Best Motorcycle Trackers

A great motorcycle tracker can ease your mind about security. The number of motorcycle thefts is rising again, with over 40,000 reported thefts in the UK. A tracker can help recover a stolen bike, even when theft cannot be prevented.

 We cover:

  • How to choose a motorcycle tracker.
  • Which is the best anti-theft device for motorcycles?
  • Installing a tracker on your motorcycle.
  • How to track my stolen motorcycle?
  • And much more.
PRODUCTS FEATURES
Top Pick
  • Long battery life
  • Easy to use
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  • Compatible with IOS and Android
  • Affordable cost
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  • Remote camera button for phones
  • Two in one pack
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  • Convenient size and shape for pet collars
  • Replaceable coin battery
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  • You can hear the loudspeaker over the noise in any room
  • Replaceable battery

Top Pick!

The Apple AirTag is Apple's take on an item finder. The AirTag is not a GPS tracker. Instead, it uses the Bluetooth of any iPhone near it to ping its location to you. This system uses less battery than GPS trackers and is not blocked by buildings.

The downside of this is that it is less valuable in areas where fewer people carry iPhones. For urban areas, it should be fine as the iPhone is the most popular phone globally.

What We Like

Affordability

Most of us know Apple for its innovation and sleek design. Their pricing can be high, but the AirTag is only £29, and a pack of four brings the individual price to only £23.

Ease of Use

Setup is simple: one tap will connect it to your iPhone. Mounting this on your bike is easy if you slip it into a bike bag or under the seat. A variety of mounts can be found online for cheap too.

Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • Requires iPhones near to work

What to Look For In a Motorcycle Tracker

Living in the golden age of commerce means we have plenty of options. Knowing how to choose a good product requires research.

Here are some factors to think about when shopping for a motorcycle tracker:

  • Budget:

Decide how much you can afford to spend on a tracker before shopping. It’s easy to waste money on a system you don’t need. Also, check if the tracker requires you to pay a monthly fee to use it.

  • Features: 

Extra features are excellent, but you should identify important ones. Feature-heavy trackers are often expensive and difficult to install.

  • Technology:

Knowing the technology the tracker uses is crucial. For example, the AirTag requires you to own an iPhone; other trackers require you to buy a SIM card.

When purchasing a tracking device, one thing to look out for is additional costs. Some GPS trackers require you to pay a yearly or monthly subscription fee to use them.

Other devices have premium features that you need to pay a fee for. A feature that you need from the device can be locked behind this fee.

One helpful feature that is available on some devices is a sound alert. You can use your phone to tell the tracking device to make a sound; follow the sound to find your tracking device.

How to Install a Motorcycle Tracker

The way you install or mount your motorcycle tracker depends on the product. Every product has a different mounting system, and instructions should be provided along with them.

Can I Install the Tracking Device Myself?

Yes, you can install the simple tracking devices yourself easily.

All the trackers on our list have a straightforward installation process. If your motorcycle has a bag on the side or under the seat, place it in there.

You can also buy custom mounts to hide the tracker better.

How Long Does it Take to Install a GPS Tracker?

You can almost instantly install simpler devices like the ones on our list. Setup the device with your phone, and then mount the tracker.

If you have purchased a more complex tracking device, you need to have it installed by professionals. The company that sells the device should install it for you. If not, search for a trustworthy repair shop that will do it for you.

Is a Motorcycle GPS Tracker Visible to Thieves?

A tracker may be visible to thieves if it is not hidden well. Large-size devices will be easier to spot.

Smaller devices can be hidden from sight with clever placement. The trackers on our list are all smaller sizes, so you can easily hide them in a bike bag or with an amount.

What is the Best Anti-Theft Device for Motorcycles?

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to prevent your motorcycle from being stolen completely. However, some systems can deter thieves from trying to steal your motorcycle.

Wheel locks and other similar devices prevent your motorcycle from moving. This makes it harder for a thief to move your motorcycle, making them look for an easier target.

There are alarm systems that play loud sounds when your motorcycle is being moved. This will discourage potential thieves from stealing the motorcycle as they will be discovered.

Tracking devices cannot stop a determined thief from taking our motorcycle. What they do, is help you recover the motorcycle after it has been stolen. 

Tracking devices can also alert you when the motorcycle is being moved by someone else.

How Do I Track My Stolen Motorcycle?

The method of tracking your motorcycle varies depending on the type of device you have installed on it.

Bluetooth trackers require you to be within a specific range of the tracker. The device’s location is shared with your phone when you are in range. The device can also work if other people have the same app on their phones.  

Bluetooth devices can also alert you when they are moved out of range. This lets you know immediately when your motorcycle is being stolen, and you may be able to stop the theft.

GPS trackers use an app on your phone to give you the current location of your vehicle. These are the easiest to use and provide accurate information. However, the GPS signal can sometimes be blocked by interference from buildings.

