In raw numbers, yes. Industry theft reports have shown California at or near the top of the state rankings for years, usually by a wide margin. If you ride in LA, the Bay Area, or San Diego, you're in some of the most theft-heavy territory in the country.
Some honest context, though: California also has more registered motorcycles than any other state, and a riding season that never ends. More bikes on the road, more months of the year, means more theft opportunities. So part of California's lead is simply scale.
That doesn't change what it means for you as a rider there:
- Street parking in dense neighborhoods is the highest-risk scenario — thieves with a van can take a locked bike in under a minute.
- Stolen bikes in CA are often parted out quickly or moved through ports, which is part of why so many are never recovered.
- Locks and alarms deter the opportunists, but the organized crews expect them.
California riders benefit most from a recovery layer on top of prevention: if the bike moves without you, you want to know immediately and know where it went.
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