Which motorbikes and scooters are stolen most, why 125cc scooters dominate, and how to lock a bike properly.
Source: DVLA stolen-vehicle records, released under Freedom of Information (FOIR13058), and DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120). Includes scooters and mopeds.
| # | Model | Stolen | 2024 | Licensed | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda PCX125 | 1,967 | 1,890 | 21,564 | 91.22 |
| 2 | Yamaha NMAX | 1,198 | 1,227 | 15,025 | 79.73 |
| 3 | Honda Vision | 898 | 1,007 | 11,847 | 75.8 |
| 4 | Yamaha MT range | 799 | 819 | 25,322 | 31.55 |
| 5 | Honda SH 125 | 456 | 394 | 7,003 | 65.11 |
| 6 | Honda Forza | 409 | 389 | 9,205 | 44.43 |
| 7 | Honda CBF 125 | 349 | 369 | 11,889 | 29.35 |
| 8 | Honda CBR range | 315 | 336 | 29,950 | 10.52 |
| 9 | Yamaha YZF-R range | 314 | 356 | 13,816 | 22.73 |
| 10 | Piaggio Vespa | 268 | 270 | 20,600 | 13.01 |
Per 1,000 = bikes stolen in 2025 for every 1,000 licensed. Motorbike average: 13.95; cars: 1.56. "Range" models group every engine size DfT files under one name.
Bikes stolen in 2025 per 1,000 licensed (models with 10,000+ licensed). Dashed line: motorbike average, 13.95
Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds recorded stolen by the DVLA, 2014–2025
Dataset last refreshed . We update these figures periodically; the underlying statistics are published less often than that.
The motorbikes thieves want most aren't big sports bikes but everyday 125cc scooters. The Honda PCX125, Yamaha NMAX and Honda Vision alone made up 21% of all motorbike thefts in 2025. At 91.22 per 1,000, a Honda PCX125 is around 58 times more likely to be stolen than the average car.
Scooters are light enough for two people to lift into a van, popular with commuters and delivery riders who park on the street, and in steady demand for parts. Some are stolen to commit other crimes, such as phone snatching, and then abandoned.
Lock the bike to something that can't move: a ground anchor at home, or a lamp post or bike bay rail on the street. Use a heavy chain kept off the ground, where it is harder to attack, plus a disc lock with a reminder cable so you don't ride off with it on. A cover hides which model it is, and an alarm or tracker adds a further layer. Many insurers specify Sold Secure Gold or Diamond rated locks.
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