Bike locks come in all shapes and sizes, but the best bike chain locks offer flexibility and are often easier to carry than other types.
Along with D-locks (also known as U-locks), they are among the best bike locks you can buy, with many offering a higher security level than other options. But while a D-lock has a rigid shackle, a chain lock is much more flexible. This makes it easier to use and often easier to carry or store, despite the heavy weight of the most secure options.
Last updated on 26th March 2026
With the weather picking up, there is a good chance that you are thinking about ditching the car and starting to commute to work on the bike again. Making sure your bike is still there at the end of the day is vitally important, so now is a great time to invest in a new lock. We have given the guide a health refresh for clarity and checked all the tested products to make sure they were still available to buy at the time of writing.
Best bike chain locks available today
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Best overall
Hiplok as a brand just celebrated its 15th birthday, and its because of locks like the Hiplok Gold that the brand has become a staple in the bike security market. The wearability and portability of the Gold is a big plus, as well as its high Sold Secure Gold rating.
Although it weighs over 2kg, due to the 10mm chain, Hiplok uses a system that allows it to be carried without locking. There's a bar on the lock side and a plastic buckle that snaps into the bar on the other side. When you are ready to lock a bike, take it off your waist, open the lock, and connect the lock to the chain that's on the other side of the waist bracket.
The version pictured here with the reflective coating also adds visibility while riding. The only downside of the Hiplok Gold is that all that security does mean you've got to deal with a bit of weight. Have a read of our Hiplock Gold bike lock review if you want to know more.
Best lock to use with a car rack
It’s a unique challenge needing a unique lock that won’t scratch a frame and has a bit more length. Previously we recommended the Abus City Chain 1010, but since then we’ve discovered another, better option.
Enter, the Tex-Lock. It's a textile-based loop chain with a small U-lock that features a double-locking shackle design. The textile portion does have a steel core but you can’t feel it. Instead, it feels almost like a thick rope, making it comfortable to handle and use. It carries a Sold Secure Silver rating and should do a good job matching with use on a car rack.
The D-lock portion actually carries a Sold Secure Gold rating but it’s so tiny that there’s very little ability to use it beyond securing the loop chain portion, so consider the whole lock a functional silver rating. While the whole system is ideal for locking a bike to a car rack, the one downside is the price. It’s a lot of money to pay for the soft, rattle-free, performance. It’s for that reason we still have the Abus option in the mix here.
Although the Abus City Chain 1010 featured in our list of the best bike locks provides higher security, it's not a lock that you'd want to leave on when driving due to the risk of damaging your car's paintwork, whereas the Tex-Lock should avoid this problem.
Check out our full Tex-Lock bike lock review for more details.
Best for e-bikes
If you're the proud owner of an expensive electric bike, then using the highest security lock to keep it secure just makes sense. The Hiplok DXXL is a combination of a chain lock and the Hiplok DX wearable U lock. Hiplok markets this option specifically for e-bikes so it only makes sense we'd include it here for that use.
If you've got an e-bike as well as another bike that requires less security, this lock gives you the flexibility to choose the level of security you need each time you leave the house. The D-lock and the chain work together but you can leave the chain at home if you don't need it.
The Hiplok DX alone is one of the most secure, and convenient, D-locks on the market. When it's time to take your e-bike out, add in the massive chain with 14mm thick links. When using the chain, the loop end design makes sure that you've got the most length available.
Read our review of the Hiplok DX lock to find out more.
Best with insurance offer
The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain 1415 & New York Disc Lock is another option in the massive chain lock category. It's even heavier than the Hiplok DXXL and the security is similar.
That being said, the Kryptonite chain doesn't loop through itself the way the Hiplok does and instead of a D-lock you get a lock that's a lot closer to a padlock. What Kryptonite does offer instead of this flexibility is an insurance offer. If you can prove you used the lock correctly in the unfortunate event your bike disappears you could be eligible for up to a $5000 payout.
Another plus for the Kryptonite is its longevity. Another writer here at Cyclingnews left his New York Chain locked up at his university campus for a whole year, rain or shine, with and without his bike, and just commuted home leaving it in place. It still worked perfectly with just the odd squirt of GT85 needed every few months through the winter.
Best keyless chain lock
The Kryptonite Keeper 712 and Kryptonite Keeper 790 are a pair of Sold Secure Bronze bike chain locks that are the same other than size and weight (you can also buy the Keeper locks with a key rather than a combination lock, but we've featured this as it means you'll never leave your key at home).
The 712 is 120cm in length and 2041 grams while the 790 is a bit shorter at 90cm and 1646 grams. Both options use a 7mm chain and carry a Sold Secure Bronze rating as well as an insurance offer of $500.
The Kryptonite insurance is always a topic of debate because, like all insurance coverage, it’s difficult to take advantage of. Just remember to read carefully and follow the fine print. Also, keep in mind that the lock is a quality lock on its own, so consider the insurance a bonus that doesn’t hurt anything.
Beyond that, we featured the bronze security option because of the weight and convenience. Typically, if you are looking for a combo lock you are also looking for convenience.
Best for convenience
Obviously, security level is important when choosing a bike lock. But we've chosen to include the Hiplok Spin, despite its lack of Sold Secure rating because it's so convenient to use. In general, we think it’s better to go for more security vs less but some people have different needs.
If you live in an area where a bike is unlikely to have to be defended against a serious attack, then it might not matter that this is a lower security choice. Outside of the security, the Hiplock Spin has a very similar design to the Hiplok Gold. As we mentioned in that description, Hiplok is all about making security hassle-free. People have always worn chains but Hiplok made it safe with systems that don’t require locking the chain to your body.
