The 10 Best Bike Lock of 2024

Every bike owner needs the best bike lock if they want to enjoy their bicycle for years to come. This is an essential accessory you need to deter thieves from attempting to steal your bicycle.

A bike lock is pretty important as it deters thieves and ensures you have peace of mind using your bicycle. This essential for people who use their bicycles regularly to places like grocery shops, offices, malls, schools, etc., and they have to be away from their bike for a couple of hours.

The best bike locks are made with strong, hardened, and reinforced material to give maximum protection and security to your bike. They come in different types, configurations, and orientations, making it overwhelming if you want to select your bike lock for use.

As a result, this article is about the best bike lock reviews of2021. We have researched the top bike locks and streamlined them to the best 10. We considered various features like strength, locking mechanism, hardness, the strength of the material, and past users’ review. With this, we are confident that you will have a good time using any of our best bike locks of 2021.

There is also another section that guides the user on the best approach to selecting a bike lock. We considered various factors alongside further questions and answers users might have in using the device. We are confident that you can get the best and long lasting bike lock from our list.

Best Overall: Sportneer Bicycle Chain Lock,

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For everyone that needs a top-quality bike lock, Sportneer bicycle chain lock is a good choice. It is a product that can give users peace of mind if you have to be away from your bike. The bike lock features a strong lock plug that is resistant to theft.

It comes with a sophisticated and advanced five-digit combination with which users can get as many as 100,000 possible lock codes. This, without a doubt, is a sophisticated lock that will give any thief a serious tough time.

It does not require a key, which removes the hassle of worrying about losing it. It comes with high durability and a strong cut resistance cable. It was made using strong manganese steel, which protects the lock from scratches and other external factors.

Setting and resetting the lock combination is pretty easy. This bike lock comes in the form of a chain that is 3m2 feet long. This makes it ideal for bikes, bicycles, lawnmowers, gates, sports equipment, etc. It is strong and will stand the test of time.

Best Pick: Via Velo Bike U Lock with Strong Cable Heavy Duty Bicycle U Lock

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Via Velo bike lock is a heavy-duty lock that will give you peace of mind knowing that your bike is safe anywhere. It allows users to add a cheap and highly protected security to their bike. It comes with a heavy mounting bracket and specialized safety keys.

This is a highly durable bike lock that is effective and applicable in all weather conditions. It features a hexagonal PVC cover that resists corrosion from dust, water, and other contaminants, which ensures the lock’s durability.

While the Via Velo bike lock is strong, it is easy, fast, and quick to use, and pretty strong. It is a good safety tool that all bike owners and lovers should invest in. Users get three keys with this lock, which gives assurance that should you lose any, there are spares available.

There is also reliable nighttime safety, which makes it easy to unlock your bike even at night. The LED-lit functionality makes it easy to unlock the bike with low light.

Best Value: Bike U Lock with Cable – Via Velo Bike Lock Heavy Duty Bicycle U- Lock

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This is also one of the best bike locks out there for people who want ultimate security for their bikes. Via Velo bike lock is a U lock system that features a hexagonal PVC cover. This way, it can resist corrosion from water, toxins, and others.

It is pretty strong and easy to use; hence you need not learn any sophisticated mechanism before knowing how to lock your bike. It is fast and comes with no hassles at all. Via Velo is a terrific safety tool every bike owner should invest in.

This bike lock comes with two locks, which brings convenience in case you lose any. Installing this bracket on your bike is pretty easy and requires no technical knowledge. There is also a three-year warranty that gives you peace of mind that you are getting a high-quality product.

Best Shackle Bike Lock Kryptonite Evolution Lock U-Lock Bicycle Lock

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This is a shackle-sized bike lock for every bike owner who wants absolute and maximum security for their bikes. It features 13 mm Hardened steel shackles that will neither break nor bend as it resists hard tools, cutters, and various forms of attack.

Every bike owner needs the best accessories to get them going and give them peace of mind in owning a bike. The anti-theft protection is top-notch, and users will enjoy the limited protection offered by kryptonite.

Users get three stainless steel keys with a new key design, and another LED replaceable key. It comes in a crossbar design that resists every form of twisting, giving advanced protection against every form of attack. It also features hardened double deadbolts, which matches the shackles to increase the strength of the lock.

Best for Kids: Titanker Bike Lock, Bike Locks Cable 4 Feet

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The main idea behind investing in a bike lock is to have solid and optimum protection for your bicycle. This is a top-quality bike lock that will give your bicycle the intended protection. It also comes with many top features, which enables it to stand the test of time.

Titanker is a multipurpose bike lock that not only works for bikes but can be used with grills, lawnmowers, gates, etc. it is available in varieties of colors, giving you the option of picking the perfect one for your bike.

