- 13 hours ago
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...
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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.
01:01The Light Lock X3 is an angle grinder resistant lock and it is rated sold secure diamond for
01:08bicycles and e-bikes.
01:10Now Light Lock actually pioneered angle grinder resistant tech with the X1 setting a trend
01:15that was followed by brands like On Guard, 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 and it's said to be made with Light Lock's proprietary Berynium material, which
01:31is essentially a fusion of hardened steel and composite materials, which is said to offer
01:36enhanced abrasion, impact, bending and twisting resistance.
01:41It has a weight of 2.2 kilos and has a locking area of 195 square centimetres, which puts both
01:48metrics as third best on test and 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.
01:58It has a silicon lock cover and a neoprene sleeve for storage.
02:03Now, 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 protects
02:23the keyhole, which is great for keeping water and dirt and grime out of the locking mechanism.
02:29However, it can make finding the keyhole just that little bit trickier, especially if you're operating
02:34in the dark.
02:36When it comes to mounting the lock, though, if you're not someone who wants to carry this lock
02:39in a rucksack or pannier, you can buy a mount for it, but it doesn't come with the lock itself
02:44and 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.
02:55And we could actually only cut a small way through into the X3.
03:00In our five minutes of cutting time, we burn through two discs and cut a third of the way
03:05through the lock. The light lock was abrasive enough to wear down the discs,
03:09but the angle grinder did manage to keep on cutting.
03:13Now, this does differ to other locks, which when you cut to a certain point,
03:17the angle grinder would 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.
03:43The lock itself uses warfarin carbide, which actually is just tungsten carbide,
03:49the second hardest substance after diamonds for enhanced durability.
03:54It has a 27mm square parabolic shackle with a locking area of 220cm squared.
04:01It weighs 2.1kg, which is the second lightest on test, 100g lighter than the light lock,
04:06and 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,
04:15but replacements are easy to come by if you keep the code card.
04:19When 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 click
04:29once it's engaged. I think the sheer size of this thing is actually a really good visual deterrent,
04:35because it is chunkier than the others that we've got. However, the coating of this lock
04:39is a much harder plastic, so probably won't be as friendly to bike paintwork.
04:45The extra locking reach of this lock is actually really handy if you're running something with a
04:49bigger downtube like an e-bike. When it comes to mounting this lock, the mount itself is actually
04:54very well designed, and it holds the lock very securely, and it doesn't rattle. Now, it can be a
05:00bit fiddly to fit, and it's best suited for a pannier rack, but it can also be fitted between a
05:06chainstay and a seatstay. In use, this lock did perform very well, but unfortunately,
05:12the granite lost ground during our angle grinder tests. Now, we must stress that while the granite
05:18SE did not fail our angle grinder test, it did show significant signs of lower performance
05:25compared to the others. During our five-minute test, we only got through one disc, and we were
05:30able to cut over just halfway through. Now, if we extrapolate that out with potentially two cuts
05:36required to remove the lock, the ABUS would only need either two to four discs and around 20 minutes
05:42to remove it. The ABUS is clearly resistant to angle grinders. However, in a group test where all
05:48locks offer decent resistance to angle grinder attacks, they must be ranked based on performance.
05:54If you encountered a very determined or well-equipped thief with the time and patience,
05:59the ABUS clearly underperformed compared to the competition.
06:08Next up, we have the Hiplock DX1000. Now, Hiplock is known for blending style
06:14with security, and it's now tackling angle grinder resistance with this DX1000. Like the other locks,
06:22this is also a sold-secure diamond-rated lock, and it's designed for bicycles with thicker tubes like
06:27e-bikes and even motorbikes. This lock features a square profile, a graphene-reinforced hardened steel
06:34shackle, and an anti-angle grinder security system. The locking area is even bigger than the previous two
06:40at 225 square centimeters. It weighs in though at 2.7 kilos, making it the heaviest lock in this test.
06:49This lock has a pretty significant rubber to metal ratio, and ultimately, when you look at it from the
06:54outside, you can't actually tell where the rubber ends and the metal starts. Now, the locking mechanism
07:00that is inside here is reported to not have any picks since it was debuted back in 2021. Which,
07:08I've got to say, if true, is a pretty decent reputation to have. When we start to think about
07:13how much this lock actually costs, in the UK, it's £300, and over in the States, it's $350. I've got
07:21to
07:21say, it almost feels a little bit underwhelming due to the noticeable play between the shackle and the
07:27lock. Although, HipLock have confirmed that this won't affect security. The lock theft has made it
07:33cumbersome, and it is tough to transport without a proper mounting system, and it does require storage
07:38in a pannier or a backpack, but that does ultimately then take up a lot of space. HipLock's rubber flap
07:45that covers the locking system is simpler than competitors and offers better visibility and easier
07:51key engagement, especially when you're bent over a bike rack in the dark. While the DX1000 didn't
07:57really stand out during usage, it also didn't actually cause any issues. That changed, though,
08:02when it came to the angle grinder test, as it stepped up and performed seriously well as it
08:08heavily resisted our attacks. We applied considerable force when we tried to cut into this lock, but
08:14ultimately, it was the cutting disc which suffered as it quickly showed signs of wear. Holding the grinder
08:19steady proved difficult when trying to reach the centre of this lock, which appears to be a part of
08:24HipLock's anti-angle grinder security system. Each time we attempted to reposition the cutting wheel,
08:30the coarse material kicked the grinder back. We managed to burn through two discs in our five-minute
08:35test, but there was no way we would have been able to cut any further through the lock due to
08:40the kickback.
