- yesterday
We took an angle grinder to five of the best angle resistant bike locks to see which could really stand up to the attacks! We tested the Litelok X3, the Abus Granit Super Extreme, the Hiplok DX1000, the Onguard RockSolid 8590 and the Squire Stronghold D16 Max. All locks tested managed to withstand our five minute test, however, there really was only one clear winner...
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00We have five angle grinder resistant locks that are currently available today.
00:04So we are going to test them with an angle grinder and of course they're all linked down below.
00:23We have now concluded testing and we're back in the studio so it's time to go through what locks
00:28we tested, how we tested them and what the results were.
00:31To be clear, the angle grinder test we carried out was over a period of five minutes of cutting
00:37time with the goal being to get in as far as possible while using a high powered battery
00:43operated angle grinder.
00:45The kind one may expect a thief to potentially use.
00:48As you'll find out, some locks destroyed multiple cutting discs.
00:52So in those cases, we stopped the clock, changed the discs and then carried on.
00:58The LightLock X3 is an angle grinder resistant lock and it is rated sold secure diamond for
01:08bicycles and e-bikes.
01:10Now, LightLock actually pioneered angle grinder resistant tech with the X1 setting a trend
01:15that was followed by brands like OnGuard, Abus and HipLock.
01:19The features of the X3 are that it is claimed to be 20 times more resistant than a standard
01:25U-lock.
01:26And it's said to be made with LightLock's proprietary Berynium material, which is essentially
01:32a fusion of hardened steel and composite materials, which is said to offer enhanced abrasion, impact,
01:39bending and twisting resistance.
01:41It has a weight of 2.2 kilos and has a locking area of 195 square centimeters, which puts
01:47both metrics as third best on test.
01:51And it uses an Abloy lock barrel for long term key availability.
01:55The lock itself comes with three keys, so you should be pretty well covered as a silicon
01:59lock cover and a neoprene sleeve for storage.
02:02Now, when we were testing this lock, it's got to be said that it is actually very sturdy
02:07and there's very minimal play between the locking mechanism and the shackle.
02:11It has this soft touch eco rubber coating, which is great for frame protection.
02:16And it also just gives it a really nice tactile feel.
02:19When you look at the bottom of the lock here, you can see that there's some silicon which
02:23protects the keyhole, which is great for keeping water and dirt and grime out of the locking
02:28mechanism.
02:29However, it can make finding the keyhole just that little bit trickier, especially if you're
02:34operating in the dark.
02:36When it comes to mounting the lock, though, if you're not someone who wants to carry this
02:39lock in a rucksack or pannier, you can buy a mount for it, but it doesn't come with the
02:43lock itself and does cost an additional £20 and it isn't great for small frames.
02:50But if you do have a larger size bike, it should be fine.
02:54Onto the angle grinder test.
02:56And we could actually only cut a small way through into the X3.
03:00In our five minutes of cutting time, we burned through two discs and cut a third of the way
03:05through the lock.
03:07The light lock was abrasive enough to wear down the discs, but the angle grinder did
03:11manage to keep on cutting.
03:13Now, this does differ to other locks, which when you cut to a certain point, the angle grinder
03:18would actually just kick back.
03:24Next up, we've got the Abus Granite Super Extreme.
03:27Now, this again is a sold secure diamond rated angle grinder resistant lock.
03:33Despite being pretty heavy and large, though, it's not actually intended to be carried in
03:37a backpack or carrier as Abus emphasises its portability more than ease of transport.
03:44The lock itself uses Wolfram Carbide, which actually is just tungsten carbide, the second
03:50hardest substance after diamonds for enhanced durability.
03:53It has a 27 millimetre square parabolic shackle with a locking area of 220 centimetres squared.
04:01It weighs 2.1 kilos, which is the second lightest on test, 100 grams lighter than the light lock,
04:07and the lock barrel itself is said to have a high resistance for picking and manipulation.
04:11The lock comes with two keys, which is the fewest out of all of the ones we tested, but
04:15replacements are easy to come by if you keep the code card.
04:20When we were testing this lock, it has to be said it also felt very solid and secure,
04:24and there was no play between the shackle and the lock, and it has a very satisfying
04:29click once it's engaged.
04:31I think the sheer size of this thing is actually a really good visual deterrent because it is
04:35chunkier than the others that we've got.
04:38However, the coating of this lock is a much harder plastic, so probably won't be as friendly
04:43to bike paintwork.
04:45The extra locking reach of this lock is actually really handy if you're running something with
04:49a bigger downtube like an e-bike.
04:52When it comes to mounting this lock, the mount itself is actually very well designed and it
04:56holds the lock very securely and it doesn't rattle.
