Looking for the perfect bike lock? So did we. Why trust us? We have tested tens of bike locks that cost from a couple of bucks to hundreds of dollars. What have we found out? Read below.
We bet you’re here not only to find out the exact manufacturer and model of a lock to buy but also to learn what type of lock should you choose. If so, read our buyer’s guide first.
What does ‘best bike lock’ mean for you? Most people would say it’s the most secure one. Well, that’s a fair argument. But, let’s keep in mind that any (and we mean it, absolutely any, with zero, zilch, nada exceptions) bike lock can be opened. It’s only a question of time and the thief’s expertise.
Now, let’s say that the most secure lock out there is a 10-pound chain lock. Great choice! But what if you’re an avid road cyclist with a carbon frame bike and carbon seat post, with every single ounce spared to make it ultimately lightweight – would that chain lock still make sense?
See, the best bike lock is the one that suits your needs best, that is a logical choice for your bike and hopefully, your budget. Below are locks we feel confident about, broken down by type.
This is the ultimate and time-proven U-lock. It has an 18mm-thick hardened steel shackle and that is one of the thickest and hardest on the market. In fact, it’s so hard that hydraulic cutters (the tools most often used by thieves on U-locks) literally explode when trying to cut it.
The version now being sold is the so-called ‘New-U’. Even though these locks were great before, the manufacturer came up with more improvements – cast zinc internals (compared to plastic parts before) and changed core tensioning (random middle disc rather than front disc on previous versions). This makes it harder to pick this lock, even though it is still possible.
The Fahgettaboutit also scored 10 out of 10 on Kryptonite Scale and a Gold on a reputable Sold Secure test – the bike lock testing authority. There’s also a Mini version of this lock that, as we can confirm, works fine with most bikes.
At just over three pounds, the Granit XPlus 540 is the most secure bike lock in ABUS lineup (15 out of 15 on their internal scale). They still make even heavier locks, but those are aimed at motorcycle owners. You can still buy one of those if weight is not an issue – they will have a higher numeric rating of 640 and more.
The shackle is 13mm-wide, but given its square profile and great hardening, it’s comparable to 16mm shackles from other manufacturers while providing better flexibility.
The lock mechanism consists of 7 discs with a disc locking system on top which makes it harder to pick with regular non-custom tools. The lock is made in Germany.
Another winner from Kryptonite – a flexible Evolution lock with a manganese steel chain (10mm link thickness). Combined with an extremely smooth and reliable locking mechanism this is probably our most favorite lock out there.
This is probably the best combination of portability, flexibility, and security on the market today. The links are hard to secure in place to cut with the grinder and the locking mechanism is resistant to hammer attacks thanks to robust metal casing around it.
The chain locks themselves are not very well-loved by bike thieves and this one is probably one of their worst nightmares.
If you prefer combination locks over those with keys – this is the best. Now, this is not your average combo lock that can be decoded by a six-grader. This time ABUS came up with something different.
See, when thieves see these locks decoding method of opening it comes up first in their mind – since it’s the least labor-intensive and the quietest. However, the manufacturer reworked the locking mechanism in a way that it provides no feedback when turning the numbered wheels, or better to say, equal feedback for all the numbers on all wheels.
A thief is already not happy by now and rushes to hammer and cut it – well 7mm hardened steel links will make sure he will have a lot of fun with that, too.
Although not the lightest, this is certainly the most secure folding lock out there.
It uses 5.5mm-thick hardened steel plates covered with plastic coating. As for the locking mechanism, there’s a flagship X-Plus cylinder lock from ABUS.
The rivets holding the plates together are extremely strong, but could still be tackled by nut splitter (not a very common tool). The plates are hard enough to withstand cutter attacks from opportunists but could fail the angle grinder.
We recommend this lock for low-crime areas, or where you could have a bike somewhere in sight. Even though they are flexible and compact, folding locks are still less secure than chains or U-locks.
Foldylock (coming creators of more popular Seatylock) is a relatively new name in bike security space, however, this lock is quite interesting. It has a Silver rating score from Sold Secure, which is not bad at all for this type of lock.
The lock comes with a mounting bracket for easy carrying on your bike frame (placed on bottle holder openings).
It’s pretty light even for a folding lock – 2.2 pounds, which makes it an ideal choice if you aim for the least amount of carrying weight possible.
For many people, cable locks with a combination mechanism look like a Dollar Store item, but this lock is very different. Yes, it provides less protection combined to chain locks, but gives more flexibility and is extremely lightweight.
