Are trackers really worth it? We put three current options to the test

If you’re reading these words, there’s a strong chance that you’ve at least one bike stored away somewhere, whether that be your tool for getting to and from and work, your pride and joy, or anything that may sit in between.

Now, imagine that some toe-rag has the audacity to try to take that from you while you’re all tucked up in bed, working away in the office, or even just sipping on a cup of tea at a local café. For some unfortunate readers, that gut-wrenching feeling has already been a reality, but if you’re lucky to have never experienced a theft, then it really doesn’t bear thinking about.

Although the number of reported incidents of bike theft dropped slightly in 2024 compared to 2023, industry data shows that there were still 15,832 thefts in the UK throughout last year, with London actually rising in numbers to a staggering 4434 cases. 

With this in mind, it goes without saying that we’d always recommend using a disc lock or two when your bike’s not in use, and if possible, a ground anchor and security chain. Using a cover also works as an extra deterrent, but if your machine is successfully targeted, then you’re going to need something which is a bit more advanced to take over if the hardware has been conquered – and that’s where trackers come in.

Sure, fitting one might bring your insurance costs down slightly (and may be a requirement for you getting a policy), but how effective are they at doing their job? 

Let’s talk tech

To find out, we devised a real-world test using a selection of three commonly used trackers, each one slightly different in terms of both functionality and cost.

We aren’t trying to test everything on the market (you can find a far more comprehensive list of the options available in our dedicated trackers page), just some different options which go about their business in different ways – which is why we’ve opted for an Apple AirTag (£28), the Monimoto 9 (£149 & a £36 per year subscription) and the BikeTrac system (£299 and a £99 per year subscription). Sure, there’s a big gulf in price, but as you’ll find out later in this feature, there’s a good reason for that.

Trackers in the test

Starting at the bottom end of the spectrum is the AirTag, which is the cheapest and simplest of the bunch. It’s straightforward to set up by pairing with your iPhone and works through the ‘Find My’ network, relying on the proximity of nearby Apple devices to transmit a location – although it doesn’t have a real-time GPS function, nor the ability to offer a movement notification or a geofence (which is essentially a virtual geographic boundary, such as around your house, garage or place or work). 

A step up from that, the Monimoto 9 is a purpose-built GPS tracker, which uses a rechargeable unit that can be located in a place of your choosing. It uses LTE which is basically mobile communication, with its own eSIM, and has the functionality to send an alert when it detects movement, alongside being able to send location data.

Last up is the BikeTrac system, the most expensive and potentially the most feature-rich of all the trackers on test today. This is installed by an approved dealer (so it can be hidden away on the bike, and only a few people know what the unit actually looks like) and utilises both GPS tracking to get a good idea of location alongside radio frequency (RF) tracking, which can offer accuracy of under five metres. 

This feature is handy for pinpointing machinery in garages, containers and vans – and BikeTrac will actually send someone out to track your bike down, because they offer a 24/7 Response Service. They will alert you with a notification and phone call, and can then send out staff to help locate and secure your vehicle if required, or take things a step further with the police for warrants and arrests. 

Gone in seconds…

To put them to the test, each tracker needs to be placed in a real-world theft situation, and one that’s fair for all systems. With that in mind, we fitted each one to a different bike, then parked them up in a public location, while the owners went off to enjoy a lovely, relaxing cup of tea.

Then, one by one (and in no particular order) our mock thief attempted to load the bikes into a van, and we started our stopwatch. Once in the van, the bikes are taken to a different location, where they will not only be placed in a shipping container (which can affect the signal), but we’ll also attempt to locate the tracker unit too. 

An easy mistake

First up, the AirTag and unfortunately, despite its simplicity and compact size, the fact of the matter is that it’s just not up to the task of being a tracker. As there’s no ability to set a geofence, you don’t get any notification that the bike has been moved (only if you leave the area without it!) so even when our thief disturbed the bike and then loaded it up, our unsuspecting owner never got any hint that something could be amiss. 

And because there wasn’t an iPhone close enough to the tag when it was in the van, it had no signal either, so on the fleeting check of its location, there was no chance of an update. We simply had no idea the bike had gone.

