You spent thousands of pounds on the Vespa GTS 300 because you desire to own it for years to come. That’s why losing your beloved bike to thieves can be a harrowing experience. 

This article will give you all the information you need to keep your scooter safe at home and when you are out and about. 

The Alarming Reality of Motorcycle Theft

• 9,492 motorbikes stolen in the UK in 2023.
• 58% are motorcycles, 42% are scooters and quads.
• 63 motorbikes and scooters stolen daily in the UK.
• Fastest recovery: Cheshire Constabulary, 12-day average.
• Slowest recovery: Norfolk Constabulary, 39-day average.

Understanding Motorcycle Theft Tactics

The Vespa GTS 300 will attract more attention from thieves given its value, but you will be less vulnerable to theft if you have a better grasp of how these miscreants operate. It's pretty easy to steal scooters, that’s the unfortunate truth, and you can only protect yourself by getting the right accessories and security systems to prevent each of the tactics explained below.

Forced Entry and Hotwiring

Relatively weak security systems like Croc locks, u-locks, and weak chains can be cut through using cable and bolt cutters that thieves can carry around easily. 

The ones that are true professionals have powerful bolt cutters and angle grinders for cutting through heavy chains.

Once they remove your lock, they will hotwire your bike and ride away unless you have an immobiliser installed. Yet, even a professional can bypass additional security features. 

Lock Picking and Tampering

The thief will be hunched over your bike, picking the padlock of your chain, and passersby will assume the miscreant is the actual owner of the scooter.

If the thieves can’t pick the lock and no one is nearby, they will use aerosols to freeze it before smashing it to bits.

Riders who park outside their apartment complex and in places with little pedestrian traffic are more vulnerable to this tactic.

Lift and Tow Theft

Many professional bike thieves work for organised crime groups, and most of their operations use this tactic.

Once an order is issued to get a specific bike, they will circle town in a van, and if they find a motorcycle or scooter that matches what they are looking for, they will stop and load it into their van quickly before zooming off.

There have been multiple instances of such brazen operations being conducted in broad daylight, and the only thing that can deter them is if the bike is chained securely to an immovable object like a pole. 

Choosing the Best Motorcycle Security System

Several scooter security systems are on the market, and sorting through them can be tedious. We have done the work for you and identified the top options for the five major types of security locks.

Wheel Lock

If you're looking for a convenient, reliable lock explicitly made for your Vespa GTS 300, the EasyBlock wheel lock could be your perfect choice. No need to carry it around as it's pre-installed on your scooter. Its robust 30mm inox rod mechanism can withstand various forceful attempts.

With just a simple push of the knob using your foot, you can lock up your Vespa and enjoy peace of mind knowing it's secure. And when you're ready to ride again, simply turn the key knob to quickly deactivate EasyBlock and hit the road.

Disc Locks

This device is a big padlock that you place through your disc rotor before bolting it. Its job is to prevent opportunistic thieves from wheeling away your scooter, but it won’t deter a professional from lifting the whole bike into a van.

One main advantage is that it is very portable, and you can easily stow it away in your under-seat storage when it isn’t needed. 

Vespa Disc Brake Lock	Gemini Tech’s Disc Brake Lock with Electronic Alarm	Oxford Mini T Disc Lock
10mm locking pin Drill proof and pick-proof Special steel casing  Reminder cable	Siren is triggered upon any attempt to tamper with the lock 6 LR44 batteries Stand-by mode Piaggio approved	5.5mm locking pin Three keys Carry pouch Available in black and yellow
£79.07	£63.99	£24.99

 

Chains and Padlocks

The best way to protect your Vespa is to secure it to an immovable object like a post or railing using a hardened chain, and it's very effective because it deters all the tactics we covered in the preceding section.

The main drawback is that the best chains most resistant to brute-force attacks are cumbersome and impractical to carry on your scooter. Since you are limited to weaker chains, we recommend combining it with another security lock for robust protection.

Vespa Chain Lock with Padlock	BikeTrac Grab Bag and Security Chain	Abus Granit Extreme Plus 59 Security Chain
10 mm steel chain Moisture cover protection Pick-proof and drill-proof hardened steel padlock  3.20kg weight OEM fit	Bolt-cutter resistant 10mm steel chain Attached Abus disc lock Two keys Carry bag 2.87kg weight	12mm hexagonal hardened steel chain Patented locking mechanism Two keys and code card Transport bag 4.7 kg weight
£73.52	£89.95	£200

 

 

Alarms and Immobilisers

Thieves prefer to act in secret, so the blaring horn or siren of an alarm is the exact opposite of what they want. This security approach relies excessively on the goodwill of passersby to help respond to the alarm, and you are better off adding a lock to provide multi-layered security.

We also recommend getting a technician to help install your alarm if you connect it to your battery.

Vespa Electronic Alarm	Datatool Evo Combined Immobilizer and Alarm	Scorpio SRX-900 Security System
Simple plug and play installation Self-powered Remote control  OEM fit	Fitted to scooter battery 3 sensitivity levels Forced ignition protection Underseat storage protection Battery voltage monitoring Alarm diagnostics	Fitted to scooter battery Manual arming and disarming Smart battery safeguard Remote
£113 (+ £78 installation kit)	£145	£157

 

GPS Tracking Devices

If your Vespa ever gets moved when you are out of sight, a good tracker will alert you and let you track its movement in real time.

Your tracker should only be a fail-safe security measure if an attacker gets past your other defences. If that happens, call the cops immediately, and let them know that you have the exact location of your ride.

BikeTrac	Datatool Stealth	Sizzapp
Real-time monitoring GPS and RF technology Nationwide company response service available to visit the theft location Professional installation required Thatcham S7 accredited	Real-time monitoring Rider ID tags Optional Remote GPS antenna Monitoring team with police connections Thatcham S5 approved	Real-time tracking Geozone alerts Crash alert Route sharing Speed data
£299(+ monthly subscription)	£359 (+ monthly subscription)	£238

 

Factors to Consider When Selecting Your Security System

• Compatibility with the Vespa GTS 300: some disc locks may be too big for the GTS 300’s disc brake, while some chains may be too heavy to store in your under-seat storage.
• Ease of Use and Portability: you need a range of security locks that you can use together or independently. You might need a wheel lock and chain for security during prolonged stays. And just the wheel lock that’s ideally activated and deactivated in seconds is enough for a quick stop.
• Resistance to Tempering and Cutting: portable security locks like Croc, cable, and most disc locks are too fragile to withstand brute force attacks. The chains everyone recommends to prevent such attacks are too heavy to carry. Go for a lock that is easy to transport yet strong enough to protect your scooter from attacks.

Conclusion

The Vespa GTS 300 doesn’t come with any reliable in-built security feature, and it's up to you to do what's necessary to protect your ride.

The right approach is to use a multi-layered security approach that combines complementary security systems to ensure your Vespa is always safe.