Two commute locks that cover most UK riders
Kryptonite · D-lock
Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7
Sold Secure Gold
The straightforward choice for a weekday commute when Gold is enough. It has a frame mount and cable and weighs 1.61kg.
1.61kg · 83×178 mm · 13 mm
Litelok · D-lock
Litelok X1
Sold Secure Diamond
When the policy names Diamond and you still need a weekday carry, start here — about 1.7kg.
1.7kg · 101×197 mm · 21 mm
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Less suitable if: This page is aimed at daily riders. If you only need a lock for a shed, a ground anchor, or a heavy chain left at home, the home-chain and long-shackle reviews are a better place to start.
A commute lock has to come with you every working day. The Sold Secure grade needs to match your insurance. The lock has to close on the stand you use. Weight, and whether it clips to the frame, decide whether you will actually take it.
For most UK commuters whose policy still names Sold Secure Gold, the Evolution Mini-7 works well for daily carrying: 1.61kg, a frame clip, and a cable in the box. The D-lock is Gold. The cable is not — use it for a quick-release wheel rather than as a second lock. That combination is why it sits ahead of thicker, heavier Gold Minis with no clip.
If you ride an ordinary bike, the policy names Pedal Cycle Diamond, and about 0.97kg is the carry you will keep using, look at the Seatylock Mason 140. Measure 140 × 85 mm first; the mount is sold separately; confirm any e-bike grade on Sold Secure. If you ride an e-bike, or the policy names Diamond for bikes and e-bikes, and you will carry 1.7kg, take the Litelok X1 instead. It is Diamond for ordinary bikes and for e-bikes on our records. There is no frame clip in the box we looked at, so budget for a bag or a separate clip. Without one, it is likely to stay at home.
Do not buy the Hiplok D1000 for a commute until you have checked that the 92 × 155 mm shackle closes on your stand. It is a Sold Secure Diamond lock. It is also compact, 1.93kg, and listed without a clip. The DX1000 is the larger Hiplok if that hole is the problem; it is 2.75kg, still with no clip. If you need Diamond and a clip on the bike, that is the Pitbull STD 8003.
The 4.9kg weight of the New York 1410 makes it much more suitable to leave at home than to take on a daily commute. Use it for extra reach — a garden, a ground anchor, or a post a Mini cannot close around — and take a D-lock on the bike. That two-lock setup is what careful commuters usually keep using.
Lock the frame to the stand, not just a wheel. If the shackle will take the rear wheel as well, do that. Fill the shackle as much as you can. Check the stand is fixed down. These steps matter more than the brand name on the box.
Shopping locks sold as anti-grinder? See what to look for in an anti-grinder bike lock before you upgrade on marketing alone. Stuck between Gold and Diamond? See Evolution Mini-7 vs D1000. Choosing between the two Hiplok Diamonds: D1000 vs DX1000. Reach at home versus carry on the bike: D-lock vs chain.
Grade, measuring the stand, and carry weight are covered once on how to choose. Limits of our method: how we research.
Common questions
Can I commute with the 1410 chain?
No. The 1410 weighs 4.9kg, which is too heavy to carry to work and back every day. Use the chain at home when you need extra reach — around a garden post or a ground anchor, for example — and take a D-lock on the bike for the commute.
Gold or Diamond for commuting?
For most UK commuters whose policy still names Sold Secure Gold, the Evolution Mini-7 fits well: 1.61kg, a frame clip, and a cable in the box. The cable is not Gold. If you need Pedal Cycle Diamond and about 0.97kg carry, look at the Mason 140 after measuring 140 × 85 mm. If you ride an e-bike, or need Diamond for bikes and e-bikes, and you will carry 1.7kg, look at the Litelok X1.
Do I need a frame clip?
Yes, if you are unlikely to carry a lock in a bag every day. The Mini-7, the Pitbulls, the ABUS 540 and the Bordo 6500K include a clip or bracket. The X1, D1000 and DX1000 we looked at do not. A Diamond lock left at home does not protect the bike; a Gold lock you take with you does.
Will a Mini close on my station stand?
Measure the stand plus the frame tube. The Mini-7 is 83 × 178 mm; the D1000 is 92 × 155 mm; the Pitbull STD is 115 × 230 mm. If a compact lock already fails, look at the Pitbull LS, the ABUS 540 — 300 mm — or the Bordo 6500K if Gold folding reach will do.
Should I lock the wheels as well?
Lock the frame to the stand first. If the shackle also takes the rear wheel, do that. Use the ungraded cable, if you have one, for a quick-release front wheel — not as the lock.
How to choose a bike lock · Best of · Reviews · Mini-7 vs D1000 · D1000 vs DX1000 · D-lock vs chain · Compact locks for flats · Delivery riders and e-bikes · Ground anchors · How we research