Almax Immobiliser Series VI chain review

When it comes to motorcycle security, this Almax Immobiliser Series VI Chain and padlock combination from Almax is indeed a behemoth. It is a 1.85m long chain made of links formed from 25mm wire – yes, 25mm – and the chain alone weighs more than 23kg. To put that into perspective, that is heavier than you are allowed to carry onto most aeroplanes.

Clearly, the idea with the Almax Immobiliser Series VI Chain is home security, rather than when you’re out and about. Sure, your pillion seat could physically hold the weight – 23Kg is fairly light compared with a passenger – but the thing is so cumbersome that you wouldn’t try. It is designed for securing to something equally secure, such as an aircraft carrier or the company’s own ‘Defiant’ ground anchor.

The chain links are formed from hardened steel and zinc plated for corrosion resistance. The chain is encased in a Cordura sleeve so that it won’t damage the wheels or any part of the bike it contacts and for the 25mm chain (the company also makes 16mm and 19mm versions) it is camouflaged – though you can probably still see it against your garage floor.

The accompanying padlock is the Squire SS100CS to Almax’s spec. The CS means closed shackle, so the boron shackle, in a hardened steel body, is virtually impossible to attack. It’s also impossible to get replacement keys without the included identification card and both the lock and chain are certified Motorcycle Diamond standards by Sold Secure, the highest rating possible.

So on paper, this is a winning combination but what about in the real world? Well, as you would imagine, spending the thick end of £500 on a lock and chain isn’t a decision to be taken lightly (excuse the pun) but – and it’s a very big but – it works. A hacksaw will bounce off the chain and a pair of bolt-croppers, regardless of their size, will flee in terror. Other favourite methods of attack will also fail, including going at the chain links with an angle grinder. I know, because I tried.

Related: Best motorcycle ground anchors

I tested locks and chains a couple of years ago and attacked each chain – or padlocks where they appeared to be a more susceptible component – with a brand new cutting disc on a 4.5-inch angle grinder to see how long each would withstand attack. In the end, it was possible to cut through an entire link of the Almax 25mm chain but it was a hell of a job. The total time took more than three minutes, by which point, most thieves would have long given up and been on their toes.

Part of the reason it took so long was that the cutting depth of the 4.5-inch discs was less than 25mm, so they wouldn’t go straight through the linked material and I had to go around at various angles to get through. In addition to being a long-winded process, it was also exceptionally noisy (imagine an angler grinder cutting metal for a full three minutes) and made a very real mess. Not something most thieves would be prepared to withstand.

Verdict

While in some environments size is irrelevant, when it comes to bike security, it is crucial. And this monster from Almax proves that. It is simply huge – and comes with a huge price tag – but if you are serious about keeping your bike, then you won’t get much better than this.

Just make sure that you have something equally substantial to chain the bike to and using this chain and lock combination, you stand the best chance of your bike being there when you come to go out for a ride.

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