Bike Lock Security Explained

Bike locks need to be heavy duty and secure enough to prevent your bike from being stolen. At the same time, they need to be lightweight enough for you to take your locks with your during your rides, so you can actually lock up your bike. Here's the lightest, secure bike lock and what bike lock security ratings actually mean.

The locks I trust to secure my bougie custom fixed gear build:
Litelok X1:

Litelok Go Flexi-O 70:

Wabi Cycles - The bike that's so good, it's the only bike I own:

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0:00 - The Lightest, Securest Bike Lock in the World
0:27 - How Bike Thieves Work
4:05 - Bike Lock Security Ratings Explained
6:53 - The Locks I Trust for My Bike
11:11 - Sponsor: Wabi Cycles

#fixedgear

[B_COOPER]

Listen, the surefire method of never having your bike stolen is to park your bike as close to an e-bike as possible because that’s what the thieves want.

[jasoncbrooks]

If you lock a bike up in public on a regular basis, don’t ride anything you can’t replace! Camouflage is a decent tactic, make your bike look beat up, remove branding, add tape and stickers to make unrecognizable as a nice bike. Zach’s bike is too nice to leave locked up for very long, but as a smaller brand may not be as recognizable. If a professional thief wants your bike, no lock is unbeatable. Good video, it’s sad bikes are under such threat.

[WednesdaysVlog]

In the five years I've worked as a bicycle courier, I've never had a bike stolen. My advice is to take a layered approach. This is far more important than any individual lock's apparent ability to resist attacks. The more locks you use, the more annoying and time-consuming it becomes for a thief, regardless of any individual lock's security rating. Find a combination that works for you.

On my e-bike, I use two Diamond-rated U-locks (the SeatyLock Mason and the Hiplok DX), and for my pushbike, I use one Gold-rated U-lock (Kryptonite Evolution LITE) and one Silver-rated folding lock (FoldyLock Mini). This gives me versatility in lock-up opportunities while keeping my weight low enough that it doesn't impair my ride.

Although I don't do it often, for the handful of times I've needed to leave my bike untended for long periods (such as going to the cinema), I also have an additional Diamond-rated chain lock (Hiplok Wearable) and bring all the other aforementioned locks with me. Yes, it's overkill, but thieves don't even think twice when they see five locks. That bike might as well be invisible to them, nobody would take the time to deal with that.

[brandoncalderon]

I got into fixed gear, bike commuting and always carrying two locks because of you. I’ve never gotten my bike OR WHEELS stolen in Mexico City, which is something to be proud of I guess.

[RatherBeShredding]

Everyone saying ride a shit bike doesn’t know how to live.

[notlt]

When I lockup in public, its next to the $2k and up bikes. I frequently use the bikeshare that connects my city to the capital of our state--mostly to never be afraid my baby will get stolen when I'm out and about. My rule about bike locks is that I spend about 10% of the cost of the bike--$40 for a $400 bike, $100 for a $1k bike, etc.

[ruudboek]

The irony is that a beater bike with a light lock is probable lighter then a more expensive light bike with a heavy very secure lock.

[GregA]

I have 0 experience in bike stealing but that locking seems to be very bad at timestamp: 8:22 . Rear wheel can be easily removed and with a plier and a few wire cuts... your bike is free and your bikelock untouched.

[Juleslshaw]

im going to fly to America, a 10 hour flight, just to leave a note saying I can steal your bike at any time and I will, I'm just waiting.

[DIY-DaddyO]

Also, how about a vibration alarm. And look out for each other out there... I did see a guy make a vibration detection that sent you a text when fiddled with.

[not-fishing]

Thanks Zach, my son learned this a decade ago in San Francisco when he lost the fixed-cog Specialized Allez I built for him. Yes he used a U-lock.

[deleteduser]

One thing I love about my ebike is it doesn't care if I throw 30 pounds of stuff on it

[bikepackingadventure]

In the U.K., hooded machete motorbike riders are targeting cyclists, especially around London.

This type of targeted violence and theft is increasing against cyclists. The criminals are getting really brazen without fear of getting caught or arrest. It’s getting scary to be a cyclist.

There is little risk of getting caught or actual punishment, because in the U.K., sadly along of the general public have an ideological hate of cyclists that is getting fuel by social media and some media outlets.

[SoCalKev]

Zach have you seen the ABUS GRANIT SUPER EXTREME 2500 it’s ABus Response to the X1-X3 and D1000

[DanGleebowls]

I use a kryptonite lock for rear wheel and frame with a cable that loops round the front wheel, and my bike is never out of my line of sight for more than 15 minutes at a time unless im at work, where it is in a secure lot.

2 locks would be better, but the weight saving is why i make the compromise

[humildemarcelo]

I liked the shade thrown to Texlock xD

[jrpzjrpz]

Not if you live in Oakland and even when I take BART to San Francisco for work
there have been times when crazy peeps tried snatching it from me while riding BART...

[lucaswalter]

I've had trouble with components get stolen. If your in a high traffic area I recommend putting clear shoe goo into the hex key holes. Hasn't failed me yet. If you need to adjust seat height or take off handlebars then just use a pin or sharp object to take out the dried shoe goo.

[conor]

Litelock X3 is the way to go. The hiplock is too small, though REI carries them. Any Kryptonite can be cut through in under a minute. The weakest Kryptonite is only slightly worst than the thickest and is a 1/3 of the weight.

[stevensager]

Zack you first mentioned how the safest way to secure a bike when needed is to make your bike not worth a criminals time, effort and risk. Your flexibility lock looks easy to break even if it's not. I think that could attract attention in itself. The worse u lock would make me as a criminal think that bikes well locked up I'm not going to wipe out an angle grinder to try. -I mean all of this in the nicest way possible. I just feel the illusion of hard to steal holds a high value