What is the best lock for an ebike? This is a question that many people search for, in fact, well over 1,000 each month, the answer however isn’t so straight forward.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best lock for your bike. Before we start though, I will say a couple of things:
- It’s important to acknowledge that nothing is 100% secure. A determined thief will steal anything, the best thing we can do is make your property such a pain in behind to steal so they decide it’s too much hassle and move on.
- I would always advocate buying the highest Sold Secure rated lock / chain you can afford. The higher the rating, the higher the level of protection quite simply.
So, what are the factors to consider?
- How much your bike is worth?
- How attractive is it to a potential thief?
- Where it is being left? For how long?
- How safe is the area?
Bicycle Bronze
Sold Secure Bronze
A Bronze rated lock is proven to withstand a 1 minute attack time using basic tools that can be easily concealed about the person, i.e. screwdriver, small hammer, junior hacksaw etc.
This then, to me, would be your “paper shop” lock. Something I would use with a bike valued at less than £1,500 ish that was only being left some where for a short period of time.
This really is only to stop your opportunist thief that would take an unlocked bike. Anyone that is out and about with the intention to steal would take this pretty quickly, sadly.
Sold Secure Silver
Silver rated products are proven to withstand a 3 minute attack using an enhanced tool list including small bolt croppers, full size hacksaw (HSS), stillsons, crowbar etc.
These products will protect against an opportunist thief or someone with a small pair of bolt cutters in their pockets or a screw driver etc.
This offers a reasonable level of protection but I wouldn’t really say these are the best if your bike is left for a long period of time or somewhere that isn’t very public.
These would be fine though in a good, public area when you weren’t planning to leave your bike for too long.
Bicycle Silver
Bicycle Gold
Sold Secure Gold
Gold rated products are proven to withstand a 5 minute attack using a higher tool list including TCT hacksaw, larger croppers, larger crowbars, lump hammer etc.
As you can see, with the higher security level you do get a much better level of protection. This level of lock or chain puts up a good fight even to those that have come equipped to steal.
To steal something like this in public, in broad daylight, would cause quite a stink you would think so a reasonable choice for outside work or town etc. (Two of these would be even better!)
Sold Secure Diamond
Diamond rated products are proven to withstand a 5 minute attack using a much higher tool list including largest bolt croppers, machine based crop test to ensure at least 7 tonnes of force is achieved, drill with HSS bits etc. This does not include an angle grinder attack though – motorcycle diamond on the other hand does.
These offer the highest level of protection for bike (Motorcycle Diamond though does offer a higher level and something to consider for really expensive bikes). These will offer the best level of protection to your bike.
As I said earlier, nothing cannot be broken, but this will put up the biggest fight and hopefully will be enough of a deterrent to make a potential thief decide to steal something easier.
Bicycle Diamond
Final thoughts
- Always check your insurance company requirements. Whatever you choose, ensure that it meets the requirements set out in your policy so that you aren’t in a position where your insurance company might disclaim.
- Consider using more than one lock. Using a Silver, Gold or Diamond lock / chain is a good idea; using more than one will literally double the time it takes a thief to break them. Again, hopefully this would be a good enough deterrent for them to move on.
- Always lock your bike to an immoveable object. Always, always, always. The best lock in the world is useless if someone can pick up your bike, throw it in a car and take their time breaking your lock at their house. At your house this might mean you fitting a ground or wall anchor (a requirement in some insurance policies) so that you have something to secure your bike too. I would strongly recommend these in any separate garage or shed.
As always, we are more than happy to offer free advice so please do get in touch.
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