Featured in this article
Best Grinder-Resistant Lock
Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500
Amazon
Best Ultra-Secure Bike Lock
Kryptonite New York Diamond Bike U-Lock
Amazon
Best Secondary Lock
Ottolock Cinch
Amazon
A Cheaper Grinder-Resistant Bike Lock
Litelok X1
Litelok
So You finally bought an electric bike. While some might look just a regular, pedal-powered bike, your ebike probably has specific locking needs that you might not have anticipated, thicker tubes or a funny-shaped frame. You don’t need to worry about getting a super-light lock if you have a motor. And of course, even the cheapest new ebike is going to be a bit more expensive than the $50 beater you bought off the back of that guy’s van in college.
The biggest, baddest ebike locks will make any thief think twice. We spent years testing angle-grinder-resistant locks in a wide variety of styles and price points. This includes the highest-rated lock that Abus has to offer, the Abus Granit Super Extreme ($330), to the slightly lighter and cheaper OnGuard RockSolid ($230). We also explain security ratings and how to properly employ your new lock to help keep your ride safe.
Be sure to check out our related guides, including the Best Electric Bicycles, Best Electric Cargo Bikes, Best Escooters, and Best Kids Bikes.
Updated February 2026: We added the Abus Ultra 410, the Ottolock Cinch, and the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500. We also updated links and prices.
Jump To
- Honorable Mentions
- Which Lock Type You Need
- What to Know About Security Tags and Trackers
- What About Smart Locks?
- What to Know About Security Ratings
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Best Grinder-Resistant Lock
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Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani!
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Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani!
Chevron Chevron Abus
Granit Super Extreme 2500
Amazon
REI
With a name that sounds something out of Robocop—and with looks to match—the Abus Granit Super Extreme is a heavy-duty U-lock that is perhaps the most intimidating-looking lock out there. Thanks to the Super Extreme’s outer coating, it’s significantly easier on your valuable ebike’s paint job than a steel lock might be.
It has a huge 27-millimeter square shackle that is 8.6 inches high and nearly four inches wide, which means that it should not have any problems clamping around any of your e-bike’s weird frame or oversized tubes. The shackle has a Wolfram carbide coating, which is a material that has a near-diamond hardness. This is Abus’s highest-rated and most secure lock. (We do want to note that yes, we have seen people successfully cutting through this lock from a very specific angle with the lock secured. We are unconvinced that this would work in a real-life scenario.)
Finally, a lock is only as useful as your ability to carry it around, and Abus’s optional mount is one of the best-designed we’ve seen. After all, what’s an extra 4 or 5 pounds when you have a motor?—Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Specs: Dimensions: 9.16″ x 4″ Weight: 5.03 pounds Sold Secure Ratings: Pedal Cycle Diamond, Powered Cycle Diamond ART Rating: 4/5 -
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Best Ultra-Secure Bike Lock
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Courtesy of Kryptonite
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Photograph: Martin Cizmar
Chevron Chevron Kryptonite
New York Diamond Bike U-Lock
Amazon
Mike’s Bikes
Modern Bike
Kryptonite’s classic black and yellow New York locks are iconic. Before the era of cheap battery-powered angle grinders, they were also among the best on the market. Kryptonite has updated its line with a Diamond version of the classic, which it says is the most secure lock the company has ever made. Certifying body Sold Secure apparently agrees, ranking the new grinder-resistant Kryptonite among the few locks with the highest security rating on the market: Powered Diamond. This lock employs a 1-inch double-layer steel shackle that’s diamond-coated and designed to make a would-be thief burn through 10 grinder discs. The lock weighs 5 pounds, and in my testing, I used it exclusively with expensive ebikes, given the weight. (I prefer the TiGr lock below if I’m having to transport the weight of the lock with my legs.)
