How to Completely Secure your Garage by MCN | The Best Garage Security Products

When learning to ride, we’re told that storing our bikes in the garage is by far the best solution – for security and cheaper motorbike insurance – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider some additional motorcycle garage security.

A nice sturdy brick or stone-built garage is the ideal; tough, protective, and should keep the bike warm and dry. However, sometimes your garage may not be quite as secure as you think. That up-and-over door might easily be jimmied open and then, thieves have a clear run at your bike.

There are plenty of ways you can give your bike extra layers of protection so that even if thieves do manage to get into your garage, they won’t have an easy time of it. The idea is to make your bike the least desirable option to the thieves. The more visible security you add, the more difficult it will be for them to get at and steal.

The best garage security deals

Great motorcycle garage security products

Here is a selection of garage security products that will help keep your motorcycle safe and secure.

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Security lights

First and foremost, light. Thieves hate light because it draws attention, so install a security floodlight above your garage that will come on when motion is detected. It can be mains or solar-powered depending on where you are fitting it. Here are two we’d suggest:

This 50-watt security light is waterproof to IP66 standard so that it can be mounted outside your garage door. The Immver floodlight comes with a remote, meaning you don't need to climb a ladder to the light itself in order to turn on/off the light, adjust the brightness, adjust the sensor working mode and sensitivity, and timing setting. The PIR sensor on this light has three settings for the delay time, two sensor modes and two sensitivity settings.

At 5000 lumens, the light is bright thanks to the cool white LED bulbs and can be adjusted from 10% to 100% brightness. The aluminium body has been treated to be heat and cold resistant and comes with a 6.5 foot cable and mounting bracket.

Pros

  • Easy to wire and set up with the remote
  •  You can adjust the tilt angle so you can get the best coverage
  •  The sensor is good at picking up movements
  • The remote makes it easy to control the functions of the light

Cons

  • Have to be within 3 metres for the remote to work
  • Limited options for adjusting the range
Power 50 W, mains 240V
Brightness 5000 Lumens
Detection angle 90-180 degrees
  • IP66 waterproof
  • Dimmable
  • Remote to turn on/off the light, adjust the brightness, adjust the sensor working mode and sensitivity, and timing setting
Price: $24.99
This security light is equipped with high-sensitivity motion and optical sensors. It automatically turns on when it detects people or cars at night, with a sensing distance of 8-10 meters and a sensing angle of 120 degrees.

It offers two lighting modes: AUTO mode and DIM-AUTO mode, which can be selected using the included remote control. The outdoor motion sensor is designed to withstand harsh and severe weather conditions. We're told it has excellent heat and frost resistance, although we haven't tested it ourselves.

There is a three-metre cable provided, which allows you to place the solar panel wherever it will absorb the most sunlight.

Pros

  • The lights are bright and will sense motion up to 10 metres
  • It's easy to install the light to the wall and the solar panel to the best spot for maximum sunlight within 3 metres (the length of the cable)
  • This is much cheaper than lights that need rechargeable batteries
  • The remote control is handy for adjusting the settings if needed

Cons

  • Can't alter the length of time the lights stay on
  • Look big in the picture but smaller in real life - but still very bright
Cable length 3 metres
Material Plastic
Bulb base e27
Light source LED
Power source Solar
  • Provides around 200 lighting cycles (20 seconds each time) throughout the night
  • Approximately 6 hrs to charge fully
  • High-sensitivity motion and optical sensors
  • 1200LM brightness & 3 adjustable heads

Chains and anchors

Related: Best portable motorcycle locks

Physically attaching your motorcycle to an anchored point with a chain and lock is another option that can be used in combination with things like security cameras and lights. The best chains have short shackled padlocks to make it trickier for thieves to cut, paired with a sheathed heavy duty chain. If you don’t already have a good anchor point for the chain you can install a specific anchor to attach to, and great ones of these feature multiple securing mechanisms (like epoxy resin and bolts) yet don’t take a professional to install.

Here are a few brilliant options:

Price: £125.79 (chain) £159.99 (lock)
Find the Oxford Beast lock here

Tested by Rich Newland for 11 months:

"The trend for heavyweight locks built to meet the Sold Secure Motorcycle Diamond standard, has resulted in some monstrous products and Oxford's Beast is one of them.

