There’s nothing more infuriating than getting your bike stolen. Especially when you’ve finally splurged on the bike of your dreams. In Montreal alone, it’s estimated that between 15,000 and 25,000 bikes are stolen yearly.
While the absolute best way to prevent your bike from being stolen is to store it in your home, that’s not always possible. It’s especially not possible for those who rely on their bike to commute to school or work every day. This is where investing in a high-quality bike lock is necessary. A high quality bike lock can be heavy and awkward, but it’s necessary if you want to protect your bike.
Bike locks come in many shapes and sizes. While some some bike locks are more secure than others, the choice of which bike lock to buy is ultimately up to your security needs and budget.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Mini U-Lock: Mini Kryptonite New-U
Jump to Review - Most Secure Chain Lock: Kryptonite 1410 New York
Jump to Review - Most Secure U-Lock: Abus Granit XPlus 540
Jump to Review - Best Wearable Bike Lock: Hiplok v1.50 Original Superbright
Jump to Review - Best U-lock With Cable: Kryptonite Evolution + FlexFrame-U
Jump to Review - Best Budget Chain Lock: Kryptonite Keeper 712
Jump to Review - Best Folding Bike Lock: Abus Bordo Granit XPlus 6500
Jump to Review
Keep reading to learn more about bike locks and the best type of bike lock to buy. We’ll also highlight some of the best bike locks in Canada this year.
What Type Of Bike Lock Do I Need?
The best bike lock ultimately depends on your bike’s value and how much you’re willing to spend on keeping it safe. You can essentially think of a bike lock as bike insurance. Generally speaking, the quality of a bike lock should go hand in hand with the quality of the bike it’s securing, as well as the theft rate in your neighbourhood.
Bike locks can cost anywhere from $20 to $300. If you’ve invested several thousand dollars on a bike, we highly recommend opting for a high-quality bike lock with a security rating. Bike lock safety ratings range from Bronze, Silver, and Gold, to Diamond. Bronze is the least secure, and Diamond is the most secure. We generally recommend Gold or Diamond-rated bike locks for high-value bikes or electric bikes.
That said, a good quality D/U-lock or chain lock should do the trick for most people. If your bike has quick-release wheels, you should also purchase some locking wheel skewers to prevent your wheels from being stolen.
If you live in a low-crime neighbourhood, have a low-value bike, and have a small budget, a cable lock could be enough to deter potential thieves. However, no one likes getting their bike stolen, regardless of its value. For that reason, for higher security, we recommend either a D-lock, chain lock, or folding lock at a price point that fits your budget.
The 7 Best Bike Locks in Canada in 2025
With hundreds of bike locks on the market, choosing the most secure bike lock can be a challenge. Here are reviews of the best bike locks in Canada this year:
Kryptonite New-U New York Fahgettaboudit
While the Kryptonite New-U New York Fahgettaboudit may be the best mini u-lock, it’s also one of the toughest bike u-locks on the market. With a gold Sold Secure rating and a Kryptonite security rating of 10/10, this lock can reliably protect a high-end bike all day or even overnight in high-risk neighbourhoods.
Measuring 6” in length, it’s perfect for smaller bike frames, bike racks, and roof racks. Even an angle grinder would struggle to obstruct this lock.
In terms of quality, the New-U is made from an 18 mm hardened steel shackle. It has a pass-thru crossbar that adds extra protection against being cut. Its locking dimensions are 3.25” by 6”. This is quite small if your bike has a large frame, which may limit its versatility. Despite its small size, the lock is quite heavy, weighing 4.55 lbs. Its weight is its only disadvantage.
Like most Kryptonite locks, the New-U comes with 3 keys, one of which is an LED replaceable key fob. Kryptonite offers free replacement for up to 2 keys.
Since the New-U lock has a Kryptonite security rating of 10/10, you can be covered up to $5,000 if you register for Kryponite’s anti-theft insurance program. This means that if your bike gets stolen due to a defeated lock, Kryptonite will cover up to $5,000 of your bike’s value.
Kryptonite 1410 New York Fahgettaboudit Chain Lock
If you’re looking for a lock to secure your bike for extended periods of time in high-risk neighbourhoods, the Kryptonite1410 Chain Lock might be for you. With a gold Sold Secure rating and a Kryptonite rating of 10/10, it’s one of the most secure bike locks on the market. It’s also a reliable lock for electric bikes.
In terms of quality, the lock is made up of 14 mm 3T manganese steel chain links that are strong enough to withstand extreme cut force. Its shackle is made from 15 mm hardened performance steel.
