With the prices of bicycles going up and the increasing popularity of electric bikes, the importance of bicycle security has become paramount.
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Sold Secure Ratings
Deserving bike locks will get either a bronze, silver or gold ‘Sold Secure’ rating and now you can even get Sold Secure Diamond locks. Diamond rated locks are ideal for protecting very high value bicycles and even motorcycles. What this sold secure rating means is that a professional locksmith has struggled to open it for a certain amount of time, using all the tools at his or her disposal (not dynamite).
See the new Hiplok D1000 which is designed to be resistant to angle grinders and has a sold secure diamond rating and is one of the best bike locks
A Sold Secure gold rating means that the lock has been able to withstand a full 5 minutes of sustained assault. That may not sound like much, but consider how skilled master locksmiths are, as well as the fact that they conduct the tests at their leisure without fear of being arrested.
For a bike thief, 5 minutes is an extremely long time to be trying to hack through a lock, especially if they're trying to be quiet with it. So get yourself a Sold Secure lock and rest easy.
Main type of bicycle locks
D locks
D locks (or U locks) are generally accepted to be amongst the best in terms of bike security. They are designed purposefully to be quite compact to make if difficult for bicycle thieves to prise them apart. Accompanied with a cable, these will offer a good level of security to your bike frame (D lock) and wheels and accessories (cable lock)
- Hiplok D1000 Anti-Angle Grinder Lock
- Kryptonite Kryptolok Standard U-Lock With 4 Foot Kryptoflex Cable
- Kryptonite Keeper 12 U-Lock
Cable locks
Most cable locks tested would not hold up to most thieves and would be relatively easy to be removed. Only really recommended for locking your bike for a very short time in a low risk area.
Kryptonite Kryptoflex 1018 Combo Cable Lock
Chain locks
Chain locks can be a good option for those who are looking for a good level of security but with a bit of flexibility of where you lock your bicycle. Chain locks can be used to lock your bike and wheels to something further away or larger in size. Just always keep an eye on the Sold Secure rating when choosing.
- Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 1090 Integrated Chain
- Kryptonite Keeper 785 Integrated Chain Lock
- Hiplok Lite
FOlding locks
Again, can offer a good level of security and give a bit more space to where you lock your bike. Always look out for the sold secure rating (as always when choosing the right bike lock). One other selling point of a folding lock is that they can usually be attached to a bottle cage mount on your bike for easy transportation.
MORE TIPS
1. A cable lock alone is not enough to protect your bike as they do not offer a high level of security. They can usually by snipped through with a pair of bolt cutters or cable cutters that can fit in a rucksack.
2. Notice the bicycle graphic above. The D Locks go through frame, rear wheel, and bike rack, and the cable goes through D-lock and front wheel. Front wheels are easier to steal than rear wheels. If you're so inclined, you can also remove the front wheel, put it next to the back wheel, and lock everything together with the one D-Lock. You can of course carry two locks or more to to make sure your bike is properly secure.
3. Quick-release wheels (wheels that have a lever at the centre) are easier to steal than wheels that don't have a lever. Cable locks can be safely used to lock your wheels but be sure to lock your bike frame with a strong lock either gold rated locks or diamond rated locks for maximum security.
4. Make sure you’ve actually locked your bike to the bike rack/lamppost/railing. A surprising number of bikes are stolen because the owner locked the lamppost to itself.
5. Stairwell railings are prime targets for bike thieves. In older cities (e.g. Edinburgh) a lot of the railings in stairwells can be broken with a vicious kick, making it easy to steal your bike.
6. Make a note of your bike’s serial number. If you bought your bike from us and it gets stolen, let us know and we’ll give you the bike’s serial number for you to give to the police. This helps identify stolen bikes.
7. If you want to go the extra mile, you can sign up to the National Bike Register and pay a premium to make your bike identifiable to the police.
8. If you are insuring your bike, please read the fine print as some insurance companies will specify a level of lock to use for your bike, be that Sold Secure Bronze, Silver or Gold (this will usually be based on value of bicycle). Please make sure you are aware of this before potentially locking your bike with a lock that the insurance company deems insufficient.
THE BOTTOM LINE
All bicycle locks are essentially a deterrent to thieves. If they really want your bike and have ample time, they will be able to steal it. But if they see your bike has a good lock on it, is in a well-lit public area, and is more trouble than it’s worth, they’ll likely bypass your bike as it will take too much effort to steal.