Can I Track My Motorcycle If It Gets Stolen?
Motorcycles can be particularly vulnerable to theft because they're smaller, easier to move than a car or van and are often parked away from home.
A GPS tracker can give you another layer of security by allowing you to monitor your motorcycle's location and movement.
But tracking a bike isn't only useful when something goes wrong.
If you regularly ride with friends or as part of a group, GPS tracking can also help everyone keep track of where the other bikes are — particularly useful when a group gets separated along the way.
Can I put a GPS tracker on my motorcycle?
Yes.
A suitable GPS tracker can be installed on a motorcycle and used to report its location to the tracking platform.
The important part is choosing a tracker and installation that suit a bike.
Compared with a car or van, motorcycles present some different considerations:
- Less space to hide the tracker
- Greater exposure to weather and water
- Smaller batteries
- Vibration
- The need for a discreet installation
- Different wiring arrangements between bikes
That's why we'd rather know what motorcycle you have before recommending a device.
Which Global Trackers device is suitable for motorcycles?
The GT3 is particularly suited to applications where a compact, weather-resistant hardwired tracker is required.
It's designed for environments where the tracker may be more exposed than it would be inside a car.
The right device still depends on the motorcycle and installation, so tell us the make, model and year if you're unsure.
Can I hide the tracker on my bike?
A discreet installation is generally desirable for security tracking.
Motorcycles naturally provide fewer hiding places than cars or vans, which makes the size and installation position of the tracker important.
The device still needs to be installed somewhere appropriate for reliable operation and connectivity.
Simply hiding it as deeply as possible isn't necessarily the best approach if that compromises performance.
Can I get an alert if somebody moves my motorcycle?
Yes.
Movement alerts can help bring unexpected activity to your attention.
That can be particularly useful when your bike should be parked — at home, at work, outside a hotel or somewhere you're visiting.
An unexpected movement alert doesn't automatically mean the motorcycle is being stolen.
But it tells you something has happened that may be worth checking.
Can I use a geofence around my home or garage?
Yes.
A geofence is a virtual boundary created around a location.
For a motorcycle, you might create one around:
- Your home
- Garage
- Workplace
- Storage facility
- Hotel while travelling
- Another regular parking location
Depending on your configuration, the tracking system can record or alert you when the motorcycle enters or leaves that defined area.
This means you don't need to sit watching the map waiting for something to happen.
What should I do if my motorcycle is stolen?
If you believe your motorcycle has been stolen, contact the police.
Tracking information may help establish where the bike is and where it has travelled.
Don't attempt to recover a stolen motorcycle yourself simply because you can see a location on the tracking platform.
A GPS position is useful information, but personal safety comes first.
➡️ READ NEXT — How Can I Track My Car If It Gets Stolen?
Can I see where my motorcycle has been?
Yes.
Journey history can allow you to look back at previous motorcycle movements and routes.
That can be useful for security, but it's also quite nice when the bike is being used for exactly what you bought it for.
You can look back at rides and see where you've travelled rather than tracking being something you only think about when there's a problem.
Can I use GPS tracking when riding with friends?
Yes — and this is one of the less obvious uses of motorcycle tracking.
If several bikes in a riding group are fitted with trackers and are set up so the appropriate users can see them within the tracking platform, the group can see where the tracked bikes are.
That's useful because group rides don't always remain very grouped. 😂
Traffic lights split everybody up.
Someone misses a turning.
One rider stops for fuel.
Someone decides the group has definitely gone left when everybody else has definitely gone right.
Instead of repeated phone calls and messages trying to establish where everybody has gone, the tracking platform can provide location information for the participating bikes.
Can we see all the bikes on one map?
With the appropriate account and access setup, multiple tracked vehicles can be displayed together.
That means a riding group using compatible Global Trackers devices can potentially see the participating motorcycles on the same map.
This could be useful for:
- Club rides
- Touring holidays
- European trips
- Larger organised rides
- Groups travelling to events
- Friends regularly riding together
How the accounts and access should be arranged depends on the group and who should be able to see which bikes.
