Grade
Sold Secure is a UK group that tests bike locks. Gold is the grade most home insurance still asks for. Diamond is the next step up. A thin cable in the box is usually not part of that grade.
U-locks and chains · UK
UK bike lock reviews, in plain English
We help you pick a U-lock or a chain you will actually take with you. We look at the official UK lock grade, what insurance often asks for, and how heavy the lock is. Not a shop. Not a test lab.
If you buy through a link on this page, I may earn a commission as an Amazon Associate. That does not change the review. This site is not Amazon, and prices on Amazon can change.
Lock DeskEditor’s pick
Editor’s pick
Litelok X1
Why we like it. Diamond grade for ordinary bikes and e-bikes, 1.7 kg, and a 101 × 197 mm hole. High enough for many insurance policies, and light enough that you might still take it on a commute.
Who it is for. Higher-value bikes parked in public, especially if Gold is not enough for your policy.
What we’d change. Include a clip that holds it on the bike. Without one, some people will not carry 1.7 kg every day.
Best alternative. Hiplok D1000 if you want Hiplok’s smaller anti-grinder U-lock and you have already measured the stand.
See on AmazonX1
Sold Secure Diamond
The lock we would buy if the bike is expensive, and we still had to take the lock to work.
Evolution Mini-7
Sold Secure Gold
The lock we would buy for most UK commuters who need Gold.
D1000
Sold Secure Diamond
Worth a look on high-theft streets — but only if the small U-bar will actually close.
Granit XPlus 540
Diamond (ordinary bikes)
Diamond for ordinary bikes, and long enough for fat posts. Check the e-bike grade if you ride one.
New York 1410 chain
Sold Secure Gold
A 4.9 kg chain for extra length at home. Do not commute with it.
Five we compared. Open the full table
Also reviewed: the New York Fahgettaboudit Mini — a thick 18 mm Gold lock at 2.06 kg, with no clip. Most commuters are better with the Evolution Mini-7.
GuidesCommuting and insurance