"At over 15kg this is home security only. The fat barrel lock weighs 3.6kg, boasts a 30mm hardened locking pin, measures 12.5cm by almost 9cm and would make for an effective sledgehammer if you stuck a handle on it.

"Meanwhile, the 1.5m chain (there is a 2m option at £229.99) weighs 12kg and uses 22mm links. As well as being Sold Secure Diamond rated, it gets an ART 5 ranking for its ability to resist attack and is rated as Secured By Design.
 
"The sheer bulk means it won't work at all with some bikes and if you have wire spoked wheels you may not be able to get the chain through the gaps. But, physical demands aside, it's a serious deterrent - and well worth the investment if you can make its size work with your bike."

Pros

  • Would take a very long time to attack
  • Maximum security rating

Cons

  • Very heavy
  • Not compatible with all bikes
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Ease of use
    4.0
  • Overall
    4.0
Sold Secure rating Diamond
Size 1.5 - 2.0 meters
Material Hardened steel
Weight 12kg - 15.5kg
  • Oxford's largest and strongest ever chain
  • Black painted 22mm links
  • Compatible with Beast lock and ground anchor
Tested by Saffron Wilson for six months:

"If you're looking for a substantial ground anchor to give you peace of mind in the garage, then the Beast is a great choice.

"This 4kg anchor is perfect for chunky chains and has double layered strength with a hardened steel construction which has received a Sold Secure Diamond rating, the highest rating possible. It's said to resist angle grinders, comes with anti- tamper fittings and can be fitted to concrete floors and brick walls.

"I personally popped it in my concrete floor with some heavy-duty drill bits borrowed from the neighbour and aside from creating the holes, it was easy to install. Although it's bigger than previous ground anchors I've used, it didn't impact on garage space too much and it's easy to manoeuvre a chain around and through."

Pros

  • Big enough for chunky chains
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • Big unit to walk around
  • Proves that size does matter
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Ease of use
    4.0
  • Overall
    4.0
Sold Secure rating Diamond
Size ‎24.6 x 13.5 x 10 cm (in box)
Material Hardened steel
Weight 4kg
  • Instructions included and fittings supplied
  • Fits all Oxford chains
Tested by Dan Sutherland for one year:

"It’s incredibly important to protect your motorcycle from theft. Not just when you’re out and about, but when it’s tucked up at home, too.

"As something of a serial worrier, I like to guard my bikes with the chunkiest, heaviest chains I can, to give me peace of mind it will stay safe when they are parked up overnight. This was particularly important when I moved to a house with the parking situated away from the property, and I called upon the security experts at Milenco to help keep my babies safe and sound.

"Sharing the house with another biker, I opted for the 1.4-metre, 14mm chain and mid-sized Dundrod+ U-lock with the idea being that we could run it through both of our front wheels for shared protection. Weighing in at 9.2kg, the bulky combo works a treat. Not only is it named after one of my favourite road racing venues, but it also provides just enough length to keep both machines together, with multiple keys coming as standard to allow us both access whenever required. 

"Away from the sheer size, the lock passes the Sold Secure Motorcycle Gold standard and remains quite light in your hand. There’s a hefty 14mm shackle to make it harder to cut through too, plus corrosion-resistant coating. I’ve seen no rust on mine, although it has spent its life in dry garages, and the keys have never had any resistance when turning in the lock.

"The chrome-moly steel chain is 14mm thick and whilst I haven’t taken a saw to it, it is claimed to be able to withstand a five minute attack from various tools – which should prove a deterrent if any thieves decide to have a go. 

"Despite its strength, it remains narrow enough to squeeze between the spokes of my old 1996 Honda CG125, too. However, I always aim for the bottom of the rim for fear of the weight damaging the dainty wheel structure. 

"The only criticism I have is of the chain’s blue outer cover, which can sometimes work its way around and bunch up at one end – obscuring the chain loop for the U-lock. This is a minor inconvenience though."

