Yes — if you want your insurance to pay anything when your bike is stolen, you need comprehensive coverage. Liability-only policies cover damage you cause to others; they pay nothing if your motorcycle disappears from your driveway. Theft falls under comprehensive, along with fire, vandalism, and weather damage.
Whether you need it depends on your situation:
- Financed or leased bike: your lender almost certainly requires comprehensive. Check your loan agreement.
- Owned outright: it's your call. Weigh the annual premium plus deductible against what you'd actually get paid if the bike vanished.
- High-theft model or street parking: comprehensive earns its keep. Sport bikes and popular cruisers parked outside in cities are prime targets.
- Old bike worth a few hundred dollars: the math may not work — you might be better off self-insuring and spending the money on prevention.
One honest caveat: comprehensive pays actual cash value by default, which on a depreciated bike can be less than you expect. Read your policy, know your deductible, and remember that insurance replaces money — it doesn't replace your bike or stop the theft in the first place. Layer it with physical security so you never have to file the claim.
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