It is portable and highly secure. Users can get a four-code password design, which makes sit possible to have as many as 1000 different password combinations. It also features an upgraded mounting bracket with two the inner rubber pad, which helps set the bike pole diameter to the desired state.

Best High Security Lock: NDakter Bike Lock Cable, 4 Feet High Security

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With a five-digit resettable combination, NDakter gives your bike and scooter the ultimate protection from theft. It comes with a protective coating that prevents the lock from scratching your bike. It features a flexible braided steel cable, which makes it resistant to cut.

This is a professional bike lock with a great design that makes it the top choice for many users. With more than a hundred thousand possible lock combinations, users get peace of mind knowing that their guessing their lock combination will give thieves a hell of a tough time. Besides, the absence of a key helps reduce the possibility of losing it.

It features a mounting bracket with a self-coiling feature, which makes the lock long enough for users. Also, it is easy to carry, thanks to the self-coiling feature. A mounting bracket comes with the design, which makes it easy to add the lock to other objects. It is also easy to install on your bicycle.

Since it is a keyless combination, setting your password will be easy. You can even reset the code anytime with an absolute peace of mind that your bike is safe.

Best Chain Lock: Kryptonite Keeper 785 Integrated Bicycle Lock Chain Bike Lock

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This is one of the top quality bike locks available for users who want to give their bikes the utmost security. Kryptonite keeper is indeed a keeper as it was made with manganese steel that gives your bike the required security layer.

The design eliminates every form of vulnerability, ensuring that you get the perfect and adequate security with your bike lock. The material is made of durable weather-resistant material, which prevents scratches on the bike’s body.

It is a high-security disc-style that is resistant to pick and drill. The end link design gives perfect security as the lock links directly to the hardened deadbolt. There is no weak link in the design, which ensures that the lock resists all attack forms.

Best Affordable bike lock: Titanker Bike Lock, Bike Locks Cable Lock Coiled Secure Keys

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For everyone who needs a top bike lock to give their bicycle an added security layer, the Titanker bike lock is a good choice. It is easy to use as all you have to do is snap the lock together, and It gives an impregnable lock.

This is a secure cable bike lock with a flexible 12 mm steel cable. It is hardened to resist cutting and every form of attack. The lock comes with PVC coating, which helps reduce scratching of the bike body. With a total length of 4 feet, the bike lock is ideal for use with a scooter, fence, gates, lawnmowers, etc.

It is portable and gives a secure fit. With the easy and swift locking mechanism, an upgraded mounting bracket features a two-piece inner rubber, which allows you to adjust the circular sweat tube to give the ideal fit. The rain and dust cover keeps the keyhole from rain and dust.

Best for everyday use: SIGTUNA Bike locks – 16mm Heavy Duty U Lock

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Even if you love going everywhere with your bike, you cannot always protect it, and the bike will be out of sight at times. That is why you need a top-quality bike lock to bring peace of mind and optimum protection for your bike in your absence.

Sigtuna bike lock comes in a U lock design and secures your bike with an intelligent and impregnable locking mechanism. It is a locking system that will give thieves and other evil being a hell of a tough time.

This bike lock features a U lock made with 16 MM hardened and high-performance steel, which gives it the essential strength it needs to resist breaking. It features a double deadbolt locking system alongside a premium security disc cylinder. You are assured that Sigtuna will not give thieves any chance.

Sigtuna bike lock is pretty easy to install. You also get series of accessories like protective coating, a bike lock mount, and protective coating to protect your bike’s paint.

Best Heavy Duty Lock: Kryptonite New York Standard Heavy Duty Bicycle U Lock

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For people in need of the best bike security for their bicycles, kryptonite New York is a fantastic choice. It is one of the top series in the line of kryptonite bicycle lock design rated 90%. Users will love it as the lock comes with many top quality features, making it the perfect bike accessory to deter thieves.

This bike lock was made with 16 mm hardened steel shackles, strong and toughened to resist breaking, hard tools, bolt cutters, etc. With this bike lock, you will get absolute peace of mind knowing that your bike is in safe hands.

Users will get the ultimate security lock for their bikes, alongside the 16mm hardened performance steel shackles. It comes with an enhanced anti-rotation feature to make it resist every attempt to compromise it.

Buyer’s Guide: Best Bike Lock

Many factors affect the choice of a bike lock. When you want to select a bike lock, you will consider where you will be using the bike and its cost. These, among other factors, can guide you in the choice of a suitable bike lock.

