The 8 Best Motorcycle Alarms
Updated by · How we research
Riders who want noise, a stronger lock or the bike back need different gear. The Urban UR10 disc lock leads 8 motorcycle alarm locks, sirens and a GPS tracker. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
An alarm scares off a casual thief but won't stop one with tools, so pair it with a solid lock or chain and hide a siren from view. Riders use them at home, at work and on trips. Alarmed disc locks pin the brake rotor, stand-alone sirens arm with a remote, and GPS trackers call your phone when the bike moves.
From the manual
- The alarm is optional: push the lock closed twice within 15 seconds to arm it, and two beeps 10 seconds later confirm it's on. p. 3
- A bump brings six warning beeps; more movement within five seconds starts 10-second siren bursts, which stop when you open the lock with the key. p. 3
- A strange noise or glitch means the CR2 battery is due. It sits in the alarm module under a metal cover held by Allen screws. p. 3
- The two-year warranty needs the receipt and every key. Never force a sticky key; spray a PTFE lubricant and work it back and forth. p. 3
Why the Urban UR10 is our top pick
Our pick and our runner-up, the Urban UR6, run the same alarm sequence, so the choice comes down to the lock, and that's where the UR10 pulls ahead. The maker's sheets give both one sequence: six warning beeps when disturbed, then siren bursts in 10-second cycles if the attack goes on.1,4 Behind that noise, our pick has a 10-millimeter pin that locks at both the cylinder and the base, plus France's SRA approval,2 and Sold Secure lists it at Powered Cycle Gold, noting that the alarm isn't part of the approval.3
The runner-up is the cautionary tale. Its pin is 6 millimeters,5 it carries no attack rating,6 and when Bennetts BikeSocial went at one, it failed the prying and lump-hammer rounds, coming off after three blows.6 Its maker pitches it for brake discs too small for its certified locks, as a companion to them.5 We found no comparable published attack on the UR10, so its grade is the evidence, and Gold doesn't include an angle-grinder test.7 Bennetts consumer editor John Milbank adds that cutting the brake disc itself is the weakest point of most disc locks.7
Day to day the two live alike: a CR2 battery in a module behind Allen screws, and a two-year warranty that needs the receipt and every key for a claim.1,4 The UR6 arms with a button and tucks under a seat;6 the UR10 arms when you push the lock closed twice within 15 seconds.1
| Urban UR10 | Urban UR6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Locking pin | 10 mm, locks at both ends | 6 mm |
| Attack rating | Sold Secure Gold, SRA | None |
| Published attack test | None found | Off in 3 hammer blows |
| Alarm | 6 beeps, then siren | Same sequence |
| Arming | Push lock closed twice | Press a button |
From the manual
- Press the button within 15 seconds of locking to arm the alarm; skip it and the lock works as a plain disc lock. p. 3
- After the six warning beeps and any siren bursts, it goes back to watching once 15 seconds pass without movement. p. 3
- The CR2 battery lives in a swappable module behind Allen screws, and a warranty claim within two years needs the receipt and all the keys. p. 3
From the manual
- Carry the key fob on you, not on the bike or its key ring: if a thief takes both, the tracker never raises an alarm. p. 4
- After an alarm, positions arrive every 5 to 10 minutes while the bike moves, or every 2 to 3 with Live Tracking on. p. 10
- Once switched off, it wakes only when a USB-C cable is plugged in. No charger is included, and it won't charge below 41°F. pp. 18, 20
- The two-year warranty excludes the battery and is void if the case was opened or exposed to impact or fluids. p. 23
From the manual
- Register the key number with Kryptonite, and the first pair of replacement keys costs only a flat shipping fee. p. 1
- Theft protection is optional and paid: register online within 30 days of purchase for one or two years of cover. p. 1
- Lubricate the cylinder a few times a year with a silicone- or Teflon-based spray, never WD-40, which strips lubricant. p. 1
- Switch the alarm off before carrying the lock, or vibration on the move will set it off. p. 1
Editor's Notes
November 5, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read Urban's instruction sheets for the UR10 and UR6, the Monimoto 9 manual and Kryptonite's alarm lock sheet, then added a section on why the UR10 leads and notes from those documents under four picks. We corrected the UR10's warranty to two years and added its Sold Secure Gold listing, which an earlier version missed. We also fixed details of the UR6 hammer test, the Monimoto's alert time and the ABUS 8077 2.0 attack results.