Pros

  • Corrosion resistant
  • Low risk of damaging your bike's paint in use

Cons

  • Lock is weaker than the chain
  • Outer cover can bunch up at one end
  • Quality
    4.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Ease of use
    3.0
  • Overall
    4.0
Sold Secure rating Gold
Size 1 meter
Material High-grade steel
Weight 9.2kg
  • Lifetime lock warranty included
  • Pick resistant lock
  • Comes with 3 keys

Gold rated bolt-in

Tested by Ben Clarke for six months:

"With the rubber cover in place the Snaefell measures in at an imposing 350mm x 350mm (1sqft in old money).

"I’ve managed to install mine in deep tarmac, but I feel like it would be more secure in concrete. That’s not to say that it feels like it’s going anywhere.

"The hoop design makes it very easy to get your chain through and because of the way it pivots, there’s no fiddling around necessary. It’s not been tested by a thief yet (touch wood) but with a Sold Secure gold rating and a hardened 22mm steel link, I’d expect it to hold up well."

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Folds flat when not in use

Cons

  • More expensive than the competition
  • Much bigger than other options
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Ease of use
    5.0
  • Overall
    5.0
Sold Secure rating Gold
Size 5 x 32 x 32 cm (in box)
Construction Hardened steel
Weight 5.57kg
  • Folding design
  • Full instructions and Fitting kit included
Tested by Ben Clarke for two months:

"The recently updated Oxford Nemesis lock and chain set is a great middle ground between a portable chain you might use out and about and the kind of heavy-duty metalwork you could only realistically deploy at home.

"At 7.7kg (1.2m version), it's a little too heavy to carry with you on the road but the 16mm hardened steel links are more than a set of bolt croppers can munch through, so if you are able to carry it somewhere it offers a great level of security (it carries a Sold Secure Gold rating).

"On the plus side, it's dainty enough to fit between the spokes of most bikes-the fairly tight pattern of the Indian FTR S's cast rims are no problem - and it's light enough to manhandle without issue, too. As an added bonus, the padlock acts as a disc lock when you're out and about and you can arrange the chain in such a way that it's locked to the disc to make it harder for thieves to move your bike around and gain access with cutting tools. The fabric sleeve protects your paintwork and this is the first chain I've used where the studs holding the sleeve in place haven't immediately given up.
 
"The £189.99 price is a little salty but when you consider the lock's double use it doesn't seem so bad. There are plenty of deals to be had online, too."

Pros

  • Just light enough to carry
  • Long lengths available - up to 2m
  • Still fits through most bike rims

Cons

  • Chunky and heavy
  • Only fits through bigger ground anchors
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Ease of use
    4.0
  • Overall
    4.0
Sold Secure rating Gold
Size 1.2 - 2.0 meters
Material Hardened steel
Weight 7.7kg
  • 16mm hardened steel shackle
  • Anti-pick and anti-drill lock cylinder
  • Shock-resistant rubber over-moulded lock body
  • 3 (replaceable) keys provided with dust cover
  • Double security by securing onto the disc with chain
  • Reassuringly huge 16mm hardened steel chain links
  • Cloth sleeve helps protects paintwork
  • Zinc coated to help prevent corrosion

Related: Best motorcycle chains and locks

Garage door security

Of course, if you make it difficult for the thieves to get into the garage in the first place, it’ll help deter them. There are a few options for stopping would-be burglars from getting your garage door open, be it an up-and-over door or a roller shutter.

MCN Rated
Price: $93.51
The premise of Garage Defender is simple - it prevents up-and-over garage doors from being opened, so even if thieves do get in somehow, like through a window or a side door, they can't get out with your bike.

It uses a plate that is fixed to the floor and then, an upstand bar is locked to the plate with a hefty padlock, preventing the bottom of the door from moving forwards as it opens. The fixings are under the lock and behind the door in the garage and though this version is intended for concrete floors and driveways, there are also versions for tarmac and paving.

MCN says: “This solid-steel Defender is a great initial barrier to prevent the crims getting your door open.”

