The Best Bike Locks for Protecting Your Wheels
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If a thief really wants your bike, they're gonna get it. Even the best bike locks will eventually fall to an angle grinder or a dedicated tactician. But we have a saying out west: “You don't have to be faster than the bear. You just have to outrun the guy next to you.” The best bike locks in a new generation of grinder-resistant security devices will make your bike deeply unattractive prey, especially compared to your neighbor with a cable lock or a less sophisticated U-lock.
Over months, we've tested the top new options in a wide variety of styles and price points. This includes everything from the biggest, baddest, safest, meanest angle-grinder-resistant U-locks like the Kryptonite New York Lock Diamond Standard ($350) to convenient folding locks like the Seatylock Foldylock ($90) that are easy to carry and will keep an honest stranger honest. You'll also find tips on security ratings and how to properly employ your new lock to help keep your ride safe.
Be sure to check out our related guides, including the Best Electric Bicycles, Best Electric Cargo Bikes, Best Escooters, and Best Kids Bikes.
Updated May 2025: We've added Kryptonite's New York Lock Diamond Standard, as well as the Hiplok Gold wearable lock, and the OnGuard RockSolid U-Lock. We have removed several locks no longer for sale and updated prices throughout.
Which Lock Type You Need
There are many ways to lock your bike securely, some of which will depend on the type of lock you’re using and the bike you’re locking.
But one of the main questions you should ask youself is: How secure is the place you're locking your bike, and how much don't you want to lose it. Sold Secure, an English security group, issues security ratings for each bike lock based on how hard a thief will have to work to steal your bike. If you've got a highly valuable, attractive bike that thieves want, and it's out of your sight for protracted periods in a public place? Look for a bike lock that's ranked Sold Secure Diamond, then bring in other considerations.
Most of the highest-rated locks are U-locks, though these are of course a bit heavy and may require a bracket on your bicycle to carry comfortably. For a regular-size U-lock, you’ll usually want to lock the bike around the frame and the back wheel, if space allows. Some methods suggest simply locking the back wheel, but this can leave the rest of your bike vulnerable. You’ll want to keep U-locks away from the ground, especially with concrete or asphalt, to prevent thieves from trying to smash it with a hammer or using leverage devices like a tire jack or iron.
If you’ve got a quick-release wheel, you may want to consider a dual-lock setup like the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 With Flex Cable (though this is not a grinder-resistant lock). Alternatively, you could use multiple locks, like a grinder-resistant lock for the frame and back wheel plus a chain or cable lock for the front wheel.
And of course, the best lock is the lock you that's on. If you find it difficult to tote a big, bulky, grinder-resistant lock around? Consider a folding lock.
Chain locks can work well for securing both a frame and wheel, though they have their drawbacks. They’re usually quite heavy, especially the thicker ones that can better resist heavy bolt cutters. They’re also generally not nearly as grinder-resistant as our top picks. Again, keeping the chain off the ground will help ward off bolt-cutting thieves.
What to Know About Security Tags and Trackers
One key trick to tracking your bike is using a Tile or Apple AirTag hidden somewhere along the frame or under your seat so you can keep an eye on its position. Unfortunately, there are some real limitations to this method.
Both AirTags and Tile devices are limited to the range of their Bluetooth antennae. Tile devices come with a maximum 400-foot range for the Tile Pro, while the Tile Mate and Slim offer 250 feet. Apple doesn’t specify its AirTag range, but it's also limited by Bluetooth, with most testing putting it at around 30 meters or 100 feet.
AirTags and Tiles both offer some tracking features when out of range. AirTags can connect over the Find My Network, using other people’s Apple devices to anonymously track, while Tile devices can similarly track the device's last known location over Android phones, but this is far from perfect. Neither offers real-time GPS tracking, and both systems require other devices to track.
AirTags support ultra-wideband technology for Precision Finding (supported by iPhone 11 or higher) that can pinpoint the device more accurately than Tile trackers. On the downside, AirTags will chime when moved away from your phone as a safety precaution, which may alert thieves to their presence.
There are also real-time GPS trackers, such as the Invoxia, which charges a yearly subscription fee. These devices are pricier but potentially more effective since they don’t rely on Bluetooth, instead using real-time GPS location tracking. They’re generally larger and tougher to conceal than AirTags or Tiles.
