Parents have asked for bike locks for their e-bikes

My folks have asked me to sort them locks for their e-bikes*, the only criteria they’ve given is that they are sold secure gold for insurance. Obviously there’s quite a range of effectiveness within that bracket and I’m struggling to decide what the best compromise is between heavy but effective and light but useless. I operate a kryptonite new york d-lock with a cable to secure the front wheel but I don’t know if this would be overkill. it’s quite heavy and blocks off the front triangle for anything else when frame mounted. I’ve taken a scroll through LFGSS as is usually suggested.

My thoughts:
– They live in a small village and are unlikely to ride anywhere other than there (tbf the village is generally crawling with high end bikes, which perhaps invites bike theives? but then again theirs are at the cheaper end of what’s about)
– The lock is only as good as the thing it’s locked to, a d-lock is great if you can get the rear triangle locked onto a bike rack but they’re not exactly abundant in their village. Get some kind of beefy cable?
– They both have pannier racks, anything that mounts nicely to a rack and doesn’t rattle?
– Do I ignore the weight issue and just go for the best security?

*why mention they’re e-bikes? surely a lock is a lock n*bber? Well because that makes them more expensive than they’d otherwise be and also it means the weight of the lock is perhaps less significant?

WWSTWD?

They both have pannier racks

Heavy locks, transport in pannier bag.

They are ebikes, you don’t care about the weight.

Kryptonite m 18 is what I have and IMO anything less is merely tokenistic. theives round here use boltcroppers so it needs to be boltcropper proof. Cables are useless apart from as a slight deterrant

If they are insured but low risk then get them something easy to use. If you think the risk is real then something proper. In both cases educatie in how to use and battery removal You can get a cable for the front wheel too, they will probably BA, save them having the hassle of claiming for a wheel.

Heavy lock bunji to top of pannier rack.

Centralised weight won’t weigh the bike to one. Side and won’t always have to remember the pannier/carry it around when off the bike etc etc.

theives round here use boltcroppers so it needs to be boltcropper proof.

Didn’t realise Edinburgh was still in the 90s.

Round here it’s cordless grinders with 1mm disks .

If they want it they will get it.

So going nuclear won’t really help you just need to make the next bike look an easier target than yours to the opportunist.

Knowing where your folks live it wouldn’t surprise me if the village got cleaned out on occasion the local shops both seem to suffer fairly regularly over the time I’ve lived up here.

Go big and heavy. Kryptonite is the way forward.

I got an Abus Granit X-Plus 540/300 for my wife’s ebike.  Basically big enough to go through the frame and around most poles.  I modified the bracket to fit to the side of the rack rather than the bike frame itself

I’ve got a friend who got their eBike through a work scheme and their insurers specified one of the folding Abus locks.  I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel but if it’s good enough for the insurance company then that’s good enough for practical purposes

I’d just get the lightest sold secure gold rated D-lock.

A grinder will cut anything in a few seconds, so all you can do is ensure that you meet the insurance requirements – you can’t stop someone stealing the bike, it’s just so easy now with battery grinders.

Are battery grinders really being used for street theft? I’d have thought the noise and sparks would make them less favourable to a theif compared to croppers.

“A grinder will cut anything in a few seconds, so all you can do is ensure that you meet the insurance requirements – you can’t stop someone stealing the bike, it’s just so easy now with battery grinders.”

A grinder will only cut through a chain quickly if there’s a way of stopping the chain from jumping away from the cutting edge – if the lock runs from the frame to whatever it’s locked to without going near the ground then that’s quite hard to deal with. If the chain drapes on the ground then the thief can stand on it to easily cut it.

These are good: https://securityforbikes.com/products.php?cat=Medium+Security+Chain+and+Lock+Deals

Not cheap but good value.

Boltcroppers only round here. No need for grinders when most folk use shitty locks

A grinder will only cut through a chain quickly if there’s a way of stopping the chain

Push bike over put chain in tension. Easy cut.

You’d think it would arouse suspicion but having had to crop and hacksaw through locks on the street for customers no one gives a shit and was never challenged.

You’d think it would arouse suspicion but having had to crop and hacksaw through locks on the street for customers no one gives a shit and was never challenged.

Pretty much this. I remember when my sister was a student and lost the key for her bike lock. My dad had to go and chop the lock off with a hacksaw. Took ages, on a busy street in Edinburgh. One (!) person stopped and asked what he was doing, and was fine with the explanation. It’s no wonder bikes go missing!

Anyway, lock-wise I have a massive kryptonite D-lock which I basically never use. Leave (commuter) bike outside window at work, and outside front door at home. Not very secure, but I guess it’s not a high crime area. If I had a lighter lock I might be inclined to actually carry it around – so I’d agree with footflaps’ assessment:

I’d just get the lightest sold secure gold rated D-lock.

If they’re carrying the lock on the bike then I prefer the Abus granit X-plus over kryptonite u-locks. It comes in short and long versions. The long one works if they’re popping the front wheel off to lock alongside the rear, otherwise the short one I’ve found to be the best choice. Add security QRs or non-QR bolt-thrus rather than a cable. cables are cumbersome and not that protective-most (including kryptonite) will cut fairly quickly with secateurs let alone bolt cutters.

if it’s a chain lock then I like the HipLok superbright. Though I’ve been interested in the litelok gold wearable.

Of course, if weight is no obstacle then perhaps a Pragmasis 13mm chain and suitable lock?

Kryptonite m 18 is what I have and IMO anything less is merely tokenistic. theives round here use boltcroppers so it needs to be boltcropper proof.