When the bike fitted with the AirTag was taken out of the van and stashed in a bunch of lock-ups, the signal was incredibly weak in terms of determining its exact location. Many riders (including myself, until carrying out this test!) have been using AirTags in the hope they’d serve as a cost-effective way of determining or finding a stolen machine, but the fact is, they just don’t cut the mustard.

Plus, the tag is fairly easy to spot and remove too, unless you get inventive with the positioning… just don’t put it in the seat – that’s one of the first things to get removed in the case of a theft.

Instant recognition

The AirTag’s inadequacies were made even more evident when the two, proper trackers got into gear. As our ‘thief’ set about taking the Monimoto-equipped machine our tea-drinking owner was a notified via text message in under a minute, while the BikeTrac systems alerted in a similar timeframe, with a notification followed by a phone call from a real, human operator. Remember those?

In terms of the timing both were mightily impressive. If this was a real-world situation, it would give the owner at least a chance to see what was happening, and the most pleasing thing was that neither bike had moved more than 15 to 20 metres before the anti-theft alert was triggered.

Seriously impressive stuff, although the Monimoto unit itself would be simpler to detect and remove depending on its location, especially compared to a more stealthy system like the BikeTrac.

The next stop

If you’re lucky enough to be within a reasonable distance of your machine before it disappears, there’s a chance you’d be able to disturb the thieves and the bike wouldn’t be taken, in which case the tracker will have done its job as a theft deterrent. However, if the worst does happen, a tracker needs to help the police to locate your stolen machine. 

The Monimoto is not only rapid in the speed of its reaction, but the app is effective too, showing GPS data that’s updated every five minutes (or through a live tracking mode if you prefer), which meant we had a rough idea of where the bike was during its 20-minute journey in the van – although this only updates when the bike is in motion.

This is where the two systems differ, as the BikeTrac system will not show a map in order to protect the user to from potentially harming themselves by intervening, meaning that the BikeTrac team monitor the machine, contact the police directly and send either officers or a member of their specialist team to the location.

Friends reunited, and it feels so good…

Although all three bikes were locked up and hidden, at this point our ‘victim’ still had no idea that the machine with the AirTag had even moved, let alone been stolen, and the signal struggled to connect, even when we were within 30 metres of the container so there was no realistic hope of recovery. 

However, the other two are more interesting; although the Monimoto system became slightly broader in its mapping when the machine wasn’t moving, its last known location before it switched off was within 15 metres of where the bike was hidden – a promising sign, with a refreshing simplicity of use from the app.

But the BikeTrac system proved to be most effective – with a member of their team demonstrating the functionality of the radio frequency beacon, they managed to locate the bike down to the exact container out of six different options. 

It’s something that we all hope will never become reality, but if your bike is stolen, fear not; with a tracker, there’s a chance you will be able to retrieve it. Anything is better than nothing, but the more complex and advanced you go, the more chance you’ll have of retrieving what is rightfully yours… and can you really put a price on that?

Life with a tracker in the real world

MCN’s Sport Editor Michael Guy has a BikeTrac fitted to his KTM 690 Enduro R: “Having spent a lot of time and money turning my KTM into a serious lightweight adventure bike I’d be absolutely heartbroken if it was to get stolen. And while nothing in life is guaranteed, I sleep a whole lot better knowing exactly where my bike is and that I’d be alerted if it moves. 

“The phone app is super-easy to use with loads of bonus information such as battery status (you can set a minimum voltage and it will notify you if the bike drops below that) as well as every start and stop of your ride being recorded.

“You have to remember to put it in service mode if you’re working on your machine, or turn the ignition on when you move it out of your garage, because if you don’t, within seconds you’ll get a text message saying your bike has moved, followed by a phone call from an actual human making sure everything is OK.

“I’ve forgotten to turn the ignition on and had that phone call a fair few times, but the BikeTrac staff don’t make it an issue – instead they seem genuinely happy to confirm your bike is safe and sound. It’s obviously not the cheapest system to buy and fit (plus the subscription of £9.99 per month or £99.99 a year) but I wouldn’t be without it.”

How MCN tested these GPS trackers

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

In the case of this motorcycle GPS tracker test, we staged bike thefts to try the tech out but in our review and tested the units’ performance according to the following criteria: Time to notification, type of notification and accuracy.

For more information on other brands of tracker on the market and what they’re generally like to live with, check out our dedicated motorcycle trackers page.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

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