Motorcycles and other recreational powersport equipment are notorious for being “soft targets” for professional thieves. They are easy to load onto another vehicle and there is generally a lack of registration systems especially for off-road bikes, snowmobiles and the like.
Only one country has taken a significant step to establish registration systems. A decade ago, in the UK, the insurance industry threatened to withdraw insurance cover for many categories of motorcycles unless the motorcycle industry took steps to overcome its significant theft problems. The introduction of frame and component identification in the UK – using systems including - has now helped to reduce theft rates.
Many other countries have even higher rates of motorcycle theft. In the relatively small Australian market, motorcycle theft cost the community A$9m in 2006. Statistics from the Australia National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council also show that national theft rates are on the increase.
Other countries are experiencing similar trends. In the U.S. many suppliers of theft warranties have withdrawn their programs due to increasing claims rates.
Motorcycles are half as likely to be recovered than motor cars and are more likely to be stolen as part of a multiple theft incident. These factors indicate that motorcycles are more often targets of professional crime. They also mean that motorcycles incur high insurance premiums relative to their cost, and for high risk categories such as off-road bikes, insurance is often not available at all.
DataDot DNA for Motorcycles
DataDot DNA is an ideal solution to curb the rise of motorcyle thefts. Between 1,000 and 4,000 DataDot DNA may be applied per vehicle, all of them laser-etched with the unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
The DataDot DNA may also be applied by both individuals or by the manufacturer - thanks to a simple, inexpensive and effective Do-It-Yourself procedure that has been developed for individual bike owners to brush on to their motorbike.
On the manufacturing end, DDT has developed an innovative spray process. This process covers the engine, drivetrain and any other expensive parts with DataDot DNA, in less than three minutes.
Highly acclaimed success
In its 2002 report, ‘Motorcycle Theft in Australia’, the National Motor Vehicle Council of Australia identified DataDot DNA as “the most effective countermeasure” in reducing the volume of motorcycle thefts.
In Australia, Morgan & Wacker, the importer/distributor for Harley Davidson, has been using our component identification technology solutions since 1997 with similar success to that experienced overseas.