The best bike lock | U-locks or chain locks
But I also want to make sure you know how to lock your bike properly. I talk about U-locks vs chains and which is the best lock brand. And give you advice on how to stop your wheels and seat from being stolen. And I explain how to look after your lock and stop it jamming!
But maybe you’re impatient. Perhaps you already know a fair bit about bike security and know what type of lock you need. Maybe you want to read about the best U-locks or chain locks. Or maybe you just want to compare the specs of loads of different U-locks and chain locks.
Or maybe you just want to know which bike loc k’s the best. So lets deal with this first…
What is the best bike lock?
Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this question! This is because the best bike lock for you, will depend on your individual circumstances. These include, how expensive your bike is, where you live, how you use your bike, where you store your bike, and of course how much money you can afford to spend.
However, I can tell you what the worst bike lock is. The worst bike lock is a cable lock. If you take nothing else from this website, I hope that you take this:
Do not buy a cable lock!
Why? Well, because they’re rubbish. They will not secure your bike. You can find out more further down the page. But for now that is enough. Don’t know what a cable lock is? Or a U-lock, or chain lock? Don’t worry, I cover that down there too.
And here is another universal and indisputable truth: no bike lock is unbreakable and if a thief wants to steal your bike badly enough, with the right tools and enough time, he can and he will. A bike lock just buys you time. And the better the lock, the more time you get. So the best bike lock for you will be one that makes your bike just difficult enough to steal that a thief can’t be bothered.
Who are these pesky bike thieves anyway?
The opportunists are looking for any bikes secured with cables, weak U-locks and puny chains and padlocks. No bike is too cheap or tatty to escape their attention. But the good news is that a decent U-lock or chain lock will usually be too much for their limited tool set and they will pass over your bike for easier pickings.
The second type is the “professional” bike thief who will certainly use very powerful bolt cutters and may have access to a variety of power tools such as portable angle grinders and bottle jacks.
The professionals target the more expensive bikes and may even steal to order. They can defeat any lock given enough time. So if you have a bike that a “professional” may covet, you’re not only going to need the best quality locks, you’re also going to need to be very careful about where you leave it and how long you leave it for.
OK, so what are my options?
Well, there are three main types of well established bike lock to choose from: U-locks (also known as D-locks), chain locks and cable locks. All locks offer a compromise between three fundamental qualities: price, practicality and security. And the charts below aim to show the balance of these qualities across the three main types of lock.

The differences between U-locks and chain locks are somewhat debatable. However, the main thing to notice here is that while U-locks and chain locks offer a reasonable balance of price, practicality and security, cable locks don’t. Yes, they might be cheap and they might be easy to use but they offer very little security. OK, let’s look at each type of lock in a little more detail.
The differences between U-locks and chain locks are somewhat debatable. However, the main thing to notice here is that while U-locks and chain locks offer a reasonable balance of price, practicality and security, cable locks don’t. Yes, they might be cheap and they might be easy to use but they offer very little security. OK, let’s look at each type of lock in a little more detail.
U-locks / D-locks
Because of their rigidity they can be more challenging to transport than chain locks. And their limited width means there are less things to secure your bike to. However, in general, if you’re only going to buy one bike lock, these are the locks I would recommend.
They range in price from around $30 / £18 for a decent budget lock, up to $100 / £60 for the most secure models, so you should be able to find one to suit your wallet. However, there are a number of things you need to think about carefully when buying a U-lock, including which size and thickness you need and how you’re going to carry it around.
I have selected and reviewed three of my favorite U-locks for you below. But you can also read lot’s more about the best U-locks here. Or compare the locks in a long list of the most popular U-locks here.
U-locks: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Here are three very different U-locks, each one a great choice depending on your needs. The first is a great budget lock. The second is the most secure portable bike lock around. And the third offers high security without sacrificing practicality, making it the best all-round bike lock.
The best budget U-lock
The Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 is a brilliant budget lock. It’s a practical size and weight and offers mid-level security for a very reasonable price. It won’t provide you with the very highest level of protection, but the 13 mm shackle should withstand all but the biggest bolt cutters. It’s very easy to use, comes with a reasonable frame mount and benefits from Kryptonite’s outstanding after sales service.
