Don’t panic. While this is the most in-depth and honest review of all of the best motorcycle security out there – on any budget – using any lock, even a cheap one, will significantly reduce the chances of your bike being stolen. Despite what social media would have you believe, while any crime is a problem, the main thing you should be doing is enjoying your motorcycle or scooter. Our data shows that using a disc lock reduces the chance of a thief stealing your bike by a factor of three, while a quality chain and lock will make it less likely to be stolen than a car. As with any crime, be aware of it, take some simple steps (in the same was you lock your house when you go out), then stop worrying. How bad is motorcycle crime in the UK? There are crime hotspots when it comes to Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) and the biggest is, unsurprisingly, London. But figures have shown that seven out of ten bikes aren’t locked at all, which is why the Met police urges riders to lock, chain and cover their motorcycles and scooters. A scooter is a cheap, efficient, fun and socially distanced way to get to work, but as it only costs a fraction of the price of a rail ticket, to many it’s apparently not worth the ‘hassle’ of locking up when parking. But my bike or scooter has a steering lock – won’t that do? No. A steering lock is very easy to defeat – thieves just need to kick the bars and it breaks. A typical technique – especially in a busy city – is to snap the steering lock then push the motorcycle or scooter away, often with another stolen scooter. We’ve seen stolen bikes hidden as little as 60m away from the point of theft, while the thieves wait to see if a tracker is installed.

Three locks on the front wheel alone might be considered excessive by some, but this rider is determined to keep hold of his bike. The level of security you need will depend on where you live Shouldn’t the police do something about bike crime? They do, but the results of investigations and intelligence gathered can take years to reach the public eye. A theft made famous by social media still circulates, though nobody shares the news that the gang behind it got 12 years. Statistically speaking, you’re unlikely to be a victim of theft, but like anything, it can happen. Using security on your bike is about making it harder to attack than another; it’s about dissuading a thief. You’ll hear people say ‘if they want it, they’ll have it’, and that’s kind of true, though they’ll go for the easiest targets first. And if you are unfortunate enough to have your bike stolen, you can’t always expect the police to turn up and dust for prints. Besides it being an expensive process for an already stretched public service, the scene of a motorbike theft is often simply a space where it used to be. And unless the criminals were on your property when they carelessly left figer prints, the defence could easily be that they happened to be passing and touched the bike before it was pinched. But you should expect a police force to take the full details of when and where the crime occurred, because it’s this intelligence gathering that can – eventually – lead to convictions. I pay enough for my insurance, why should I spend more on a lock? If you’re riding legally on UK roads, you at least have third party insurance. That should pay out to the other party were you to, for instance, ride into the back of a car. But despite having insurance for that eventuality, it’s a fair bet that you try to avoid it, right? While theft insurance is there to help reimburse you should the worst happen, it’s not something anyone wants to go through, so simply using some extra security – and it can cost as little as £40 for one of the best disc locks – will make it far less likely that you have to go through that heartache.

