Lock it or lose it: MCN’s guide to the best locks, chains and disc locks

We attacked these with an angle-grinder to give you peace of mind that they actually work.

The best motorcycle chains and locks

by Bruce Dunn |

Lock your bike. It’s one of the most crucial lessons you learn when you get your first push-bike; lock it up wherever you leave it because if you don’t, it might not be there when you get back. However, that ‘might’ from 20 years ago has become ‘likely’ today. Motorcycle crime is rampant and we have to take security seriously if we want to keep hold of our bikes.

As a lock and chain are top of the list for cyclists, so it is for motorcyclists — just on a larger scale. The theory is simple: if your bike is locked to a solid object with a meaty lock and chain, hopefully, it will deter thieves or make them move on to the next bike with a smaller, or indeed no, chain.

We have gathered a selection of locks and chains from the big players in the market to see what sort of protection they offer, combined with their usability and portability. Clearly, the larger the chain, the greater the protection it will offer but conversely, the less easy to use it is and as for portability — well, look at some of the weights and you’ll get an idea of how that works.

The best motorcycle locks:

Kovix KS6 Alarmed Disc Lock

Kovix KS6 Alarmed Disc Lock
©Photo: MCN

1. Kovix KS6 Alarmed Disc Lock

Description

Tested by MCN - Quality 3/4, Value 4/5. Tiny disc lock packing a 120dB alarm, the KS6 is small

Kovix KS6 Alarmed Disc Lock

2. Milenco Dundrod

Description

Meets the Sold Secure Gold standard. Has a 1.4 metre long, 12mm chain and 14mm U lock. It's quite

Milenco Dundrod

Chains tested to destruction by RiDE Magazine

3. Pragmasis Protector 19mm Chain 2.5m

Description

The chain itself was horrible to cut, which is a good thing. The disk chattered all over the

Pragmasis Protector 19mm Chain 2.5m
Specifications
Certification Sold Secure Gold (chain)
Link shape Circular
Link size 19mm
Chain length 2.5m (various lengths available)
Weight 7kg per metre
Material Hardened boron steel
Lock RoundLock through link
Keys 3
Test result Overall score
Link cut 1: 28.8s Protection: 14/20
Link cut 2: 41.4s Ease of use: 5/10
Combined time: 1m10.2s Portability: 6/10
Lock cut: N/A Total: 25/40

4. Oxford Nemesis Chain

Description

Oxford's 16mm chain and D-lock is a hefty product that looked like it should do well. Like its

Oxford Nemesis Chain
Specifications
Certification Sold Secure Gold
Link shape Circular
Link size 16mm
Chain length 1.5m
Weight 8kg
Material Hardened Chrome-Moly steel
Lock D lock
Keys 3
Test result Overall score
Link cut 1: 28.6s Protection: 12/20
Link cut 2: 26.7s Ease of use: 7/10
Combined time: 55.3s Portability: 7/10
Lock cut: 54s Total: 26/40

5. Oxford HD Chain Lock

Description

Oxford's smaller chain combination comes with a separate D-lock that can be used on its own as a

Oxford HD Chain Lock
Specifications
Certification Sold Secure Silver
Link shape Square
Link size 9.5mm
Chain length 2m
Weight 4.6kg
Material Hardened steel
Lock D lock
Keys 3
Test result Overall score
Link cut 1: 14.2s Protection: 7/20
Link cut 2: 16.3s Ease of use: 8/10
Combined time: 30.5s Portability: 8/10
Lock cut: 28s Total: 23/40

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