Best Motorcycle Locks: Park with Protection

In my nearly two decades of riding, I've ridden off (tried to) with an engaged disc lock, come back to literally nothing when there should've been a bike and a U-lock, and went to get my moped only to find half a chain link. Each of the aforementioned experiences stung me in different ways but you get to benefit from my misfortunes because each one brought me closer to finding what I consider to be the best motorcycle locks.

No motorcycle lock is unbreakable, but the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock should give your bike the best fighting chance. The 15.25-pound chain is made of 14-mm six-sided hardened manganese steel links, meaning a thief would need an angle grinder or hydraulic bolt cutter to pinch your pride and joy. A durable nylon cover protects the chain and is held in place with hook-and-loop fasteners. It’s five feet long, giving you plenty of space to work with when looking for an anchor point.

Included in the sale is a maximum security New York Disc Lock that has a 15-mm steel shackle and a patented oval hardened-steel crossbar. The lock also features a hardened double-deadbolt locking system and doubles as a disc lock. The disc-style cylinder has a reinforced anti-drill/pull feature and is protected by a sliding dust cover. Three stainless steel keys are included in the sale, and one has a high-intensity bulb and replaceable battery. Many locks simply act as a deterrent, but this model will prevent your bike from being stolen unless the thieves are carrying heavy-duty machinery.

You can get a less-expensive lock than the Kryptonite Keeper Disc Lock, but it’s unlikely you’ll find one that’s a better value. This disc lock stays in place via a 5.5-mm pin, which should fit through the smaller ventilation holes on your bike’s brakes. Keeping the pin locked in place is a high-security disc-style cylinder. Unlike the best overall pick, this lock is lightweight and compact, tipping the scales at just 1.4 pounds.

The problem with disc locks is that you can ride away and forget to take them off, and this writer can attest to that. Thankfully, this model includes a bright orange reminder cable, which should prevent you from damaging your bike and ego. You’ll also get two stainless steel keys that have an ergonomic design to reduce the amount of torque necessary to turn them, thus reducing the chance of you bending or breaking them. Unfortunately, this lock won’t provide the same level of security as some of higher-end locks on this list, but it’s well-made, and its bright yellow paint scheme acts as a good visual deterrent.

If the best overall pick is out of your budget, you’ll find similar qualities in the Oxford HD Chain and Padlock for almost half the price. This model won’t stand up to the same level of abuse as the best overall pick, but it’s a heavy-duty chain and lock combo. The chain is made from 10-mm square links and is protected by a cover. You can choose from three sizes: 3.2, 4.9, and 6.5 feet. If your anchor point is far from your bike, opt for the 6.5-foot-long chain, and you shouldn’t have any issues.

Keeping this chain fastened is a tough double-locking padlock with a hardened-steel shackle. It uses a dust cover, which should help keep it working smoothly for longer. The padlock doubles as a disc lock, so if you don’t want to lug around the 9.6-pound chain, you'll have a handy lightweight option. Unfortunately, no reminder cable is included in the sale, so you’ll need to be extra mindful if you’re only using the padlock.

There are levels to the motorcycle disc lock game, and the Oxford Boss Alarm Disc Lock is at the top. Although many disc locks can be cut through with relative ease, potential thieves will have a much tougher time with this model’s 14-mm shackle. This long shackle is large enough to double up as a padlock and be used with a chain, but if you don’t want to carry a heavy chain around, you’ll be thankful for this lock’s 2.45-pound weight. The shackle is completely removable and has a double locking mechanism.

This model has been five-minute-attack tested and five-year life-cycle tested and is water, vibration, frost, and heat resistant. There’s a sealed alarm module that will go off in 10-second bursts at 100 decibels if anyone tampers with the lock, which should act as a good deterrent for an unexpecting thief. You can choose to arm or disarm the alarm system. Batteries and three keys are included.

If you already have a trusted padlock and don’t want to lug around a heavy chain, check out the Kryptonite KryptoFlex Loop Cable. This model is made of a 10-mm braided steel cable and has a vinyl cover. It won’t offer the same level of protection as the chains on this list, but it provides resistance against cuts and acts as a deterrent. You can use the double looped cable with U locks, padlocks, and some disc locks.

You’ll have the option of choosing from one of four sizes: 2.5, 4, 7, and 30 feet. The 2.5-foot-long model is perfect for securing helmets to your bike, but the cable is only 5 mm in diameter. The 4- and 7-foot-long cables are great options for anyone who needs to lock their bike to an anchor point. If you have two or more motorcycles, consider picking up the 30-foot cable so you can secure them together.

If you like to travel light but still want to deter thieves from your bike, pick up the Bully Locks Grip Lock. This model will fit virtually any grips and levers, as you can adjust it from 27 to 38 mm. Grip locks aren’t known for stopping well-equipped thieves, but since this model is made from case-hardened steel with reinforced nylon housing, it’ll put up a better fight than similarly styled locks. Grip locks work well as visual deterrents to opportunistic thieves, and this one does a particularly good job with its black and bright yellow exterior.

The lock weighs 0.7 pounds and measures 6.6 x 2.3 x 2.3 inches, making it the most compact and lightweight option on this list. You’ll never forget to take this model off before riding away, so unlike disc locks, you won't need to worry about damaging your disc brake or forks. Included in the sale are two keys and three shims to compensate for different grip diameters.

I’ve chosen the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock as the best overall motorcycle lock. This chain and padlock provide so much protection that it takes industrial-strength tools and plenty of time to cut through them. If you’re on a tight budget and want to deter potential thieves, check out my value pick, the Kryptonite Keeper Disc Lock.

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