Some devices use RF (radio frequency) technology to track location. This is a more complicated system, requiring you to use an RF receiver to pinpoint the location. However, this system will penetrate walls and buildings that GPS cannot.

 

Are Motorcycle Trackers Worth It?

A motorcycle tracker will not prevent theft unless you invest in an expensive movement alarm system. Instead, a tracker can help you and the Police to recover your vehicle.

Once a motorcycle is stolen, it can be tough to recover because they are easier to hide than a car. The Police are always busy with crime prevention and solving; they may not have time to search for your motorcycle.

Having a tracker on your motorcycle allows you to tell the police the exact location of your vehicle. This means a fast recovery and peace of mind for you.   

A cheap tracker gives you a form of theft insurance for your valuable motorcycle. These are worth purchasing as the benefit outweighs the cost.

On the other hand, there are expensive but more effective trackers and security systems. It is up to you to decide if it is worth investing your money there.

More Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some more questions that people commonly have regarding motorcycle trackers:

  • Do Bike GPS trackers have a monthly service fee?
    • GPS trackers that use a SIM card have a monthly or yearly service fee, and other trackers may charge a fee to access premium features.
  • Do all GPS trackers need a SIM card?
    • Most GPS trackers use a SIM card to access the cellular network. Some GPS trackers communicate directly with the satellites, so you don’t need a SIM. These are generally more expensive.
  • What is the limit of GPS trackers?
    • Trackers that use GPS have no range limit. They can be tracked anywhere there are cellular towers. Trackers that use Bluetooth have a limited range of 60 to 120 meters (400ft).
  • Do GPS trackers deactivate when not in motion?
    • No, GPS trackers are usually transmitting a constant signal. A GPS can alert you when the tracker is moving. It can also show you the real-time location.
  •  Is it legal to track someone without their knowledge?
    • It is illegal for civilians to track someone without their knowledge in most countries. Check your local laws.

Best Motorcycle Trackers

Here is the rest of our list of the best motorcycle trackers available online. The products are listed in no particular order.

Tile is a brand that is well known for its range of Bluetooth tracker products. The Tile Mate is the most affordable lineup, at just £19.99. The Mate is made from a plastic material that is durable and waterproof.

You should have no problems if you drop this thing, even in water.

What We Like

Range of Use

The Tile Mate has one of the longest ranges on our list at nearly 400ft. That range is long enough to locate your motorcycle in a large parking garage if you get lost. The built-in speakers are small but loud enough to locate it from a distance.

Affordability

As we mentioned, the Mate is only £19.99, making it the cheapest on our list. You’re getting a premium build and quality for that price, making it hard to pass up.  

Pros
  • Compatible with IOS and Android
  • Affordable cost
Cons
  • Non-replaceable battery   

The Jiobbo Bluetooth item locator is similar in size to the Tile Mate but is a bit thinner. This product is intended chiefly for key chains or a pet's collar. To use it, you need to connect to the "iFindU" app, available on IOS or Android.

What We Like

Convenient size

The Jiobbo Item Locator comes in a convenient size of only 38 by 38 by 5 millimetres. This makes it small enough to fit on a keychain, which is one of its intended uses.

Phone Camera Button

A handy feature of this device is that you can use it as a remote button for your phone camera. That makes it handy to have around when you want to take group pictures.

Pros
  • Remote camera button for phones
  • Two in one pack
Cons
  • Limited range (only up to 50 meters outdoors)

Chipolo is a brand that has a range of Bluetooth products similar to Tile. The Chipolo One is round, with a hole big enough for key chains or a pet collar. This product has a better range than the Jiobbo, at up to 200 ft.

What we like

Free Extra Features

The Chipolo One offers free extra features like setting up voice commands for digital helpers like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also use it as a remote camera button for your phone.

Pros
  • Convenient size and shape for pet collars
  • Replaceable coin battery
Cons
  • Some reviewers face connection issues

This is the premium version of the Tile Mate we listed earlier. The Tile Pro has a longer, oblong shape, with a metal frame outside. Unlike the Mate, the battery on the Pro has a replaceable battery.

What We Like

Durable Build

The Tile Pro has a premium build quality that can stand up to practical use. The hard plastic does not bend when you sit on it, and the metal frame won’t wear out on a keychain. You can submerge it in three feet of water for 30 minutes without damaging it.

Pros
  • You can hear the loudspeaker over the noise in any room
  • Replaceable battery
Cons
  • More expensive than other options

Verdict

Trackers are an affordable and easy way to get security for your motorcycle. All the products on our list are affordable Bluetooth devices that can also be used on key chains. 

The usefulness of these products justifies their relatively low cost.

Overall, the best motorcycle tracker for us is the Apple AirTag. It has a longer Bluetooth range and a much better app. Apple also has vastly more users than any of the other brands here, so you’re more likely to find your device when out of range.   

Do you have any experience with the products on our list? Let us know in the comments.