Best e-bike locks: Extra-secure U-locks and chain locks to protect your investment

Every lock on this list represents a high-security option. There are still a range of options that cover different price points and security but there's nothing that you might consider low security. The vast majority of bikes stolen are not locked at all so start by always locking your bike. Remember, that includes inside your home, your garage, and any type of shed or outbuilding. Kryptonite, Abus, and Hiplok all offer anchor products that give you something secure to lock to so you might consider installing one. From that starting point, the choice is all about security vs usability. 

The most common choice is a U-lock. They are very secure, very easy to carry, and there are a lot of choices across a wide range of price points. The challenge with U-locks though is that they aren't flexible in the way they lock. They have a set site and only fit in a specific way. Many e-bikes have larger tubes that incorporate batteries and if you need to lock to something other than a bike lock it can be difficult to make it work. It's even harder because it's more secure the smaller the U-lock is.  

If a U-lock isn't going to work for you then you'll want to look at chain options. Chains tend to be more secure for less money. They are also very secure against angle grinders because they are hard to hold still. They are less secure against bolt cutters because individual links often don't match the diameter of a U lock. They tend to be bigger and heavier than a U lock design and carrying them can be more difficult. Where they excel is in their flexibility. If you need to lock your bike to signpost or any kind of non-standard anchor chains can do it for you. 

Another common locking solution is a folding lock. Folding locks are less secure than chains or U locks because they've got a lot of pieces that allow for attack vectors. Quality folding locks do their best to protect the hinges but there will always be vulnerability there.  The wide hardened steel makes them difficult to cut with bolt cutters so it's not like they are pushovers and they are convenient. They can be flexible enough for non-standard anchors and they are easier to carry than other options. We included one high-security option here for those that love the form factor.

There are other options available on the market. All kinds of variations on cable locks exist but we do not recommend them for use with an e-bike. They are so fast, and silent, to cut that it's not worth the risk, even briefly for a bike as pricey as an e-bike. 

Other variations of this question are things like what's the hardest lock to cut or what's the most secure lock? The basic question is all the same, if you want the absolute highest security available, that means the Hiplock D1000. It's the only option that will withstand a portable angle grinder and remains somewhat portable. There are downsides to it though and you might be willing to live with some manner of risk in exchange for the convenience of other options. The D1000 is hard to buy, expensive, and small enough you might still need another lock. If you want the most security though, that's your answer.  

Locking an e-bike is the same as any bike and we have an article covering all the details of how to lock a bike. The only difference with an e-bike is that often the larger pieces will make it more of a challenge for small locks. There are also extra pieces to consider, like batteries, but typically the battery has its own integrated lock. 

Other than those specifics, you’ll want to limit extra space between the lock and the bike and keep the lock farther from the ground. These small changes in how you use the chosen lock will make it more secure. Keeping the lock farther from the ground makes it more difficult to use the ground as leverage on a bolt cutter. Limiting extra space between the lock and the bike means it's more difficult to get a tool positioned for a leverage attack.  

The short, and most truthful, answer to this is that there isn’t a totally theft-proof bike lock. Given enough time and enough willpower, anyone can get through a bike lock and take your bike. 

The aim of a bike lock, however, is to make it as difficult and as time consuming as possible for someone attempting theft. Most of the best e-bike locks on this list will be able to withstand at least several minutes of a grinder or bolt cutters against it, which hopefully should deter an opportunist with the hope that anyone more invested in taking your bike interrupted before being able to break the lock. There are of course no guarantees, and it is important to ensure you are also taking additional precautions to ensure your bike isn’t stolen; you could additionally use two locks to make it even more unappealing. 

Manufacturers will typically rate their own locks, however there are as many manufacturer ratings as there are manufacturers, and so it can be difficult to compare makes and models to understand which is the best for you. Many insurance companies in the UK rely on Sold Secure certifications to identify the efficacy of the bike lock in use, and so understanding the rating of your lock might help you save some pennies on your insurance. 

Sold Secure is an independent testing organisation, utilising data from the police to identify trends in breaking methods and testing manufacturers claims. There are four levels of ratings from bronze to diamond and they are standardised across all brands, meaning that you can easily compare two locks. In most cases the higher security rating the lock has, the pricier they are more likely to be:

• Bronze – good resistance against opportunistic thieves
• Silver – greater level of resistance against someone more determined
• Gold – top level resistance against dedicated thieves and for medium to high value bikes
• Diamond – extra high security for securing high-value bikes and electric bikes

Very generally, combination locks are considered less secure for locking e-bikes. They are more susceptible to picking through 'shimming' (feeling the change of resistance in the dials to determine the code) or through specialist tools that undermine the combination quickly. However, they do have their place in the security of an e-bike. Without a key, they are more convenient to carry and friends and family can share the same lock. There are manufacturers we've featured here designing combination locks to be more resistant to theft. 

Generally though, combination locks are often used in tandem with a keyed lock to ensure an advanced security and additional deterrence. 

An e-bike is often not a cheap investment to make, and it’s a good idea to consider as many options to recover a stolen bike if the worst happens. 

You can increase your chances by hiding a bike tracker somewhere in your bike. The best bike trackers include passive devices like an Apple Air Tag or Tile sticker, which rely on proximity to a Bluetooth-enabled phone. 

It's important to remember that these options don’t mean you don’t have to consider the best security for your e-bike; more and more thieves are becoming wise to trackers and will actively search bikes to remove them. However, trackers can provide a peace of mind too if you’re popping into the shops or leaving your bike outside of your workplace and are worth considering alongside a bike lock. 

When it comes to insurance offers from bike locks, it's best to think of them as an added bonus and not as the only reason for purchase. The biggest thing to remember is that they are insurance and, as such, come with very specific language about how they work. You will need to make sure that you follow every detail and even then, there might be times when you can't take advantage of the coverage. Gotchas such as the requirement to have possession of the broken lock can be issues. 

Still, despite the challenges, the coverage is essentially a free add-on and it doesn't hurt to have. Both Onguard and Kryptonite require registration at time of purchase and it's a good opportunity to read through the details and make sure you understand the process.  

While you are following the directions for registering your new lock, make sure you also register your bike. Bike Index is a non-profit that works to register bikes then help with recovery if something happens. There's no guarantee of anything but it is doing amazing work and it doesn't hurt. If a bike goes missing you can access a community of people who will keep their eyes open and help you recover it. It's also a great opportunity to record the serial number of your bike and make sure you have it on hand. If law enforcement happens to recover a bike it will only come back to you if you've filed a police report and given them a serial number.  

As we researched the best bike locks, it became very clear that it wasn't worth cutting them apart. With the exception of the Hiplock D1000 every lock on our list is vulnerable to portable angle grinder. Even the biggest steel shackle takes only a few minutes to get through. When it comes to bolt cutter attacks the story is a little better but somewhat similar. 

If a lock is small enough, it's vulnerable and if it's bigger, it's not. A 24-inch bolt cutter is able to handle up to about 5/16 inch / 7.9mm and we've avoided anything less than that in this list. That leaves usability as the deciding factor in what lock makes sense for you and that we have tested. We spent the time researching what was out there then made sure that our choices were usable and under what circumstances it made sense to choose one product instead of another. 

Furthermore, each e-bike lock on this list represents an option we'd buy with our own money.