This is some of the kit I use to test chains, locks, disc locks and other motorcycle security devices here at Bennetts BikeSocial What’s the best motorcycle chain, lock and disc lock? There’s a lot of ‘advice’ online, especially on YouTube, but always check the source. Has the host properly destruction tested the product, or have they just been sent it and like the look of it? Do they know how to properly attack a lock, or do they tickle it with thick grinding discs to get ten minutes of sparks? Is the presenter using affiliate links or getting a kick-back from the manufacturer? Or even is the channel representing a store, which will have its own agenda when it comes to what it wants to have sell well? Everybody’s opinion is valid, but when it comes to your bike’s security it has to be down to proper testing. When buying any motorcycle security, look for the Sold Secure rating. Manufacturers submit their products to the Warwickshire-based testing house (also home to the Master Locksmiths Association) to receive a grading based on the resistance to attack. Thatcham used to do this testing too, but for a few years now they’ve only tested electronic security products for bikes, like trackers and alarms. Make sure you see a Sold Secure ‘Motorcycle’ (or ‘Ground Anchor’) rating; if it just says ‘Sold Secure’ it could be rated to bicycle level. Here’s how the professionals test locks: Sold Secure rating Attack methods used Bicycle Bronze 1 minute attack time; basic tools that can be easily concealed about the person, i.e. screwdriver, small hammer, junior hacksaw etc Bicycle Silver 3 minute attack; enhanced tool list including small bolt croppers, full size hacksaw (HSS), stillsons, crowbar etc. Bicycle Gold / Motor Scooter Silver 5 minute attack; higher tool list inc. TCT hacksaw, larger croppers, larger crowbars, lump hammer etc. Bicycle Diamond / Motorcycle & Motor Scooter Gold 5 minute attack, much higher tool list including largest Bolt croppers, machine based crop test to ensure at least 7 tonnes of force is achieved, Drill with HSS bits etc. Does not include an angle grinder attack. Motorcycle Diamond 5 minute attack, tool list includes TCT drill bits and a 90 second angle grinder attack Ground Anchors Diamond As Motorcycle Diamond but with 1.5m builder’s bar and 5 minute angle grinder attack. You can check if a product is currently on the Sold Secure database by using the approved product search on its website. Note that brands have to re-submit their products for testing every year so it’s expected that items carrying the Sold Secure badge have a rating that applies to the batch being sold, but you can always check the status of any product on the Sold Secure database.

This chain and lock is listed as being Sold Secure-approved, but there’s no level shown in the listing. With no recognisable brand or model, Sold Secure was unable to confirm if the chain had ever been rated (it keeps archives of everything that was tested in the past). I also contacted the supplier, but have yet to hear back… What’s the best lock for my scooter or moped? As you’re likely to have a decent amount of space under the seat of your scooter or moped, I’d strongly recommend you buy a portable chain (see below). Scooters have smaller brake discs, so disc locks designed for them have thinner pins that are easier to break. As such, they tend to do poorly in our reviews so use a chain and lock for more versatility, and if you can, carry a cover with you too – you’d be surprised how effective this is at dissuading thieves. Where can I find reviews of the best motorcycle security? Right here. Like Sold Secure, we test based on the current methods of UK criminals. This isn’t about clickbait, so we don’t waste time with Ramset guns and other methods that make for good viewing figures but aren’t contributing to this country’s crime statistics. Our tests involve angle grinder attacks, 42” bolt-croppers, sledge hammer (unlikely as it’s noisy and awkward, but a good sign of the quality of hardening in chains), freeze spray and other tools such as pry bars, lump hammers, claw hammers, drills and hacksaws. Picking isn’t an issue in bike theft, but the professionals at Sold Secure do include this in testing, which is why our reviews always reference the Sold Secure results. Yes, anything can be picked given the right skill and tools, but this is about what’s really happening on the street, as even the picking entertainment channels agree now. We’re constantly updating our tests and always adding to them, so check the website for the best motorcycle and scooter security products. The best chain and lock, the best disc lock, or the best ground anchor and other security devices will depend on your circumstances such as your bike, where you live, where on your property your bike is kept and what you can carry when you’re out and about. As such, I’d urge you to read the reviews in full to understand what suits your needs best, and to get the best value for money. Based on data collected from the testing carried out, below are what I would recommend as the best motorcycle and scooter products for use when you’re at home and out and about. Discounts are available for some, but none of these are commercial links and we don’t receive any kick-backs for them. Value considerations are based on the typical street prices, not discounted prices.