What About Smart Locks?
Smart locks are an emerging space in the bike lock scene, but are really still in their infancy. Smart locks like the I Lock It Plus (which we have not tested) can offer conveniences like keyless unlocking via your phone, and even a smart alarm with up to 110 decibels of shrieking sound. Some also promise to alert your phone when someones' trying to tamper with the lock, though most operate on short-range Bluetooth. And alarms can go off accidentally, of course, causing as many problems than they solve.
For now, we have not found a grinder-resistant smart lock that's been certified by Sold Secure or ART, which means for now these connectivity features come at the expense of security, As noted in our Security Ratings section, we recommend making sure any lock you choose is independently rated by Sold Secure and/or ART to ensure objective testing for the best protection.
What to Know About Security Ratings
Some bike lock makers provide their own internal security ratings for guidance. Those can be helpful, but the most secure locks we've tested use standard ratings from objective sources, including Sold Secure, which offers ratings of multiple vehicle types between Bronze and Diamond, and ART, which uses a number scale from 1 to 5.
So what do these ratings actually mean? Here's a guide to two of the top lock-security firms and their rating systems:
Sold Secure was established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex police in the UK. The brand is now owned and operated by the Master Locksmiths Association, a not-for-profit trade group. It uses a four-level rating system, as listed below.
Sold Secure Rating Levels: Bronze (lowest, secure against basic tools); Silver (midrange, secure against enhanced tools/determined attacks); Gold (second best, resistant against dedicated tools/attacks); Diamond (highest, resistant against destructive attacks and “special tools”).
The firm also uses separate ratings for different vehicle types, like bikes versus motorcycles (which it now calls pedal cycles and powered cycles, respectively). For example, the Hiplok DX has a Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond rating and a Sold Secure Powered Cycle Gold rating. It's a good score, but it isn't as secure as top grinder-resistant options like the Litelok X1 or tougher locks like the Litelock X3 and Hiplock D1000, all three of which get Diamond ratings in both categories. Grinder-resistant locks will usually say so directly on the brand's site as well. When in doubt, you can always go to the Sold Secure website to check whether your lock is rated.
ART is a Dutch independent security firm that uses a five-star security system centered on vehicle type, durability, weather, environmental resistance, and resistance to attacks.
ART Rating Levels: 1/5 (minimum security rating, fit for a second bike lock only); 2/5 (higher security rating that represents good theft protection for bicycles, the minimum for most insurance companies); 3/5 (bicycle security for high risk of theft, also suitable for mopeds and scooters for insurance purposes); 4/5 (very high security rating for bicycles, good theft protection for motorcycles while traveling); 5/5 (highest security rating, sometimes required to insure motorcycles stored at home).
Best Grinder Resistant Bike Lock for Most
I'm an avid cyclist who lives in a blue-collar neighborhood of a bike theft capital. After four years of using the Hiplock D1000, I’m the only person I know who hasn’t had a bike lock ground through. Have I gotten drunk and left a bike in the front yard and had it stolen that way? Yes, but you can't live your life in bubble wrap.
The D1000 is the lock that I use the most often and the one that I rely on to protect the most expensive electric bikes that I review. The diameter is small relative to some of our other picks, which means you may have to be more strategic in how you lock up (I’ve used this lock since it came out, and have yet to have a problem locking it up). It doesn’t come with a bike mount (which I don’t mind, given that it’s so heavy that it should be carried in a pack or pannier anyway).
The graphene composite interior is designed to withstand angle grinders, the apex predator of bikes. It has the highest security rating possible, and it has double-locking tabs—a prospective thief has to grind through both sides to cut the lock, if he even gets through one. I particularly like that the lock is covered in rubber so that it doesn’t mark up your (test model) bike’s glorious paint job and the keyhole also has a cover to keep it from rusting. It comes with three replaceable keys and a lifetime warranty. Unlike my Kryptonite locks, the keys and locking mechanism also feel premium and resist damage in my various bags and bike pockets. While I carry it in a pannier, it does have separate mounting options.—Adrienne So
Specs: Dimensions: 9" x 6.1" Weight: 4.18 pounds Sold Secure Ratings: Pedal Cycle Diamond, Powered Cycle Diamond ART Rating: 4/5 Best Ultra-Secure Bike Lock
Kryptonite's classic black and yellow New York locks are iconic. Before the era of cheap battery-powered angle grinders, they were also among the best on the market. Kryptonite has now updated its line with a Diamond version of the classic, which it says is the most secure lock the company has ever made. Certifying body Sold Secure apparently agrees, ranking the new grinder-resistant Kryptonite among the few locks with the highest security rating on the market: Powered Diamond. This lock employs a 1-inch double-layer steel shackle that's diamond-coated and designed to make a would-be thief burn through 10 grinder discs. The lock weighs 5 pounds, and in my testing, I used it exclusively with expensive ebikes, given the weight. (I prefer the TiGr lock below if I'm having to transport the weight of the lock with my legs.)