It’s manufactured by Kryptonite, one of the key players in the bike lock market – so it provides respectable protection even on a low budget. Kryptoflex 1018 features a 10mm flexible braided cable and four-digit combination lock.
We recommend using this lock either on low-cost bikes (kids bikes, maybe) during quick stops or as an additional way to secure your more expensive bike.
For many people, cable locks with a combination mechanism look like a Dollar Store item, but this lock is very different. Yes, it provides less protection combined to chain locks, but gives more flexibility and is extremely lightweight.
It’s manufactured by Kryptonite, one of the key players in the bike lock market – so it provides respectable protection even on a low budget. Kryptoflex 1018 features a 10mm flexible braided cable and four-digit combination lock.
We recommend using this lock either on low-cost bikes (kids bikes, maybe) during quick stops or as an additional way to secure your more expensive bike.
This is a great additional security measure to make sure your saddle will not get stolen. In most cases seats are stolen together with seat post – by default, on most bikes, there’s a simple quick-release clamp.
This lock simply replaces the clamp with a new locked one, and you get a special key (make sure not to lose it!).
This is a great option in case you don’t share your bike with anyone – you simply adjust the seat height once and lock it in place.
Wheels (together with tires) can get pretty expensive, especially if you upgraded the stock ones for something better. Just like with seat posts, by default, many bikes today are equipped with a quick-release clamp. This makes them an amazingly easy target for thieves.
With this set, you get two skewers (smaller for front and larger for the rear wheel) with locks and a key.
The downside is that you will have to give up the quick-release functionality, but you get an extra piece of mind in return.
This flexible braided steel cable is a great extra measure if you only want to use one lock, but still secure removable parts – wheels, seat or maybe a rear rack.
You would simply lock your bike with any standard U-lock, chain or folding lock and loop this cable around those most valuable parts of your bike.
Of course, these 10 millimeters of width could be easily dealt with by pretty much any cable cutter, but remember, this is just an additional way of securing the bike.
If you have disc brakes on your bike, this disc rotor lock from Catalpa is a great option. This type of locks is pretty popular among motorcycle owners and recently became available for cyclists, too.
This lock might make more sense to use with heavier (and more expensive) electric bikes. Simply because regular ones are easy to carry.
Depending on the size of vent holes in your brakes (and given you have enough clearance between wheel spokes) you may also be able to use some motorcycle disc locks, too. However not the beefier ones.
Although not a lock itself, bike alarms are rising in popularity today. The idea behind most of them is simple: if your bike is being moved, a sound goes on. Some bike alarms are integrated into locks (Abs Bordo 6000 is a good example), while others are standalone devices.
You can usually buy an alarm system for a relatively low price of under $50. However, it will only incorporate very basic technology. Most often it’s a motion or vibration sensor, which, when actuated, will trigger a sound alarm, an extremely loud one (the equivalent of a car horn beeping with 3-foot distance from your ear).
Alarms are only good if they are used in conjunction with locks. They are not visible at first glance, so a thief might be tempted to try luck with your bike. If there’s a lock in place – at least some opportunists may be deterred.
These will not prevent your bike from being stolen, but, hopefully will help to locate it, if it ever is stolen. These devices are hidden somewhere around your bike, or even inside it. An example location – they can be disguised as bike lights (usually rear).
If a bike is moved, the tracker will start sending text messages with GPS locations. Some manufacturers have a web app where you can log in and see the current location on a map. They work through a 2G network, so a cheap cell plan (about $5/month) would be needed.
Modern bike thieves use a wide range of tools and for against some of them (cordless grinders) pretty much any lock is useless. We believe that the key to success (not having your bike stolen) is to use a combination of protection methods and some common sense.
See, if the lock is meant to open, it can be open by someone other than you and against your will. The point here is to make it as hard as possible for a thief to open your lock, thus eliminating the sense of doing it whatsoever. Remember, in order to not be stolen your bike lock only needs to be better than that of a bike next to you. We’re joking, of course, but this is the mindset we have.
These are the most common bike locks out there, and definitely the cheapest. You can find them equipped with either key locks or combination locks. Despite the fact they are absolutely useless against any type of breakage except saw, for some reason, they are still very popular.
It’s worth mentioning there are some premium cable locks that use thick cables and advanced locks. However, at this price point, you can buy a combo of decent folding or u-locks.
When it comes to cheap cable locks, they can still be used in the following scenarios: low crime areas, or with cheap bikes that no sane thief will ever touch.
As a standalone bike lock, cable locks are not worth it, but cables themselves are great when used together with other lock types, like U-locks or folding and chain locks.