For someone who is either uninsured or lives in a high risk area, I’d agree. However, all they need is sold secure gold for their insurance requirements, just buy whatever reasonably priced lock that meets that requirement, and make sure they always use it.

if it’s a chain lock then I like the HipLok superbright.

Honestly, if I was concerned about security the last thing I’d be buying is any of their tat.

When you decide which way to go. I came across this website the other day and bought one myself. Some good discounts on already keen prices for Abus locks.

Cheap Abus Locks

If you already have a good lock this chain is bargain.

Abus Chain

Not hard to guess who’s been lock hunting because they’ve had their bike stolen!

Are they intending to frame mount or stick them in a bag / basket?

Is just pick up a sold secure gold d lock if that’s what they need for insurance. The OnGuard Brute LS is usually a good price and has a 16.8mm shackle so won’t boot crop. It’s stiff enough it’ll need two cuts with a grinder before they can get it off – it was tested by the lock picking lawyer with hydraulic cutters and snapped the blades on those.

Edit – I’d have thought a d lock is also easier to frame mount or strap to a rack than a chain.

If they’re planning frame mount then check the available space. I’ve got a kryptonite d lock and cable and there isn’t anywhere on the frame that’s big enough or has the right shape of tube, to mount the lock. Going to need a trailer soon for all the extras we take with us on a days outing.

A grinder will only cut through a chain quickly if there’s a way of stopping the chain from jumping away from the cutting edge

You don’t need much tension, you can just hold the chain in your hand. I’ve cut locks for people who’ve lost the key and it’s really, really easy…..

“You don’t need much tension, you can just hold the chain in your hand. I’ve cut locks for people who’ve lost the key and it’s really, really easy…..”

How thick (and hard) a chain are you talking about?

i had all this recently. i got insurance and then looked at the small print. yes, i know.
anyway, it said in black and white, specifically, it had to be sold secure gold bicycle. and the bike had to be locked up in the garage to an ‘immovable object’
so i bought a dirty great 19mm sold secure diamond bicycle / motorcycle gold, and a lock, and a ground anchor resin in type of thing.

then me being me, i double checked the wording on the policy, and checked with the insurance company. is diamond ok, its better than gold. no, it has to be bicycle gold, as per the policy. lots and lots of backwards and forwards from me, the lock and chain manufacturer and sold secure and i got it in an email that they will accept diamond bicycle too.

so question for your parents – is this a lock for home, or travelling about? you need to be able to prove that your lock is to spec, and have a receipt etc.

i kind of wish i hadnt bothered with insurance now as it was very expensive, and i also wish i hadnt got 19mm chain as i can barely lift it.

Are battery grinders really being used for street theft? I’d have thought the noise and sparks would make them less favourable to a theif compared to croppers.

Doesn’t really matter because noone is going to intervene anyway.
Local FB has them with masks round their chin using the grinder in the station bike park looking at the security cameras.

Tbf I was once aggressively challenged by a taxi driver who thought I was cutting through a bike lock at the hospital I worked at

I was actually just pumping up my tyre, but I thanked him for taking an interest.

And just to confound stereotypes even further this was in Central London

I’d get a big gold, sold secure chain as its easier to get them round different shaped objects

https://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/

I use a couple of OnGuard locks as they are cheaper than the equivalent Kryptonites and Abus locks. They do have a reputation for seizing so just make sure you keep the lock and mechanism well lubricated.

Kimbers

Tbf I was once aggressively challenged by a taxi driver who thought I was cutting through a bike lock at the hospital I worked at
And just to confound stereotypes even further this was in Central London

I don’t think its really a stereo type of anyone but the thieves.
Of course you reacted politely … I’d expect the thieves wouldn’t. What’s the taxi driver actually going to do and if he physically tries he’s more likely to end up in court than them.

If he threatens to call the police they will likely just laugh at him.

The youths on the local FB didn’t even use the masks they had to bother covering their faces…and the week before a bike was stolen from right outside what functions as the “police station” (council offices) since they ‘closed’ the police station which is all under cameras as well.

Ultimately you can lock at home or outside but I think outside in many places it’s more of a deterrent and its as much what you can lock it to. I’d be less worried about “the best” and more about which was easiest to use and carry that meets the insurance specification.

Hiplok gold FTW

Hiplok gold FTW

I’ve got one of these but I use it in combination with a Krytonite New York d lock. I got it so I could wear it round my waist on the way to / from work. It’s not actually very comfy and only 12mm chain I think. Bit steep how well that would hold up to big bolt croppers. OnGuard brute d lock is cheaper and stronger.

Cheapest Sold Secure Gold I could find is at Toolstation. I use it in combo with chunky chain. If it fitted through the Abus chain linked to above, they would be a good combo.

@TroutWrestler, but probably not insured. In the op he says its for insurance, so they need gold sold secure on everything, including the chain, and most probably ground anchor. All depends what it says on the policy – only reason to get it is so the insurance pays out if they get pinched. I imagine this is from the home. And insurance companies are not reknown for being nice to deal will generally

Another thing which will reduce the chance of a bike being stolen is a motorbike disc lock alarm.

I used the Sterling lock in combination with a gold rated chain – An Oxford one – and the insureance specify it must be locked to an “immoveable object”. A tree counts, a fence counts, a trailer or car doesn’t.

@TroutWrestler do you have a link for that? I could do with a portable lock solution as the one in the garage is more suitable for locking up a tanker or something, its silly.

Link above.

Oxford chain is this one.