It comes with three keys, and you can get a free replacement pair if you ever need them. The lock also comes with an anti-theft warranty of up to $5,000 to replace a stolen bike for five years if you register the lock and can prove you did everything right when locking it up. One thing I don't love about the lock is the unique mounting bracket, which the company calls FlexFrame. It's made from nylon webbing that's strapped to the bike's frame. Given the size and weight of the lock, it hangs awkwardly, and a solution involving the water bottle bracket might have been more elegant. —Martin Cizmar
Specs: Dimensions: 10.6" x 6.8" Weight: 5.07 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Diamond, Powered Cycle Diamond ART Rating: Not rated
Best Low-Cost Grinder-Resistant Bike Lock
Litelok’s trusty X1 offers serious security and impressive versatility for a wide range of users, bikes, and racks. As an angle-grinder-resistant U-lock, the X1’s security scores are among the highest available, with only a few locks claimed to hold out longer against power-cutting criminals. The lock’s mix of high-strength ceramic composite material (which the brand calls “Barronium”) and its anti-rotation locking system—a thief has to cut both sides—means it lasts “at least” five times as long as top traditional U-locks against grinder attacks. No one has yet tried to grind through the lock into my (now) months of testing, but multiple users have reported Litelok's models have frustrated thieves for up to an hour, whereas a standard steel U-lock is likely to last only a few minutes.
Just as importantly, the X1 is easy to take along and use. Unlike its close competitor, the thicker Hiplok D1000, this is a full-size U-lock, so it loops over larger e-bike frames like the Propella 9S Pro V2 I used in testing. At 3.7 pounds, it's on the lighter side for high-security locks, fitting securely into its included mount or slipping into a backpack or holster. It’s not cheap, but it's an easier ask than Litelok's larger (and tougher) X3 to help put your fears to rest. —Ryan Waniata
Specs: Dimensions: 10.6" x 5.6" Weight: 3.71 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Diamond, Powered Cycle Diamond ART Rating: 4/5 Lightest, Smallest Grinder-Resistant Lock
On the one hand, the new generation of grinder-resistant locks has preserved urban bike riding for a new generation of riders. On the other: Lord, do they have to be so heavy? At 3 pounds, the sturdy OnGuard RockSolid is no featherweight. But it is the lightest bike lock we've tested that's rated Pedal Diamond by certifying body Sold Secure—certified as resistant to dedicated, specialized attacks from grinders. RockSolid stood up to a slew of informal angle-grinder tests we've reviewed by other testers, in many cases besting U-locks with the more stringent Powered Diamond rating reserved for motorcycle and ebike locks. The RockSolid is also secured at four points within the shackle, meaning thieves would have to cut through both sides of the lock to get clear of it.
The RockSolid's svelte profile nonetheless makes it better suited to smaller-framed pedal bikes, at 6.9 inches long and 3.5 inches across. Though it lacks a mount, the RockSolid is compact enough to just latch around a bike's handlebars while your'e riding. The RockSolid is not as highly vetted as our top high-security picks. But it's the most compact U-lock I'd still trust on the street with a high-value bike, while eating or shopping or drinking a pint. The lifetime warranty, and whopping ring of five key duplicates, don't hurt. —Matthew Korfhage
Specs: Dimensions: 6.8" x 3.5", 15-mm thick (U-lock) Weight: 3 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Diamond ART Rating: Not rated
Best Ultra-Lightweight U-Lock
I'm a former daily bike commuter in Portland, a city that is to bike thieves what Rome is to Catholics, and I tested a number of locks during my time there. The best I found was a unique titanium U-lock from a company called TiGr, which makes them by hand in a small workshop outside Philly. The TiGr was strong, light, and unique enough to send thieves looking down the rack, as they generally prefer a known target to an unknown one. I still have that lock, but it was discontinued shortly after the start of the Ukraine war put a crunch on titanium imports.