If this is specifically what you're trying to achieve, talk to us before setting everything up and we'll help you work out the simplest arrangement.
What happens if our riding group gets separated?
That's where location visibility becomes genuinely useful.
Imagine six bikes set off together.
Twenty minutes later, four are together, one rider is behind and another has taken the wrong turn.
Normally that can result in everyone stopping, calling one another or trying to work out where to regroup.
If the bikes are appropriately configured for shared visibility, location information can help the group establish where everybody actually is.
It doesn't replace sensible ride planning or communication.
It simply gives you another useful way to find one another.
Can other people see my motorcycle all the time?
This depends on how accounts and access are configured.
Location information shouldn't simply be shared with people who don't need access to it.
If you're using tracking for group rides, think about:
Who needs to see which motorcycles?
When do they need access?
Who controls the tracking account?
We can help you think through the appropriate setup.
Can I track my motorcycle from my phone?
Yes.
You can access your Global Trackers tracking information from your phone using the mobile app.
That makes particular sense for motorcycles because you're much more likely to have your phone with you than a laptop when you're out riding.
You can also access the tracking platform through a web browser when you want a larger view.
➡️ READ NEXT — Can I Track My Car From My Phone?
Will my motorcycle tracker work in Europe?
Global Trackers uses multi-network M2M connectivity across the UK and supported European networks.
That makes motorcycle tracking particularly useful for riders who tour abroad.
You can continue to access tracking information through the platform where suitable satellite and mobile connectivity are available.
Always check the countries you're planning to visit if European coverage is particularly important for your trip.
➡️ READ NEXT — Will My GPS Tracker Work in Europe?
Does a motorcycle GPS tracker need a SIM card?
For a cellular GPS tracker to send its location to the tracking platform, it needs mobile connectivity.
Global Trackers subscriptions include the appropriate multi-network M2M SIM service, so you don't need to go out and arrange an ordinary phone SIM for the tracker.
➡️ READ NEXT — Why Do GPS Trackers Need a SIM Card and Subscription?
Will a tracker drain my motorcycle battery?
This is an important consideration with motorcycles because bike batteries are generally much smaller than car batteries.
A hardwired GPS tracker needs power to operate.
The tracker, installation and way the motorcycle is used therefore matter — particularly if the bike spends long periods parked or stored.
If your motorcycle is only used occasionally or is stored for extended periods, tell us.
We can help you consider the appropriate device and setup rather than pretending every bike has exactly the same requirements.
Can I use a GPS tracker on a touring motorcycle?
Absolutely.
Touring is actually one of the situations where tracking can serve several purposes at once.
It can provide:
Security while the motorcycle is parked
Location information while travelling
Journey history after a ride
European tracking across supported networks
and, where several riders are appropriately set up,
visibility of other tracked motorcycles within the group.
So the tracker isn't sitting dormant waiting for somebody to steal the bike.
It can be useful during the journey too.
Is a GPS tracker better than an AirTag for a motorcycle?
They are different technologies.
An AirTag or similar Bluetooth item finder relies on nearby compatible devices participating in its location network.
A cellular GPS tracker determines location using satellite positioning and communicates through mobile networks.
If you're specifically trying to understand the difference between item finders and dedicated GPS tracking, we've written a separate Guide explaining it.
➡️ READ NEXT — AirTag, Tile or GPS Tracker: What's the Difference?
Is motorcycle tracking only about theft?
No.
Security is an obvious reason to install a tracker, but it isn't the only one.
A motorcycle tracker can also become part of actually using and enjoying the bike.
You can review previous journeys.
Track the motorcycle while touring.
Keep location information available when travelling abroad.
And if your friends or club are appropriately equipped and configured, you can use tracking to help keep tabs on the group during a ride.
That makes GPS tracking useful before, during and after the journey — not just when something has gone wrong.
Which tracker do I need for my motorcycle?
Tell us:
What motorcycle you have
How often you ride it
Whether it's stored for long periods
Whether security or group riding is your main priority
Whether you tour in Europe
and we'll help you choose an appropriate setup.
The aim is simple:
Enjoy the ride. Know where the bike is.