10 best bike locks
The best way to protect your bike from theft is to never leave it unattended. Unfortunately, no one, even the most reliable lock, will save your bike from an experienced bike rider. But, one wonders, why then came up with a variety of cables, grippers and stoppers? They are needed to buy time. Thin bike cables can be opened or cut in seconds, and their protection is illusory. Strong high-quality locks are many times more expensive, but an impudent person will have to spend from 5 to 20 minutes to break them, during which there is a chance that you will return or the thief will be frightened off by an indifferent passer-by. So our advice is not to leave your bike for a long time, and when you do have to leave, be sure to put at least two different locks. We have compiled a rating of the most reliable of them, but remember - even they do not give a 100% guarantee against cycling.
The best bike locks - cables, chains, grips and stops
10 Bicycle lock Golden Key 202.802
There is no question of leaving the bike for a long time, just blocking the disc brake rotor - thieves will not be able to leave on it, but they will easily carry it away. But if you attach the bike to a reliable support with a chain or U-lock ¢ ohm, and additionally secure the bike lock GK 202.802, then you will know in time that someone touched your good and, while it disarms the chain, you will be right there. The main thing is to leave the bike within earshot and, of course, do not forget to remove it from the disc, otherwise it will fly.
Similar devices from Kryptonite and ABUS cost at least 5 times more. It is advisable to overpay for reliability when the price of the lock is 10-15% of the cost of your bike. The same model, although it belongs to the mid-budget segment, can boast of a reinforced transom with a diameter of 10 mm. It is powered by 6 LR44 batteries, placed in an inner plastic case for water protection. The motion sensor is sensitive - at any tilt or even slight rocking of the bike, the lock gives a short-term signal, and if it is not "pacified" with the appropriate button, it turns on a loud siren.
9 M-Wave bike alarm
Let's be frank - few of the passers-by who have noticed the process of stealing your bike will defend it, or at least make a fuss. This is exactly what the M-Wave bike alarm is for - to raise the buzz in time. It looks unprepossessing, in no way replaces the usual blockers, but at the right time, if the hijacker still managed to deal with them, any movement of the bike will be caught by the motion sensor, and a baby weighing only 235 g will give out its 120 dB. And this, by the way, is the level of the alarm siren, and it is simply impossible not to pay attention to the sound.
Such a thing is attached to a seatpost, to a bicycle pen or frame with a diameter of no more than 30 cm using a large plastic clamp. The set contains a 9V battery of the "Krona" type, the compartment cover of which is fixed with screws. The bicycle alarm is controlled by 3 sensitivity adjustment buttons and is equipped with a 4-digit code lock. The reviews indicate the lack of "signaling": the Velovor can twist it and pull the battery out of the compartment. To prevent this from happening, the device must be well secured.
8 VELO 500 B'TWIN (Decathlon)
A round link chain is considered a more reliable anti-theft agent than a cable. The thicker and more powerful its elements, the more difficult it is for the hijacker to deal with it. The model of the French brand B'TWIN, which is the property of the Decathlon company, has a link cross-sectional diameter of 9 mm, which gives the right to classify the chain as a high-strength chain. It is closed with a lock, which comes with 3 keys. A mechanism is hidden in the lock base, which is resistant to breaking with master keys. In order not to scratch the bike, the protective gadget is hidden in a black or light green case. It is 70 cm long enough to secure the frame and front wheel.
On the popular video hosting there is an interesting video with a visual demonstration of how quickly and easily such a chain, completely indestructible in appearance, can be bit through with manual reinforcing scissors of standard length. Professional thieves with such on the street, of course, do not walk, but no one will bother them to drive up to the bike in a van, do their dirty deed and get away. That is, if your bike attracts their attention, the VELO 500 B'TWIN chain lock will not save it. But since such situations are quite rare, the manufacturer rightly believes that the level of safety of the product is enough for a short time - no more than 30 minutes. - leave your bike unattended.
7 BBB BBL-45 Codelock
The BBB company has enough reason to call its product highly secure: in its opinion, it is able to prevent theft of the bike thanks to a twisted steel cable with a diameter of 15 cm, a strong locking mechanism and a 4-digit combination lock. The almost two-meter length (180 cm) allows you to fasten to the support not only the frame, but also the wheels and the saddle, which, according to modern technology, are attached to quick-release eccentrics and are usually easy prey for thieves. In order to protect the paintwork of the bike, the cable is enclosed in a durable vinyl sheath, and the locking mechanism is covered with a boot.
Experienced cyclists are skeptical about such locks: cyclists are not particularly wise with the selection of the code, but simply cut the cable with ordinary metal scissors and leave on your bike. Nevertheless, given the simplicity, compactness and convenience of the model, it is reasonable to use it in regions with a low level of theft, for example, in villages, where everyone knows who is driving what. This cable can also be hung to deter amateur thieves and strengthen the main anti-theft system.
6 Kryptonite U-locks Kryptolok Series Mini 7 with flex
In our opinion, if you use a cable as anti-theft protection, then only complete with a yulok yoke lock and only from a trusted manufacturer. If you agree with us, take a look at the Kryptolok Series Mini 7 with flex from the famous Kryptolok company. It is designed so that you can secure the frame and wheels with a clip lock, and the second wheel and saddle with a cable. Both, despite their diminutiveness (the dimensions of the castle are 8.2x17.8 cm, weight is 1.11 kg), it looks quite impressive and provides an average level of protection of 6/10.