The new model from TiGr is made of carbon steel and is actually a few grams lighter than the titanium version, with a little more flex. The new lock otherwise performs the same, and I've used it on both normal bikes and ebikes with thinner frames, like the Aventon Soltera2. It conveniently mounts on your frame where a water bottle cage would otherwise go. You can see how the TiGr does against various attacks in videos on the company's site, which is about as well as a standard steel U-lock from brands like Kryptonite and Abus—for an extra few bucks you're cutting 70 percent of their weight and getting the advantage of presenting a less common and predictable target. —Martin Cizmar
Specs: Dimensions: 10.5" x 7" Weight: 15 ounces ART Rating: 2/5 Best Folding Bike Lock
This Abus folding lock works extremely well for larger bikes like cargo ebikes, or for locking up multiple bikes with a single lock. I like that it folds down to a manageable size when not in use, and you can easily slide it into its holster on your bike or into a pack or back pocket when needed. At a little over three and a half pounds, it's not light by any means, but it is a bit more svelte than many U-lock options I have tried. The mechanism to lock it is easy: Just slide the end of the chain into the slot and use the included high-quality key to secure it. It comes with two keys, including one with a built-in light for finding the keyhole in the dark. —Parker Hall
Specs: Dimensions: 3" width, 35.5" circumference, Weight: 3.68 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Gold ART Rating: 2/5
Best Ultra-Compact Folding Bike Lock
Seatylock’s miniaturized Foldylock Compact is a great choice if you want minimal fuss on your daily route. Its included mount attaches to your bike’s built-in rivets or, if you like to keep a water bottle there, you can use the included straps to attach it to your frame for a secure and silent setup. I love the lock’s smooth-glide design, making connecting and unfolding it slick and simple, and while it can be a little unwieldy to expand, its long reach made it easy to secure my bike's frame and back wheel to multiple anchor points. Its collapsible body easily fits in any backpack, fanny pack, or even your back pocket.
It’s reasonably robust for a folding lock, with bolts designed to be saw- and cut-proof, but they still provide a natural weak point for would-be thieves, and its frame is no match for severe attacks like an angle grinder. That said, the best bike lock is the one that’s always with you. As WIRED reviewer Adrienne So notes, the Foldylock Compact provides “the ideal compromise in terms of size, weight, security, price, and ease of use.” —Ryan Waniata
Specs: Dimensions: 7.45" x 1.6" x 2.35", 33.5" circumference Weight: 2.2 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Silver Best Wearable Bike Lock
Chain locks are great for locking to large or inconvenient objects. But they're usually heavy, and a pain to transport. Theoretically, you could wear any chain you like as a sash or a belt, but word to the prudent? Don't lock a chain to yourself. This is the genius of the Hiplok Gold wearable chain, which threads a conventional strap and buckle through the sleeve of its 10-millimeter hardened steel chain, so you can belt yourself without locking the chain. The strap serves waist (or hip) sizes between 28 and 44 inches, and amounts to a 5-pound fannypack.
In practice, this works pretty well while riding: The weight is hardly noticeable when you're sitting on a bike seat, though note that unless you've got a pronounced hip-to-waist ratio, the weight of the chain will tend to pull it down your legs if you try to wear it while walking. Also, the strap can sometimes get in the way while trying to lock the thing up, causing you to invent new words. This said, the Hiplok is an elegant solution to lock transport that doesn't require a mount or a bag, for a medium-security lock. If you've got a bike that doesn't submit to U-Lock mounts, or a locking point that needs some flexibility, this is a pretty good solution. Just remember to lock your chain up away from the ground, so thieves can't get leverage with large bolt cutters. —Matthew Korfhage
Specs: Dimensions: 35" circumference lock, 2.36" x 1.18" chain. Fits 28" to 44" waist Weight: 5 pounds Sold Secure rating: Pedal Cycle Gold ART Rating: 2/5
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