of the motorcycle cover.

Remember, for a relatively small outlay you can get a high-quality motorcycle cover that will see your bike in good stead for many years to come.

Motorbike Security: Protecting Your Pride and Joy

The good news is that in the UK Motorbike thefts fallen year on year by 7.9% according to MICA reporting in 2024. The bad news is that there were still over 15,000 thefts in the first 8 months of 2024 in the UK.

In the European Union data isn’t centrally collated but Italy reported over 26,000 thefts in 2021. This equates to 3 thefts per hour. 

Clearly, the need to ramp up your bike security is paramount. As such, consider the following:

• Alarms – Alarms alert that something has been breached or triggered and may cause would be thieves to back away. It also alerts you that someone is tinkering with your pride and joy and as such it is time to intervene.
• Ground Anchors – When used with high-quality ground anchor bolts secure your bike in place. This gives would be thieves something to think about as they have to hack through the ground anchor or the securing bolts to get at the bike.
• Motorcycle Chain & Lock – This works with the ground anchor to secure the bike. Again, it is another factor a would-be thief must take into account before it can make off with your pride and joy.

Security works in layers and the more you have the more your bike will be protected.

Bonus Tips for Motorbike Security and Weather Protection

Also, consider the following to keep your bike protected and secure.

Avoid dodgy areas – Sadly all countries have their fair share of places where thefts are higher. In the UK, Wales seems to be a hotbed of motorbike theft but other places such as London rank high too. Clearly Italy isn’t exactly crime free either!
If you’re travelling to these places, consider extra precautions and try not to leave your bike for too long without some kind of protection. Bear in mind, that ground anchors will not be viable if you’re staying at a hotel for example.

Think about the weather – Check apps to see if you feel it is going to rain, low temperatures etc. Take a portable motorbike waterproof cover with you to protect your bike from rain and cold overnight. This will make for a more comfortable ride in the morning as you’ll have a dry saddle!

Regular servicing – Every motorbike deserves a good service to ensure it is mechanically sound. Stick to the schedule and you’ll find weather related maintenance costs will drop and your bike will be in the garage less often.

Ride in better conditions – Try and ride your bike when it isn’t raining or cold. Bikes are more exposed than cars when it comes to the weather, so avoiding harsh conditions is recommended. If you’re a dedicated biker and ride no matter what is falling form the sky, you may want to consider good motorcycle rainwear to go over your protective leathers.

All that’s left to add is that an investment now serves for happier motorcycling in the future. 

Keep biking and protected!