October 19, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Urban UR10 alarmed disc lock tops a nearly all-new list. Almost nothing from the old one made it through. The Scorpio SRX-950, BlueFire Security Kit, Abus Granit Detecto X-Plus, Viper 3121V, Banvie Two-Way Anti-Hijacking and Tchipie Disc Lock are no longer available, and the Gorilla Automotive 9100, MysBiker Silver Knight and Rupse Anti-Theft have disappeared entirely. We also dropped the WSDcam Wireless. It's still sold, but the Fosmon 51087HOM does the same job with a better water rating and a lifetime warranty.
That left a gap. We couldn't find a hard-wired alarm system worth recommending right now, so the guide explains them instead. The new list leans on alarmed disc locks, plus a stand-alone siren and the Monimoto 9 tracker for riders who care more about getting the bike back than about noise.
One caveat runs through the whole page. An alarm scares off a casual thief, but it won't stop one with tools. The only published attack test of a lock here, Bennetts BikeSocial's test of the Urban UR6, showed exactly that.
Earlier notes
September 16, 2020, by Daniel Imperiale:
The one newcomer to our ranking is the Banvie Two-Way Anti-Hijacking, which has a lot of useful elements, including backlit screens on its pair of remotes that give you status updates about your bike. It also has a surprisingly good range. Ultimately, however, the system's durability kept it from cracking the top spots.
Personally, since I moved from the outskirts of LA closer to the city center, I've found one of these to be a necessity, and I opted for the Scorpio SRX-950 for the utter simplicity of its proximity arm/disarm function. I might have liked to save some coin and go with a simple disc brake lock like the Abus Granit Detecto X-Plus or the MysBiker Silver Knight, but I've got a high pair of tail pipes on a Scrambler, and custom panniers can get expensive, so I don't have any saddlebags to speak of. There are some excellent backpacks for motorcycling out there, but I don't always want to have one on me.
Keep an eye on installation complexity and battery care. If the setup keeps you from installing it, you're bike will be vulnerable until you do. And wired alarms can easily drain your battery if left on too long without running the bike, so if you have a dedicated parking spot that's safe near your home, and you only need the alarm to function when you're out and about, consider adding a trickle charger to your setup and reconnecting everything before you go out riding.
July 3, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
Alarms are a great way to enhance the security of your motorcycle. They come in a variety of forms, each of which offers a different level of theft deterrence. An alarm that is incorporated into a disc lock, such as the MysBiker Silver Knight, Abus Granit Detecto X-Plus 8077, and Tchipie Disc Lock, combines physical deterrence with audible. While these are a great way to keep your motorcycle safe, some people may find having to attach a lock to the disc every time they park their bike to be a hassle. Storing it while riding could also be an issue for someone who doesn't have any saddlebags.
Another option is to go with an alarm that connects to the bike's electrical system. Some, like the Scorpio SRX-950, have the ability to remotely stop the engine to prevent hot wiring. Others, like the BlueFire Security Kit and Rupse CE21, can flash the indicators at the same time as sounding a siren to attract even more attention.
If you know that you will be out of ear shot of your alarm, but still want to be aware if someone is tampering with your bike, you may want to consider the Gorilla Automotive 9100. It comes with a pager system that works up to a half a mile away and vibrates to alert you if the alarm has been triggered. Of all the models on our list, the Scorpio SRX-950 is probably the most convenient option, as it arms itself automatically when you walk away, and disarms itself as you approach. [2026 update: the Scorpio SRX-950 has since been discontinued and is no longer on this list.]