It comes with three keys, and you can get a free replacement pair if you ever need them. The lock also comes with an anti-theft warranty of up to $5,000 to replace a stolen bike for five years if you register the lock and can prove you did everything right when locking it up. One thing I don’t love about the lock is the unique mounting bracket, which the company calls FlexFrame. It’s made from nylon webbing that’s strapped to the bike’s frame. Given the size and weight of the lock, it hangs awkwardly, and a solution involving the water bottle bracket might have been more elegant. —Martin Cizmar
Specs: Dimensions: 10.6″ x 6.8″ Weight: 5.07 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Diamond, Powered Cycle Diamond ART Rating: Not rated -
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Best Secondary Lock
Courtesy of Ottolock
Ottolock
Cinch
Amazon
Backcountry
Unfortunately, ebike wheels sometimes have something in common with regular bikes, which is that the front wheels use quick releases and are easy to steal. Many people use secondary cinch locks to lock down anything else that can be taken off your bike and carried away. The two locks for this purpose are the Hiplok Z Lok ($15) and this lock, the Ottolock Cinch. I prefer the Cinch because unthe Z Lok, the steel is Kevlar-reinforced. The plastic outer prevents chips and scuffs in your bike’s finish, and at barely more than a quarter of a pound and with the ability to coil down to a size of about three inches, it’s easy to tote around. It’s also a combination lock, so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of yet another set of keys.—Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Specs: Dimensions: Available as 18″, 30″, and 60″ sizes Weight: 0.32 lbs, 0.38 lbs, 0.57 lbs Sold Secure Rating: Not rated ART Rating: Not rated -
A Cheaper Grinder-Resistant Bike Lock
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Photograph: Ryan Waniata
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Chevron Chevron Litelok
X1
Litelok
Litelok’s trusty X1 offers serious security and impressive versatility for a wide range of users, bikes, and racks. As an angle-grinder-resistant U-lock, the X1’s security scores are among the highest available, with only a few locks claimed to hold out longer against power-cutting criminals. The lock’s mix of high-strength ceramic composite material (which the brand calls “Barronium”) and its anti-rotation locking system—a thief has to cut both sides—means it lasts “at least” five times as long as top traditional U-locks against grinder attacks. No one has yet tried to grind through the lock into my (now) months of testing, but multipleusers have reported Litelok’s models have frustrated thieves for up to an hour, whereas a standard steel U-lock is ly to last only a few minutes.
Just as importantly, the X1 is easy to take along and use. This is a full-size U-lock, so it loops over larger e-bike frames the Propella 9S Pro V2 I used in testing. At 3.7 pounds, it’s on the lighter side for high-security locks, fitting securely into its included mount or slipping into a backpack or holster. It’s not cheap, but it’s an easier ask than Litelok’s larger (and tougher) X3 to help put your fears to rest. —Ryan Waniata
Specs: Dimensions: 10.6″ x 5.6″ Weight: 3.71 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Diamond, Powered Cycle Diamond ART Rating: 4/5 -
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Lightest, Smallest Grinder-Resistant Lock
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Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
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Courtesy of OnGuard
Chevron Chevron OnGuard
RockSolid U-Lock
Amazon
Walmart
On the one hand, the new generation of grinder-resistant locks has preserved urban bike riding for a new generation of riders. On the other: Lord, do they have to be so heavy? At 3 pounds, the sturdy OnGuard RockSolid is no featherweight. But it is the lightest bike lock we’ve tested that’s rated Pedal Diamond by certifying body Sold Secure—certified as resistant to dedicated, specialized attacks from grinders. RockSolid stood up to a slew of informal angle-grinder tests we’ve reviewed by other testers, in many cases besting U-locks with the more stringent Powered Diamond rating reserved for motorcycle and ebike locks. The RockSolid is also secured at four points within the shackle, meaning thieves would have to cut through both sides of the lock to get clear of it.
The RockSolid’s svelte profile nonetheless makes it better suited to smaller-framed pedal bikes, at 6.9 inches long and 3.5 inches across. Though it lacks a mount, the RockSolid is compact enough to just latch around a bike’s handlebars while your’e riding. The RockSolid is not as highly vetted as our top high-security picks. But it’s the most compact U-lock I’d still trust on the street with a high-value bike, while eating or shopping or drinking a pint. The lifetime warranty, and whopping ring of five key duplicates, don’t hurt. —Matthew Korfhage
Specs: Dimensions: 6.8″ x 3.5″, 15-mm thick (U-lock) Weight: 3 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Diamond ART Rating: Not rated -
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Best Folding Bike Lock
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Courtesy of Abus
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Courtesy of Abus
Chevron Chevron Abus
Bordo Granit 6500K
Amazon
A lot of ebikes come with this Abus folding lock, which works extremely well for larger bikes cargo ebikes, or for locking up multiple bikes with a single lock. I that it folds down to a manageable size when not in use, and you can easily slide it into its holster on your bike or into a pack or back pocket when needed. At a little over three and a half pounds, it’s not light by any means, but it is a bit more svelte than many U-lock options I have tried. The mechanism to lock it is easy: Just slide the end of the chain into the slot and use the included high-quality key to secure it. It comes with two keys, including one with a built-in light for finding the keyhole in the dark. —Parker Hall
Specs: Dimensions: 3″ width, 35.5″ circumference, Weight: 3.68 pounds Sold Secure Rating: Pedal Cycle Gold ART Rating: 2/5 -
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Best Wearable Bike Lock
Courtesy of REI
Hiplok
Gold
Amazon
REI
Chain locks are great for locking to large or inconvenient objects. But they’re usually heavy, and a pain to transport. Theoretically, you could wear any chain you as a sash or a belt, but word to the prudent? Don’t lock a chain to yourself. This is the genius of the Hiplok Gold wearable chain, which threads a conventional strap and buckle through the sleeve of its 10-millimeter hardened steel chain, so you can belt yourself without locking the chain. The strap serves waist (or hip) sizes between 28 and 44 inches, and amounts to a 5-pound fannypack.