The set includes 2 unique keys (in case of loss or theft, the company guarantees their return) and plastic fasteners to the bike frame, the so-called. Transit FlexFrame-U system. Thanks to it and its compactness, you can always carry such a lock with you, if necessary, quickly removing and installing it. For those who stay on their bike for more than half an hour or an hour, this is the perfect solution.
5 OnGuard Pitbull LS
Thanks to a complete overhaul of manufacturing, OnGuard locks are noticeably better. They are still inferior in quality to the Abus and Kryptonite, but the price difference is obvious. Sold Secure, a nonprofit from the UK, has tested the OnGuard Pitbull LS model and awarded it the highest level of its rating - Gold. This means that its specialists had to spend more than 5 minutes on breaking the lock with a complex set of tools, and its use is permissible for the purpose of long-term protection of bicycles in large cities with a high risk of theft.
The top yulok truly has the grip of a pit bull. Extended to 292mm, the clip can be attached to just about anything, and the 14mm diameter and hardened steel resists cutting and sawing. The development engineers also worked on the weakest point of each lock - the locking system. The patented X4P Quattro Bolt mechanism secures the braces at 4 points, making pulling, jacking, and twisting it extremely challenging even for a trained bike stealer. This is confirmed by the story of a cyclist about the accidental loss of keys and the forced sawing of the Pit Bull.To do this, he needed 20 minutes, a grinder and 4 discs (he had to cut both sides of the bracket, since they do not turn).
4 Trelock LL 400
Cycling enthusiasts consider the U-locks system the most reliable locks - mechanisms similar to ordinary barn locks, but with elongated bows. If the thickness of the arc reaches 16 mm, as in the Trelock LL 400, it is really not so easy for a thief to bite it with a bolt cutter. But the serious size and 1.5 kg weight of the model, although they inspire hopes for the safety of the bike in your absence, create another serious problem that is typical for all julos. How to transport it? Someone carries it in a backpack, someone pushes this colossus by their belt, or even puts it on themselves - in general, people are as sophisticated as they can, but their methods cannot be called convenient.
German engineers came up with a very original solution and decided to combine the lock structure with the trunk. When not needed, the lock attaches to the seatpost so that luggage can be safely transported on its surface. Of course, the length of the complete elastic cord is not enough to secure the overall bag, but for a sleeping bag rolled into a roller it is quite enough. According to the reviews that we found on Amazon (in Russia, the model is quite scarce), it is very convenient to use such a device.
3 Abus Bordo 5700
Most thieves usually avoid messing with locks from famous brands - they know exactly which ones are causing problems. So, having seen the impressive inscription Abus, at least 90% of the "stray" birds will pass by. Even the appearance of a folding system of 6 linked rods should make them doubt their capabilities. But one impression is not enough; more reliable security guarantees are needed. And they are: the Bordo 5700 model is famous for the resistance of the cylinder lock to burglaries, both intellectual and forceful.
Dies made of 5 mm hardened ones have successfully passed anti-theft tests, and many years of experience in real-world use have confirmed that they cannot be taken with improvised means, without industrial tools. In general, one of the greatest strengths of Abus is research and development and testing. Their locks are subject to freezing, blows with a sledgehammer, shearing, stretching and twisting loads. The folding system is considered one of the most advanced today, since, despite its compactness and light weight, it provides a 7/15 degree of protection, sufficient for areas with a low risk of theft. And the Abus Bordo 5700 model, due to its bright colors, will not let you forget that you need to unlock the lock before departure.
2 Abus Extreme Chain Plus
They say that if you shout loudly on the street in Amsterdam, "Yes, this is my bike!", At least three people passing by will drop their bikes and run away. This is probably a joke, but even if you don't live in the cycling capital with the highest theft rate in the world, you need to take care of your two-wheeled friend in advance. Attaching it with the ABUS Extreme Chain Plus, which was originally designed to protect motorcycles, you can go about your business in peace. To bite through the links of a hexagonal section and with a thickness of 12 mm (!), You need a bolt cutter with a length of more than 1 m and the efforts of several people. To protect the paintwork from chipping, the chain is hidden in a dense textile sleeve, which makes it even more massive in appearance.
Power Link technology allows one end of the chain to be directly locked with a tamper-resistant locking system. The set includes two keys, one of which is equipped with LED backlighting - no need to look for a keyhole in the dark for a long time or scour for a flashlight. Yes, this lock is very heavy and weighs over 4 kg. According to reviews on Amazon, the chain folds and fits under the bike seat. And this blocker is also very expensive - more expensive than any other lock in this rating. They buy it for the corresponding level of bikes.
1 Kryptonite New York Lock Standard
U-shaped locks or, in other words, U-locks, like chain locks, are very difficult to saw, knock down or cut, especially if they are made by the American company Kryptonite. The New York model first appeared in 1994 and was tested in one of the areas of the American metropolis. The $ 600 bike was left on the street and for two days was protected only by this lock. The designer personally supervised the experiment, and he was satisfied - the steel U-bracket 16 mm thick, an additional steel layer around the cylinder and a double lock mechanism withstood all attempts to burglary. Today, the models are awarded high levels of protection - 9 points out of 10 on the manufacturer's own scale and the Gold level in the Sold Secur rating.
In an effort to prove the reliability of its products, the company has created an unparalleled service program. According to her, each buyer of her locks in case of losing the keys receives a new set for free. If the key breaks in the lock and a locksmith is needed to retrieve it, the manufacturer replaces the U-lock and pays the master's fee. Finally, he is willing to pay the cost of the bike if it is stolen while wearing a New York lock. It is understandable why on the forums cyclists mention "Kryptonite" almost with reverent breath.
