After analyzing motorcycle theft data from the past few years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports a 24-percent drop in overall totals across the nation.

NICB found that 65,678 motorcycles were lifted in 2007, compared with 49,791 in 2010. A familiar manufacturer topped the “most stolen” list: Honda, with 12,260 motorcycles taken without the owner's permisssion. The 2010 analysis of auto theft data, which NICB released earlier this year, reflected thieves' recurring preference for Honda passenger vehicles, specifically the 1994 Honda Accord.

Rounding out the top five makes stolen last year were Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Harley-Davidson, with 9,853; 7,869; 5,470, and 3,301, respectively. Combined, these five brands (including Hondas) accounted for 38,753 thefts in 2010, or 77.8 percent of the total. For 2010, the states with the most motorcycle thefts were: California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Indiana with 5,662; 4,394, 4,148, 2,649, and 1,925, respectively. These five states accounted for 18,778 thefts, or 37.7 percent of the total.

While NICB noted that overall thefts are down—reflecting the continuing decline in thefts of passenger vehicles and light trucks—so, too, are motorcycle sales. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales between 2009 (520,502 units) and 2010 (439,678 units) declined 16 percent. Not surprising, in 2010, the summer months of July (5,714) and August (5,380) saw the most theft activity. The fewest thefts were recorded during the months of February (2,403) and December (2,763). Over the entire period covered by this report, 2007-2010, the most thefts occurred in (26,352), with the fewest in December (13,944). The NICB's findings are based on data contained in the National Crime Information Center. The complete motorcycle theft report is available here.

Editor's Note: NICB released findings in April 2011 noting that motorcycle thefts declined 13 percent last year alone.

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