Since the Spin is so light, it's been able to use a simple hook and loop closure system but the concept is the same. There’s also still an option for the highly reflective superbright colourway to add safety when riding at night.
How to choose the best bike chain lock for you
We've not tried to break any of the locks above, as specialists such as Sold Secure are much better equipped to test locks. But we've used all of them in real-world settings, so we've got a good understanding of what makes for usability in the best bike chain locks.
Here's our advice on how to choose the best bike chain lock for your needs.
- How much do you want to spend? The highest security locks can be expensive.
- What level of security do you need? Will you lock your bike in a high-risk area? Check the Sold Secure rating (see below) of the lock to see if it meets your needs for where you plan to lock your bike.
- How heavy? Some higher-security chain locks are weighty. If you don't plan to carry your lock with you this may not be an issue, but if you do you may be prepared to sacrifice the highest security for a lighter load.
- How expensive is your bike? A desirable bike locked somewhere on its own is more likely to be a target for thieves than a less flashy number parked alongside many other bikes.
- How secure is your bike storage area? If you're locking your bike up in a secure area at work, you may be prepared to lower the level of security, as it's less likely to be stolen than if locked up on a street. Many bikes are stolen from homes though, so make sure you've got a good locking solution and security there too.
Everything you need to know about the best bike chain locks
What types of bike lock are available?
There are four main types of bike lock available:
- A chain lock, as featured in this guide, has a flexible chain, usually with hardened links and a fabric cover and is fastened with a separate or integrated locking mechanism.
- A D-lock (also called a U-lock) has a rigid, hardened shackle, which is secured with a separate locking bar.
- A cable lock has a wound steel cable to secure the bike. It may have loops of cable at either end to attach to a separate locking mechanism or the lock may be integrated into the cable.
- A folding bike lock will have rigid sections with robust hinges between them and an integrated lock.
You can read more about each of these types of lock and view our recommended products for each in our guide to the best bike locks.
Are chain bike locks heavy?
As a rule, for any bike lock, a higher level of security means thicker components. So, in general, if you're looking for the most secure lock in any category it will be heavy. More secure locks also tend to be treated to harden their components.
High-quality chain locks and D-locks tend to be the strongest options that are hardest to cut, with cable and folding locks often providing less security.
Is a chain lock better than a D-Lock?
We talked about this a little in the intro but bike chain locks are just one option of many, so you might wonder why choose a chain vs a D-lock? The big advantage of chain locks is that they are big and flexible.
D-locks work best with bike-specific infrastructure, but the most secure options are also smaller, as there's less to attack with an angle grinder or other device. But as they shrink in size, they get very difficult to use to lock a bike to a signpost or other anchor. Chains make it easy to lock your bike to all kinds of anchor points. They also tend to do a little better against portable angle grinders because they can be difficult to hold still.
Which bike chain lock is the best?
There’s no simple way to answer that question because you have to define what you are looking for. We have tried to cover a range of different options for different situations. The lock we chose as the best balance of all the competing interests is the Hiplok Gold but even that isn’t necessarily the best option for you. It’s not the cheapest and it’s heavy so if you don’t have a need for that much security then it won’t be best for you.
How are bike locks tested by Sold Secure?
Sold Secure is a UK-based independent testing organisation that tests a wide range of locks, not just bike locks. Its testing is not mandatory, but it's attractive to lock makers as it provides an independent assessment of the lock's quality which they can advertise to potential buyers.
A lock maker will submit samples of its locks to Sold Secure, who then use a variety of methods to try to break them. Sold Secure is tight-lipped about the methods it uses, but they include angle grinders, lever attacks and lock picking. It works with the police to identify trends in bike theft methods, with any novel approaches incorporated into its test protocols.
Sold Secure will rate a lock on four levels: Bronze (the lowest), Silver, Gold and Diamond. A very low-security lock might be unrated and some locks sold in the UK may not have been tested.
How do you lock an e-bike?
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 frames and bulkier componentry will make it more of a challenge for small locks. There are also extra pieces to consider, like batteries, although 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.
Check out our guide to the best e-bike locks for more details and our recommendations.
What about insurance offers for bike chain locks?
Some bike locks come packaged with insurance offers. These are nice for peace of mind but there are a few details you should be careful about. The biggest thing to remember is that these are insurance offers, and that means they are very specific. There is no wriggle room for not quite meeting some requirements. Make sure you follow the instructions exactly. In the case of Kryptonite, that means you need to have registered at the time you bought the lock, so make sure you start there.
Another good option for insurance is to add your own bike-specific insurance and we have an article covering the best bike insurance. More coverage is better than less, so doubling up won’t hurt.
Do I need to register my bike?
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 in the USA, then helps with recovery if something happens. Bike Register provides a similar service in the UK.
There's no guarantee of anything, but they are 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.
How we tested the best bike chain locks
We’ve used bike locks for years as we commute through the city running errands and having fun riding bikes. We’ve looked at a lot of bike locks both high-tech and low-tech and we’ve managed to keep our bikes where we’ve left them even in areas that are a little rougher than we’d like.
As we worked on transforming that experience into actionable recommendations we’ve spoken to law enforcement, countless lock companies, and as many people as we could to figure out what works best for locks.
We haven't tried to break locks ourselves, relying on Sold Secure ratings and other testing for an assessment of a lock's security.
But for this list we held everything in our hands and tested its real-world usability. If you are looking for a bike chain lock, everything in this list is something we feel confident recommending.
You can read more about how we test locks and other cycling products in our How We Test guide.
