Modern Buddy

lately I see threads about stolen scooters on MB...WTH is going on?!? it's got me paranoid to the point that I use my disc lock every time I park it when out-n-about and using security cables & padlocks at home; are scooters being stolen with just the steering column locked or are thieves defeating more aggressive security measures? thanks

Read through the threads, you will find some of them were not even locked down. Scooter thefts happen more often than automotive or motocycle thefts... they are very easy to pick up with just two or three people. The best thing to do is to get a good strong alarm and wheel lock to ensure better security. Ultimately, if someone wants it, they will take it.

People will steal anything not locked down. Part of it is that the summer season sees more bikes being stolen because more are out there being ridden. Other parts of it are that many state's economies are down in the summer, and it's been a rough couple of years for some states. So, that drives theft up.

Then again, where I live motorbike theft is always high. ANY kind of theft is always high.

I can't lock mine up every where I go, so I get insurance; prayer too!

It's simple... people will steal anything for a quick thrill or a quick buck. Even if you think it's locked securely. Insurance is the best way to protect your ride. My wifes first Buddy was stolen the same way in the video below... within a few days and a few miles as this tangerine Buddy was in DC, possibly from the same dirtbags.

Make sure the chain is secure with no extra slack.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/01fBflJh3x4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This thread is a must-read for everyone:
viewtopic.php?t=12044

Thefts always rise in the summer months, but in the past few years, they've skyrocketed. A few areas are particularly bad: Richmond, VA, Washington, DC, Boston all among the hotspots.

Scooter thefts are usually crimes of opportunity, though some do get staked out beforehand. A disc lock may not be enough, sad to say. ANYTHING and everything you can do to deter a thief from even trying and make it as difficult as possible to move the scooter helps.

It's probably about time for me to write a new gold standard re: scooter theft. I've got new information about locking stuff down correctly (and new horror stories about stuff that was previously considered on lock down), theft patterns, new ways to tell if someone has messed with your scoot while parked, and most importantly...fuel injected bikes are a LOT more difficult to hot wire, which means that while thieves can still steal your Buddy 170 or Blur 220, it's not likely that they will get it running. Last but not least, I've got a 2nd meeting with the folks at the Virginia DMV in regards to rewriting the moped code for Virginia, which will be a huge help in the battle against scooter thieves...

I'll try to get that written next week. Feel free to prod me if I don't stick to it. ;)

You can just update this post! I've posted many links to this one all over the Internet! (I mean the director's cut post, that is!)

Thanks a bunch. It's one of the most useful and important threads on MB.

Capt_Don wrote:I can't lock mine up every where I go, so I get insurance; prayer too!

True--but you can always do this, and use a Xena. That way they have to either carry it, or roll it balanced on the back wheel with the Xena screaming at them.

Oh, and don't forget the guard dog.