Short answer: if you're on an e-bike, we'd carry the Hiplok D1000. It's Sold Secure Diamond for e-bikes as well as ordinary bikes, at 1.93kg, though it has no frame mount. On a pedal bike, the OnGuard Pitbull STD 8003 is Diamond at 1.44kg and clips to the frame, so it's quicker to grab at every drop.
Delivery locks by situation
If you deliver on an e-bike
Hiplok · D-lock
Hiplok D1000
Sold Secure Diamond
The D1000 is Sold Secure Diamond for ordinary bikes and for e-bikes, and it's sold as anti-angle-grinder. At 1.93kg with a 92 × 155 mm locking area, it's compact enough for a bag or a rear rack.
1.9kg · 92×155 mm · 20 mm
If you're on a pedal bike and stop all shift
OnGuard · D-lock
OnGuard Pitbull STD 8003
Diamond (ordinary bikes)
The Pitbull STD 8003 is Sold Secure Diamond, weighs 1.44kg and comes with a frame mount, so it's on the bike when you pull up. The 115 × 230 mm locking area closes round most Sheffield stands.
1.44kg · 115×230 mm · 14 mm
If you ride a cargo bike or a chunky e-bike frame
Hiplok · D-lock
Hiplok DX1000
Sold Secure Diamond
The DX1000 is Diamond for bikes and e-bikes, with a 32 mm shackle and a wider 112 × 205 mm locking area for thick frame tubes.
2.75kg · 112×205 mm · 32 mm
What makes a lock convenient for delivery work
You might lock up twenty times a shift, so the lock has to be quick. A frame mount means it's on the bike when you stop, not buried at the bottom of your bag under someone's order.
Weight matters too, because you carry it all day. Every lock above is under 3kg, and the Pitbull STD is the lightest at 1.44kg. The locking area matters most of all. If the shackle won't close round the post outside a busy restaurant, you'll end up leaning the bike on a wall, and that's when bikes go.
Here's the catch: a quick drop is still long enough for a thief with a grinder. We'd lock the frame to something fixed every time, even if you'll only be gone a minute.
Which locks are insurance-approved for e-bikes?
Sold Secure tests e-bike locks separately, and a lock can be Diamond for an ordinary bike but only Gold for an e-bike. If your policy names the e-bike grade, that's the one to match.
Of the locks we cover, the Hiplok D1000 and DX1000 are Diamond for e-bikes. The ABUS Granit XPlus 540 and the New York chains are Diamond for ordinary bikes and Gold for e-bikes. You can check any lock on Sold Secure's approved product search.
Worth knowing: if you ride for work, check your policy covers business use. Plenty of personal cycle and home policies don't, and that's a separate question from the lock grade. Best bike lock for insurance goes through the policy side.
Wearable and quick-access locks
None of the locks we've reviewed is designed to be worn on the body. If you want something small and fast to grab, a light D-lock on a frame mount is the closest thing. The compact bike locks for flats page covers the lightest options, including the Seatylock Mason 140 at about 0.97kg.
At home and between shifts
When the bike's parked at home or in a block-of-flats car park, weight stops mattering. That's where a heavy chain and a ground anchor earn their place. We'd keep a chain such as the New York Fahgettaboudit 1410 where the bike lives and carry the D-lock on shift. Ground anchors for flats and car parks explains how to set that up.
If you deliver on a moped or scooter, Sold Secure has a separate motorcycle standard, and the bike locks here aren't the right tool.
Common questions
What's the most convenient bike lock for delivery riders?
A light D-lock with a frame mount, because it's on the bike at every drop. The Pitbull STD 8003 is Diamond at 1.44kg with a mount. On an e-bike we'd carry the Hiplok D1000 instead, as it's Diamond for e-bikes too.
Do e-bikes need a different Sold Secure grade?
Sold Secure grades e-bike locks separately. The ABUS Granit XPlus 540 is Diamond for ordinary bikes but Gold for e-bikes, for example. The Hiplok D1000 and DX1000 are Diamond for both.
Is a cable lock enough for a quick delivery stop?
We wouldn't rely on one. A cable is easy to cut, and a quick stop is still long enough for a thief. Keep it for holding a wheel alongside a D-lock. How to choose a cable lock explains when one is enough.
How to choose a bike lock · Best of · Reviews · D-lock vs chain · How we research