Protect your bike
Most off-road bikes are stolen from a shed, a van or a paddock in under two minutes. These are the measures that make the difference — and what to do on the day it happens.
Lock it, twice
Use two different lock types — a hardened chain through the frame to a ground anchor, plus a disc lock. Thieves carry tools for one type, rarely for both. Never chain through a wheel only.
Make the shed the hard part
Ground anchors bolted into concrete, coach-bolted hinges, shed alarm, no windows to see through. Park a second bike or heavy item in front so nothing rolls straight out.
Van and trailer discipline
Strap bikes to internal anchor points and lock them to the van itself. Fit deadlocks and an alarm. Never leave bikes in a van overnight at a hotel, service station or event car park.
Alarms and trackers
A monitored tracker fitted somewhere non-obvious, plus a loud shed or bike alarm. Test the battery every few months and keep the subscription live.
Photograph everything now
Take clear photos of both sides, the frame number, engine number, graphics, scratches and any aftermarket parts. Photos taken before a theft are what actually get bikes identified.
Record your numbers
Frame and engine numbers, receipts, service history and part serials, stored somewhere other than the shed. Register the bike on MX Register so the record exists independently of your phone.
Mark and tag the bike
Forensic marking kits, UV pens on plastics and hidden tags inside the airbox or frame make a bike far harder to sell on and far easier to prove is yours.
Be careful what you share
Don't post your home, shed or van on social media, and don't geotag riding spots at your house. Sale adverts should never show the full frame number or your address.
Buying or selling safely
- Meet in a public place in daylight and take someone with you.
- Ask for photo ID and check the name matches any paperwork.
- Let the buyer run an MX Register Bike Check — it shows them the bike is registered and not reported stolen without exposing your details.
- Take payment that clears before the bike leaves — never take a lift-and-go cash story on trust.
- Record the transfer on MX Register with a digital receipt so both sides have the same record.
If your bike is stolen
- 1.Report it to the police straight away and get the crime reference number.
- 2.Flag the bike as stolen on MX Register — this shows on every Bike Check anyone runs on that frame number.
- 3.Publish the listing to the public Stolen Bikes page so riders and dealers can spot it.
- 4.Tell your insurer and any tracker provider the same day.
- 5.Share the photos and frame number with local clubs, tracks and dealers — never approach a suspected thief yourself.
Register your bike in a couple of minutes
Free to register. Your frame number, records and photos in one place, ready if you ever need them.