Bike locks
A lock is judged by how long it holds against the tools a thief carries where you park. Shackle thickness, a double-locking mechanism and an independent rating are the figures that say so; weight and interior size decide whether you will carry it and whether it fits your rack.
Every lock listing says “hardened steel.” What actually separates locks is the thickness of the shackle, whether both ends lock, the cylinder, and whether anyone outside the company rated it.
| Lock | Type | Thickness | Rating | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kryptonite Fahgettaboutit Mini | U-lock | 18 mm | 10/10 Kryptonite | 4.55 lb | ≈ $180 |
| Kryptonite New York Standard | U-lock | 16 mm | — | 4.5 lb | ≈ $138 |
| Kryptonite Evolution Standard | U-lock | 14 mm | — | 3.5 lb | ≈ $126 |
| KOHLBURG KB-BS-003 | U-lock + cable | 14 mm | Sold Secure Diamond | — | ≈ $89 |
| Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 | U-lock | 13 mm | Sold Secure Gold | 3.55 lb | ≈ $83 |
| Kryptonite Keeper Standard | U-lock | 12 mm | — | 2.05 lb | ≈ $47 |
| ABUS Bordo Big 6000K/120 | Folding | 5 mm bars | ABUS level 10 | 3.4 lb | ≈ $114 |
| Seatylock Foldylock Compact | Folding | — | Sold Secure Silver | 1 kg | ≈ $95 |
The Kryptonite Evolution Standard has a 14 mm shackle with a double deadbolt, a 4 × 9-inch interior that fits a frame and a rack, a frame bracket, three keys, a lifetime warranty and Kryptonite’s anti-theft offer up to $3,000 for registered locks. The KOHLBURG states Sold Secure Diamond on a 14 mm shackle with a 6-foot cable for the front wheel, for about $37 less.
The Kryptonite New York Standard has a 16 mm shackle with anti-rotation features and a pick- and drill-resistant disc cylinder. The Fahgettaboutit Mini goes to 18 mm, a double deadbolt and a sleeved crossbar, rated 10/10 on Kryptonite’s scale, at 4.55 lb, with a small 3.25 × 6-inch interior that leaves no room for a jack. Our guide to the best bike lock for city parking goes further.
The Kryptonite Keeper is a 12 mm, 2.05 lb U-lock for café stops and low-risk racks, or as a second lock. The Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 is a compact 13 mm double-deadbolt U-lock rated Sold Secure Gold.
The ABUS Bordo Big unfolds to 120 cm at ABUS security level 10, for awkward posts. The Seatylock Foldylock Compact is Sold Secure Silver at 1 kg.
A Master Lock 8143D cable (5/16 in, about $9) or a Sportneer 6 mm chain (about $14) keeps an honest person honest. Use them to tie a front wheel or a saddle to the main lock, not as the only lock.
Lock the frame and rear wheel to something fixed and too tall to lift the bike over. Keep the lock off the ground, where a bolt cutter has leverage. Two different locks slow a thief, who needs two tools. Register the lock and your frame number.
Prices quoted in this text are dated readings and can differ from the live price in the buy box.
14 mm shackle · double deadbolt · 4 × 9 in interior · 3.5 lb · disc cylinder · FlexFrame-U bracket · 3 keys · lifetime warranty · ATPO
A 14 mm U-lock with a double deadbolt, a 4 × 9-inch interior, a frame bracket and a lifetime warranty.
Best for: A daily commuter bike locked at work and at the store
≈ $126
16 mm hardened steel shackle · anti-rotation · disc cylinder, pick and drill resistant · dust cover · FlexFrame-U bracket · 2 keys
A 16 mm hardened-steel U-lock for high-risk areas, with anti-rotation features, a disc cylinder and a frame bracket.
Best for: A valuable bike locked for hours in a city where theft is common
≈ $138
18 mm shackle · double deadbolt · steel crossbar sleeve · 3.25 × 6 in interior · 4.55 lb · 10/10 Kryptonite rating · 3 keys · lifetime warranty
An 18 mm mini U-lock rated 10/10 on Kryptonite’s scale, with a double deadbolt and a sleeved crossbar.