So if you ride a low value bike in a low to medium risk area, this could well be the best lock for you! You can read a full review of the Kryptolok or compare it to other budget U-locks here.
| Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 Summary | |
|---|---|
| Overall Score: | |
| Best Price: | |
| Bar Thickness: | 13 mm |
| Weight: | 2.85 lb (1.29 kg) |
| Size (internal): | 4 x 9″ (10.2 x 22.9 cm) |
| Kryptonite Rating: | 6/10 |
| Other Security Ratings: | |
The most secure U-lock
The New York Fahgettaboudit Mini is quite simply the most secure portable bike lock available today. It’s small. It’s heavy. It doesn’t come with a frame mount. But the 18 mm shackle means this lock cannot be defeated by hand tools. And even power tools will take a good while to get through this lock.
So if you’re looking for the very highest level of protection, this is the best bike lock for you. You can read my full review of the New York Fahgettaboudit Mini here. And you can also see how it compares to other mini U-locks here.
| New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Summary | |
|---|---|
| Overall Score: | |
| Best Price: | |
| Bar Thickness: | 18 mm |
| Weight: | 4.55 lb (2.06 kg) |
| Size (internal): | 3.25 x 6″ (8.3 x 15.3 cm) |
| Kryptonite Rating: | 10/10 |
| Other Security Ratings: | |
The best all-round bike lock
The Abus Granit X Plus 540 offers a very high level of protection and despite being a decent, practical size, it’s still very light. The 13 mm shackle is made from a special type of steel that is as strong as the much thicker shackles on much heavier locks. In fact, the Granit X Plus 540 is probably the lightest, high security, standard sized U-lock available today.
So if you’re looking for a light weight lock without sacrificing either practicality or security, this could be the best lock for you. Read a full review of the Abus Granit X Plus 540. And see how it compares to other standard size U-locks here.
| Abus GRANIT X Plus 540 Summary | |
|---|---|
| Overall Score: | |
| Best Price: | |
| Bar Thickness: | 13 mm |
| Weight: | 3.20 lb (1.45 kg) |
| Size (internal): | 4.25 x 9″ (10.8 x 23 cm) |
| Abus Rating: | 15/15 |
| Other Security Ratings: | |
Three great U-Locks for very different needs!
| U-lock | Kryptolok Series 2 | Fahgettaboudit Mini | Abus Granit X-Plus 540 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why buy this one? | Best Budget Lock | Most Secure Lock | Best All-round Lock |
| Bar thickness | 13 mm | 18 mm | 13 mm |
| Weight | 2.85 lb (1.29 kg) | 4.55 lb (2.06 kg) | 3.2 lb (1.45 kg) |
| Width | 4″ (10.2) | 3.25″ (8.3 cm) | 4.3″ (10.8 cm) |
| Height | 9″ 23.0 cm | 6″ (15.3 cm) | 9″ (23 cm) |
| Sold Secure Rating | Silver | Gold | Gold |
| Best Price: | Check Amazon Price | Check Amazon Price | Check Amazon Price |
Chain locks
The portable chains are easy to transport wrapped around your seat post and their relative length means that you can secure your bike to a wide range of objects. However these chains are generally no more than 12 mm thick and are not as secure as the best U-locks.
A super thick, core hardened steel chain with a heavy, top quality lock is perhaps the most secure way to lock your bike. However such chains are so heavy and cumbersome, that they generally work best as a second, stationary lock which you leave wherever your bike is regularly secured for long periods of time.
Chain locks range in price from around $45 / £26 for a short, budget model up to $500 / £200 for the thickest, heaviest monsters. So they’re also a bit more expensive than U-locks. As with U-locks you should think carefully about what size and thickness you need and how you will carry it about.
I have selected and reviewed three great chain locks for you to look at below. And you can read more about the best chain locks here. Or compare the locks in a table of the most popular chain locks here.
Chain locks: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Here we have three very different chain locks to suit three very different needs. The first is a great budget chain. The second is perhaps the most secure portable chain. While the third is probably the most secure chain available from a well known brand today.
The best budget chain lock
The Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 955 Mini is short, light, cheap and easy to carry wrapped around your seat post. With 9 mm links, it’s not the most secure bike lock, but it offers far more protection than any cable lock. And if you’re looking for something practical to protect a low value bike in a low risk area, this could be the best bike lock for you.
