MCN's complete guide to motorcycle GPS trackers | Why they're important and which ones are the best

GPS trackers are a valuable piece of motorcycle security in the fight against bike theft and are so effective that they have actually changed the behaviour of many bike thieves.

Rather than taking a stolen motorbike straight back to their lock-up or home address, many thieves stash the machine somewhere nearby and watch for a few days to see if they are being tracked. This gives you a window of opportunity for recovery before your bike disappears forever.

Not all that long ago, vehicle trackers that could be monitored in real time were the reserve of TV shows and spy films. But as you’ll see in this page, the technology has become much more affordable and is accessible in one form or another to most bikers.

From all singing, all dancing systems that hard-wired into your bike and have a dedicated team on hand to call the police on your behalf, through to simple tags designed for finding lost keys but adapted for the task, there is an option for everyone.

Jump to

• Why are GPS trackers important?
• Budget vs premium trackers: what can you expect?
• The best motorcycle GPS trackers
• How MCN tests GPS trackers
• Frequently asked questions and tips

Why are GPS trackers important?

First of all, it’s worth noting that no single form of motorbike security is infallible. The trick is to combine layers of security with the aim of making your bike so awkward to take that the thief moves on to someone else’s.

Good quality locks and chains looped around a solid object or ground anchor, disc locks, bike covers and alarms all make the life of a would-be thief harder and should always be used when your bike is parked up at home. And if you have the use of a garage, make sure that is as secure as possible, too.

Portable security measures are obviously less robust because you need to be able to carry them, but disc locks, lighter chains, lever locks and bike covers are all options.

A GPS tracker should be seen as the absolute last resort in your armoury because it only comes into play after your bike has been taken – but if you find yourself in that situation you will be so glad that you fitted one.

Budget vs premium trackers: what can you expect? 

All tracker tech has got cheaper over the years and these days, even a top-of-the-range wired system only costs a few hundred pounds with an ongoing monthly subscription on top of that. Although not exactly pennies, it’s not as much as you might expect and is nothing compared to the soaring cost of modern motorbikes!

As you’d expect, these top-end options offer the most complete service. The trackers themselves combine several different technologies for accurately finding your bike wherever it is and even dedicated teams  in call centres that will liaise with your local police on your behalf.

At the other end of the market, there are plenty of unverifiable products cropping up from online retailers that promise the earth for rock bottom prices but the cheapest option I would consider using myself is the DB2 Vehicle GPS Tracker, which comes with a self-fitment option for under £40 (although it’ll cost you £60 per year to keep the subscription going after the initial period).

Another economical option I would consider is the combination of an Apple AirTag with a Muc-Off AirTag holder for a total price of just under £70. Except I can’t, because I don’t have an iPhone…

AirTags and similar options from other manufacturers aren’t designed for the job of motorcycle tracking, more for finding your keys or wallet. They don’t actually use satellite GPS for location info, but piggyback on the Bluetooth of nearby devices.

You still get tracking info and can see roughly where it is on a map, but you don’t get movement alerts in the same way as you can with proper trackers.

The other potential problem is that the police need a strong reason to suspect that your stolen motorbike is being kept in a location before they can force entry. An Apple AirTag or similar product may be accurate enough to get you to a storage yard, but not tell you which of the 200 containers you need to look inside.

Purpose-built trackers that use a combination of satellite GPS and radio frequency (RF) can often provide this level of detail down to which floor of a building your bike is on.

The best GPS motorcycle trackers

Other options to consider

Watch MCN recover a ‘stolen’ motorbike with BikeTrac in this video

Frequently asked questions and tips

Are motorcycle GPS trackers worth it?

Like any security product (or your insurance for that matter) a GPS tracker is worth it for the peace of mind it gives you. And if you ever need to use it, you’ll be so glad you had it! Check with your insurer before you choose one, too, as some companies offer discounts on your premium if you fit certain types of tracker which will offset the cost.

Does a tracker reduce motorbike insurance?

Fitting a tracker won’t always reduce your premium but it can. Check with your insurance provider before you choose one.

Do GPS trackers work on bikes?

Yes, GPS trackers are ideal for motorcycles and other power sports vehicles. There is less room to hide the unit than there is in a car, but it should be possible for most makes and models.

Can a stolen motorcycle be tracked?

Only if you have a tracker fitted. Beware social media strangers who recommend services that track vehicles without a tracker fitted as this a popular scam preying on the vulnerable and desperate.

How do I hide my GPS tracker on my motorcycle?

Depending on the unit’s size and shape, there are a few options for this. Underneath the seat is the most obvious and the most likely place a thief will look. See if you can secure it in a piece of hollow bodywork and always consult the manufacturer’s instructions first.

Does GPS tracker drain bike battery?

Not always. Some trackers have their own battery so they have no effect on the bike’s battery. Others have a function in their app that tells you what your bike’s battery level is and can even switch over to battery power when needed to preserve some charge.

If you leave your bike laid up for long periods you should consider a trickle charger which will solve the issue anyway.

How MCN tests GPS trackers

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

In the case of motorcycle GPS trackers, we will occasionally stage bike thefts to try the tech out but in our review we will mostly be discussing how easy the tracker is to fit and use, what the app interface is like and what it’s like to live with.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

If you can’t see a review against a GPS tracker on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

What our star ratings mean

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product 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 product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product 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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