Updated on 19/07/2022 at 06:00
- When it comes to anti-theft insurance for your beloved bike, don’t cut corners.
- U-lock, folding lock, chain lock, frame lock, armored cable lock or textile coat lock? Buyers are spoiled for choice. Also between securing with a key or with a numerical code.
- Brands such as Abus, Decathlon or Kryptonite are well known. But cheap can also be good. Which bike locks are really secure?
Abus Granit Xplus – twenty bits on granite
© SportCheck
The name says it all: With Abus Granit XPlus, thieves literally bite granite. It belongs to the U-lock category. Here, instead of a flexible steel cable, a fixed, U-shaped bracket is used, which is fixed in a solid locking pawl. When it comes to security, a U-lock is the first choice. They are even considered to be practically burglar-proof because the sturdy steel bracket cannot even be destroyed with bolt cutters. You have to accept a catch, though: A U-lock is big, bulky, and carries a lot of weight.
Abus Granit Xplus is made of hardened steel and offers the highest level of safety. It weighs around 1,500 grams.
Folding lock Bordo Alarm 6000A – alarm system included!
Folding locks such as the Bordo Alarm 6000A consist of individual steel links that are connected to each other with hinges. Although relatively heavy as U-locks, they can be folded into compact units thanks to the movable hinges – equivalent to a ruler. So they are more convenient for transportation.
The housing and the 5 mm thick rods are made of specially hardened steel. In addition to the mechanics, this lock offers additional protection. Bordo Alarm 6000A is nicknamed “Alarm” for good reason: if the lock is tampered with, an alarm sounds at least 100 dB for 15 seconds per access. An intelligent function ensures that small, short shocks are not mistaken for theft.
Kryptonite Keeper 712 Combo – a novelty among chain locks
Kryptonite Keeper 712 Combo with a length of 120 cm is a chain lock. Chain locks try to combine the security of a padlock with the flexibility of a cable lock. Instead of a steel cable, a steel chain is hidden inside. However, it must be robust, which in turn implies a certain weight if the lock is to provide reliable security.
The Kryptonite Keeper 712 Combo is technically innovative. According to the manufacturer, it is the first chain lock that directly combines chain and hasp as well as a four-digit number combination. 7 mm thick, square chain links made of triple hardened manganese steel, in combination with the so-called IC system, allow motorcyclists to leave their best piece without worries. The lock weighs 2.04 kilos and has a nylon cover that ensures weather resistance and at the same time protects against scratches on the bike.
Elops 900 L 90 – Safety unchained
Elops 900 L 90 cm is also a chain lock. With a length of 90 cm, the steel lock, which weighs 1,736 grams, also allows bicycles to be attached to places that have a large diameter – from trees to posts to lattice fences. 8 mm chain links must ensure safety. The company’s own statement of anti-theft protection: security level 7/10. This makes the lock a good compromise between security on the one hand and flexibility and ease of use on the other.
Abus Granit CityChain X-Plus 1060 – the armor among bicycle locks
Abus Granit CityChain XPlus 1060 falls into the category of armored cable locks Cable locks consist of a flexible cable around the lock itself, encased in a layer of robust textile or a solid plastic layer. These types of locks are light and flexible. This often comes at the expense of protection. But it is different with armored cable locks. The battle’s epithet promises the desire for indestructibility.
In the high price segment, Abus offers the highest level of anti-theft protection, namely security level 15, with the Granit CityChain XPlus 1060 armored cable lock, which weighs 2.6 kilos. The latter not only protects the bike from prying eyes on the “safety technology”, but also from damage to the paintwork. The locking mechanism’s chain, housing and bearing parts are made of specially hardened steel to turn the bike into a safe. The company’s own patented Abus Power Cell technology also promises protection against shock and access attacks.
Trelock RS 453 Protect-O-Connect Standard – Not out of the ordinary
In the frame lock category, the Trelock RS 453 Protect-O-Connect reached the podium at Stiftung Warentest. The advantage of a frame lock: it does not have to be carried around, but is permanently mounted on the bicycle frame. This is practical, but frame locks are not as theft-proof as other solutions. Experts therefore recommend a combination with an additional chain.
The Trelock RS 453 Protect-O-Connect offers remarkably good security for a frame lock. It should be combined with an optional Trelock extra chain to achieve the highest level of theft protection.
Litelok One Flexi-O
With their purist design, most bike locks show that only functionality is valued and that design takes a back seat. That is not the case with the Litelok One Flexi-O. Available in the colors herringbone, raven black and boa green, and is an original eye-catcher thanks to the textile look. Safety is not neglected. Despite its weight of only 1.1 kilos and its flexible flexibility, Litelok One Flexi-O offers a level of security that is usually guaranteed by heavier chains or bulky rigid locks: Among other things, the alloy steel ensures security level 12.