The best bike locks and buying guide
Buying a bicycle - conventional or electric - can be a big investment. Unfortunately, I have experienced too many times, that when people set up a project to buy a new bicycle, it simply ends when he or she takes it home from the store. They have just bought their dream bike and they are happy... But what about safety?
The most overlooked part of a bicycle purchase is to choose a lock that offers enough protection. I have seen this mentality couple of times: 'Oh, no problem. I have my old lock from my good oldie bike.' Which should not be a problem if it is quality made and hard to unlock or cut through. However, in most cases, it is not... And I simply can't understand it. If you pay $4000 for your new bike, why would you save money on something, which is supposed to protect it?
The golden rule: Spend 10% of your bike's value on the lock itself
Of course, the best protection is not to leave it anywhere public. If you use your bike for commission between your home and workplace, then most likely you can always find a safe spot for it, where nobody can touch it. However if you must leave it anytime at a public space, then you should definitely think about protection by using one or two quality made locks.
The truth is even the best locks cannot protect your bike hundred percent, but the risk to get stolen should be minimized. Depending on where you live, there can be several professional groups who specialize in stealing bikes. Electric bikes are drawing attention and these guys will immediately spot a high-value piece.
In this article, you will learn the basics of bicycle locks and I would like to recommend you a few specific locks which are quality made and offers great protection.
So let's dig in!
Which is the best bike lock type for you?
Understanding the basics of bike locks is crucial to make the best decision upon purchase. We have collected the basic types of bike locks for you, so based on your environment and usage, you can find out which is the best type of bike lock for you.
Cable locks
Cable locks are basically made of several steel cables winded up spirally, with a protective sheath to prevent scratches. They usually come as standard key and combination locks but I don't recommend using them, only maybe as a second lock for the wheels. Even if you choose one with a better quality, the structure will be usually the same, making it vulnerable. It literally takes only seconds to cut it through with a bigger cutter.
On the other hand, it has the advantage of low weight, and the possibility to lock several bicycles together because of longer possible length. They can also be a good choice if you simply want to immobilize your bike because you can keep your eyes on it, but you don't want anyone just to pick it up and take it. Even though we don't recommend them as a main bicycle lock, we will show you some types which could serve as a temporary and secondary lock.
U-locks
U-Locks usually have a sturdy design with lots of material inside. They are called U-locks because they contain a U shaped hardened metal part which connects to a lock mechanism which is hardened by a metal case around it. Because of this, they tend to be heavier than cable locks. They are not comfortable to carry around if you have a low weight road bike, but for a general electric bicycle, it will not make any difference. You can simply put it in your backpack, or fix it on your bike for easily carry it around. Besides the high weight, you can not use U-locks as flexible as cable locks. That means if you have a short lock, you may not be able to lock your bike in every situation.
Despite the disadvantages, U-locks are highly recommended as this construction provides one of the best protection currently. The thick hardened metal part is designed against cutting devices, and the hardened metal case usually resists lockpicking attempts.
We have also collected some of the best U-locks on the market, of which you can read about later.
Chain locks
Chain locks are a good mixture of the advantages of cable locks and U-locks. The high-quality products are made of special steel and are hard to cut, while they can be as long as you want it to be. Chain locks are often used for mopeds and motors for a good reason. Some locks have extremely high weight, which makes it uncomfortable for cyclists.
In some cases chain locks are a good option due to the high strength and flexibility, but only if you can deal with the weight and big size.
Chain locks offer the highest possible security for bicycles.
There are two main components:
The chain, which is usually covered with plastic or textile, to protect the painting and the lock.
The lock, which can be an integrated lock mechanism or a stand-alone padlock.
Besides the level of security, the other advantage is the flexibility. There are long chain locks available, which is easier to use under certain circumstances. In short words, chain locks provide high-level security, high weight, and poor transportation potential.
We have listed some of the best chain locks for you, which you can find in the second half of the article.
Folding locks
Folding locks are made of several metal sections with jointed ends. They have been designed to be durable but also to have a compact size. While the design is now used by more and more manufacturers, I would recommend you to stay away from cheap and unknown products. This is the only category, where I would only choose locks from ABUS based on security.
When the lock is closed, the compact size allows you to easily fix it on the bike without taking too much space. When you want to lock your bike, you can simply open the metal sections, lead around your bike and the pole and simply lock it just like a simple cable lock.
The strength of these kinds of locks comes from the structure of the metal sections. They are thick and quite wide and made of special hardened steel. The shape of the metal parts gives a perfect protection against cutters and saws.
Their only weakness is the jointed ends, which can be vulnerable against nut splitters. However, along with U-locks, they are also highly recommended.
In the recommended bicycle locks section, you can find the best folding lock by Abus, and also a good deal of price/performance ratio.
Understanding security levels of manufacturers
In this article, you can mostly find products from the three most trusted lock manufacturers: Abus, Kryptonite, and OnGuard.
All of these manufacturers are well-established companies with a long history and huge experience. Because all of them have products with different security levels, it's important to understand their grading system to find the perfect lock for you.
Abus security levels
Abus lock manufacturer has created a system of 15 security levels to rank their bicycle locks. In the following graphic, you can see what do the different levels mean and which one is recommended in different environments.
Generally, the security levels from 1-4 are not providing serious theft protection. They are good for immobilizing the bicycle, but with basic cutters, it would be easy to break them down.
Level 20 grade locks are not shown on the graphic as they are aiming to provide protection for scooters, motors. However, if the maximum possible protection is required, they are worth considering.
Kryptonite security levels
Kryptonite has created a system consisting 10 security levels. The following graphic is the recommendation chart of Kryptonite and it gives a really good overview for anyone interested in buying one of their locks.
Of course, this graphic may not be true for every case. If you use your bike in the suburbs and it has a higher theft risk than usual, you should get a higher security level lock. Paying a little more for a higher level of security is always good to consider.
OnGuard security levels
OnGuard has created three groups for their bicycle locks, on a 100 level scale. The three security levels are basic, high and ultimate.
Generally, bicycle locks on the lower range have been mostly designed to immobilize bicycles. They are recommended for low crime areas like suburban, recreational and rural areas. These locks are not designed against professional thieves, with basic tools it would be relatively fast to break them.
For areas with more traffic and higher crime threat, high and ultimate security graded locks are recommended. These are generally more robust and has been designed against cutters and saws to maximize security.
Recommended bicycle locks
As I promised before, we have collected the best bike locks of each type for you. Generally, you can find products of the top three manufacturers: Abus, Kryptonite, OnGuard.
Abus and Kryptonite locks usually offer the best quality and protection in every area for a relatively higher price. OnGuard, however, is a good alternative solution for those, who seek high security and affordable price tags.
Click, to see the best bike locks on the market!