Pros

  • Sturdy and well fitting - will deter most casual thieves
  • Should be easy to fit with the right tools and depending on the type of surface you're installing into
  • Peace of mind knowing there's a trusted brand protecting your garage door

Cons

  • Lock might rust since it's outdoors - can get a non-rust lock if needed
  • Would be good if lock came with a cover - can improvise with a cut down tennis ball or similar
Sold Secure rating: Bronze (domestic)
Dimensions ‎26.8 x 10.21 x 21.21 cm; 3.39 kg
Finish Black powder coating
  • Hocky-puc shackleless padlock
  • Bolts supplied
  • Flat base to bolt to the floor
Price: $98.80
Here is a simple but straightforward and reasonably affordable garage door security solution to start off with. This heavy-duty security L-shaped bracket with inclusive lock simply bolts to your door with the locking barrel cemented into the ground.

The bracket’s made of 6mm steel, there’s a hardened-steel lock bolt, it’s highly rated, brightly painted so is a visual deterrent too and works well enough, although it’s not as large and extensive as some garage door security.

Pros

  • Great value for money and is much stronger than your standard garage door locks
  • Very secure locking device if you don't mind a bit of effort installing
  • Mid-range price so is affordable for good peace of mind
  • Really strong and highly visible deterrent

Cons

  • There’s a cover but rain can get into the lock
  • The depth of the 'indentations' in the key hole are not quite as varied as could be
  • Requires some drilling and needs to be cemented into the ground
Dimensions ‎14.2 x 7.5 x 8.6 cm; 1.36 kg
Construction Steel
In the pack ‎Plate, lock and bolts
  • Coach Bolts & Reinforcing Plate Supplied
Price: $110.33
Just like the Garage Defender prevents an up-and-over door from being opened, this lock prevents a roller-shutter garage door from doing the same, to prevent thieves from entering or wheeling your bike out.

The lock is set into the ground in concrete and the locking plate fits to the door. When open, the system sits flush to the ground and when locked, holds the door securely shut – the mechanism has been pull-tested to six tons.

Sold secure rating: Silver (domestic)

Pros

  • Very strong once installed properly
  • Tested to six ton pull so would take a huge effort to dislodge
  • "Untouchable" Sold Secure Gold approved lock

Cons

  • Can take longer to install if the floor is not flush
  • Must have the right tools
Sold Secure rating: Silver (domestic)
Material Alloy steel
Size ‎175H x 75W x 88L
  • Installation kit included
  • 5 year guarantee
  • anti-pick and anti-drill bolt

Alarms and cameras

A security camera or two can act as a deterrent if you signpost their coverage (you don’t actually need to highlight where they are though) and can be useful if someone does manage to break into your garage and makes off with some tools, for example.

Thieves hate noise as much as they do light, so an alarm that will sound if they attempt or gain entry will help scare them off and finally, if they do manage to get in, then additional security measures inside the garage to prevent them getting away with your bike will thwart them completely.

Tested by Rich Newland for two years:

"The XA14 is a portable, tough, Sold Secure ‘Motorcycle Powered Cycle Gold’ certified lock with a shouty 110dB alarm built in. Just compact enough to slide into a big jacket pocket, it is even better if you have room under the seat, in a tank-bag or rucksack.

"The main body is forged stainless steel and protects a sturdy 14mm locking pin. I’ve not yet found a bike that I can’t fit it to, and after two years of all-weather use the lock still feels like new.

"It’s bold in bright yellow – or more subtle if you take the black option. You get three sturdy keys; a reminder cord; and a USB lead to recharge the alarm battery – but no storage pouch."

Pros

  • Very portable
  • Easy to use
  • Effective alarm

Cons

  • No storage pouch included
  • Looks deceptively weedy
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Ease of use
    5.0
  • Overall
    5.0
Batteries Rechargeable lithium polymer
Size 10.16 x 7.62 x 5.08 cm
Included 3x keys, 1x USB charging cable, 1x reminder cord
  • Motion activated 110dB alarm
  • 14mm T-locking pin
  • Rechargeable lithium polymer battery, with USB charging cable included
  • Reminder cable included

Rrp: $39.92

Price: $38.00
In the same way thieves hate light, they also hate noise and this standalone garage alarm - which is Amazon's Choice in 'Garage alarm' - is a simple, battery-powered motion-detecting alarm with a 100dB siren.

If the correct code isn’t input within ten seconds of motion being detected, the siren sounds and not only should that scare any thieves away, it will also let you know someone is tampering with your bike.

