Protect your motorcycle, and yourself

Be careful when you buy

With recovery rates typically in around 25 to 30 percent nationally, motorcycle owners need to take every precaution in protecting their investments. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends the following tips to help prevent motorcycle theft:

• Be wary of used cycles titled or registered as an "assembled vehicle." If possible, have your insurer inspect the cycle before purchasing it.

• Verify that a previously driven cycle titled and registered as a popular brand name is not an assembled clone made from aftermarket components.

• Look closely at used cycles for a title history that reveals numerous manufacturers' statements of origin for major component parts.

• Watch for cycles alleged to be "all custom." They could be assembled from stolen or altered aftermarket parts, especially chrome components.

• Be wary of cycles or major component parts that were allegedly acquired at a "swap meet."

• Obtain an expert appraisal and/or insurance policy pre-inspection before purchasing and insuring a used cycle.

• Insure your vehicle against damage and theft. Examine your policies closely and if you have questions or need clarification, contact your insurance company.

Florida ranked No. 2 in the National Insurance Crime Bureau's recently released listing of the top 10 states for motorcycle thefts in 2005. They are, with theft totals in parentheses:

1. California (9,110)

2. Florida (6,324)

3. Texas (5,755)

4. North Carolina (3,053)

5. Ohio (2,573)

6. Arizona (2,464)

7. New York (2,195)

8. Indiana (2,186)

9. Georgia (2,159)

10. Pennsylvania (2,021)

Nationally, 70,613 motorcycles were stolen in 2005, which is a slight decrease from the 71,108 stolen in 2004. This represents a loss of more than $434-million to motorcycle owners and the insurance industry.

The complete list for 2005, as well as 2004, is available at nicb.org.