Best for: An expensive bike or e-bike parked in the highest-risk places
≈ $180
12 mm hardened steel · 4 × 8 in interior · 2.05 lb · vinyl coating · disc cylinder · bracket · 2 keys
A 12 mm U-lock at 2.05 lb with a 4 × 8-inch interior, for quick stops in lower-risk places.
Best for: A café stop, a suburban rack, or a second lock for the front wheel
≈ $47
14 mm (0.55 in) shackle · Sold Secure Diamond · 6 ft (1.7 m) cable
A large U-lock with a 14 mm (0.55 in) hardened shackle and a Sold Secure Diamond rating, supplied with a 6 ft (1.7 m) 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.
≈ $89.20
Folding · 47 in (120 cm) · 5 mm bars · ABUS level 10 · 3.4 lb (1,546 g)
A long German folding lock with 5 mm hardened steel bars, a soft coating that protects paint, and an ABUS security level of 10.
Best for: A long reach around thick posts, for riders ready to carry the weight.
≈ $114.18
Folding · 33.5 in opened · hardened steel · Sold Secure Silver · 1 kg
A folding lock that opens to 33.5 inches, made of hardened steel with anti-tamper rivets, with a frame bracket and a Sold Secure Silver rating.
Best for: Riders who need reach around odd racks, with moderate theft risk.
≈ $94.98
For most commuters, a 14 to 16 mm U-lock with a double deadbolt or anti-rotation shackle, such as the Kryptonite Evolution Standard. For the highest risk, the 18 mm Kryptonite Fahgettaboutit Mini; for awkward racks, a folding lock such as the ABUS Bordo Big.
A U-lock has the fewest weak points for its weight. A folding lock reaches around thicker posts and packs smaller. A heavy chain reaches farthest but is the heaviest; a light 6 mm chain or a cable is a second lock for a wheel, not a main lock.
Both ends of the U lock into the crossbar, so a thief has to make two cuts instead of one cut and a twist. The Kryptonite Evolution Standard, the Evolution Mini-7 and the Fahgettaboutit Mini have one.
They come from an independent British test body, with Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond grades. The KOHLBURG states Diamond, the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 Gold and the Seatylock Foldylock Compact Silver.
13 to 14 mm resists hand-held bolt cutters for a commuter; 16 to 18 mm is for high-theft streets and overnight parking. The 12 mm Kryptonite Keeper is a light lock for short stops.
Through the frame and rear wheel to a fixed object, with the lock off the ground and the U filled so no jack fits inside.
For the rider who: A daily commuter bike locked at work and at the store
Biggest plus: A double deadbolt: both ends of the shackle lock
Biggest minus: 14 mm, less than the New York’s 16
For the rider who: A valuable bike locked for hours in a city where theft is common
Biggest plus: A 16 mm shackle for cut, pry and leverage resistance
Biggest minus: Heavy, at 2 kg in the catalog
For the rider who: An expensive bike or e-bike parked in the highest-risk places
Biggest plus: 18 mm, the thickest shackle here
Biggest minus: 4.55 lb
For the rider who: A café stop, a suburban rack, or a second lock for the front wheel
Biggest plus: Light, at 2.05 lb
Biggest minus: 12 mm is the thinnest shackle here
For the rider who: Anyone leaving a bike in a city where theft is a real prospect, and who is prepared to carry the weight.
Biggest plus: 14 mm (0.55 in) hardened shackle, the thickest steel on this shelf
Biggest minus: One of the more expensive locks on this shelf
For the rider who: A long reach around thick posts, for riders ready to carry the weight.
Biggest plus: The longest reach of any rigid lock here
Biggest minus: ABUS levels are the maker's own scale, not independent
For the rider who: Riders who need reach around odd racks, with moderate theft risk.
Biggest plus: More reach than any U-lock here
Biggest minus: Silver sits below the Kryptonite Gold grade
$9 – $47
3 models
$83 – $114
4 models
$126 – $180
3 models
Spares and fitting kit from the same aisle, at the price we read. Confirm they match the bike and the part you chose before ordering: it turns on the standard and the part number, which the listing gives.
Direct match-ups already published between two picks from this guide or this aisle.
Everything listed is drawn from the catalog of this site. Specifications are the published ones, from the maker and from Amazon; prices are what Keepa recorded on the date shown, and both move. The order rests on declared specifications, on stated strengths against stated limits, and on price. None of this kit has been ridden by us, and the page makes no such claim.
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