Here are essential steps to guide users through the process:

• The Best Security Level

  Here are vital questions you need to answer before knowing the security level of your bike:

1. What is your location? Is the place a huge town, a university campus, or the city? If you answered affirmative, the risk is high. People living in small villages or towns, on the other hand, have a low risk.
2. Do you have an attractive bike? Without a doubt, the risk is high if yes. If not, you might not have to worry excessively.
3. The period you leave your bike unattended to also matter if you leave it for over an hour; this is a high risk.
4. For people within the high-risk bracket, they need a strong lock with a superb protection level. On the other hand, you might not need a sophisticated lock if your answers are low risk.

How do you know the lock that will give the intended protection level?

With an idea of the right protection level that your bike needs, the next step is to consider the best lock to serve that purpose.

The first thing you should bear in mind is that all bikes are breakable. All it takes a thief is the right set of tools and time to steal a bike. However, with a strong lock, the thief will have a terrible time trying to break your lock.

Choosing the Ideal Bike Lock

Even though you need your bike lock to be strong and sophisticated, you also need it to be easy to use, as a complicated bike lock can discourage users to the extent of abandoning it.

Type

There are various types of bike locks, and the type should be a factor in the crime rate in your vicinity, as discussed above. Basically, bike locks fall into four categories, which are

• U-locks
• Chain locks
• Cable locks and
• Folding locks

These various locks come with their pros and cons.

However, the major determinant of the type of bike lock you should consider is your vicinity’s crime rate. This is why a simple cable lock will be good for you if you live in the suburbs with a lower crime rate.

Someone living in the heart of the city, for instance, will be better off with a stronger and sophisticated bike lock like a U-lock, which is more secure.

Security Rating

This involves the security level you need to give you peace of mind.

In deciding the security ratings, you will need to consider some major factors which will guide you towards getting the best bike lock that will serve you.

Besides considering the crime rate in your vicinity, the value of your bike also matters. Also, the period of time you will spend away from your bike where you are also matters.

After answering these questions, it will give you an insight into the security level you desire. It will also guide you with an idea of the best lock system that will work for you.

Another trusted way to determine the bike lock’s security rating is to estimate the security ranking from online security tests. This will give you an idea of locks that fall within your preferred security scale. While these tests’ accuracy is yet to be proven, they can serve as a pointer into the best bike locks you can use.

Brands

With the idea of the security level you desire and the type of lock that will suit you, you can narrow your search down to the brands. There are brands that have made themselves a household name in the manufacture of bike locks. This makes the brand reputation a big consideration in selecting a bike lock.

Some of the best bike lock brands are Kryptonite and Via Velo. Although, your final choice of bike brands should be exactly what you need.

Material

Almost all locks out there can be defeated. However, what makes the best lock stand out is how difficult it will be to break. In other words, your lock should give the thief a hell of a time when trying to steal your bike.

This makes various factors such as the material hardness, thickness of the construction, etc., matter when deciding which lock will be suitable for your bike. An idea of the tools a thief will need to break a bike lock will also help.

One of the most common tools they use is a bolt cutter.

People that live in places with an alarming crime rate should go after a lock with a diameter of at least 14 mm, ideally in the range of 13 mm to 15 mm. It will not make it easy for the thief to break such a lock. Making the lock impregnable to a bolt cutter is essential. As a result, you are better off going with locks with 16mm diameter or more.

This makes the lock diameter one of the essential things to consider to resist a bolt cutter-also, the strength of the steel matters. Besides, consider the lock design and the locking mechanism used to hold the piece.

These are important factors that affect the strength and security your lock will provide.

Size

When it comes to the best bike lock, size is a relative term as it could point to various things.

For some locks, size can refer to the lock diameter, while for a U-lock, the size refers to the area within the lock.

Typically, for a U-lock, a smaller lock gives a pretty secure lock. It is more secure because it will give the thief a tough time to lay their hands on various parts of the lock.

For other types of lock besides U-lock, the lock’s size is more about the thickness and size of the lock. A thick lock will definitely make it harder for thieves to break it, which makes it the ideal choice.

Bike Locks and Forms of Locking Mechanisms

There are various mechanisms that appear in bike lock with series of security levels:

• Disc Detainer

  Disc Detainer is the same as disc tumbler locks. This is a locking mechanism that employs several rotating discs slotted and separated by washers. The set of the disc comes with a cutout that un-align when locked. However, when you insert and turn the key, it rotates them into an alignment, forming a channel. There is also a sidebar that rests against the disc, which stops the lock’s turning without a channel.

  This type of lock needs a perfect alignment of the disc to a precise position before the lock will open.

• Slider

  When a key is inserted into a lock with a slider mechanism, it triggers a series of springless sliders inside the plug that looks like a slot outside of the plug. There is a sidebar inside the slot on top of the slider, which must get into the slot to trigger the lock’s turning.

  Inserting the key sends the slide to the right position while the sidebar falls right into the slot, and the plug is inside the cylinder turns.

