The 5 best anti-theft systems for Honda SH
If you opened this article, you probably own an SH or have one in your family. Read carefully because you will find useful advice on how to make it safe and thief-proof. But first... let's understand who the protagonist of these lines is.
Why is the SH the best-selling (and stolen) scooter?
We cannot consider the SH as a simple scooter, because in Italy it is a real custom phenomenon. Since this model existed (the 50cc arrived in 1984) it has occupied the top positions of the sales charts and with the third generation in 2001 it exploded as the favorite commuter of the entire country.
Why is it the most loved scooter? Unquestionably for its quality/price ratio. In the 125 and 150cc versions it has ideal dimensions (not too small and not too large, a good middle ground), brilliant performance and high quality plastics and mechanics, which also make it robust and reliable.
A few numbers: in 2022 it was the best-selling two-wheeled vehicle in the country with 17,977 units registered (between 125 and 150), more than double the second place, the Kymco Agility R16 125, with 8,135 units (the list complete with the most stolen motorbikes and scooters in Italy ishere ). You can easily guess, therefore, that being the most popular scooter, it is also the first choice of thieves.
The reason is related precisely to sales numbers: if a product is successful, the illegal spare parts market will be equally vast and profitable. There are organized gangs specialized in the theft of SHs, which are dismembered and sold piecemeal in unofficial circuits or as used spare parts.
What are the 5 best anti-theft devices for SH?
- CHAIN
- EASYBLOCK
- GPS/SATELLITE/BLUETOOTH POSITION SIGNAL
- SOUND ALARM
- ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
It doesn't matter what year your Honda was registered, all SHs are widely distributed in the main Italian cities and all are subject to the attention of criminals, especially those that are better maintained and without obvious damage.
Equipping yourself with an anti-theft system is necessary, given the reality of the facts, and below you will find 5 useful tips to safeguard the safety of your beloved SH, chosen based on the technical characteristics and the context in which most SHs move: the city jungle. (But if you want to delve even further, here you will find a guide to the 10 best anti-theft devices for motorbikes and scooters ).
1 - CHAIN
The classic deadbolt is the simplest, oldest and most logical security system, yet it is still one of the most efficient in terms of active safety. Obviously you need to know how to use it, because incorrect positioning or a very low quality chain can make the system as unsafe as the steering lock.
To have the best protection against theft, it must be a heavy, excellent quality chain with an important and difficult-to-pick padlock, which can perhaps securely anchor the SH to an element of urban furniture such as a railing or a pole.
The downside is that - as far as the most secure bolts are concerned - they are heavy and bulky objects which can be very inconvenient to transport and which can cost several hundred euros. An excellent quality element occupies most of the space under the seat of your scooter.
Why is the chain good for the SH?
It is a light vehicle, which can easily be moved without attracting too much attention and loaded onto a van by two people even with little training in lifting weights. The importance of the chain, in this case, is linked to the possibility of anchoring the SH to a structural element of street furniture to avoid any type of easy movement.
2 - EASYBLOCK
This accessory has a similar logic to the disc lock because here too the rotation of the (rear) wheel is blocked mechanically, but it has a very different operation which significantly increases safety.
It is a system that is permanently anchored to the scooter's crankcase, therefore it becomes part of the vehicle's hardware and does not need to be assembled and disassembled every time, but only activated with the key. A pin blocks the rotation of the wheel and, being built with particular iron and steel alloys, it is difficult to neutralize quickly and silently.
The model designed for the SH has a spring that allows quick insertion with a simple pressure of the foot and a safety system that prevents accidental activation. At this link you will find all the info and you can purchase it .
WHY IS EASYBLOCK IDEAL FOR SH?
In addition to the excellent level of security of the wheel lock anti-theft device, the real step forward of this security solution is its ease of use. In fact, being installed directly on the vehicle and quick to activate without having to get your hands dirty or waste time, you tend to use it at every stop.
Unfortunately, too often rush makes us leave our vehicle unprotected.
3 - GPS/SATELLITE/BLUETOOTH POSITION SIGNAL
This is a passive system, meaning it manages to keep track of the motorbike that has been stolen via a signal that can be viewed on the smartphone, indicating which route the motorbike is taking in real time and where it is at every single moment.
Most of the time it is also linked to your phone number and sends a message or call when activated to alert you of the attempted theft. Unfortunately it does not prevent theft, but it significantly increases the chances of being found in the very short term.
Why is a position beacon good for the SH?
It is a very useful tool which - if accompanied by a mechanical anti-theft element - significantly increases the safety of your scooter. Having a lot of fairing and space available under the bodywork, it is easy to hide it and make it more difficult for thieves to neutralize it.
4 - AUDIBLE ALARM
The audible alarms will not stop the thief from taking your vehicle, but they will make anyone nearby notice that they are trying to steal your motorcycle. In conjunction with a mechanical anti-theft device that makes it difficult to move the vehicle, they prove to be a truly effective weapon in deterring bad guys.
Why is the sound alarm good for SH?
Since the SH is a city vehicle par excellence, it is very likely that it is parked for many hours at a time in public car parks where it can easily be reached by thieves. With an acoustic signal, even in a less crowded place, the thief will feel more vulnerable and the theft will be much more difficult for him.
5 - USE YOUR HEAD!
The fifth tip is not linked to an object that you can use, but to the prevention methods that you should know and apply every time you use the scooter. Security starts from raising awareness of the user himself who must think accordingly based on the situations to prevent theft from happening.
If you have a private space available in the courtyard or garage, always use it even for short stops, it is always better than leaving it on the road. If you have anti-theft systems, always activate them, even if you have the SH a few steps away from you and within sight. Avoid parking in too isolated places and don't leave the vehicle too exposed to view, this will make it less interceptable and less "attackable"
It is a question of common sense that must start from an important principle: NEVER underestimate thieves and never think that you are safe enough, because more often than not when we think "it's only 5 minutes, there's no need to set up the burglar alarm" , we are inviting to the wedding those individuals who want to make money with means owned by others.
If you want further advice, consult our " Complete guide to motorcycle safety to avoid theft ".