In practice, this works pretty well while riding: The weight is hardly noticeable when you’re sitting on a bike seat, though note that unless you’ve got a pronounced hip-to-waist ratio, the weight of the chain will tend to pull it down your legs if you try to wear it while walking. Also, the strap can sometimes get in the way while trying to lock the thing up, causing you to invent new words. This said, the Hiplok is an elegant solution to lock transport that doesn’t require a mount or a bag, for a medium-security lock. If you’ve got a bike that doesn’t submit to U-Lock mounts, or a locking point that needs some flexibility, this is a pretty good solution. Just remember to lock your chain up away from the ground, so thieves can’t get leverage with large bolt cutters. —Matthew Korfhage
Specs: Dimensions: 35″ circumference lock, 2.36″ x 1.18″ chain. Fits 28″ to 44″ waist Weight: 5 pounds Sold Secure rating: Pedal Cycle Gold ART Rating: 2/5
Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Adrienne So
Hiplok D1000 for $330: After four years of testing electric bikes, this is the bike lock that I use to protect my most expensive ones. It has the highest security ratings possible, but the shackle is quite a bit smaller than the Abus above which makes it a bit more difficult to use with bigger ebikes.—Adrienne So
Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Abus Ultra 410 for $55: The Abus Ultra 410 U-lock comes with a 47-inch-long cobra cable, giving you more options and leeway when it comes to locking your ride up. At just over two pounds and thanks to its 12-millimeter shackle, it’s an easy lock to tote around. However, it’s only a Sold Secure rating which means it’s probably not great for high-value bikes in high-risk areas.—Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Which Lock You Need
To lock up your high-value electric bike, you want the best protection on the market. There are a few third-party security rating organizations that we trust. Sold Secure, an English security group, issues security ratings for each bike lock based on how hard a thief will have to work to steal your bike. If you’ve got a highly valuable, attractive bike that thieves want, and it’s out of your sight for protracted periods in a public place? Look for a bike lock that’s ranked Sold Secure Diamond, then bring in other considerations.
Most of the highest-rated locks are U-locks, though these are of course heavy and may require a bracket on your bicycle to carry comfortably. For a regular-size U-lock, you’ll usually want to lock the bike around the frame and the back wheel, if space allows. Some methods suggest simply locking the back wheel, but this can leave the rest of your bike vulnerable. You’ll want to keep U-locks away from the ground, especially with concrete or asphalt, to prevent thieves from trying to smash it with a hammer or using leverage devices a tire jack or iron.
The components on electric bikes are also valuable, so you’ll need to protect them as well. You can thread separate steel cables through your wheels and rack, or alternatively, you can use a secondary lock as we have suggested above. Chain locks can work well for securing both a frame and wheel, though they have their drawbacks. They’re usually quite heavy, especially the thicker ones that can better resist heavy bolt cutters. They’re also generally not nearly as grinder-resistant as our top picks. Again, keeping the chain off the ground will help ward off bolt-cutting thieves.
Of course, the best lock is the lock you’ll actually use. If you find it difficult to tote a big, bulky, grinder-resistant lock around? You might want to consider a folding lock, even though those are slightly less secure.
What to Know About Security Tags and Trackers
Some newer ebikes, ones by Specialized or Aventon, now have integration with tracker apps Find My. You can also put a Bluetooth tracker, an Apple AirTag, on the frame or under your seat so you can keep an eye on its position if it does get stolen. Unfortunately, there are some limitations to this method.
