Mark our bikes!

MCN is calling on bike manufacturers and insurers to provide free security markings to help tackle theft.

We want bike makers to put the markings on all new machines and insurers to offer them to all policy holders.

The discreet marks deter theft and help police catch offenders by making individual motorcycle parts easily identifiable as stolen.

At the moment the only identifying marks on thousands of bikes are the frame and engine number, allowing thieves to dismantle machines and sell valuable parts.

Security marking systems offer a way to identify dozens of components from wheels to bodywork. The marks are virtually invisible but under UV light reveal a code linking the part to the owner.

Bike theft is rising nationally and now costs an estimated £105million a year according to the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group, an industry initiative set up to tackle the problem.

MCRG chairman Kevin Howells said: “On average, 77 motorcycles and scooters are stolen every day, creating a massive financial bill for riders.”

Meanwhile the Met’s Stolen Vehicle Unit, one of the last dedicated vehicle crime squads in the country, is to close next April in budget cuts. 

Our campaign has already had a positive response. Leading bike insurance broker Carole Nash said: “We fully support the campaign and are actively looking at the practicalities of introducing a scheme to protect bikes insured with us. We’re acutely aware of the issue and know the cost to the industry.”

A number of marking systems are available for bikes including SmartWater, Datatag and Selectamark, with prices ranging from an annual £24 subscription fee to a £90 one-off charge.

Follow the campaign in MCN.