Stolen VFR - NORCAL

My 2004 VFR was stolen yesterday in Weaverville, CA, of all places! The thieves took it from the motel parking lot while I was sleeping. It was in a line with three other motorcycles, including a new 1200 GS Adventure.

More on this after I return home tomorrow. The VFR is distinctive with CZ wheels and Ohlins and new paint.

May the thieves rot in Hell....

^^^ This.

Condolences to you.

Weaverville? Really?

Bunch of Redding rejects probably stole it and dumped it out in the boonies.

NO WAY! I've stayed in Weaverville a few times too - nice town.

I know there's lots of meth-heads up there. Will keep my eyes on Craigslist.

Yeah, Weaverville is a nice little town. The local CHP officer said that vehicle theft is rare in Trinity County. 

46 minutes ago, lazyeye

Weaverville? Really?

Bunch of Redding rejects probably stole it and dumped it out in the boonies.

That's my guess. An impulse theft. From now on every motorcycle I own will be chained up and have electronic anti-theft protection (including Scorpio GPS).  Grrrrr!

Was the Steering lock on as the VFR is a heavy thing to manoeuvre around other bikes and with HISS I assume they couldn't start it. Must have had a truck with a lift on it or crane. Condolences for your loss.  Hopefully if the police do recover it it is in the same condition and hasn't been trashed or torched.

Its a shock that the nice and friendly town of Weaverville is the scene of motorcycle thief but I guess no place is 100% safe...  its why some of my customers go to extreme measures...
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Motorcycle Theft and Your Insurance

Motorcycle theft is common problem in cities across the United States.
One theft claim can raise your motorcycle insurance rates and can
potentially cost you a great deal of money out of pocket, especially
if you’ve put a lot into custom parts.

Learn some of the major reasons why motorcycles are a major theft
target, how motorcycle theft can impact your insurance rates, and ways
to help prevent your bike from being stolen. Your Motorcycle: A Target
for Thieves

Several factors contribute to the pervasiveness of motorcycle theft.

First, a motorcycle is attractive for two main reasons:

    They can be sold for major profit as whole vehicles or for parts.
    They are often equipped with expensive aftermarket parts, which
    increases their value.

Second, a motorcycle is easier to steal than most cars. Whereas many
cars are equipped with anti-theft devices, motorcycles typically don’t
have the same features that prevent theft. Bikers rely mostly on locks
to prevent theft.

Third, many of the newer models start by remote, allowing thieves to
fire the ignition immediately with minimal fuss. Seasonal
Considerations

Motorcycles are seasonal modes of transportation for many riders,
meaning bikes are more present (and subsequently more prone to theft)
during the summer months.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), in 2012, the
month of July had the highest number of stolen motorcycles, with 5,529
thefts reported in the U.S. June and August had slightly fewer
instances.

February saw the lowest number of stolen bikes, with just over 2,000 thefts.

States like Florida, Texas, and California see the most instances of
bike theft due to their warm climates. Recovery Rates

The recovery rate is unfortunately low for stolen motorcycles. While
the NICB reports that in 2012 the recovery rate for all vehicles
increased, the rate for motorcycles remained relatively low, peaking
at 39%, compared to 53.9% for passenger vehicles. Commonly Stolen
Bikes

Not surprisingly, there are some bikes that are bigger targets than
others for thieves. Bikes that have very powerful engines and whose
parts can be sold off for high profit are highly valued by thieves.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the most commonly
stolen motorcycle make is Honda. The next most commonly stolen makes
are:

    Yamaha.
    Suzuki.
    Kawasaki.
    Harley-Davidson.

The Effect of a Claim on Your Motorcycle Insurance

When you report a theft claim to your auto insurance company, your
insurance rate can be immediately impacted.

Even though your policy may cover theft, submitting a claim could turn
you into a “high-risk” policyholder. As a result, your insurance
premium may rise.

As always, your rates will depend on your insurer and the type of
policy you hold.

Which Coverage Protects Me?

In order to fully protect you and your motorcycle, you must obtain the
right motorcycle insurance coverage.

For many riders, comprehensive coverage is the optimum choice because
it helps cover the cost of replacement due to theft. Furthermore, if
you decide to make any aftermarket enhancements on your bike, you
might also consider purchasing custom parts and equipment coverage.
Comprehensive will only cover the original bike and its parts, but
will not cover aftermarket additions.

To be completely protected in case of theft, you will need to obtain
custom parts and equipment coverage and report the exact amounts for
all custom parts to your insurance company.

To learn more, visit our Comprehensive Physical Damage Insurance for
Motorcycles page.

Preventing Motorcycle Theft

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), the first step in
preventing motorcycle theft is locking the ignition and removing the
key.

The MSF also provides the following additional tips to keep your bike safe:

    Obtain large, brightly colored tagged locks to lock your disc brakes or forks.
    Ensure your motorcycle is locked to a stationary object that cannot be easily moved.
    Install an alarm with a loud noise.

