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Bike Security Locks
Bike Security Locks
Lock Recommendation
Lock Recommendation
When choosing the proper lock, it is important to factor in wight, bulk, prices and local threat level. A different lock may also be preferred for quick stops, extended stops, securing to a vehicle or overnight parking. The following is recommended for quick and extended stops in our local urban areas.
U-Lock style lock with cable
Gold Rated
Examples:
Kryptonite KryptoLok (ideally with 4' Flex Cable)
Reasonable balance of security without the extra cost and weight of other locks
Comes in different sizes
Standard 9"
Easy to use
Mini-7 will work most of the time
You will have to get creative with some street poles
The 4' Flex Cable adds versatility
Often sold with Mini 7 Lock as a combo
Allows you to secure your front wheel in addition to your rear wheel and frame
You can also secure bike to larger objects such trees or to multiple security bars
Combo 8"
Uses Combination instead of high security keys
Great for Scouts and Adults who have trouble keeping track of keys
OK for Quick Stops, but not for longer urban stops
Kryptonite Evolution
Little more robust and heavier than KryptoLok
Comparable price to KryptoLok - may be less expensive depending on sale at time
Comes in many sizes
Evolution STD U Lock
Diamond Rating - even better than Gold
Easily fits most bike racks and city poles
Smaller ones are less versatile but lighter
Some of the smaller ones are only Silver Rated - not recommended in Seattle
Locks
Locks
If you on an urban outing, you MUST have a lock
- Reputable Lock Brands
Abus
Best quality locks
Most expensive of those listed here
German made with European steel (as well as some Chinese made stuff)
Kryptonite
High quality locks, just not has good as Abus
Made is Asia
OnGuard
Quality not as good as Abus or Kryptonite, but they are getting better
Certainly better than Master Lock or Chinese brands on Amazon and at Walmart
Best price compared to Abus and Kryptonite - often HALF the Price for comparable protection
Issues with jamming and sticking can be addressed with cleaning and lubing
Made is Asia
Hiplok
Makes quality "wearable" locks if that is your style of lock
- Security Ratings
Every company has their own security rating
Take these ratings with a grain of salt - published by the company trying to sell you their products
You can't adequatley compare locks from different companies when using different ratings systems
Youtube and online tests and videos are great - but misleading
Tests and tools used are not standardized
Content made more so for entertainment than education
Independent UK organization
Rates many bike locks from Bronze to Diamond
Bronze locks: "typically offer defense against the opportunist thief."
Silver locks: "offer a compromise between security and cost."
Gold locks: "offer the next highest level of security, aimed at mid-to-high value bicycles."
Pedal Cycle Diamond locks: "provide the highest level of security ... aimed at very high value bicycles and e-bikes."
Resists sustained attack from angle grinder for 90 seconds
Note: Essentially same as Powered Cycle Gold Rating
Powered Cycle Diamond: Overkill for bike security
You can compare most of the popular locks here
Independent Holland organization
Rates many bike locks from 1-5
1 star is minimum security (“take away security”)
2 stars for bicycles
3 stars for mopeds and scooters
4 stars for motorcycles (on the road)
5 stars for motorcycles (parked at home)
Lock Examples:
- U-Lock (aka D-Lock)
High Security Locks
Heavy
Preferred lock for use in in high crime urban areas
Lock frame and adjacent wheel to immovable objects
Ideally use cable to chain and secure other wheel
Level of security varies from lock to lock
A few are pretty bombproof
The rest will slow most thieves enough to deter most thefts in busy areas
Mini vs Standard
Standard sized U-Lock
Designed to cover the bike frame, rear wheel, a detached front wheel and a metal pole together
This the the primary method of locking bikes when bikes used quick release hubs
Now that many bike use heavy duty hubs with disc brakes, quick release hubs are less common
A Standard sized U-lock will fit around many larger posts and poles that a mini won't
A Mini U-Locks
Designed to lock the rear wheel to a street post
When you lock the rear wheel through the rear triangle of the frame, this essentially also locks the frame to the post
Depending on the lock you have (some are just too small) and size of the pole you are trying to secure your bike to, you might be able to grab a little bike frame inside the U also
Examples:
- Kryptonite
Reputable US Company
Locks made in Asia with Chinese Steel
Kryptonite KryptoLok
Gold Rated lock
Reasonable security for a reasonable price
Can find these on sale with cable for under $60
12.7mm hardened "Performance Steel Shackle"
Not as robust as high security locks, but also not has heavy or expensive
Weight:
2.3lbs for KryptoLok Combo (Pervious version was Gold Rated)
2.5lb for Mini 7
3.25lb for Mini 7 with Cable
2.9lb for Standard
Kryptonite Evolution
Gold Rated lock (mostly)
U is little more robust than KryptoLok
Hardened "Max Performance Steel Shackle"
Said to be more cut resistant
Little heavier than KryptoLok
Weight
2.65lb for Mini 5 (which is really small)
3.55lb for Mini 7 with cable
3.50lb for Standard
Kryptonite New York U-Lock
ART 3 and Diamond Rated lock!
