Best Bike Locks

Litelok X1 sits at #1 in the S tier of our consolidated board, ranked across independent research runs over current expert reviews. Relative value proposition attractive despite not being the absolute top performer.

OnGuard RockSolid ranks #2 (A tier). Strongest U-lock against angle grinders, low weight and excellent value.

Our research places Litelok X3, Kryptonite New York Diamond, Seatylock Foldylock Forever, OnGuard 8020 Mastiff, Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7, Abus U-Grip Bordo in the bottom tiers (D/F). The X3 offers a higher security rating than the X1 while maintaining a lightweight design. Its proven resistance to angle grinders and solid warranty give owners confidence in its long-term performance.

Buy a U-lock unless you have a specific reason not to. U-locks give the most cutting resistance per gram and they fill the top of our board: the Litelok X1, the OnGuard RockSolid and the OnGuard RockSolid 8590 are all U-locks. A chain lock wraps around awkward objects and suits e-bikes and cargo bikes, which is why reviewers name the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 for e-bikes, but chains are heavy. Folding locks like the Abus Bordo Granit are compact and easy to carry, and the Abus one is the only folding lock on our board that reviewers trust for resistance to cutting tools.

On our board the OnGuard RockSolid is the lock reviewers rate best against an angle grinder, and it is light for a high-security U-lock. The Litelok X3 is also noted for proven grinder resistance, though it costs more than the Litelok X1 for a marginal gain. Be careful with claims: the Kryptonite New York U-Lock can be cut with a handheld grinder in under a minute, and the Abus U-Grip Bordo gives way to a high-power grinder. No lock is grinder-proof. A grinder-resistant lock buys time and noise, which is usually enough to move a thief to an easier bike.

OnGuard has the strongest record on our board, with two A tier U-locks, the OnGuard RockSolid and the OnGuard RockSolid 8590. Abus has the widest reputation, and the Abus Bordo Granit is a dependable B tier pick, but the Abus U-Grip Bordo sits in F tier, so the brand name alone does not guarantee a good lock. Litelok holds the top spot with the Litelok X1. Judge by the model, not the badge.

Kryptonite is the most searched bike lock brand, but it does not rank well on our board. The Kryptonite New York U-Lock is the best of them in C tier: thick shackle, decent protection, but reviewers cut it with a handheld angle grinder in under a minute and questioned its long-term durability. The Kryptonite New York Diamond and the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 both sit in D tier. For the same kind of money the Litelok X1 or the OnGuard RockSolid is the better buy.

An e-bike is worth more and is a bigger target, so buy the most resistant lock you will actually carry. The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 is the chain lock reviewers name for e-bikes, and Bicycling Magazine called it the best lock for e-bikes, but it sits in B tier because some testers found it vulnerable to angle grinders and doubted its long-term reliability. A lighter option is the OnGuard RockSolid, the grinder-resistant U-lock in A tier. Many riders lock an e-bike with two different locks so a thief needs two tools.

Sold Secure is an independent UK testing scheme that grades locks Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond by how long they survive set attacks with escalating tools. Insurers often require a Gold or Diamond lock for a claim on a bike over a certain value, so check your policy. On our board the Seatylock Foldylock Forever carries a Gold rating and the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 carries the highest rating, but both rank mid or low because the rating does not capture weight, price or real-world grinder time. Treat the rating as a floor, not a verdict.

Lock the frame, not just a wheel, to a fixed object that cannot be lifted over or cut. Put the shackle through the rear triangle and the rear wheel if it reaches, and fill the shackle so there is no room to fit a jack or lever. Keep the lock off the ground and the keyway facing down so it is harder to attack. A second lock of a different type, such as a folding lock like the Abus Bordo Granit with a U-lock like the Litelok X1, forces a thief to carry two tools.

A good U-lock lasts many years, and reviewers single out the Kryptonite New York Diamond for holding up over years of use. What fails first is usually the mechanism, not the steel: keys stick, cylinders seize from grit and water, and shackle coatings wear through. Reviewers questioned the long-term reliability of the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 and the Kryptonite New York U-Lock, and the OnGuard 8020 Mastiff showed higher failure rates in lab tests. Pick a lock with a long warranty, which is one reason the Litelok X3 and the Abus U-Grip Bordo get credit even where they rank low.

Keep the cylinder dry and lubricated. A dry PTFE or graphite lubricant in the keyway every few months stops grit from binding the pins, and a drop of light oil on the shackle ends stops rust where the coating is worn. Store the lock keyway down so water runs out. Locks without weather sealing suffer most, and reviewers flagged the Seatylock Foldylock Forever for having none, so if you leave a lock outside all year prefer a sealed keyway.

Avoid cable locks and thin shackles: anything cut by hand tools is a deterrent only. Avoid paying a premium for a small security gain, which is the complaint reviewers make about the Kryptonite New York Diamond, the Litelok X3 and the Seatylock Foldylock Forever. Avoid the Abus U-Grip Bordo, our F tier lock, which reviewers found could be broken by simple tools. And avoid buying on brand name alone, because the top of our board is the Litelok X1, not the most searched brand.