While it’s a highly secure and durable lock, its weight and size may not be convenient for some people. The chain is 39” long (over 3 feet), and weighs over 10.5 lbs. For that reason, we wouldn’t particularly recommend taking this lock on your daily commute. However, its length is convenient since you can position this lock in a wider variety of positions. This makes it an extremely versatile bike lock.
Since the lock has a Kryptonite security rating of 10/10, you can be covered up to $5,000 if you register for Kryponite’s anti-theft insurance program. This means that if your bike gets stolen due to a defeated lock, Kryptonite will cover up to $5,000 of your bike’s value.
ABUS U-Lock Granit XPlus 540
Made in Germany from top-of-the-line materials, the ABUS Granit X-Plus 540 is one of the most secure U-locks on the market. It’s about 9” long and weighs just 3 lbs, making it one of the most lightweight u-locks out there. In terms of security, Sold Secure gives it a Gold rating, while ABUS themselves give it a 15/15 security rating. That said, the only way to cut through this lock would be with power tools, such as a grinder.
In terms of sturdiness, the Granit X-Plus 540 is made up of a 13 mm steel bar that’s coated with a 3 mm layer of rubber protection. The lock itself has a double-bolted shackle for extra security. While 13 mm might sound weak, the bar is made from a temper-hardened steel bar, which makes it both structurally sound and lightweight.
The lock comes with 2 keys and one of them has a convenient LED light. It also has an automatic dust cover to protect your keyhole from debris.
The only downside with the Granit X-Plus is that it’s expensive. However, if you have a high-end bike, it’s absolutely worth the investment. Overall, if you’re looking for a lightweight U-lock that’s highly secure, this lock may be what you need.
Hiplok v1.50 Original Superbright Wearable Bike Lock
If you’re looking for a wearable bike lock that won’t disappoint, the Hiplock v1.50 is for you. This bike lock is comfortable to wear and won’t weigh you down too much at 4 lbs. With a silver Sold Secure rating, the Hiplok v.150 is not the most secure bike lock on the market, but it’s perfect for locking a low to mid-value bike in a low-crime area.
In terms of quality, the Hiplok consists of a 10 mm hardened steel shackle, an 8 mm hardened steel chain, a padlock, and 3 keys. The chain is covered by a nylon sheath that makes it comfortable to wear while also protecting your bike from scratches. It has a locking diameter of 33.4”, so keep that in mind if your bike has a thick frame.
As a wearable lock, the Hiplok v1.50 is adjustable and fits most people, provided that the circumference of their waist is between 28” and 44”. For that reason, it’s not suitable for children or people with small waists.
For safety purposes, the lock is designed in a way that prevents the lock from engaging while being worn. It weighs just over 4 lbs, so keep that in mind if biking with a heavy belt doesn’t appeal to you.
Kryptonite Evolution U-Lock with FlexFrame-U Bracket
The Kryptonite Evolution U-Lock is one of the best bike locks on the market. With a dual locking system and a gold Sold Secure rating, you can rest assured that your bike will most likely not get stolen, even in a high-risk environment. While the lock is resistant to bolt cutters, it’s not resistant to certain power tools, however.
Measuring 8” long and weighing 3.5 lbs, the Evolution lock consists of a 13 mm hardened steel shackle, a cable, 3 keys, and a u-bracket. The u-bracket can be used to attach the lock to multiple parts of the bike, which is an excellent theft deterrent.
As an 8” long u-lock, you might struggle to lock your bike anywhere other than a bike rack. This is especially true if your bike has a large frame.
Since the Evolution bike lock has a Kryptonite security rating of 7/10, you can be covered up to $2,500 if you register for Kryponite’s anti-theft insurance program. This means that if your bike gets stolen due to a defeated lock, Kryptonite will cover up to $2,500 of your bike’s value.
Kryptonite Keeper 712 Chain Lock
If the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain Lock is more than what you need, the Krptonite Keeper 712 is another chain lock worth considering. With a Bronze Sold Secure rating, the Kepper 712 is an excellent theft deterrent in low-risk areas or for locking your bike for short periods of time.
Kryptonite rates this lock a 5/10, which implies that it’s suitable for car racks, suburbs, rural areas, or quick stops in low-risk neighbourhoods. However, you would need a power tool to cut through this chain.
The Keeper 712 chain lock is 48” long and is made up of 7 mm 3t manganese steel chain links. Instead of being hexagonal like the New York Fahgettaboudit lock, its chain links are four-sided. They’re also half the width.
Instead of a mini padlock, the Keeper 712 features a pick-resistant disc-style lock. It comes with 2 keys that can be replaced for free if lost.