Used by people in New York City
Highest security U-Lock lock by Kryptonite
Standard: 16mm hardened shackle
Mini: 18mm hardened shackle
Not as angle grinder resistant as some of the more robust locks by other companies
Weight
4.45lb Standard
4.55lb Fahgettaboudit Mini
- Abus
German Lock Company
Uses European Steel
Considered the BEST bike locks
More expensive than other brands, especially in the US
Abus GRANIT XPlus 470
12mm Hardened Shackle
Gold Rated lock option
Weight:
2.84lb
Abus Ultimate 420
Abus GRANIT XPlus 540
ART 3 and Diamond Rated lock!
13mm Hardened Shackle
XPlus cylinder for the highest level of protection against tampering, e.g. picking
Weight:
3.31lb
Abus Ultra 410 Plus Cobra U-Lock
Economy U-lock / Cable combo
12mm Hardened Shackle
Often a very affordable combo for Scouts with economy bikes
Silver Rated lock
A set of solid bolt cutters will snap these in half
NOT Recommended
Not the highest security lock available, but most likely is more than enough
Weight:
2.2lb
- OnGuard
Economy Brand
You get a lot more for your money, but quality isn't same as Kryptonite or Abus
Plan to lube and maintain lock as they get sticky over time
OnGuard Brute (Highest Security Level)
16.8mm shackle
Rated Diamond Rating
This is the MOST security per dollar spent for a bike lock
Weight:
3.9lbs for Brute 5.5 " Mini
4.1lbs for Brute 8 " STD
OnGuard Pitbull (Second-Highest Security Level)
14mm shackle
Rated or comparable to Diamond Rating
Weight:
2.9lb for 5.5 " Pitbull Mini
3.1lb for 7" Pitbull Medium
3.7lb for 9" Pitbull STD
OnGuard Bulldog (Medium Security Level)
Comes in 11mm or 13mm shackles
13 mm shackles are rated or comparable to Silver Rating
NOT Recommended for bike security
11 mm shackles are rated or comparable to Bronze Rating
Really too small to consider for a U-lock, even an economy one
Weight:
2.2lb for 5.5 " Bulldog Mini
2.4lb for 7 "Bulldog Medium
2.8lb for 9" Bulldog STD
- Angle Grinder Resistant U-Locks
Designed for expensive bikes (generally powered bikes) out overnight in an urban area
These tend to be heavy and very expensive
These are overkill for what we do
Examples:
Abus Super Granite Extreme 2500 U-Lock
ART 4 and Diamond Rated lock for both pedal and powered bikes!
27mm square shackle
Resists angle grinders
Use if you commute with an E-bike that costs several grand
Super expensive and unnecessary in our part of the world
This lock is expensive ($300) and overkill in our part of the world
Weight:
5.03lb
Hiplok D1000 (mini)
32mm square shackle
4.2 lbs
Hiplok DX1000
32mm square shackle
5.7 lbs
Litelok X1
Litelok X1 is considered the lightest of the angle grinder resistant locks
21 x 24mm shackle
3.97 x 7.7"
3.7 lb (1.7 kg)
Resist angle grinder for several minutes and requires a disc change
OnGuard RockSolid
15mm shackle
SkunkLock Chemical
Deterrent
Releases vomit inducing chemical
- Folding Lock
Excellent short term security (not overnight)
Much easier to pack away compared to U-Lock
Security
Not as good as a U-Lock
Far better than a cable lock
Weight
Maybe a bit lighter than a U-Lock...but depends on which lock you choose
Can be disabled with a variety of tools
Drill
Nut splitter
Example:
Abus Bordo Granit 6500K Folding Lock
5.5mm bars - beefiest folding lock at time of publication of this page
Gold Rated
Made in Germany
Many other variants with different levels of security
Weight:
3.68 lbs
Foldylock Compact
Lighter weight opion
Silver Rated
70 cm of internal space - which is less than other folding locks, but generally enough
Balance between weight and level of security
A Kryptonite Evolution LITE Mini 6 is lighter and provides about the same level of protection
The Foldylock Forever is a heavier and higher security lock option (Gold)
- Chains
Mobile Security
Ideally use a U-Lock
If you use a chain, use 8 or 10mm security chain
Use a 10mm security chain for the frame and rear wheel
You can use an 8 for a secondary lock, such as to secure your front wheel
an 8mm chain provides Silver level protection
Example Brands
Kryptonite or Abus
Hiplok makes chains you can wear around your waist
Must use High Security Lock with Chain
Static Security
10 to 12mm security chain for pedal bikes
12mm+ security chain for powered bikes
Example Brands
