We are sure that by now you got the big picture and you are ready to explore a few products, looking for an accessible and suitable solution for your particular bike. Remember, any protection method is better than no protection at all, and the following five locks are some of the best ones you can find on the market.
Features
This is not the first time when we are reviewing products from Lumintrail, as this brand is popular and renowned for making high-quality accessories for bikes and bicycles. For example, you can get different types of locks and combination locks from Lumintrail as well as bike pumps, tire patches, saddles, LED lights, and more. In other words, if you want to accessorize your bike, you must see Lumintrail's products to get inspired!
The Heavy-Duty Security Cable from Lumintrail is available in three sizes: 4, 7 or 15 feet. This cable is an ideal security option for your bicycle as well as sports equipment, skateboard, tools, lawnmowers, and many other personal belongings. Its durable and sturdy braided steel construction provides enhanced protection against thieves and any cutting tools they might use.
On top of that, this cable also features sealed looped ends which can accommodate U locks, combination locks, or other types of locks out there. The cable is covered with a vinyl coating that protects your bike's paint and prevents scratching. When the cable is not in use, you can easily attach it to your bike or put it into a small backpack as it doesn’t occupy a lot of space.
Features
Ushake doesn’t sell a very wide range of products, but the few ones it has on sale are highly appreciated by the general public and useful in various situations. For example, apart from bike locks and bike bottle holders, Ushake also makes ski goggles from adults, swimming accessories, and practical pouches where you can keep your mobile phone and money when you go for a jog.
For now, let's focus on the Basic Self Coiling Resettable Combination Cable from Ushake and explore its strong points. This cable has a length of 6 feet, and it can be used for protecting a wide range of personal valuables such as your bike, skateboard, ladder, and more. This lock allows you to set a 4-digit password and use it to lock and unlock your bike. Yes, you don’t need a key for this, so one less thing for you to worry about!
The combination of the lock is easily resettable, and the actual cable is made from stainless steel that makes it very durable and resistant to wear, tear, shocks, vibrations, and cutting tools. This cable is also covered with a protective PVC coating that prevents scratching, and in the package you will also find a mounting bracket which you can use to easily attach the lock to your bike.
Features
Abus is known for making high-quality and versatile locks and anti-theft systems for bikes, sports equipments, cabinets, drawers, and so on. Its products are made from some of the toughest materials out there (such as hardened steel) and come at reasonable prices. Abus also sells a line of interesting and practical surveillance cameras.
Before anything else, let's take a look at the Bordo Granit X Plus folding lock from Abus and explore its strong points. This type of lock has a security rating of 15 out of 15, meaning that it will deter most thieves and be impervious to cutting tools and various stealing methods. The lock weighs almost 3 1/2 pounds, which means increased durability and protection.
At the core of this lock is the specially designed Abus cylinder, which can take a lot of wear and tear and cannot be broken easily. This allows the lock to be folded quickly and makes it compact. You can use the lock for various sports equipments, but it is mainly designed for bikes. It comes with two keys, of which one features an LED light and the package also contains a free carrying case.
Features
As you would probably imagine, Inbike provides a wide variety of bike accessories and apparel items in various sizes and colors. If you are an avid biker, you must check out its products as you can find cell phone holders, knee braces, cycling jerseys, water bottle holders, horns, you name it! Inbike also makes a plethora of high-quality bike locks, so that’s why we included this brand into our review.
For example, the 8 Joints Alloy Steel Folding Bike Lock from Inbike can be bought in three color options (black, blue, or orange) and it comes with or without anti-hydraulic shears. If you go for the model which comes with anti-hydraulic shears, you are obtaining the maximum level of protection for this model as it has been designed to resist bolt cutters.
The body of the lock is made from steel alloy and it features 5mm steel bars that are foldable, making this model compact and easy to carry around. It even comes with a free carrying case that attaches to the frame of the bike. This steel lock is covered with ABS rubber paint which basically prevents it from scratching your bike or cause additional damages. If you are looking for a reasonably-priced, high-quality bike lock, this might be the right option for you!
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to use surveillance cameras to protect our houses, steel doors to keep burglars away, or different types of locks for protecting our valuables. The reality is a little bit harsher, but luckily, a multitude of companies out there have designed affordable and accessible protection methods. For example, keeping your bicycle safe has never been easier thanks to the wide variety of bike locks you can find on the market!
