Why bikes need a different approach
A car thief usually has to drive the car away. A motorbike can be lifted into a van or trailer in under a minute, with the ignition never turned on. Then it's often stashed in a shed or container while thieves decide what to do with it. Your tracker needs to notice movement, not just ignition, and report quickly.
What to look for
1. Hardwired, not battery-only
Battery trackers save power by reporting every few minutes or less often. By the time a bike shows up on the map, it may already be inside a shipping container. A hardwired tracker runs off the bike's battery and reports live while it's moving.
2. Small enough to hide
Space on a bike is tight. The Teltonika FMC920 is 79 × 43 × 12 mm, small enough to tuck under the seat, behind a side panel or in the tail.
3. A backup battery and power-cut alerts
Thieves sometimes disconnect the bike's battery. A tracker with its own backup battery keeps reporting and sends you an alert the moment the power is cut.
4. Movement and towing alerts
Look for alerts that trigger when the bike moves or is lifted, even with the ignition off. The FMC920 includes towing and unplug detection.
5. Low battery drain
Bikes often sit for weeks, so the tracker needs a deep sleep mode. The FMC920 draws under 2 mA at 12 V in its deepest sleep. You can also watch your bike's battery voltage in the app.
6. Some water resistance
Fit the tracker somewhere sheltered. The FMC920 is rated IP54 (splash resistant). For trail and adventure bikes that see deep water, ask us about the IP67 Teltonika FMC230.
Where to hide it
- Under the seat, wrapped and secured, away from the battery terminals.
- Inside the tail section or behind a side fairing.
- Never in an obvious spot like on top of the battery. That's the first place a thief looks.
The GPS and mobile antennas are inside the tracker, so it works under plastic, but avoid wrapping it in metal.
Why not an AirTag?
AirTags only update when an iPhone passes by, and iPhones warn people when an unknown AirTag is travelling with them. That's fine for your keys but a weak plan for a $20,000 bike. See AirTag vs GPS tracker.
What it costs
You buy the tracker once, then a monthly plan. GeoGuard's Personal plan is from $15 a month, including the data SIM, app, speed and ignition alerts, and 3 months of trip history.
