Harley-Davidson theft – How can I best protect my Harley-Davidson from theft?
You've seen this many times before: when one of our Harleys is stolen, we like to share the news so that we can do as much as possible to help find it again. Now I've looked into it a little more to see what everyone can do better to prevent this from happening.
The hassle involved is immense: reporting it to the police, informing the insurance company, and waiting to see what happens. Especially during the high season, this is not good for the nerves.
It's more than just theft!
Basically, most people are very attached to their Harley-Davidson. It connects you with other like-minded people, for example in clubs or Facebook groups. You share your hobby with friends and family, take your Harley on trips, or even just to the nearest ice cream parlor. Either way, you miss it when it's not there.
Many of them are individually designed, allowing you to experience particularly beautiful things on shorter trips or even longer journeys.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles generally retain their value very well, and there is a huge market for used bikes and accessories, which also makes them very attractive to thieves. But what can you do about it? Of course, you should still stick together if it's stolen, but we can also take it a step further and make it as difficult as possible for the thieves. To do this, however, you need to know a few things that you might not have expected beforehand.
Where are most Harleys stolen?
I inquired with the State Criminal Police Office in Schleswig-Holstein and received some non-representative but current statistics, according to which 18 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were stolen in Schleswig-Holstein between 2016 and April 2017.
And now comes the real information: while you take out all your locks and bolts to secure your machine at events or during a break on a tour, you come home and think, nothing will happen in my garage.
Most thefts occur in the home environment!
Wrong! Of the 18 Harleys, two were stolen from public spaces and 16 from garages, carports, underground parking lots, and private spaces. The same thing was reported to me by the Harley-Davidson Insurance They have reported that they are also experiencing this trend nationwide.
The combination of the lock and GPS technology makes it work!
So, the Harley must also be secured with everything possible in the garage at home.
In addition to traditional locks, it is also recommended that you look into modern GPS systems. Using a combination of both makes it more difficult for thieves and increases the chances of recovering the machine.
Brake locks and sturdy chains have proven effective, as have wire locks that can be used to secure the bike to something. It must be cumbersome and time-consuming—every minute it takes longer counts for the owner. With GPS security, it's not that simple; there are various providers offering different options. You can get advice from your Harley-Davidson dealer or buy the security system online and still have it installed by the dealer if it needs to be connected to the electrical circuit. You do this once and then you can relax.
Which GPS transmitter should it be?
I wrote to several GPS system providers about this. One initial indication of the quality of service is the speed of the provider's response, and in this area, the provider of www.gpsmotorradortung.de Very quickly. This may also be due to the fact that, in addition to the purchase price and an activation fee, the provider charges a monthly fee of €7.90 for the web version or €13.90 for the pro version.
The device offers a special service, especially when abroad. The system is not tied to a specific roaming partner, but searches for the strongest transmitter to transmit the location data and therefore has no problems with dead spots.
A wide range of configurations can be set, from sector monitoring to vibration and acceleration sensors. In the event of theft, the support service can be contacted.
The provider ebi-tec, for example, has a different pricing model, with recommended models starting at €459 and also offering comprehensive protection.
The devices are delivered preconfigured and must be connected to the Harley-Davidson's power supply. You can use your own prepaid cards here. ebi-tec information link
GPS car tracker
The GPS tracker from ge-tectronic is actually designed for cars and is mid-range in terms of price. There are no additional costs for service centers, and a direct link to Google Maps is available. However, you do need to familiarize yourself with how to use it. There are also other similar models that need to be installed in such a way that they are protected from moisture as much as possible.
The Tracy-Drive GPS tracker is also a very compact GPS transmitter with an integrated antenna. This device is also available in various combinations, either without monthly costs or operated with a prepaid card only.
Simply send a text message with all the necessary information, which can be requested from the provider via a mapping page.
Another highly recommended system is one with GPS tracking, which allows you to track the entire route and current location in real time. The monthly cost is approximately €16 (as of May 2017). This device has an internal battery that provides power for approximately 7 hours. product link
INCUTEX – GPS TRACKER TK5000
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Incutex offers the GPS TRACKER TK5000, which is available on Amazon. Customer reviews are consistently positive, but it is clear that commissioning the device requires reading the operating instructions, which are included in German.
The device has the advantage of being waterproof and affordable, and can be operated with a prepaid data card.
Perhaps the INCUTEX Tracker is a start, and it certainly depends on how valuable the Harley you want to secure is, but you also have to take everything into account. If it fails later because you can't operate the device, it's all for nothing. Good service is often irreplaceable, and those who are technically savvy have it a little easier.
One thing is also clear: if you park your machine in winter, you have to think about battery maintenance. Information on battery maintenance.
It is important to make it as difficult as possible for the perpetrators, as they generally don't have much time! Chains and locks are always a good idea, and anyone who has a GPS tracker has a great chance of quickly calling the police to prevent theft, or of quickly finding their Harley-Davidson again and perhaps even having the police catch the perpetrators.
JAMMER (blocker)
Some are now trying to use jammers (blockers) to disrupt signals within a range of 20 to 30 meters, but this also disrupts their own signals, because they can no longer be warned by their accomplices via cell phone if the police arrive.
However, at least where the machine is permanently located, it is possible to make it difficult for the whiners. To do this, you need a mobile phone repeater (link to Amazon (affiliate)), which is installed somewhat hidden near the machine. In the event of an alarm, with a little luck, it will still transmit the signal and cannot be suppressed. In this case, we recommend a tracker that reacts quickly to movement and also continuously attempts to transmit.
Conclusion:
As is so often the case, security costs money, but if it prevents just one theft, it pays for itself. There is a huge range of GPS trackers available, and here are just a few that responded to our enquiry within a few days. Everyone has to find the best system for themselves, but ultimately it's just a matter of raising awareness of the issue and pointing out that most thefts obviously take place where your beloved Harley-Davidson is parked at home.
Founder of Harleysite.de. Harley-Davidson rider, journalist, author, photographer and podcaster. Reports on international events and news from the scene. Host of the weekly Biker-Talk livestream.
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