Disc locks have limitations, as explained below. Theoretically a criminal could also remove the wheel altogether, though this is unlikely, especially given a push-away theft Five of the best motorcycle disc locks All disc locks have the same vulnerability – the bike can be picked up and put in a van. However, particularly in busy cities, a more likely attack is the ‘push-away’ and a disc lock will help reduce the chances of this happening. Our data shows that a disc lock can make your bike three times less likely to be stolen. If your machine doesn’t have an alarm already, getting a disc lock with one can be a great idea. Yes, people do often ignore them, but they can put a thief off and could alert you to an attempted theft. Keep in mind that these disc locks will be very unlikely to fit a scooter, which has smaller a brake disc (as does the Honda MSX125, or Grom). I’d suggest you’re best off with something from the portable options above. Abus Granit Detecto XPlus 8077 | £151.99

It’s not cheap, but this thing is solid, intimidating, and it can be used with a chain. It’s also very loud and has a warning LED that flashes when it’s fitted. Put this on the front and a chain on the back and you have a great mobile security setup.

It’s not cheap, but this thing is solid, intimidating, and it can be used with a chain. It’s also very loud and has a warning LED that flashes when it’s fitted. Put this on the front and a chain on the back and you have a great mobile security setup. Squire Eiger Mini U-lock | £45 (£36)

A brilliant value, versatile mini-U lock, this disc lock can secure a chain or hang off your brake disc. It can be beaten, but it’s a very tough little device and really easy to carry. Definitely one of the best disc locks you can buy. 20% discount available here

A brilliant value, versatile mini-U lock, this disc lock can secure a chain or hang off your brake disc. It can be beaten, but it’s a very tough little device and really easy to carry. Definitely one of the best disc locks you can buy. Pragmasis RoundLock | £39.99 (£35.99)

Not only does this disk lock represent extraordinary value for money, it can also be used to secure 13 to 19mm chains and it’s the only lock that beat all of our destruction tests – not what you expect of something so cheap. At this price, you could buy two and spend an extra £4 on having them keyed-alike, then put one on each brake disc. Or use one on a chain and one on the disc. An outstanding piece of security, though note that it won’t work on some BMW brake discs. 10% discount available here

Not only does this disk lock represent extraordinary value for money, it can also be used to secure 13 to 19mm chains and it’s the only lock that beat all of our destruction tests – not what you expect of something so cheap. At this price, you could buy two and spend an extra £4 on having them keyed-alike, then put one on each brake disc. Or use one on a chain and one on the disc. An outstanding piece of security, though note that it won’t work on some BMW brake discs. Pragmasis DIB D-lock | £49.95 (£44.96)

Bulkier than a disc lock, it still breaks down and fits under many bike seats. A U-lock (or D-lock as Pragmasis calls it) can be put around the wheel or a cast spoke, which eliminates the vulnerability of being able to cut the brake disc. While we found the shackle can rotate a little too far for our liking with one cut, it’s still not going to come off a wheel and at this price, it’s something of a bargain. We haven’t reviewed this on its own yet, but the link takes you to the review with a chain. 10% discount available here

Bulkier than a disc lock, it still breaks down and fits under many bike seats. A U-lock (or D-lock as Pragmasis calls it) can be put around the wheel or a cast spoke, which eliminates the vulnerability of being able to cut the brake disc. While we found the shackle can rotate a little too far for our liking with one cut, it’s still not going to come off a wheel and at this price, it’s something of a bargain. We haven’t reviewed this on its own yet, but the link takes you to the review with a chain. Kovix KAL 14 alarmed disc lock | £119.99

Difficult to cut, this is a solid disc lock that makes a hell of a noise if disturbed. Keep an eye out for the Xena 14mm lock though, which often comes in cheaper than this and is just as hard to attack. Expect a review soon… A mention must go to the Squire Atilla as the LP version will lock through both brake discs, making it twice as hard for a thief to defeat by cutting the disc. It’s expensive though, at £249.99 (£199.99 with the 20% discount), and as you could buy two RoundLocks for almost a third of the price, it misses out on a place in our top five. These disc locks are featured here based on our destruction testing, street price and convenience. Please do check out the dozens of other reviews of portable motorcycle security to be sure you get the security that best suits your needs and budget.