As a 4-foot-long chain lock, the Keeper 712 can easily adapt to a variety of positions. Despite its length, it weighs just 3.75 lbs, so it’s convenient to bike around with.
Abus Bordo Granit X Plus 6500 Folding Bike Lock
Folding bike locks are relatively new on the bike lock market. For that reason, we don’t trust many, except for the ABUS Bordo Granit X-Plus 6500. The lock is extremely secure and folds up to a compact size, making it convenient to transport. In terms of security, ABUS rates their lock a 15/15, while Sold Secure has awarded it a gold rating. However, this lock isn’t cheap, so we mostly recommend it for protecting high-value bikes in high-risk environments.
In terms of quality, the lock is made up of a 5.5 mm hardened steel bar that has a soft coating to prevent it from damaging your bike frame. It’s made up of links that allow you to fold it into a compact rectangle. This makes it very easy to transport, especially since it weighs just 3.5 lbs.
While the lock is easy to carry in a backpack, it can also be mounted onto your bike for extra convenience. Compared to a chain lock or a u-lock, the Granit X Plus isn’t as easy to use, but once you get the hang of it, it’s worth the learning curve.
Overall, the Bordo Granit 6500 is an excellent high-security bike lock if you don’t want to carry a bulky u-lock or chain lock around all day.
How to Know if a Bike Lock is Secure?
In terms of how to know if a bike lock is secure, we first recommend looking for a security rating from a credible organization. If that’s not possible, we then recommend opting for a type of lock that’s well-reputed for the highest level of security, such as a U-lock. Here’s what to look for in terms of security rating and lock types:
Security Ratings
The best way to know if a bike lock is secure is to look for a security rating from a credible organization. Sold Secure is the most popular security product certification organization for bike locks. They test bike locks and award them security ratings ranging from Bronze to Diamond.
Most bike lock manufacturers will proudly advertise that their lock has been approved by Sold Secure. If you wish to verify a manufacturer’s security rating claim (which we recommend doing for newer brands on the market), refer to the Sold Secure Approved Product Database.
A similar security certification organization is ART. ART security ratings range from 1 to 5 stars, where 5 stars offer the highest level of protection. They are knwon for being more strict than Sold Secure when it comes to giving out high security ratings. To find out if a lock has been rated by ART, refer to their bike lock rating database.
Type and quality of the lock
Another way to know if a bike lock is secure is to consider the type of lock and its quality. The most secure locks will almost always be thick, sturdy, and heavy. In general, U-locks are the most secure type of bike locks, with chain locks right behind.
Folding bike locks are a new type of bike lock on the market, that can offer excellent security as well.
What Are The Best Types of Bike Locks?
While there are four main types of bike locks, U-locks, chain locks, folding locks, and cable locks. Because of their affordability and portability, Cable locks are the most accessible type of bike lock. However, they’re not the more secure. The best types of bike locks are U-locks and chain locks. Here is an overview of each:
U-Locks/D-locks
U-locks, sometimes referred to as D-locks, are the most secure types of bike locks out there. While they’re undeniably bulky and heavy, they’re just about indestructible. When chosen correctly, u-locks are also designed to limit leverage, which prevents thieves from popping the lock open with a crowbar.
That being said, when deciding which u-lock to buy, make sure it’s the optimal size for your bike. There should ideally be as small of a gap as possible between the lock, your bike, and whatever you’re attaching the lock to.
Chain Locks
After U-locks, chain locks are the next best lock for your bike. While they have a tendency to be quite heavy, they are nearly indestructible. Good quality chain locks are made from sturdy steel that is solid enough to withstand a hacksaw.
Equally important to the chain quality is the padlock. Always make the chain lock you buy comes with a sturdy padlock.
Folding Bike Locks
Since they’re relatively new, folding bike locks are the least popular type of bike lock, but they’re growing in popularity. Since they’re foldable, folding bike locks are convenient to transport. They also tend to be much lighter than chain locks or U-locks, but their weight can vary.
In terms of security, folding bike locks are comparable to U-locks, but slightly less secure. However, the security level of a folding bike lock really depends on the quality of the model you’re looking at. Be aware of poor-quality knock-offs.
Cable Locks/Snake Locks
Cable locks, also known as snake locks, are the most common bike locks since they’re the most lightweight and affordable bike locks on the market. Unfortunately, they’re not the most secure bike lock. That’s because a cable lock can easily be cut using a bolt cutter or a hacksaw. We only really recommend a snake lock if you live in a low-risk neighbourhood or if you want to combine it with a U-lock for an extra layer of security.
