Top 10 Motorcycle Thefts By Manufacturer
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) a total of 46,667 motorcycles were stolen in 2011. The results range from a few hundred from lesser known manufacturers to multiple thousands from name brand OEMs.
The NICB says it identified 550 makes of motorcycles of which the top 15 account for 89% of motorcycle thefts. Curiously, many well-known manufacturers such as Ducati, Aprilia and Victory, among others, are glaringly absent from this report. With that in mind, we took the top 10 of those listed in the report and present them to you here.
10. Goldenvale (286 Bikes Stolen)
Somehow, the practically unknown company of Goldenvale managed a tenth-place showing with 286 bikes stolen in 2011. We’re unfamiliar with this company and have never tested (if ever even seen) one of its products. From our research of dissatisfied owners it’s appears having one of these bikes stolen is more a blessing than a curse.
9. Bajaj (294 Bikes Stolen)
Bajaj, India’s second largest motorcycle manufacturer, possibly better known stateside for its 47% ownership of KTM, makes it to number nine on the NICB’s list of most stolen motorcycles. To our knowledge Bajaj is no longer distributed in the U.S., so how they made it to ninth position is a mystery.
8. Vespa (323 Bikes Stolen)
Finally a manufacturer with worldwide recognition. Considering there were only 29 more Vespas stolen than Bajaj, purchasing a new Vespa may be a smart move for someone looking for classic scooter appeal with the comforts of modern technology.
7. Kymco (350 Bikes Stolen)
As far as most Americans are concerned KYMCO is just another Asian scooter and ATV manufacturer, but for other markets the company does produce small-displacement motorcycles. However, in terms of what’s being stolen here in the U.S., it’s scooters – 350 of them in 2011.
6. KTM (410 Bikes Stolen)
Yes, a true motorcycle manufacturer. Considering KTM is better known for its dirtbikes rather than its streetbikes, it’d be interesting to see a model breakdown of exactly what bikes were stolen. Could it be thieves made off with more streetbikes than dirtbikes? Want to know more about KTM?
5. Harley-Davidson (3,210 Bikes Stolen)
Wow! With only incremental increases between the top five manufacturers of stolen bikes, Harley-Davidson makes a statement with its fifth place finish of 3,120 bikes stolen in 2011. Maybe it was our review of the H-D Blackline that thrust Harley into picture on a milk carton territory.
4. Kawasaki (5,009 Bikes Stolen)
The first of the Japanese OEMs, Kawasaki boasts nearly 2,000 more bikes stolen in 2011 than Harley-Davidson. Maybe it was the ground-up redesign of the new-for-2011 ZX-10R that made Team Green such a hot commodity.
3. Suzuki (7,281 Bikes Stolen)
Both the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 were new for 2011, upstaging the Kawi’s ZX-10R and thrusting Suzuki into the number three position. Suzuki also launched an updated Bandit, the GSX1250FA that year.
2. Yamaha (8,880 Bikes Stolen)
The annual R1/R6 Forum convention at Deals Gap, located in North Carolina and surrounded by the Tail of the Dragon and other amazing roads, is an annual festivity welcome to all motorcyclists but attended, of course, largely by Yamaha owners. Having been to the event, we know no one’s dumb enough to attempt stealing bikes from this crowd, so Yamaha’s second position in this list must have come from elsewhere.
1. Honda (11,014 Bikes Stolen)
Sometimes it’s good to be number one… sometimes it isn’t. Of the top 15 manufacturers Honda had the most bikes stolen, owning 24% of all motorcycle thefts. The good thing is, almost half (3,976) of those bikes were eventually recovered. In what condition we’re not sure, but at least they were recovered. Honda’s stellar CBR250R hit showrooms that year. Could the lightweight bike have been what put Honda at the top?
A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.
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