Sadly, more than 14,000 two-wheeled vehicles were stolen in the last year in London alone. It only takes a couple of seconds for a thief to make off with your much-loved vehicle if it’s not secured properly. Advice from the Met Police says ‘lock, chain and cover’ to make your bike invisible to potential thieves.

Lock

One type of lock is a disc lock, which will fasten to the front brake disc. Another option is the grip lock, that can be used to secure both the brake and throttle. You can also apply a d-lock to the wheel at the front to help prevent it from being wheeled off.  

Chain

Steering locks can be broken, with thieves simply walking the bike away. Using a chain lock through the back wheel is a good idea as the front wheel can be removed by thieves. The lock must be secured to a heavy and immovable object, like a ground anchor or lamppost. If this isn’t feasible, lace the chain through both the bike’s frame and the back wheel.

Cover

Don’t make your bike obvious to passer’s by. If a thief is on the lookout for a specific model, don’t make it easy for them to spot yours by using a cover. Removing a cover to see what’s underneath is both noisy and time-consuming, two obstacles a thief doesn’t want to deal with. Whilst you can never 100% guarantee the safety of your bike, by using multiple methods you can decrease the likelihood of it happening to you.

Don’t leave the keys

Most thefts are opportune strikes with thieves looking for easy and quick targets. Ensure you always apply the steering lock and remove the keys, even if you only intend to be away from the bike for a few seconds. A steering lock on its own is not enough to secure your bike.

Alarms

Alarms on their own might not prevent a theft but they certainly make a good deterrent. Ideally, you’ll want to fit a 1 or 2 rated Thatcham system that comes with immobilisation, tracking and movement sensors to trace your bike. An added incentive is that it could bring down your insurance payments. A local motorcycle service can advise you on the fitting of security alarms.

Mark your bike

A marked bike is a much less attractive prospect to thieves, as it’s too difficult to sell on the parts. In the event your bike is stolen, property marking also makes it easier for the police to identify the owner.

Where to store your bike at home

The best place to store your vehicle safely is in a garage, shed or other secure outbuilding. Make sure your garage has strong, fully functional locking devices. You could also consider fitting alarms to outbuildings as well as locks. Outside sensor lighting through the night is another security feature to add into the mix. If you don’t have a suitable outside building to store your bike, invest in a cover and ground anchor or a purpose-built motorcycle locker for storing at home.

Have a service

This should be a regular part of your maintenance routine but is more important before you take your bike abroad. This ensures everything is operating smoothly and you’re less likely to suffer an annoying, inconvenient and costly breakdown in a different country. Visit a motorcycle or scooter specialist in London for servicing of all makes and models of motorbike.

Insurance

Be sure to check with your insurers that you have cover for accidents and theft while you’re abroad. This is not something you want to find out after the fact, so make sure you’ve got cover before you leave.

Driving licence

This is one document you don’t want to forget and keep it on you at all times. Also remember to check that any breakdown cover you have in place also covers you for being abroad. If anything happens, you want to be confident you’ll be able to get your bike back to the UK. Take your driving licence and keep it on your person at all times.

Passport

You will need to carry your passport with you if you intend to tour anywhere in Europe. EU countries also insist that travellers driving abroad carry their original V5 document with you. Travelling in France especially, the police can detain you if you cannot prove ownership of your bike.

EHIC form

In the unfortunate event that you require any form of medical assistance, you’ll need to have an EHIC card.

GB Sticker

Touring in Europe means you must display a GB sticker unless you have a more recent number plate that displays the EU mark. This are accepted in place of a GB sticker.

Useful Spares

Spare bulbs don’t take up much luggage room but can be a life saver. They can be the difference between travelling safely at night or being stuck in the dark in the middle of nowhere. Other useful spares include a spare set of keys and an additional immobiliser remote.

Tools

A small, portable tool kit can be a life-saver, as well as items like pack fuses, puncture repair kits, a warning triangle, spare engine oil, insulation tape and cable ties. You might want to pack some earplugs too, especially for long periods on the road. Hi vis vests or helmet stripes are also a great idea for travelling in low level light conditions.

Continental adapter

You’ll curse yourself if you forget one or two of these in your luggage. If you want any electrical items to work, including the ability to charge your mobile phone – then you’ll need at least a couple of these adapters for your travels.

The Joys

Great pleasure and satisfaction comes from the fact that scooter ownership means you can get about town with fantastic mpg. Scooters offer incredible fuel economy that simply laughs in the face of anyone stuck on four wheels. Travelling around the capital in a daily commute or even a pleasure ride on a nice day, soon eats into your fuel so the better mpg you’re getting, the more money in your pocket. Even if saving the planet is not your primary reason for wanting a scooter, the knowledge that you’re not chugging through quite as much of the Earth’s natural resources is an added bonus.

They say that size matters and, in this case, the best things come in smaller packages. While it’s possible to feel somewhat intimidated riding next to a SUV or lorry, when it comes to finding somewhere to park in the city – you’re laughing! You also don’t need to pay the congestion charge in London when riding a scooter.

Insurance premiums are another area where you’ll be saving a significant wad. Insurance costs for scooters are much lower than owning a car in the city. As they are much simpler machines, you’ll also be smiling when it comes to servicing, maintenance and repair costs with a motorbike mechanic London.

Getting about is easier too, with a smaller, lighter vehicle to negotiate heavy congestion during rush hour, you can nip through traffic straight to the front of the queue. You’ll free more freedom, have fun and see the city in ways you’ve never seen it before thanks to your less restricted view.

The Perils

It’s not always such a picture of sublime happiness, where the sun shines and birds sing as you pass by. Motoring of any kind in the capital can be a nightmare at times and with a scooter you don’t have the added protection of an outer shell as with a car. Often you will find yourself in a driver’s blind spot, so safety is paramount, and you should always position yourself where you can be seen easily.

Bad weather is also the scooter rider’s nemesis, although with the correct gear this can be accounted for unless there’s snow and ice on the roads.

The extreme congestion in the capital also means that drivers and buses will be pulling out regularly and scooters are less easy to see. The main cause of accidents is not speed but a vehicle that turns in front of a bike.

Speed is not the scooter’s strong point, so it will take longer to get yourself out of a sticky situation on the road. However, with the correct training and protective gear, the benefits of cheaper running costs and manoeuvrability often outweigh the negatives, particularly for inner city travel.