The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) released a report this week that claims motorcycle thefts decreased by 13 percent nationwide. 64,492 motorcycles were reported stolen in 2008, but that number dropped to 56,093 last year.
Experts are suggesting that motorcycle thefts are down for the same reason motorcycle deaths have decreased over the last year or so: the economy. New motorcycle sales dropped by 40 percent in 2009.
The states with the highest theft rates were California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia -- clearly showing a correlation between the length of a state's riding season and the chances of having a motorcycle stolen. The top brands targeted by theives were Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson, which comprised more than 77 percent of total bike thefts.