04:59Now it can be a bit fiddly to fit and it's best suited for a pannier rack, but it can also
05:05be fitted between a chainstay and a seatstay.
05:08In use, this lock did perform very well, but unfortunately the granite lost ground during
05:14our angle grinder tests.
05:16Now, we must stress that while the granite SE did not fail our angle grinder test, it
05:22did show significant signs of lower performance compared to the others.
05:27During our five minute test, we only got through one disc and we were able to cut over just
05:32halfway through.
05:33Now, if we extrapolate that out with potentially two cuts required to remove the lock, the ABUS
05:39would only need either two to four discs and around 20 minutes to remove it.
05:44The ABUS is clearly resistant to angle grinders, however, in a group test where all locks offer
05:49decent resistance to angle grinder attacks, they must be ranked based on performance.
05:55If you encountered a very determined or well equipped thief with the time and patience,
06:00the ABUS clearly underperformed compared to the competition.
06:09Next up, we have the Hiplock DX1000.
06:11Now, Hiplock is known for blending style with security and it's now tackling angle grinder
06:18resistance with this DX1000.
06:21Like the other locks, this is also a sold-secure diamond rated lock and it's designed for bicycles
06:26with thicker tubes like e-bikes and even motorbikes.
06:30This lock features a square profile, a graphene reinforced hardened steel shackle and an anti-angle
06:36grinder security system.
06:38The locking area is even bigger than the previous two at 225 square centimetres.
06:44It weighs in though at 2.7 kilos, making it the heaviest lock in this test.
06:50This lock has a pretty significant rubber to metal ratio and ultimately when you look at
06:54it from the outside, you can't actually tell where the rubber ends and the metal starts.
06:59Now, the locking mechanism that is inside here is reported to not have any picks since it
07:05was debuted back in 2021.
07:07Which, I've got to say, if true, is a pretty decent reputation to have.
07:13When we start to think about how much this lock actually costs, in the UK it's £300 and
07:18over in the States it's $350.
07:20I've got to say, it almost feels a little bit underwhelming due to the noticeable play between
07:25the shackle and the lock, although hip lock have confirmed that this won't affect security.
07:32The lock theft has made it cumbersome and it is tough to transport without a proper mounting
07:36system and it does require storage in a pannier or a backpack, but that does ultimately then
07:42take up a lot of space.
07:44Hip lock's rubber flap that covers the locking system is simpler than competitors and offers
07:49better visibility and easier key engagement, especially when you're bent over a bike rack
07:54in the dark.
07:55While the DX1000 didn't really stand out during usage, it also didn't actually cause any
08:00issues.
08:01That changed when it came to the angle grinder test as it stepped up and performed seriously
08:06well as it heavily resisted our attacks.
08:10We applied considerable force when we tried to cut into this lock, but ultimately it was
08:15the cutting disc which suffered as it quickly showed signs of wear.
08:19Holding the grinder steady proved difficult when trying to reach the centre of this lock,
08:23which appears to be a part of hip lock's anti-angle grinder security system.
08:28Each time we attempted to reposition the cutting wheel, the core's material kicked the grinder
08:32back.
08:33We managed to burn through two discs in our five minute test, but there was no way we
08:37would have been able to cut any further through the lock due to the kickback.
08:47Next up we have the OnGuard RockSolid 8580.
08:50Now, you might not have heard of OnGuard, but it is a subsidiary of Magnum Locks, which specialises
08:57in security.
08:59This, again, of course, comes with a sold-secured diamond rating, and it's designed to resist
09:04angle grinders.
09:06It has a 15mm hard and steel shackle with a patented rock solid finish.
09:11It has a 1.3kg weight, making it the lightest in its class, but it does have a smaller locking
09:18reach.
09:19It has an X4P Quattro four-point locking system, a Z-cylinder lock barrel resistant
09:25to picking, pulling, and drilling.
09:26It includes five keys, which is the highest among all of the angle grinder resistant locks
09:31that we've had on test, and the automatic key cover and rubberised coating do offer
09:36really good durability and weather protection.
09:40We think that it's got a really good quality feel with that soft rubberised coating and
09:44minimal shackle play.
09:46There is a slight bit of difficulty when it comes to aligning the lock when removing or
09:50engaging.
09:51However, if you just slow down, take your time, you will get there in the end.
09:56It has a smooth and consistent key operation once engaged, but the weather guard can be
10:01just a little bit tricky.
10:03The smaller locking reach may be tricky for crowded areas like transport hubs, but I don't
10:08think it will be an issue for less busy locations.
