Harley-Davidson theft – How do I best protect my Harley-Davidson from theft?
You've seen this many times, when one of us's Harley is stolen, we're happy to share it so we can do as much as possible to ensure it's found again. Now I've looked into it a little more to see what can everyone do better to prevent this from happening.
The hassle associated with this is immense, report it to the police, inform the insurance company and wait to see what happens - that's nothing for your nerves, especially during the season.
It's more than just a theft!
Basically, most people are very attached to their Harley-Davidson. It connects you with other like-minded people, for example in clubs or in Facebook groups, you share your hobby with friends and family, the Harley comes with you when you travel , or even just to the nearest ice cream parlor, either way, she's missing when she's no longer there.
Many of them are individually designed so that you can experience particularly beautiful things on smaller tours or even trips.
The Harley-Davidson is generally very stable in value, there is a huge used and accessories market, which also makes it very attractive for thieves. But what can you do about it! Of course, continue to stick together if it's stolen, but we can also start a step further and make it as difficult as possible for the thieves. But you also have to know some things that you might not have expected before.
Where are most Harleys stolen?
I once asked the State Criminal Police Office in Schleswig-Holstein and received non-representative but current statistics, according to which 18 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were stolen in Schleswig-Holstein from 2016 to April 2017.
And now comes the real information: while you're at an event or on a tour break, pulling out all the locks and latches to secure the machine, you come home and think, nothing's going to happen in my garage.
The home environment is where the most theft occurs!
Wrong, of the 18 Harleys, 2 were stolen from public spaces and 16 from garages, carports, underground car parks and private places. I was told the same thing by Harley-Davidson Insurance , they also have this development nationwide.
The combination of the lock and the GPS technology does it!
So, the Harley also needs to be secured at home in the garage with everything possible.
In addition to the classic locks, it is recommended to also look into today's GPS systems. The combination makes it harder for thieves and increases the chance of finding the machine again.
The brake lock and the sturdy chain, or the wire lock with which you can tie it somewhere, have proven to be effective. It has to be inconvenient and time consuming, every minute it takes longer counts for the owner. When it comes to GPS backup, it's not that easy; there are different providers with different options. You can get advice from your authorized Harley-Davidson dealer or you can buy the security system online and still have it installed by the dealer if you want it to be installed in the electrical circuit. You do that once and you have peace and quiet.
Which GPS transmitter should it be?
I wrote to a few providers of GPS systems about this, a first indication of the service is the quick response from the provider and the provider from www.gpsmotorradortung.de very quick in this area. This may also be because the provider charges a monthly fee for the web version of €7.90 or the pro version of €13.90 in addition to the purchase price and an activation fee.
The device offers a special service, especially abroad; the system is not tied to a specific roaming partner, but instead looks for the strongest transmitter to transmit the location data and therefore has no problems with dead spots.
A very extensive configuration from sector monitoring to vibration and acceleration sensors can be set. In the event of theft, service can be contacted for assistance.
The provider ebi-tec, for example, has a different price model; the recommended models start at €459 and also offer extensive protection.
The devices are delivered preconfigured and must be connected to the Harley-Davidson 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 intended for cars and is priced in the middle. There are no additional costs for service centers, a direct link to Google Maps is available. But you have to read up on the operation, there are also other similar models that have 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 operated with a prepaid card at no monthly cost.
You just send an SMS with all the necessary information, which can be retrieved from the provider via a mapping page.
Or a more recommended system with GPS positioning, where it is possible to query the entire history and the current position in real time. The monthly costs are approx. €16 as of 05/2017). This device has an internal battery that provides power for approximately 7 hours. Product link
INCUTEX – GPS TRACKER TK5000
Click on the button below to load the content from ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com.
Incutex has the GPS TRACKER TK5000, which is available on Amazon. The customer reviews are consistently good, but it can be seen that commissioning is not possible without reading the operating instructions, which are included in German.
The advantage of the device is that the tracker is waterproof and the price is affordable and can be operated with a prepaid data card.
Maybe the INCUTEX Tracker is a start and it certainly depends on how valuable the Harley is that you want to secure, but you also have to take everything into account. If it fails later because you can't use the device, it will work Nothing, good service is often irreplaceable, if you are technically savvy, things are a little easier.
One thing is also clear: if you park your machine in winter, you have to think about battery conservation. Battery Conservation Information .
The important thing is to make it as difficult as possible for the actors, they generally don't have time! Chains and locks are always a good guide and anyone who has a GPS tracker has a great chance of quickly calling the police to prevent the theft, or that the Harley-Davidson is quickly found again and that the police may even find the perpetrators caught.
JAMMER (Blocker)
Some are now trying to disrupt the signals in the 20 to 30 meter range with a jammer (blocker), but they are also disrupting themselves because they can no longer be warned by their accomplices via cell phone if the police come.
However, you can at least make it difficult for the whiners where the machine is permanently located. 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, it transports something Luckily, the signal is still there and cannot be suppressed. In this case, we recommend a tracker that reacts quickly to movement and also tries to send continuously.
Conclusion:
As is often the case, security costs money, but if it just prevents a theft, it's worth it. The range of GPS trackers is huge and here are just a few that responded to inquiries within a few days. Everyone has to discover the best system for themselves, ultimately it's just about raising awareness and drawing attention to the fact that most thefts obviously take place where the beloved Harley-Davidson is at home.
