A motorcyclist injured in a crash is angered his prized bike was stolen from the shoulder of a busy highway as he was treated in hospital.

Jay Waaka hurtled into the back of a stationary 4WD ute on Christchurch's Queen Elizabeth II Dr about 7.30am yesterday while on his way to work.

The 31-year-old traffic management worker sustained bruises and grazing but was taken to Christchurch Hospital to be assessed after being thrown from his Suzuki GZ 250 motorcycle.

Before he departed in the back of an ambulance, he said police told him the $3000 bike would not be removed from the scene because he was not insured. However, police dispute this, saying Waaka asked it was left there.

He was released from hospital and drove past the scene, while en route to pick up his 7-month-old daughter, when he realised his motorbike had been pinched about 11.50am.

Waaka said the bike could not have been ridden away because he witnessed people dragging it off the road with locked wheels.

"I know how heavy my bike is, even if I was trying to get it up a ramp on to a trailer after the accident, I knew that was going to be a mission. So for someone to come along and take a stuffed bike and put it on a trailer or truck, it would have been a two or even three man job."

Waaka said his cousin drove past the bike about 11.15am, so the bike was likely taken between then and 11.50am when he arrived.

"So I missed it by 30 minutes."

He said he was disappointed police left the bike in a busy area, believing they could have done a better job to prevent it from being stolen and having another case on their books.

"Being on the side of the motorway, there is no houses around, there's nobody watching so it's opening for whoever wants it."

Inspector Derek Erasmus said Waaka asked police to leave the motorcyle at the scene.

He said the motorcycle had "good oversight" from many drivers in the area and CCTV cameras mounted at the Queen Elizabeth II Dr and Main North Rd intersection.

He confirmed Waaka reported the theft of his motorcycle to police, who were now investigating.

Information about theft can be passed on to Waaka on 0223407599, or to police on (03) 363 7400 or anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

- The Press