10:12The angle grinder test is where the on-guard rock solid really shone.
10:15It was by pure coincidence that the on-guard was the last to be cut, and its resilience took
10:21all of us by surprise.
10:23During our five minute test, the on-guard barely showed a scratch.
10:27The patented rock solid coating that's been applied to the 15mm hardened steel shackle effectively
10:33sanded down the cutting disc, launching plumes of grinder disc dust into the air.
10:39In well under the five minute time limit, we burned through three grinder discs, which is
10:44the most of any lock-on test.
10:46It was taking about 30 to 40 seconds for a disc to essentially evaporate into thin air.
10:52And when you look at it now, obviously, forgetting that big hole in the rubber coating, there'd
10:56be nothing to stop you from using this again.
10:59It barely made a mark.
11:06The Squire Stronghold D16 Max is a UK-made bike lock with a sold secure diamond rating, costing
11:12£289.99.
11:15However, its design has notable drawbacks that hinder usability and undermine its appeal.
11:22The lock's plastic cover feels flimsy, diminishing trust in the product's durability.
11:26Additionally, the lock body and shackle exhibit noticeable play, although this doesn't affect
11:31security.
11:32Despite its generous 209cm square locking area, the thick rubberized coating makes securing
11:38a bike fairly cumbersome.
11:40Weighing 2.7kg, it is one of the heaviest locks-on tests.
11:44And given its price point, the Stronghold D16 Max faces stiff competition from superior options
11:51like the Hiplock DX1000, which offers better reach, security, and a similar weight for
11:56just £10 more.
12:00Now, on to conclusions and my overall verdict on all of these locks, we're going to start
12:05with the Abus.
12:06At £260 or $320, the Granite Super Extreme 2500 is the third most expensive on this test.
12:16However, considering that it includes the superb mount and the Light Lock X3 requires an additional
12:22purchase, the Abus represents decent value.
12:26While there is some nuance in how well the locks perform during the angle grinder test,
12:31the Light Lock X3 does outperform it, which means the Abus slips into fourth overall.
12:36For many, Abus is a known entity and the quality of the Granite SE is second to none.
12:43So if you like to travel light and keep the weight on the bike and not on you, there is absolutely
12:48no reason not to choose the Abus Granite Super Extreme.
12:54At £300 or $350, the Hiplock DX1000 is not only the most expensive lock in this test, but
13:02it's also the most expensive lock we have tested here at Cycling Weekly.
13:07For this cost, we expected it to stand out from the crowd and be the best.
13:11But the DX1000 does almost the opposite, it's understated and functional and just gets the
13:18job done.
13:19Now, while this isn't a bad thing, the DX1000's extra weight and the fact that it is £100 more
13:26expensive than our overall winner starts to make the Hiplock look like poor value.
13:31That being said, its performance in the Angle Grinder Test was impressive and, provided
13:37Hiplock's claims surrounding their unpickable lock cylinder stand-up, the DX1000 offers a
13:43very high level of security for your bike.
13:46With such a performance, the Hiplock secured third place.
13:50Now, if it weren't for the exceptional performance of the OnGuard Rock Solid in the Angle Grinder
13:56Test, the Light Lock might have easily secured the top position.
14:01Although there is a minor difference of price of £50 or $50 between them, the extra reach
14:06and features diminish this disparity for those who need them.
14:10The extra expense of the tactical mount brings the X3's price closer to that of the Abus
14:15Granite.
14:16Nevertheless, its performance in the Angle Grinder Test and overall quality surpasses competition
14:22from either Abus or Hiplock.
14:25And lastly, given the sheer amount of security that the OnGuard Rock Solid offers against Angle
14:30Grinder Attacks, you may be surprised to learn it's the cheapest on test at £200 or $250.
14:38That's £50 or $50 less than the next cheapest, the Light Lock X3.
14:44And a massive £100 or $100 cheaper than the Hiplock DX1000.
14:50While we are awarding the OnGuard the title of Best Overall Angle Grinder Resistant Lock,
14:56it could also be Best Budget, Most Secure and Most User Friendly.
15:00This shouldn't reflect badly on the other locks in the test though, as they all performed
15:04well.
15:05None failed the Angle Grinder Test and all offer similar specs and retail prices.
15:10But the OnGuard Rock Solid stood out in a field of outstanding performances, having that little
15:16extra something to give.
15:1810.
15:1911.
15:2011.
15:2112.
15:2213.
15:2314.
15:2414.
15:2515.
15:2615.
15:2716.
15:2816.
Recommended
15:25
|
Up next
3:44
2:40
4:23
7:57
5:05
2:31
0:21
5:54