Motorcycle in carport in Tempe (Phoenix, Scottsdale: apartment complex, insurance, crime)

[Anglefan]

I like riding motorcycles and like the idea of a garage to assist with motorcycle theft prevention. However I notice there are a lot of houses in Tempe that do not have garages and have carports. Any insight on to how safe a motorcycle is from theft without a garage in Tempe?

[JGMotorsport64]

I’d recommend against it if you’re in the more central areas of Tempe. There’s a lot of property crime in that area.

[Brian_M]

My year in Phoenix was spent in an apartment complex. I had 3 motorcycles at the time (doing MMI, still kicking myself over that poor decision), and the Worst was someone messing with my bike covers. Meanwhile, we had about 3~4 thefts a week elsewhere in the apartment complex.


The first rule is to make your bike more of a hassle than the rest. Well, the first rule is to not have some ultra-rare or ultra-desirable bike, those will be stolen regardless of precautions taken. So, use a ny fahgettaboudit chain (about the best you can buy) to lock the FRAME of the motorcycle to something solid. A metal carport leg isn't solid, those things are cut quickly and easily allowing the bike to simply be rolled into the back of a van. You can install anchors into the concrete in a few ways (bolt-in, chemical fasteners, cut a hole and concrete in, etc...) Then add security lights, an audible alarm, and an Obvious camera (even if faux).


There's very little more to be done to Prevent theft at that point. From there it's simply a matter of having good insurance should theft happen.

[madison999]

What neighborhood?

[Anglefan]

Originally Posted by madison999

What neighborhood?

Not sure yet. I basically going to avoid northeast Tempe and probably stay south of Broadway. I know that still leaves a lot of different options though.

[madison999]

I live in noertheast Tempe, tons of people have bikes in car ports. I’d feel better about it here than the places I lived around southern and baseline

[Anglefan]

Originally Posted by madison999

I live in noertheast Tempe, tons of people have bikes in car ports. I’d feel better about it here than the places I lived around southern and baseline

I'm surprised I've heard people suggest go south of Broadway and the crime heat map I've looked at looked brightest in northeast Tempe. But overall you'd say it's fine?

[madison999]

Lots of my neighbors do it. I’m at Scottsdale rd and Mckellips. It’s probably better the further back you are in the neighborhood thus away from apartment buildings. But that probably applies everywhere.

I would feel ok about it at my house.

[Bummer]

Just one question, Anglefan . . . why take the risk?

A Motorcycle or any vehicle in a carport is nothing but a temptation.

Years ago when I was home hunting, at the top of my "must have list" was a fully enclosed Garage for two major reasons . . . 1) Vehicle Security and 2) an empty carport just screams "Nobody Home."

Good Luck.

[Anglefan]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Just one question, Anglefan . . . why take the risk?

A Motorcycle or any vehicle in a carport is nothing but a temptation.

Years ago when I was home hunting, at the top of my "must have list" was a fully enclosed Garage for two major reasons . . . 1) Vehicle Security and 2) an empty carport just screams "Nobody Home."

Good Luck.

Home availability and cost are the reasons. I really like the idea of having a garage though.