Weight is the honest measure of how much steel a lock actually carries
Three formats dominate, and each trades security against how it carries: a folding lock stows compactly on the frame and wraps around awkward stands, a D-lock resists leverage best for its weight but only reaches what fits inside its shackle, and a chain covers the most anchor points while being the heaviest to carry. We compare format, the length or shackle clearance the manufacturer states, key against combination cylinders, whether a frame bracket is supplied, and whether an independent scheme — ART, ADFC — has assessed the lock, which is the only claim on a lock you can check. Not one manufacturer in this hub publishes a weight, which is a real gap: weight is the honest measure of how much steel a lock carries.
94 cm (37 in) folded lock · 5 mm (0.20 in) links · bracket included
The longest folding lock at the entry price here, at 94 cm (37 in), with 5 mm (0.20 in) alloy links and eight rotating joints and a frame bracket included.
Best for: Riders who need reach around thick stands more than maximum resistance, at the lowest price in the hub.
85 cm (33.5 in) hardened steel · 3 keys · bracket included
A hardened steel folding lock at 85 cm (33.5 in) from a long-established German bicycle parts maker, supplied with three keys and a frame bracket, and the best-selling lock in this hub.
Best for: Everyday city parking where a serious deterrent matters more than a certified grading.
≈ $86
85 cm (33.5 in) folding · combination · 8 links · bracket
The combination-code folding lock in this hub — 85 cm (33.5 in), eight links on hardened rivets described as waterproof — for riders who would rather not carry a key at all.
Best for: Riders who share a bike, or who are tired of carrying and losing keys.
100 cm (39.4 in) folding · ART certification stated · anti-scratch
A 100 cm (39.4 in) folding lock whose manufacturer states ART certification, with a protected cylinder intended to resist drilling and an anti-scratch coating on the links.
Best for: City riders whose insurer names a certification scheme, or who park a valuable bike in the same place regularly.
6 mm (0.24 in) manganese links · 5-digit combination · 3.2 to 4 ft · fabric cover
A combination chain lock in 6 mm manganese steel with a five-digit cylinder, a fabric cover and a dustproof cap.
Best for: A café stop or a daylight rack, or locking two bikes together
14 mm (0.55 in) shackle · ADFC recommendation stated · 1.7 m (6 ft) cable
A large D-lock with a 14 mm (0.55 in) hardened shackle and an ADFC recommendation stated by the manufacturer, supplied with a 1.7 m (6 ft) cable for the front wheel and accessories.
Best for: Anyone leaving a bike in a city where theft is a real prospect, and who is prepared to carry the weight.
≈ $89
Length decides what you can go around. A lock that is too short forces you to secure the frame only, or nothing at all.
A heavy lock stays at home. Compact format is what guarantees it is there at the moment it is needed.
A two-kilo lock protects better and stays at home every other ride. The stated weight decides real protection, which is the protection of the lock you actually take.
The frame and at least one wheel to a fixed, anchored point. Locking only a wheel is what lets the bike leave without it.
For a short stop in sight, yes. Resistance comes from the mass of steel: a lock that is both light and very resistant does not exist.
Two different technologies force two distinct tools. That is often more effective than a single very expensive lock.
As high as possible and not resting on the ground: a lock lying on the ground is levered apart far more easily.
Independent ratings give an order of magnitude of resistance time. Manufacturers' own scales are not comparable between brands.
Many policies require a lock of a stated grade and proof it was secured to a fixed point. Read the conditions before, not after.
A registered marking allows a recovered bike to be returned and deters resale. In France it is compulsory on new bikes at the point of sale.
A drop of dry lubricant in the barrel once a year. A seized barrel in winter is a common problem.
Lock the frame and at least one wheel to a fixed anchored point, the lock as high as possible and never resting on the ground — resting on the ground allows leverage. Resistance comes from the mass of steel, and two different locks beat one very expensive one.
There is no table here, and the reason is in the listings. The figure published most often across these 6 products is cylinder, given by 4 of them — short of the four in five a column needs to compare rather than to display gaps. Each product page says what its own maker published.
Specifications: manufacturer sheets for bike gear and the matching Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: Keepa.
Most recent revision in this category: October 6, 2026.
