We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here. In this article. A strong bike lock can make the difference between your ride home being secured, and that sinking feeling when your bike isn't where you left it.
Securing your bike with a great bike lock will not only thwart thieves' attempts to steal your bike, it could even put them off trying in the first place. But when many bike locks look pretty similar, it can be tricky to know in advance which ones are up to the job and which will let you down.
So our lab experts have posed as wannabe thieves, using bolt cutters, angle grinders and other lock-breaking tools to identify the locks that will keep your bike safe. We've also checked how easy they are to transport and use. Nobody wants to be wrestling with an unwieldy bike lock in a torrential downpour. A Best Buy bike lock will be easy to use and offer good security against even the most powerful tools — meaning a thief is likely to be spotted and interrupted when trying to steal your bike, or just give up.
Read on to discover the pros and cons of different types of bike lock, which bike locks made the grade in our tests, plus our top tips on how to buy the best bike lock.
How to buy the best bike — if you're in the market for a new bike, check our expert guide to getting the bike to suit you. Security experts recommend using two different types of lock to secure your bike, one of which should be a U-lock, according to the Met Police.
Different lock types need different tools to break, so using more than one lock type is likely to slow a thief down. If you're buying a bike lock for the first time, you may be baffled by what type to go for.
Read the key things you need know about the main types below, or go straight to our bike lock reviews if you know what you're after. This lock gets its name from its rigid, 'U-shaped' body. U-locks vary in size, strength and weight, but are generally regarded as the most secure type of lock. For this security there is sacrifice in flexibility. You need to be able to fit the rigid lock around your bike's frame and wheel plus the object you're securing your bike to, so check before you buy that it's the right size for your bike.
Chain locks are made up of a series of hardened steel links, usually inside a protective sleeve. They can offer similar levels of security as U-locks, but they have pros and cons by comparison. They're more flexible than U-locks so are easier to wrap around tight areas of a bike and secure it to a wider range of objects. But they tend to be heavier than similarly secure U-locks and are more likely to rattle if attached to your bike frame while cycling.
Folding locks consist of several solid steel arms, joined together by steel rivets. They fold up into a compact size, making them easy to transport in a bag or on the bike frame, but open up to a larger area than many other locks. This can make them a good choice if you have a large bike or need to secure it to thick object.
However, the multiple hinge points on a folding lock are potential weak spots that can be easier for a thief to break. Our tests aggressively attack the hinge points, though, so you can be sure a high-scoring folding lock still offers great security. Textile locks are made up of tough composite textiles, usually around a metal core. They offer security along with flexibility at a lower weight. Some are designed to be worn around the waist like a belt when not in use, making them easy to transport while cycling.
This security and flexibility come at a cost — other types of lock will give a similar level of security for less. Also, consider locking your bike up where other bikes have been secured. Never use a cable lock as a primary lock. When in doubt, discuss your security options with a reputable local bike shop who can advise based on your location, value of your bike and insurance requirements.
Types of bike locks. D-Lock The D-lock is also commonly known as a U-lock. Pros Cons A proven design Generally resistant to bolt cutters depending on the quality Generally lighter than the majority of chain locks Generally resistant to picking, drilling and leverage attacks Generally cheaper to comparable quality, Sold Secure chain locks Available at every Sold Secure rating level bronze, silver and gold Most come with a bracket for mounting to the bicycle frame. Chain Lock A chain lock consists of hardened metal links creating the chain.
Cable Lock Cable locks are lightweight bike locks that can be transported around pretty easily with minimal fuss. Folding lock As per the name they are folding and have a very compact design. Not many manufactures offer folding locks, so the choice is limited but there are many new start-ups in the bicycle security industry developing constantly Have not been on the market as long as D-locks.
It is wise to take good care of your lock to prevent jamming. Sometimes dirt or other elements can get into the mechanism causing a jam. The Steel-O-Chain strikes a good balance between weight and utility. It's 4. Like all bike chains these days, the links are wrapped in fabric to keep the metal pieces from scratching your bike's paint or finish. The Hiplok Gold is a 4.
There's no need to carry it in a bag or wrap it around the top tube of your frame. As long as your waist measures between 30 and 44 inches, just adjust it to fit your body and wear it while you ride. When you're ready to lock your bike, the chain attached to the belt is quite secure. The bike lock itself is Hiplok's strongest U-lock doesn't need to be mounted to your bike when you aren't using it.
It has clips that let you hook it over a belt or a backpack strap. It's 14 millimeters thick and weighs only 2. You might not be able to loop the lock through the frame and rear wheel to attach both to your lock-up point, especially if your lock-up point is a thick post or bike rack with particularly thick bars. If you run into that problem, use it with a chain, a second lock, or an add-on cable threaded through your front wheel.
Kryptonite's Evolution Series 4 was a fine chain, but the Abus I picked as the best chain offers better length, security, and weight.
The 's centimeter length was a bit short, especially when a chain lock's main advantage over the U-lock should be a greater reach. The Evolution Series 4 has the same millimeter six-sided chain links, but it's centimeters long—closer to the Abus' length—and 3 pounds heavier.
Abus' Granit XPlus was also a fine U-lock, but its metal U was only 13 millimeters thick compared to my top pick, the Kryptonite New York's 16 millimeters, although the Abus was lighter at 3. It has a millimeter-thick chain and millimeter-thick U-lock to secure that front wheel, but it weighs 7. Carrying that much weight just sucks. If you can sweat the poundage, it makes for a stronger combination than the Mini-7 and its weaker front-wheel cable.
That said, if you live in a high crime area, we suggest you invest in a gold Sold Secure rated lock if you can afford one. Not a market where novelty is rewarded by anything other than a missing bike, expect to see the same names appear in our list multiple times. Want a lighter lock? Almost all are based around a tempered steel construction, and weight is usually directly correlated to strength. Forsaking any pretence of being either fun, jazzy or cool, the Abus Granit X-Plus lock instead focusses solely on being the toughest mother out there.
Its square shackle is mega hard, and also reduces the leverage most jaw-type cutting tools can exert when compared to rounder alternatives. If anyone does manage to cut through, its boxy profile has the second benefit of preventing the lock being twisted open once chopped.
Meaning thieves will need to cut it in two places, this could double the amount of time it takes them to nick your bike. In terms of balancing security and practicality, this good as it gets. Kryptonite designed the New York Fahgettaboudit D-lock as an ultimate security bike lock. We've been lucky enough to have a test sample of the Fahgettaboudit for a few months. From that, we'd say, with the twang of Donnie Brasco's New Yorker accent ringing in our ears, this lock from Kryptonite is as tough as an American-Italian nonna talking about her cannolis.
Smaller than average, the Fahgettaboudit's narrow width makes it even tougher. However, it's worth noting that it's no lightweight. It's actually one of the heaviest on the market.
Its 18mm steel-hardened U-lock specs and Gold standard are reassuring, but the U-bar is small so can be tough to fit around bike stands.
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