• Pin Tumbler

  This lock comes with a plug housed inside a cylindrical housing with a plug and housing that comes with long pin chambers, which gives way to various spring-loaded pins to have various movements between the housing and the plug.

  In the locked position, the pin will be between the housing and the plug. When the key enters the plug, it shoots up the spring-loaded pins to let them move into the plug or housing completely, with a little gap between them that allows the plug to turn.

• Wafer

  The locking mechanism of a wafer is the same as a pin tumbler. It, however, does not use spring-loaded pins but rectangular wafers that are spring-loaded.

Best Bike Locks of 2021: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the working principle of a lock?
A: Answer: there are various types of a bike locks and they all have their distinct and unique working principles. You will often find the chain lock or the U-lock as the most popular lock type. These types are suitable if you have bike racks and poles installed. You do not need any special installation facilities with Chain and cable lock as they come with the end looped. Q: Which bike lock is considered the strongest?
A: Among the varieties of bike locks available, U lock is the strongest. It is pretty secure and incredibly resistant to cutting and other forms of theft.

Q: What is the importance of a bike lock?
A: Bikes are light in weight and not as cumbersome as cars and trucks. This makes the bike a common target to petty thieves. As a result, one needs to invest in a reliable bike lock to protect it and deter thieves.

Q: What are the recommendations to prevent a bike from getting stolen?
A: We have the following points that can help you guide your bike against thieves:

• Consider using two good bike locks. This will double the security.
• Lock the wheels to prevent them from theft
• Modern bikes come with seat and wheels that can easily be dismantled with the “quick- release” mechanism. With this, stealing it will be easy as thieves will find it easy to take it off. People with bikes in this category should consider replacing them to deter thieves.
• A smart lock that is linked to your phone is a terrific idea. With a smart lock, you will be notified when the bike is in motion, alongside the ability to track the movement.
• Employ locks that come with an alarm system. Also, there are locks that release a smelly gas if tampered with. This will definitely deter thieves.

Q: Can Thieves Pick a Lock?
A: Yes, there are thieves skilled in picking locks even though this many times, only works with simple and non-sophisticated locks. Thieves will, however, prefer to cut the parts of the lock than pick it since picking will give them a tough time.

Thieves can use a handheld cable cutter on cable locks; and hacksaws on U locks and chainsaws.

Q: What is the best way to lock a bike?
A: Choosing and working with the safest lock available is the best way to secure your bike. We have discussed various things that guide the selection of locks, lock-like traffic, level of crime in the area, etc. Also, be sure to lock it around a solid object to prevent the bike from being lifted.

Q: Which bike lock will give me peace of mind?
A: U-locks are considered to be the most secured as they are strong and will not give in easily to breaking or further tampering.

The chain lock is also a good option to consider, provided the Chain and shackles are made of hardened steel.

Q: Will a U lock perform better than cable locks?
A: There is no definite answer to this.

U-locks are heavy and strong, while cable locks are light and small. U lock could be difficult to carry for people who do not have a backpack, although they are strong and give a more secure lock than cable locks.

Cable locks come in various lengths, and they are easy to use. All you have to do is wrap them around a big and sturdy object together with your bike. On the other hand, U locks are available in small sizes, and you will not need to lock your bike around a pole or any sturdy object.

If you want a comfortable bike lock in terms of weight, storage, portability, and flexibility, the cable lock is pretty much better, although it does not match up to the U lock in terms of safety.

It will be pretty easy to pick a simple cable lock. On the other hand, a high-quality cable lock will be costly and resistant to picking as well.

If you want absolute security for your lock, make sure to stick to U-locks s they are hefty, strong, and reliable.

Q: Can you recommend a Bike lock for college?
A: The crime rate on a college campus will be high, making it important to secure your bike if you pack it anywhere on campus.

As a result, you are better off with a U lock while on campus. Even though they are heavy, they will fit your backpack easily. While in college, you should use two locks to reinforce your security. A U-lock and a chain lock is a terrific idea.

Q: Will one be able to cut a bike with a bike lock?
A: Yes, it is possible to break a bike cheap chain lock with a bike lock. This makes it important to secure your bike well.

Q: How Should I dispose of bike locks?
A: Bike locks are usually made of strong metals like iron, aluminum, steel, brass, copper, etc. These are metals that can be recycled; hence one needs to dispose of them well.

Conclusion

One of the most important accessories you need with your bike is a good bike lock. This will give you peace of mind if you have to leave your bike for a long time.

Our top choice of the best bike lock is Sportneer Bicycle Chain Lock, and it is a good choice for people that do not know the bike lock to choose. It has a strong lock plug, which is resistant to every breaking attempt.

There is also a buying guide section that will help users make the perfect choice when selecting a good bike lock. We also have a detailed FAQ section that has answers to various questions on using a bike lock.