For example, you can use a U-lock to attach your frame to an object and you make a loop with your cable attaching your saddle to U-lock. Or, your wheels if they have quick-release on them. Basically, any component that is easily removable.
These have popped up relatively recently and are becoming increasingly popular every day. Folding bike locks have the flexibility of cable locks, but way more peace of mind when it comes to security. Again, they were not created for maximum security, but rather for better portability.
All of them are still relatively easy to open with a 30” bolt cutter, but you don’t see many thieves carrying those around. Nut splitters are also used to crack open the links here, but again, that’s not a very popular tool in thieves’ arsenal, again due to the fact that compared to other lock types folding ones have a fairly small market share.
When it comes to traditional tools like saws and grinders – it all depends on the specific manufacturer and quality of steel in the links themselves and nuts that hold them together.
The same applies for lock picking – cheap locks in this category will usually have pretty decent plates or links but will fail with lock. Manufacturers will need to save somewhere, and, as a result, these locks can be picked quite easily in mere seconds.
Or, as our UK friends would call them, D-locks. These are probably the most popular today with the iconic design being around for quite a while. Thick shackles made of hardened steel make them safe against entry-level thieves with cable cutters from Home Depot.
However, when it comes to twisting, pulling and hammering attacks, you need to be extra careful about the lock you choose. Not all U-locks provide the same level of protection, regardless of how rugged they may look.
The most common ways to open these locks are battery-powered cutters and lock picking. Cheap locks resist poorly to either of these because of low-quality thinner shackles, or by having easy-to-pick locks.
What we want to see in great U-lock: shackle of at least 13mm in diameter to make it harder to twist.
Chain locks are great. Their only drawback is the weight. Other than that, we see only benefits. First, the level of security they provide, these are usually not that expensive. Next, they have decent length, which allows you to use them with non-traditional stationary objects like bigger trees, benches, rails, etc.
If made right, chains themselves are not very common for thieves to mess with. They are flexible, which makes it harder to cut with a saw or cordless grinders. The links will force a thief to cut at least two times or one time with some twisting.
The weak point of many chain locks is the locking mechanism. Oftentimes, budget models have decent chains to impress a prospective buyer. But, the locks are poorly made and can be either picked or simply broken (with a hammer) in mere seconds.
What to look for when choosing a chain lock? First, look at the locking mechanism itself. Because the chain is flexible, the key opening will be often exposed to rain and dust. These two combined can mess even the greatest lock very soon. The better the mechanism is – the better. At least, it should have features to make it harder to pick – narrow opening and precisely made keys.
Next, look at the chain itself. We want to see hardened steel with links of at least 6mm thick. The thicker – the better, but remember about total weight. An ideal case is if the chain is covered with something rust-free like zinc.
The amount of metal surface exposed to harsh weather conditions in chain locks is huge, even despite the sleeves. As a result, those not protected with zinc are covered with rust extremely fast.
This is an ongoing debate between cyclists all around the world. Most respected lock manufacturers like Abus and Kryptonite exclusively use keys on their high-end locks. It’s because, indeed, key locks provide better security. Combination locks can be opened quite easily by someone with minimal skill after watching a couple of Youtube videos.
On the opposite, key locks can be picked. However, the level of skill required for that kind of operation is much higher.
Those who prefer combination locks would argue that in the vast majority of cases thieves just cut or twist, so the whole “combination vs. key” debate becomes irrelevant. And you don’t have to carry the key or worry about losing one, just remember whatever-digit-code there is.
That’s true, however, when it comes to bike security we like to tick all of the boxes available. So, when one option offers better protection with a slight inconvenience of carrying the key (arguable), we’d rather choose that.
It’s worth mentioning that the main manufacturers of bike locks will send you a replacement key for free in case of loss.
Even the most secure bike lock out there won’t protect if you choose the wrong rack or object to lock it to.
It has to be a closed loop that is mounted securely to the ground, ideally with concrete. If it’s bolted, there’s more risk involved – today’s thieves drive vans and can take an entire rack. Oftentimes, racks can be removed by unscrewing four bolts with a wrench. After loading a rack with bikes to a van, thieves can take care of even the most sophisticated bike locks in their garage later on.
Use public crowded areas whenever possible. Brazen thieves will usually not care about people around them, but those beginners will not risk it.
Remember, if someone wants your bike, they will take it. All, and we stress it, ALL bike locks, even those that cost three hundred can be open in under five minutes with a tool as simple as a used car jack. The goal here is to make your bike secure enough for a thief to choose another victim because the risk will outweigh potential monetary benefits or the risk to get caught.