Relay theft is an attack on keyless entry systems. Two thieves work together: one stands near your home with a device that picks up the faint signal from your key fob inside, and relays it to a partner standing next to the vehicle. The vehicle thinks the key is present, unlocks, and starts. It's become a well-documented problem in the car world.
Does it affect motorcycles? In principle, yes — bikes with keyless ignition use similar proximity-based fobs, so the attack is technically possible, and riders with keyless bikes shouldn't assume immunity. In practice, though, relay theft is a much smaller part of motorcycle theft than car theft, for a simple reason: thieves don't need it. Most motorcycles are stolen by being lifted into a van, which defeats every ignition system ever made, keyed or keyless. Why bring electronics when three guys and sixty seconds do the job?
Sensible precautions if you ride a keyless bike:
- Store your fob in a signal-blocking (Faraday) pouch at home, and keep it away from doors and windows
- Don't rely on keyless ignition as security — it's a convenience feature
- Use the layers that stop the real threat: chain to an anchor, cover, alarm, hidden tracker
Protect against the theft method thieves actually use, and relay theft takes care of itself.
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