08:46Next up, we have the OnGuard RockSolid 8580. Now, you might not have heard of OnGuard, but it is a
08:54subsidiary
08:54of Magnum Locks, which specialises in security. This, again, of course, comes with a sold-secured
09:02diamond rating, and it's designed to resist angle grinders. It has a 15mm hardened steel shackle with a
09:09patented rock-solid finish. It has a 1.3kg weight, making it the lightest in its class,
09:15but it does have a smaller locking reach. It has an X4P Quattro four-point locking system,
09:22a Z-cylinder lock barrel resistant to picking, pulling, and drilling. It includes five keys,
09:28which is the highest among all of the angle grinder-resistant locks that we've had on test,
09:32and the automatic key cover and rubberised coating do offer really good durability and weather
09:39protection. We think that it's got a really good quality feel with that soft rubberised coating
09:44and minimal shackle play. There is a slight bit of difficulty when it comes to aligning the lock
09:49when removing or engaging. However, if you just slow down, take your time, you will get there in
09:55the end. It has a smooth and consistent key operation once engaged, but the weather guard can
10:01be just a little bit tricky. The smaller locking reach may be tricky for crowded areas like transport
10:07hubs, but I don't think it will be an issue for less busy locations.
10:11The angle grinder test is where the OnGuard RockSolid really shone. It was by pure coincidence
10:17that the OnGuard was the last to be cut, and its resilience took all of us by surprise. During our
10:23five-minute test, the OnGuard barely showed a scratch. The patented RockSolid coating that's been
10:29applied to the 15mm hardened steel shackle effectively sanded down the cutting disc, launching plumes of
10:36grinder disc dust into the air. In well under the five-minute time limit, we burned through three
10:42grinder discs, which is the most of any lock-on test. It was taking about 30 to 40 seconds for
10:49a
10:49disc to essentially evaporate into thin air. And when you look at it now, obviously, forgetting that
10:55big hole in the rubber coating, there'd be nothing to stop you from using this again. It barely made a
11:00mark.
11:05The Squire Stronghold D16 Max is a UK-made bike lock with a sold-secure diamond rating,
11:12costing £289.99. However, its design has notable drawbacks that hinder usability and undermine its
11:21appeal. The lock's plastic cover feels flimsy, diminishing trust in the product's durability.
11:25Additionally, the lock body and shackle exhibit noticeable play, although this doesn't affect
11:31security. Despite its generous 209cm square locking area, the thick rubberized coating makes securing a
11:38bike fairly cumbersome. Weighing 2.7kg, it is one of the heaviest locks-on tests, and given its price
11:45point, the Stronghold D16 Max faces stiff competition from superior options like the Hiplock DX1000, which offers
11:53better reach, security and a similar weight for just £10 more.
11:59Now, on to conclusions and my overall verdict on all of these locks. We're going to start with the
12:05Abus. At £260 or $320, the Granite Super Extreme 2500 is the third most expensive on this test. However,
12:17considering that it includes the superb mount and the Light Lock X3 requires an additional purchase,
12:22the Abus represents decent value. While there is some nuance in how well the locks perform during the
12:29angle grinder test, the 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. So, if
12:43you like to
12:44travel light and keep the weight on the bike and not on you, there is absolutely no reason not to
12:50choose the
12:50Abus Granite Super Extreme. At £300 or $350, the Hiplock DX1000 is not only the most expensive lock in
13:00this test, but it's also the most expensive lock we have tested here at Cycling Weekly. For this cost,
13:08we expected it to stand out from the crowd and be the best, but the DX1000 does almost the opposite.
13:15It's
13:15understated and functional and just gets the job done. Now, while this isn't a bad thing, the DX1000's
13:22extra weight and the fact that it is £100 more expensive than our overall winner starts to make
13:29the Hiplock look like poor value. That being said, its performance in the angle grinder test was
13:35impressive. And provided Hiplock's claims surrounding their unpickable lock cylinder stand-up,
13:41the DX1000 offers a very high level of security for your bike. With such a performance, the Hiplock
13:48secured third place. Now, if it weren't for the exceptional performance of the OnGuard RockSolid
13:55in the angle grinder test, the light lock might have easily secured the top position. Although there is a
14:01minor difference of price of £50 or $50 between them, the extra reach and features diminish this
14:08disparity for those who need them. The extra expense of the tactical mount brings the X3's price closer
14:14to that of the Abus Granite. Nevertheless, its performance in the angle grinder test and overall
14:20quality surpasses competition from either Abus or Hiplock. And lastly, given the sheer amount of
14:27security that the OnGuard RockSolid offers against angle grinder attacks, you may be surprised to learn
14:33it's the cheapest on test at £200 or $250. That's £50 or $50 less than the next cheapest, the LightLock
14:42X3.
14:43And a massive £100 or $100 cheaper than the Hiplock DX1000. While we are rewarding the OnGuard the
14:52title of best overall angle grinder resistant lock, it could also be best budget, most secure,
14:58and most user friendly. This shouldn't reflect badly on the other locks in the test though,
15:03as they all performed well. None failed the angle grinder test and all offer similar specs and retail
15:09prices, but the OnGuard RockSolid stood out in a field of outstanding performances, having that little
15:16extra something to give.
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