If you are thinking "Hey, I've got my
bike trailer, my
bike seat, my
bike shoes, my bike helmet, why would I need to spend money on another accessory?" then you are asking the right question. A bike lock might appear like an extravagance, but what if you leave your bike outside for five minutes while you go in a shop for a cup of coffee and when you get back, your precious bike is gone? Protecting your bike using a bike lock is like protecting your house against burglars or installing a serious alarm system in your brand-new Corvette. It is going to make a difference!
If you are still unsure, keep reading and get enlightened! The purpose of this guide is to get you updated with the latest bike locks currently available on the market, learn more about them, and make you understand that you deserve to have more peace of mind while you are out and about on your two-wheels vehicle. Isn’t it true that it is better to be safe than sorry?
Price
Let's begin with the price section first and understand what's what when it comes to bike locks, from a financial point of view. Today's locks are very varied, so their prices will vary as well. For example, the prices for good-quality bike locks can start from around $10 - $15 and they can go up to $100-$150 for a high-end model. As you will soon find out, the materials, locking systems, and other features drastically influence the price of a lock.
As a word of advice, though, remember to stay away from cheap bike locks for obvious reasons. Such products are made from poor quality materials and many thieves know how to spot them, so don’t imagine that you can trick them into thinking that you have a serious, durable bike lock. Go for a high-quality bike lock made by a reputable manufacturer and you will be ok.
Features
Earlier on, we mentioned that some features can influence the price of a bike lock. Let's take a look at some of them and find out more details about this to broaden your understanding about bike locks.
- Materials - almost all high-quality bike locks are made from hardened steel, steel alloy, carbon steel, or even titanium. You need such strong materials to render any thief's cutting tools useless
- Locking Mechanism - your options are varied here: you can go for a steel cable that works in conjunction with a u-lock for additional protection, a combination lock, a chain lock, a foldable lock, etc.
- Security Rating - this can be on a scale from 0 to 15 and it basically says how strong the lock is designed to be. If your bike is really expensive and/or close to your heart, go for a lock with the highest security rating
These are just a few of the most common features shared by today's bike locks. You will see that there are many types of locks out there and each of them has its own characteristics. Your job is to analyze your needs right from the start, set a budget, see a couple of locks to get the idea, and then decide upon the right lock, its size, color, and other options.
Construction and Design
Before buying, you also need to know more about how a lock is designed and built. There are several types of locks out there such as:
- Combination Locks - these devices use a combination of four or five digits and they don’t require keys. The locking mechanism is installed on a steel cable of a certain size and you can quickly lock or unlock your bike by inputting the right combination (which is resettable, by the way).
- Foldable Locks - easy to use and compact, these are usually made from steel bars which fold and can be locked and unlocked using a key. The advantage of such a lock is its size and the fact that it usually includes a free carrying case in the package.
- Ground Anchors - you will also find such locks out there and they are highly useful if you want to set up a permanent, safe anchor point for your bike or even a small vehicle. The anchor point can be set in the ground or in a wall, and it features a steel shackle you can use to tie your bike to. It is impossible to break or destroy such a locking mechanism, unless you own a tank!
Locks that are opened with keys usually come with one or more of these keys in the package, and one of them is lighted. This will make it easier for you to lock and unlock your bike during the night.
Performance and Ease of Use
Today's bike locks are made from some of the highest quality materials and using advanced technologies. They are designed to last for years and withstand various lock-picking methods, cutting tools, or drilling machines. Therefore, if you buy such a lock, you are going to have more peace of mind in the future. Manufacturers also offer warranty periods for their locks, so remember to look for such information when buying.
Before we wrap up, we also want to mention that some locks come with protective coatings that are made from PVC, plastic, or rubber. These coatings are designed to protect the paint on your bike and make the lock a little bit more eye-candy. The bottom line is that thieves always go for bikes that are unprotected first, so by buying a lock, you have already indirectly deterred the majority of robbers out there!
You just saw how some of the best bike locks out there can help you to protect your bicycle or even skateboard or other sports accessory. It is up to you now to make the correct decision and pick a lock that will give you more peace of mind and discourage thieves!