You can see how it compares to other budget bike chains here.
| KryptoLok Series 2 955 Mini Summary | |
|---|---|
| Overall Score: | |
| Best Price: | |
| Chain thickness: | 9 mm |
| Weight: | 3.90 lb (1.77 kg) |
| Length: | 21.5” (55 cm) |
| Kryptonite Rating: | 6/10 |
| Other Security Ratings: | |
The most secure portable chain lock
The Kryptonite New York Noose 1275 is great because the noose system almost doubles the usable length of the chain. This means it can be quite short which is important since the 12 mm links put this chain at the top limit of what is practical to carry around daily. So if you’re looking for a high security, portable chain you can use every day, this could be the best lock for you.
You can read my full review of the New York Noose 1275 here. Also, you can check how it measures up to other 12 mm chains here.
| New York Noose 1275 Summary | |
|---|---|
| Overall Score: | |
| Best Price: | |
| Chain thickness: | 12 mm |
| Weight: | 6.95 lb (3.15 kg) |
| Length: | 30″ (75 cm) |
| Kryptonite Rating: | 9/10 |
| Other Security Ratings: | |
The most secure static chain lock
And lastly, the Kryptonite New York Legend Chain 1515 is probably the most secure bike chain available from a well known brand. The 15 mm links mean that it’s certainly not portable. This is a lock that stays wherever you lock your bike all day or overnight. But if you’re looking for the most secure chain from a recognizable brand, this may be the best bike lock for you.
Read my full review of the New York Legend Chain 1515 here. You can also see how it compares to other heavy duty bike chains here.
| New York Legend 1515 Summary | |
|---|---|
| Overall Score: | |
| Best Price: | |
| Chain thickness: | 15 mm |
| Weight: | 15.95 lb (7.23 kg) |
| Length: | 60″ (150 cm) |
| Kryptonite Rating: | 10/10 |
| Other Security Ratings: | |
Three great chain locks for very different needs!
| U-lock | Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 955 Mini | Kryptonite New York Noose 1275 | Kryptonite New York Legend Chain 1515 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why buy this one? | Light and easy to carry! | Noose doubles usable length! | The ultimate stationary security! |
| Link thickness | 9 mm | 12 mm | 15 mm |
| Weight | 3.90 lb (1.77 kg) | 6.95 lb (3.15 kg) | 15.95 lb (7.23 kg) |
| Length | 21.5″ (55 cm) | 30″ (75 cm) | 60″ (150 cm) |
| Sold Secure Rating | Silver | Gold | Gold |
| Best Price: | Check Amazon Price | Check Amazon Price | Check Amazon Price |
Cable locks
And since every bike thief has a pair of cable cutters, cable locks offer very little practical security. Bike thieves will specifically target these locks and in fact, some reports suggest than 90% of all stolen bikes were secured with cable locks. So by not buying a cable lock you are already massively reducing the chances of your bike being stolen!
The Abus Steel-O-Flex 1025, (pictured right) for example, is probably the best armored cable lock available today. But it weighs 4.3 lb (1.9 Kg), costs over $100 (£65) and there are numerous reports of it being cut.
Some recommend cable locks as a supplementary lock to secure your wheels or saddle. However there are much better ways to secure your wheels and saddle and I really would not recommend any cable locks in any circumstances.
In fact, I think that we can find all the advantages of cable locks in other, much more secure locks. To illustrate this I have selected three locks below that compete well with cable locks in terms of weight, length and price. The first is a great light weight U-lock. The second is a lengthy, but not too heavy chain. And the third is a small, light weight and super cheap U-lock.
Cable locks: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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So, if you’re attracted to cable locks because they’re light, then maybe this mini U-lock weighing just 1.83 lb (0.83 kg) could be a much securer, much better alternative. In fact it’s about the same weight as two cans of coke. Check out how it compares to other small, light U-locks here.
So, if you’re attracted to cable locks by their practical length maybe this CityChain 1010/110 can offer the same advantages while also actually protecting your bike! See how it compares to other chain locks here.
So, if you’re attracted to the low prices of cable locks, you’ve got no excuse: the OnGuard Bulldog Mini is also really cheap, but will protect you bike much, much better. Check out how it fares against other mini U-locks here.