Whenever you travel, make sure the bike is either parked near your
room or in the garage right by the security camera. If you keep your
bike in a garage while at home, always make sure the door is closed
and locked.

Lastly, always keep your registration and other important documents
with you rather than in the bike, and be very careful about giving
away any personal information.

Taking basic preventative measures can prevent you from becoming a victim.

OMG! Major condolences - it was one beautiful bike with those CZ wheels. Many of us drooled at them.....

7 hours ago, Dutchy

May the thieves rot in Hell....

You're being too kind...

Bastards.   :angry:   I'll add Redding to my C/L saved searches for VFR's.  Town of 3,500 . . . apparently it can happen anywhere.  Sorry for your loss and best wishes for its recovery.

Thanks, everyone. You are making me feel better about this. 

Just purchased a 2016 BMW R1200 RS. May the thieves who stole my VFR rot in Hades!

Well I'm glad that its sorta working out for you! :)

Picking up the pieces. I would buy another VFR but I'm certain it would suffer by comparison with the Perfect One stolen by the loser thieves. 

Sorry to hear that. It's not usually a bike that you have to worry about thieves targeting, either. Even so, that's why I'll never drop comprehensive on a bike.

It can be extremely difficult getting insurance companies to pay for a motorcycle theft as they have strict conditions under which the bike must be stored which, if not inside a garage or other building, can be tricky to comply with.

I was under the impression that HISS does not come on VFRs in the USA.

Hopefully a hefty part of your new purchase has been softened by insurance compensation.

Death to the scum.

2 hours ago, Auspanglish

It can be extremely difficult getting insurance companies to pay for a motorcycle theft as they have strict conditions under which the bike must be stored which, if not inside a garage or other building, can be tricky to comply with.

I was under the impression that HISS does not come on VFRs in the USA.

Hopefully a hefty part of your new purchase has been softened by insurance compensation.

Death to the scum.

DEATH TO THE SCUM!

10 hours ago, Auspanglish

It can be extremely difficult getting insurance companies to pay for a motorcycle theft as they have strict conditions under which the bike must be stored which, if not inside a garage or other building, can be tricky to comply with.

I was under the impression that HISS does not come on VFRs in the USA.

Hopefully a hefty part of your new purchase has been softened by insurance compensation.

Death to the scum.

Correct: no HISS on US models.  It's not just that American Honda is cheap, though.  Compared with the UK (and, I imagine, places like Brazil!) motorcycle theft in the USA is thankfully rare.  I have bikes insured in the USA as well as here in the UK, and insurance is much different as well.  In the UK, at night my bikes MUST be locked with a massive 16mm chain and padlock inside a locked, brick-built garage--or my insurers won't pay for theft or vandalism.  My Progressive policy in the USA doesn't even require my bikes to be locked...

Ciao,

Sorry to hear about your bike - hope they catch the scumbag(s) who stole it.  I had my mountain bike stolen a couple years ago and fortunately for me the cops were able to track it down at a pawn shop about 15 miles away in a few days - the thief had pawned it within an hour of stealing it!

If you guys see my VFR or the wheels for sale, PM me. Beer is on me if we catch the Bad Guys!

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Hope you get it back in good shape.

Fat chance I know.

2 hours ago, VFR4Lee

Hope you get it back in good shape.

Fat chance I know.

 Thanks, Lee. Oddly enough, I have come to terms with the loss of the bike - even though it was PERFECT for me, it was just a machine when you get right down to it, and I have already replaced it with a BMW R 1200 RS.  I mainly just feel violated that someone arrogated for himself the privilege of TAKING my VFR - MY VFR - for himself. This creep doesn't deserve it! He deserves PUNISHMENT! I appreciate everyone here who has commiserated with me on this, and thank you too. It helps.

I can almost relate, but not quite. Someone went through my wife's and my vehicles in our driveway, scattering everything around, but not taking anything. Still, that someone went through my stuff trying to find something they wanted (left two pairs of Ray Bans and a pair of Oakleys, actually) and were too lazy to work for really got me angry. I have the same attitude as you, it's just a machine and I have insurance, but the idea of someone thinking they can just take something that you bust your ass for because they want it drives me nuts.

Makes you want to beat them like a pinata. :beatdeadhorse:

I think I'm going to be looking into concealable trackers soon...

Ciao,

Scorpio makes a GPS tracker that allows the owner to grant access to LEO agencies when the need arises. I am buying one for each of my motorcycles. Maybe for my dog too!

The problem with vehicle trackers these days is that with Chinese manufacturing and everybody and his brother stalking their exes (apologies to anyone actually affected by this), they're so cheap it's hard to tell which ones are well manufactured and which ones are not (see eBay 401175451993 for example).  Perhaps sticking with a name brand like Scorpio is the way to deal with this problem?

Ciao,