Special Honors
ABUS Granit Detecto X-Plus 8077 2.0 German lock maker ABUS builds the Granit Detecto X-Plus 8077 2.0 around a 13.5-millimeter bolt and a 100-decibel motion alarm. In Bennetts BikeSocial's attack tests, it passed the drill, pry bar, lump hammer, reciprocating saw and angle grinder rounds, where most alarm locks fail early, though the tester could cut its pin with a grinder on a bare test wheel. He wished the alarm were louder. It costs several times as much as a typical alarm lock and weighs about 934 grams. In the U.S., motorcycle parts shops such as 24mx carry it. abus.com
Lock, Siren Or Tracker: Pick The Job First
A stand-alone alarm is a small siren box you stick or tie to the bike and arm with a remote.
Motorcycle alarms come in four kinds, and they do different jobs. An alarmed disc lock puts a steel pin through a hole in the brake rotor so the wheel can't turn, and a motion sensor sets off a siren if someone moves the bike. A stand-alone alarm is a small siren box you stick or tie to the bike and arm with a remote. It fits anything but adds no physical security. Begin Motorcycling lists the same two kinds plus a third, the wired alarm.
A wired alarm connects to the bike's battery and harness. Better systems add an immobilizer that keeps the engine from starting, and they're harder to tamper with than a box on the outside. They need careful wiring, often by a shop.
A GPS tracker doesn't make noise at all. It calls or messages you when the bike moves and then shows where it is. In Bennetts BikeSocial's test of the Monimoto 9, the call came within a minute or so. That matters, because the National Insurance Crime Bureau counted 44,564 motorcycles reported stolen in the U.S. in 2025 and only 41% recovered. Hide a tracker with care: the review's author, consumer editor John Milbank, warns against the spot under the seat, because thieves typically check there and rip out what they find. Many riders use a lock alarm for the warning and a tracker for the recovery.
Loudness, Sensitivity And False Alarms
Aim for at least 100 decibels, the floor Begin Motorcycling suggests. The 110 to 120 decibel figures on most packages are makers' claims, not lab readings, so treat small differences as noise. Kryptonite's instruction sheet for its 6A alarm lock warns that a 120-decibel siren is loud enough to hurt unprotected ears, so arm it with the lock away from your head.
Sensitivity matters as much as volume. An alarm that goes off in the wind, or when a truck rumbles by, gets ignored by neighbors and switched off by its owner. Look for adjustable sensitivity, or a pre-alarm that chirps on the first bump and sounds the full siren only if the movement continues. In Bennetts' review of the Urban UR6, the sensor ignored wind but reacted to knocks. HiConsumption found the opposite trait in a cheap lock, which sometimes sounded as the key went in.
Check your local rules, too. Vehicle alarm limits in the U.S. are set by cities. San Mateo, California, for example, requires an alarm to stop within 15 minutes and lets police disconnect one that won't, at the owner's cost.
Fit, Strength And Living With A Disc Lock
Before you buy a disc lock, look at your brake rotor. Most alarm locks fit rotors up to about 7 millimeters thick, and the pin, usually 5.5 to 10 millimeters across, has to pass through one of the rotor's vent holes. A thicker pin is harder to cut, but it won't fit small holes on scooters and some sport bikes.
Don't expect a cheap alarm lock to stop a thief with tools. Bennetts' testers knocked the Urban UR6 off with three lump-hammer blows, and HiConsumption judged a budget lock's small pin likely cuttable in a few minutes. By contrast, the ABUS Granit Detecto X-Plus 8077 2.0 passed Bennetts' drill, pry, hammer, saw and grinder rounds, though the tester could cut its pin with a grinder on a bare test wheel. In the UK, insurers lean on Sold Secure ratings, which run Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond, and only Diamond includes an angle-grinder test. Our top pick, the Urban UR10, is listed at Gold, with a note that its alarm isn't part of the approval. Many budget alarm locks carry no rating at all, so check the listing on Sold Secure's site rather than trusting a box.