Pros

  • Very loud siren when motion is detected
  • It's a small unit, so you can easily place it anywhere you want
  • An additional siren is available which makes it even louder if needed

Cons

  • The alarm beeps 10 seconds before it triggers the horn which could give away its location, so place it where an intruder can't reach it
  •  The alarm sometimes goes off when the battery gets low
Batteries AA batteries required
Size ‎3.3 x 6.5 x 16 cm; 120 g
Included ‎1x Yale Shed and Garage Alarm; 1x Fixing instructions 1x Fixings pack
  • Motion detection
  • Loud siren
  • 4 digit pincode
  • Wall mounted or standing
If you want a discrete outdoor camera to monitor what's going on before thieves get into your garage, then this Blink camera from Amazon will do just that. It's totally wireless, using battery power and runs day or night.

Like the indoor version, you can get motion detection alerts to your phone and two-way audio lets you make your presence and monitoring known. It’s easy to set up and use and gets great reviews online.

MCN says: “If you’re looking for an affordable, discreet and simple way to keep an eye on your garage, Amazon’s Blink is a blinking good deal.”

Pros

  • Good value especially if you get more than one camera
  • Easy to install with day and night recording ability as well as speakers enabling you to talk to people outside
  • Connects to your mobile phone and it is easy to access for saving and sending footage
  • There is a scheduling option to arm and disarm cameras

Cons

  • The Blink app can be glitchy and prone to crashing
  • The images are clear during the day time but only acceptable at night - still ok though
Video quality 1080p HD
Camera battery 2 AA 1.5V lithium batteries
Field of view 110 degrees
  • Night vision
  • Two year warranty
  • Mounting kit included
  • Speaker output and two way audio recording
If your garage is wired for mains electricity and is close enough to the house to pick up your Wi-Fi (or it has its own Wi-Fi), then this indoor camera, which is Amazon's Choice for 'Security camera' will keep an eye on things.

It can be set to detect motion and activate recording, as well as notify you via your smartphone and it records to a Micro SD card. You can control the view via smartphone or by voice control (with an appropriate screen control) and two-way audio allows you to scare thieves away.

Pros

  • Setting up the camera is easy and you can move the camera remotely
  • Viewing angles are flexible since you can pan and tilt the camera to cover the room
  • The night vision is clear - almost as good as daylight
  • Can take an instant still shot or record what you are seeing straight onto your smartphone/tablet

Cons

  • Firmware updates can sometimes cause glitches
  • Image quality is not so good if placed outdoors
Video resolution 1080p HD
Field of view 360 degree rotation and 114 degree vertical
Storage Micro SD card or Tapo Cloud
  • Motion detection
  • Night vision
  • Sound and light alarm
  • Two-way audio

FAQ

How much should you expect to spend on garage security?

The sky’s the limit when it comes to garage security; you could spend anywhere from a few quid on a cheap disc lock, to thousands of pounds on a top-spec security system. The chain, lock, and ground anchor are going to be the most expensive bits of your garage security kit, but they make the most effective part too. Grabbing one of each security measure in this list shouldn’t cost more than £500 all in, and will make a great investment into your bike’s security without spending the earth.

What’s the best motorcycle garage security?

If you can only pick one, go for a lock and chain. It makes your bike much more difficult to move, and having to cut through it will take time for a thief, drawing a lot of attention in the process. Pairing it with a ground anchor will stop thieves from lifting your bike out of the garage and into the van, so it’s a solid upgrade to add to your garage security later on. Finally, alarms and lights can be added, offering a lot of deterrent for relatively little cost.

How MCN tests garage security kit

Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the right kit for you, at the right price for your budget. We don’t take an angle grinder to our chains — that’s what Sold Secure do. We test our garage security the same way you’ll use yours; by using it day in, day out. And, we make sure to give them at least a few months in testing before sharing our findings. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.

While testing, we predominantly focus on quality, ease of use, and value. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each piece of garage security a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and offer a final verdict too. This page is only for the best garage security, so everything you’ll see has been awarded at least four stars overall – that’s the passing grade – but here’s what each score really means:

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A piece of garage security with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A piece of garage security with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.
3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A piece of garage security with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
4 stars – A piece of garage security has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A piece of garage security with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
5 stars – A piece of garage security has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A piece of garage security with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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