Kryptonite or Abus
Must use High Security Lock with Chain
See our Bike Security Chains Page
- Minimalist Lock
Allows some protection from someone looking for a quick ride
Don't really protect against true thieves looking for a bike
Pocket sized bolt cutters can disable these pretty quickly
NOT Recommended
Example:
Cable with combo lock
You can get one for less than $20
Ottolock Cinch Combination Bike Lock
Minimalist to pack
Can be cut with basic tools - see youtube j7ah3RA0Alo
Zip Style Locks
Look like oversized zip tie with a key or combo lock
Some are reinforced with thin metal
Very commonly used by cyclists for short stops because they are light and easy to pack
Pocket sized tin snips will easily cut through the best of these
- Combo Locks
Combination Locks are offer great Convivence over keyed locks
You don't have to carry or worry about losing a key for your bike
Acceptable for many outings outside of the City
OK for quick stops in the city
OK for a few hours in the the suburbs
Not a good option if you leave bike out at school where people can spend all day working the combo
This is NOT a Seattle Safe option
NOTE
A combination lock must have AT LEAST 4 digits to be somewhat effective
There are two disadvantages of Combo Locks
All combinations locks can be defeated over time without skills or tools
Lower quality locks can be defeated with minimal skill in less than 2 minutes with speed dialing or less by feeling for gates
Higher quality combo locks with false gates can be defeated with a bit of skill over a few seconds to minutes
MOST combination locks are low quality in general and come with cables, which are also easily defeated
There are few quality bike locks that use combination lock
Kryptonite Kryptolok 990 and 912 9.5mm chain locks are Gold Rated
KOHLBURG model Gothenburg (Göteborg) chain lock is Gold Rated
Warrior Combi 55CS 1200 - Lock & Chain Set is Gold Rated
Kryptonite Kryptolok Combo is Gold Rated (at least older generation was)
ABUS 471/150 HB 300 and HB230 Sinus Plus are Silver Rated
OnGuard Bulldog are Silver level (at least their non-combo ones are)
Squire Hammerhead are Snaplok are Silver Rated
- Other Locks
TiGr mini
This is a medium security lock
Not as good as a U-Lock
Far better than other locks listed in this section
Uses a titanium flat bar
Can be easily disabled with properly adjusted bolt cutters, or 10 minutes of hacksawing
Reasonably lightweight
Expensive
Won't work with 2 fat tires
Kryptonite Kryptolok 955 Mini chain lock
High Security chain lock
Gold Rated
Heavy
Wearable?
Litelok Core
Special Cable style lock
Larger ones are made to wear around your waist
A good set of bolt or cable cutters will cut through these pretty quickly
3.7lb
The Litelok Core+
Heavier duty version with a giant single core
Much more resistant to bolt cutters due to size
Does slow an angle grinder to some extent due to size
4.1lb for 75cm version
Supplemental Locks
Supplemental Locks
Used to secure other tire or wrap around other anchor point
Examples:
- Old School Chain
Excellent Supplemental Protection
Chains that are 16mm or larger are protected from bolt cutters
Examples:
OnGuard Mastiff Chain Lock
See our Bike Security Chains Page
- Metal Cable
Works with other locks
Deterrent more than security
Easy to cut through with cable cutters, hacksaw or bolt cutters
Example:
Kryptonite KryptoFlex Looped Security Cable
Security Chains
Security Chains
Security chains generally don't provide the same level of security as a quality U-Lock, but are more versatile. They allow you to lock your bike to anchors that a U-Lock can't wrap around or reach. Chains may also be the only viable option for securing your bike to a vehicle. Yes, a bike must be locked to a vehicle during transport, otherwise it may not be there when you get back from your mandatory bathroom break. Even bikes in the back of a truck with a camper shell should be chained.
Chains
Chains
If on the go, a 10mm chain designed for security with a quality lock should be sufficient
If your bike is left out overnight, you will want a chain that is 12mm or larger and one that is designed for security
See our Bike Security Chains Page for more on chains
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