Three great alternatives to cable locks!
| Lock | Kryptonite Messenger Mini | Abus CityChain 1010/110 | OnGuard Bulldog Mini 8013 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why buy this one? | It’s light! | It’s long! | It’s cheap! |
| Shackle/Link thickness | 11 mm | 9 mm | 13 mm |
| Weight | 1.83 lb (0.83 kg) | 5.29 lb (2.40 kg) | |
| Width | 3.75″ (9.5 cm) | – | 3.55″ (9 cm) |
| Length | 6.5″ (16.5 cm) | 43″ (110 cm) | 5.52″ (14 cm) |
| Sold Secure Rating | N/A | Gold | N/A |
| Best Price: | Check Amazon Price | Check Amazon Price | Check Amazon Price |
U-locks vs Chain locks
So if we all agree that cable locks are rubbish, how do we choose between a U-lock and a chain lock? I talk about this in more detail in the U-lock vs chain lock page.
But if you’re looking for a lock that you can carry around with you every day, then a U-lock is generally the better choice. U-locks provide the nicest balance between security, practicality and price. So they are usually lighter, cheaper and more secure than portablechains.
Of course, there may be good reasons to choose a chain over a U-lock. For instance, maybe you need the greater locking options that a long chain offers. Or maybe you don’t like the frame mounts that come with U-locks and prefer the ease of wrapping a chain round your seat post. But in most cases, U-locks are the best option for portable security.
If on the other hand you’re looking for a lock that stays in one place, at home or at work, then a big, heavy chain is the better choice. A thick chain with a strong lock provides the highest possible level of security for your bike.
They are more difficult to attack with power tools, impossible to bolt crop and immune to bottle jack attacks. You can secure multiple bikes with one chain. And they also work well with good ground anchors. Just don’t try to take them with you when you nip to the shops!
Abus vs Kryptonite vs OnGuard
There are many companies making bike locks. And the quality and reliability varies hugely. But the biggest and by far best are Abus, Kryptonite and OnGuard. How can you choose between them? I look at the three brands in much more detail in the Abus vs Kryptonite vs OnGuard page. But to summarize, if you want the very best quality go for Abus, if your looking for the best price go for OnGuard and if your looking for the best customer service go for Kryptonite.
How can I know how secure a lock is?
But because they all use different tools and attack the locks in different ways, it’s difficult to compare the results. And how experienced are the testers? Are they even using the same techniques a thief would?
In fact, beyond “all cable locks are rubbish” and “an angle grinder will cut through anything eventually” the conclusions they draw are neither certain nor particularly useful.
However, generally speaking, if it’s made from properly hardened steel, the thicker a lock or chain is, the better protection it will offer. Chain links and U-lock shackles with diameters of less then 13 mm can be cut with medium sized bolt cutters which many bike thieves have. Locks with diameters between 13 and 15 mm can only be cropped by the biggest bolt cutters. And there are also thieves that use these tools. But at 16 mm thickness, chain links and U-lock shackles become impossible to cut with manual bolt cutters.
Bike locks vs Bolt cutters
| U-lock / Chain thickness | Can be cut by bolt cutters? |
|---|---|
| < 13 mm | Yes |
| 13 – 15 mm | Yes |
| 16 mm and above | No |
Since any prospective thief would therefore need to use power tools to defeat a 16 mm lock, the chances of your bike being stolen are significantly reduced. Of course, depending on your circumstances, you can still protect your bike effectively with a thinner lock. But if you have a nice bike or live in a high theft area with sophisticated thieves, maybe you should be looking for a lock that has a shackle or chain links that are 16 mm thick.
However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Apart from the type and the thickness of the metal, there is the quality of the locking mechanism and this is more difficult for us to measure. Most brands provide their own rating system for grading the security of their locks and these are useful for choosing a lock from that one manufacturer.
But what if you want to compare locks from different brands? Luckily there are also independent third party experts that use standardized methodologies to test and then rate a wide range of different locks according to their security.
None of these groups rate all the available locks and there has recently been criticism of some of their techniques. However, I think they remain the best comparative indication of security when choosing a lock. What’s more, in the UK at least, most insurance companies will require that your bike is secured with a lock that is rated by Sold Secure and the level of cover you receive will depend whether the lock has a Bronze, Silver or Gold rating. If you don’t use a lock that is rated by Sold Secure, they won’t cover you.