Bluetooth trackers are limited to the range of their Bluetooth antennae. For example, a Chipolo Loop is limited to 300 feet. Apple doesn’t specify its AirTag range, but it’s also limited by Bluetooth, with most testing putting it at around 30 meters or 100 feet.
AirTags can connect over the Find My Network, using other people’s Apple devices to anonymously track, while Chipolo, Tile, and Pebblebee work with Google Find My on Android phones, but this is far from perfect. Both require crowdsourced networks in order to track.
AirTags support ultra-wideband technology for Precision Finding (supported by iPhone 11 or higher) that can pinpoint the device more accurately than Tile trackers. On the downside, AirTags will chime when moved away from your phone as a safety precaution, which may alert thieves to their presence.
There are also real-time GPS trackers, such as the Invoxia, which charges a yearly subscription fee. These devices are pricier but potentially more effective since they don’t rely on Bluetooth, instead using real-time GPS location tracking. They’re generally larger and tougher to conceal than AirTags or Tiles.
What About Smart Locks?
Smart locks are an emerging space in the bike lock scene, but are really still in their infancy. Smart locks the I Lock It Plus (which we have not tested) can offer conveniences keyless unlocking via your phone, and even a smart alarm with up to 110 decibels of shrieking sound. Some also promise to alert your phone when someones’ trying to tamper with the lock, though most operate on short-range Bluetooth. And alarms can go off accidentally, of course, causing as many problems than they solve.
For now, we have not found a grinder-resistant smart lock that’s been certified by Sold Secure or ART, which means for now these connectivity features come at the expense of security, As noted in our Security Ratings section, we recommend making sure any lock you choose is independently rated by Sold Secure and/or ART to ensure objective testing for the best protection.
What to Know About Security Ratings
Some bike lock makers provide their own internal security ratings for guidance. Those can be helpful, but the most secure locks we’ve tested use standard ratings from objective sources, including Sold Secure, which offers ratings of multiple vehicle types between Bronze and Diamond, and ART, which uses a number scale from 1 to 5.
So what do these ratings actually mean? Here’s a guide to two of the top lock-security firms and their rating systems:
Sold Secure was established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex police in the UK. The brand is now owned and operated by the Master Locksmiths Association, a not-for-profit trade group. It uses a four-level rating system, as listed below.
Sold Secure Rating Levels: Bronze (lowest, secure against basic tools); Silver (midrange, secure against enhanced tools/determined attacks); Gold (second best, resistant against dedicated tools/attacks); Diamond (highest, resistant against destructive attacks and “special tools”).
The firm also uses separate ratings for different vehicle types, bikes versus motorcycles (which it now calls pedal cycles and powered cycles, respectively). For example, the Hiplok DX has a Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond rating and a Sold Secure Powered Cycle Gold rating. It’s a good score, but it isn’t as secure as top grinder-resistant options the Litelok X1 or tougher locks the Litelock X3 and Hiplock D1000, all three of which get Diamond ratings in both categories. Grinder-resistant locks will usually say so directly on the brand’s site as well. When in doubt, you can always go to the Sold Secure website to check whether your lock is rated.
ART is a Dutch independent security firm that uses a five-star security system centered on vehicle type, durability, weather, environmental resistance, and resistance to attacks.
ART Rating Levels:1/5 (minimum security rating, fit for a second bike lock only); 2/5 (higher security rating that represents good theft protection for bicycles, the minimum for most insurance companies); 3/5 (bicycle security for high risk of theft, also suitable for mopeds and scooters for insurance purposes); 4/5 (very high security rating for bicycles, good theft protection for motorcycles while traveling); 5/5 (highest security rating, sometimes required to insure motorcycles stored at home).
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Ryan Waniata is a staff writer, editor, video host, and product reviewer for WIRED with over 10 years of experience in A/V. He has previously published at sites including Digital Trends, Reviewed, Business Insider, Review Geek, and others. He’s evaluated everything from TVs and soundbars to smart gadgets and wearables, … Read More
Matthew Korfhage is a staff writer and reviewer on WIRED’s Gear team, where he focuses on home and kitchen devices that range from air fryers and coffee machines to space heaters, water filters, and beard trimmers. Before joining WIRED in 2024, he covered food, drink, business, culture, and technology for … Read More
Product Writer & Reviewer
Topicsbuying guideselectric bikesBicyclesShopping
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