Riding off with a disc lock still fitted is an easy way to damage a bike. Sealey's disc lock instructions warn against it, and riders on forums describe bent forks and scratched wheels. Clip a reminder cable from the lock to the handlebar, and replace the battery as soon as the lock chirps that it's low.
How we researched this
This list was narrowed from 23 motorcycle alarms, alarm locks and trackers, including all 10 from the previous version of this page. We read Urban's alarm and battery instruction sheets for the UR10 and UR6 and its current catalogue, the English Monimoto 9 user manual, the Kryptonite alarm disc lock sheet linked from the Keeper's page, and the spec pages from Urban, Kryptonite and Fosmon. The independent evidence came from Sold Secure's approved-lock list, which rates the UR10 Gold, and from Bennetts BikeSocial's attack tests of the UR6 and the ABUS 8077 2.0 and its Monimoto 9 review. A search of the CPSC recall database on November 5, 2026, found no recalls for any brand on the list; ABUS's only one, in 2021, covered youth bike helmets.
Sources (23)
- Bennetts BikeSocial: Artago Urban UR6 review
- Bennetts BikeSocial: ABUS Granit Detecto X-Plus 8077 2.0 review
- Bennetts BikeSocial: Monimoto 9 review
- Rider Magazine: Monimoto 9 GPS tracker review
- HiConsumption: best anti-theft motorcycle gear
- Begin Motorcycling: motorcycle alarms
- Kryptonite: KryptoLok 6A alarm disc lock instructions
- Monimoto
- Fosmon
- Sold Secure
- Sealey: DL505 disc lock instructions
- National Insurance Crime Bureau: vehicle theft report
- City of San Mateo: vehicle alarm ordinance 7.30.060
- CPSC SaferProducts
- Urban: UR10 alarm and battery instructions
- Urban: UR6 alarm and battery instructions
- Urban: UR10 alarm disc lock
- Urban: UR6 alarm disc lock
- Urban: catalogue
- Sold Secure: Artago UR10 listing
- Monimoto: Monimoto 9 user manual
- Kryptonite: Keeper Alarm Disc Lock
- Confused.com: motorbike security and insurance
Frequently asked questions
Are motorcycle alarms worth it?
Yes, as a deterrent. A loud alarm scares off most opportunistic thieves and tells you or your neighbors that someone is at the bike. It won't stop a thief with tools or a van, so pair it with a solid chain or lock, and add a GPS tracker if recovery matters to you.
What is the loudest motorcycle alarm?
Several alarm disc locks claim 120 decibels, including the Urban UR10, the Urban UR6 and the Onvian Rechargeable Lock. Those are makers' figures, not independent measurements. Anything over about 100 decibels is loud enough to draw attention.
What is the best anti-theft device for a motorcycle?
Layers work best. An alarmed disc lock warns and slows a thief, a heavy chain to a fixed point stops the bike being lifted into a van, and a hidden GPS tracker helps get it back. No single device covers all three.
Do motorcycle alarms drain the battery?
Disc lock alarms and stand-alone sirens run on their own cells, so they don't touch the bike's battery. Wired alarms draw from the bike's battery, so a bike parked for weeks may need a battery tender.
Do I need a Sold Secure rated lock?
Sold Secure is a UK testing body with four grades, from Bronze to Diamond. UK insurers keep lists of approved security devices, and some take a little off the premium for one. Elsewhere a rating is still a useful sign that a lock passed timed attack tests, but Gold doesn't include an angle grinder, and an alarm isn't part of the approval.
Does a GPS tracker sound an alarm?
Usually not. A tracker like the Monimoto 9 calls your phone when the bike moves, and then shows its location. It's silent, so a thief doesn't know it's there.