Anti-theft Protection
Talking of insurance, Kryptonite and OnGuard, now offer optional “anti-theft protection” with their most secure locks. With these programmes, if your bike is stolen as a result of your lock being broken, they will pay you the value of your bike up to a certain limit determined by the security level of the lock. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, it does in theory, but in practice they impose a lot of conditions which can make it difficult to make a successful claim.
I talk about this a lot more in the Abus vs Kryptonite vs OnGuard page, where I also compare the Kryptonite programme against the OnGuard programme. But to summarize here; if you want to take advantage of either of these schemes, you have to register and it’s not free. Make sure you read all the conditions and follow them to the letter. And bear in mind that neither of them are adequate alternatives to proper bike or household insurance.
As for which scheme is best; it’s much easier to register for the Kryptonite cover and the conditions for making a claim are less restrictive. In fact, while I know that Kryptonite do sometimes pay out, I have never heard of a successful claim being made through the OnGuard scheme. If you have, please let me know! Check out the Kryptonite vs OnGuard anti-theft protection for more details.
How much money should I spend on a bike lock?
In fact, I recommend that you spend as much as you can. This will give you the best protection you can afford. It will also give you the peace of mind that you’ve done the best you can do to protect your bike. And don’t forget a good bike lock can last many years and many bikes. Maybe you’ve got a cheap bike now but if you upgrade to a better bike in a couple of years, you wont need to shell out again for a better lock as well!
I know that buying a bike lock is not very exciting. And it’s galling that you have to spend so much money to protect your stuff. But a cheap lock is a false economy. Because when you bike is stolen, you will have to buy a new bike and a new, better lock. I learned the hard way, but surely it’s better to get it right first time!
Do I need more than one lock?
Possibly. Probably. In most cases one lock is only going to secure the frame and one wheel. What about the other wheel? What about your seat? Really, these should be secured too. There are a number of options for securing wheels and seats. However, a second lock will provide the highest level of protection for the other wheel and depending on how you use it, further protection for the frame.
There is also an argument that having a second lock of a different type to the first will deter a thief further because they would need to carry two different types of lock breaking equipment. Whether you decide you need two locks or not will depend on how high you judge the risk in your area. But you can find out more about using two locks to protect your bike here.
Summary
I hope this page has provided a good introduction to the world of bike locks! The most important point to take away is that cable locks are rubbish. Please don’t depend on a cable lock to protect your bike. It won’t. But luckily there are plenty of alternatives…
If you’re looking for a lock you can carry around with you every day, then a U-lock is a great choice. They provide a good balance between price, security and practicality. I have recommended a few on this page and there are lots more, plus lots more information on the best U-locks page. You can also compare the specs of loads of different locks on the U-lock comparison page.
If you’re looking for a lock that stays wherever you lock your bike for long periods of time, whether at home or at work, then a heavy chain is a good choice. The thickest chains provide the highest levels of security for your bike, can be used to lock several bikes at once and work well with ground anchors. Again, I recommend some on this page, but there’s loads more and lots more information on the best chain locks page. And on the chain lock lock comparison page you can compare the specs of a long list of different chain locks.
Whichever lock you choose, make sure you it meets your security needs. I would never recommend anything less than Sold Secure Silver or equivalent. And if you live in a big city or on a college or university campus then a Sold Secure Gold lock is probably wiser. You can check all the Sold Secure ratings of U-locks and chain locks on the comparison pages.
But also make sure that whichever lock you choose suits your lifestyle. For example, there’s no point picking a very small U-lock if you need to lock your bike to lamp posts. And there’s no point picking a very heavy lock if the weight puts you off using it. Again, you can compare the sizes and weights of U-locks and chain locks in the comparison pages. I even convert the weights into a “cans of coke weight” to make it easier to imagine!
And finally, try to spend as much as you can afford on a bike lock. I know it’s not very exciting. But a good quality lock will give you both peace of mind and years of faithful service. Clean it with WD-40 and lubricate it with TriFlow or Finish Line every few months, and a good lock will last many years and maybe many bikes too!
Also, please check out the rest of the site. We have tips on how to prevent your wheels and seat being stolen including both DIY techniques and secure skewer reviews. And don’t forget to read about how to lock your bike properly, where we talk about street, work and home security as well as recommending some good ground anchors.
And let me know what you think of the site. What do you think of the locks I recommend? What locks do you currently use? Do you have any tips or tricks I haven’t mentioned? Let me know below…
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