There are two main reasons people don’t bike more: they are worried about their safety or that their bike will be stolen. While safe bike infrastructure is a longterm project, we can protect against theft. In this article, we’ll cover my top favorite bike locks for electric bikes and cargo bikes.
These suggestions differ from what I would suggest for a normal city bike for two reasons. First, electric bikes often represent an investment of thousands of dollars, making secure locking absolutely crucial. Second, due to their bulk and specialized frames, eBikes and cargo bikes can be challenging to secure with traditional bike racks and standard locks.
I’ve tested dozens of bike locks over the last few years, and I hope this article helps you find the ideal lock for your eBike or cargo bike!
My Top eBikes I Use Today
A Balance of Security, Usability, and Price
The locks I’ve recommended above represent my carefully chosen selection from the available locks today. As a daily bike commuter using an eBike and cargo bike, I’ve focused on finding the sweet spot where security, usability, and price intersect. After all, a lock is useless if it’s too difficult to use with a heavy bike or awkward bike racks, just as it’s worthless if it’s easily cut. And if the price is too steep, it becomes hard to justify the investment.
eBike Lock Security
A lock’s strength comes down to four key factors:
Metal Type and Thickness: Most locks use steel of varying thicknesses. Modern designs may include tungsten carbide coating or specialized fabric layers to resist cutting tools.
Lock Length: Counter-intuitively, longer isn’t always better. Longer U-locks can provide leverage for thieves to “pop” the lock, while longer chains give more room to position cutting tools away from the bike.
Core Mechanism: Higher-end locks feature sophisticated cores with specialized key types. Some can be keyed alike to other locks for convenience.
Understanding these technical aspects is helpful, but let’s focus on what really matters for your eBike security.
The Basics You Really Need to Know about eBike Locks
Locks have security ratings on them from two main testing standards: Sold Secure and ART.
For my eBikes, I am looking for Sold Secure Pedal Gold when locking up in a smaller town. If I still lived in Denver, Colorado, where theft is rampant, I would look for Sold Secure Pedal Diamond (also considered Sold Secure Powered Cycle Gold), which offers angle grinder resistance as my main lock and then 1-2 secondary locks.
How Functional is the Bike Lock
A lock can be insanely safe, but if I can’t lock my bike to anything, then how useful is it?
I use the Kryptonite 1275 Cinch Ring in my hometown because I’m sometimes locked to a tree. Slide the chain through itself, and then use the shackle on my bike in an area that would really make it difficult to pedal if they were just to cut the rack.
When looking at the Diamond/angle-resistant U-locks, look for one that is long and wide enough to be functional for your needs. My go-to is the Litelok X1, and if I were in Denver, I would run two of these, plus a wheel lock.
Speaking of wheel locks, they are also considered frame locks. These are hard mounted to your frame either using bolt holes provided by your bike manufacturer or using an adapter to zip tie it on. These locks wrap around your wheel and are pretty useful as a second line of defense. You can also pair them with a Frame Lock extension. In my college town, this is a common setup I use, especially when I need to lock my family’s bikes to mine.
Price to Security Ratio
There are bombproof locks out there, like the Litelok X3 and the Hiplok DX1000 but they are expensive at $300-350 per lock. You have to weigh the protection, price, and also where you are locking up to justify the expense.
eBike Lock Overviews
This is the larger Hiplok anti-grinder u-locks. It is arguably the "safest" bike lock on the market and what many have turned to if they have to lock up overnight or use a shared garage space.
Cons: Weight and price
This is my go-to u-lock for my eBikes and even my bulky Urban Arrow. It is wide enough and long enough to be functional.
Cons: Not as angle resistant as the DX1000 or the X3
If having a grinder-resistant lock isn't your worry, this is my go-to. The chain can pull through itself and extend the useable length. I lock the shackle to my frame near the cranks so the bike wouldn't be usable if they cut the chain or rack.
Cons: Weight, bulk, and is not angle-resistant
Folding locks are nice and compact but not the most secure. This one has 6.5mm thick arms and protection around the joints to make it stronger than the Abus version.
Cons: Not as long as the Cinch Ring and not angle-resistant
These are hard mounted to your frame, using bolt holes provided by your bike manufacturer or an adapter to zip tie it on. These locks wrap around your wheel and are pretty useful as a second line of defense. They come in different widths, so make sure to check your tire size.
Cons: Not a standalone solution
Pair this with the frame lock, and you can secure to a rack in low theft areas or use it as another level of security. There is a cheaper version with 6mm thick chain links, but I prefer the thickest chain links I can get!
Cons: Requires a frame lock
These are small locks, essentially metal zipties coated in plastic with a lock. I use them on the backside of panniers or my rain cover to keep them from being stolen.
Cons: Only use with accessories
eBike Security Best Practices
A good bike lock is actually the last piece of the eBike security puzzle! You want to ensure you are parked in the best location, locked to something secure, and make your bike less interesting.
- When parking, try to find a secure bike rack in public view but ideally not directly next to a street where someone could throw the bike into the back of a van or truck.
- Remove your battery, head unit, and secure other items in high theft areas. In Denver, I used a u-lock to secure my seat to my frame, and wheel locks on both wheels.
- When locking your bike, use the lock in a way that would prevent someone from pedaling the bike if they cut the rack
- Use multiple locks if possible
Conclusion
Bike locks have come a long way in the last 5 years with grinder-resistant locks! I used to have to start every article or bike lock sale with, “Please know that every bike lock can be cut.” Layering good locks, GPS tracking, and smart bike locking practices will encourage a bike thief move on to the next option.
I’ll continue to dig into this bike lock and security as it is a major barrier for some to start biking. Let me know what your practices are and what you would like to see covered in the comments below!
