Best Motorcycle Locks: Park with Protection

To choose the best motorcycle locks on the market, I employed The Drive’s comprehensive research methodology and evaluated dozens of locks before choosing the top contenders. Although I haven’t personally tested these products, my selection is informed by consumer testimonials, expert reviews, discussions on relevant online forums, and my institutional knowledge of the automotive industry. 

I visited the Motorcycle subreddit to get a more informed opinion of what motorcyclists felt about the products on the market and RevZilla to hear what the hand-on testers had to say.

Some brands are already well established in this niche, and priority was given to their products. However, other lesser-known brands were also evaluated. The main features taken into consideration were weather protection, anti-theft features, materials used, durability, reliability, price, and size. Locks that had an unreliable locking mechanism were immediately disqualified from consideration.

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 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.

When shopping for tools and products, I never overlook the secondhand market. In fact, it’s usually the first place I look. Whether you’re scrolling through Amazon’s Renewed section, eBay for car parts or tools, or flipping through the pages of Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, you have hundreds of thousands of used tools, parts, and gear ready to be shipped to your doorstep. Refurbished to like-new status, they’ll be willing to give you many more years of faithful service while saving you money. 

If those options don’t have what you need, your local salvage yard is great for car parts, while swap meets are a great resource you should tap. Just Google either and head on down.  

To make your secondhand search easier, here are two tips to finding the best deals and making sure your new-to-you stuff wasn’t destroyed by the previous owner. 

What to Consider When Buying Motorcycle Locks

There are three main types of motorcycle locks on the market, and choosing just one will generally mean compromising. If you want the ultimate form of protection, be prepared to carry around a heavy chain when you ride. Likewise, if you pack light when you ride and choose a lightweight lock, you’ll sacrifice some security. I own more than one lock and choose which one to use, depending on how at risk I think my motorcycle will be when I park it. If owning more than one type of lock is financially feasible, I'd highly advise it.  

A good chain and padlock secured to your bike and a solid anchor point will be the best line of defense against thieves. If you don’t have an anchor point at home, you can buy ones specifically designed for motorcycles. At the highest end of the spectrum, it’ll take an axle grinder, hydraulic bolt cutters, or acetylene torch to cut through the chain. The downside to this type of lock is that they are heavy. They’re also generally the most expensive form of protection. But if you’ve got a motorcycle that draws attention and you regularly park it in the same areas, this is the lock to get.

Disc locks are arguably the most common types of locks you find on bikes because they’re compact, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive. These locks are secured to your motorcycle’s disc rotor via a pin that goes through one of the cross-drilled holes, and stops the wheels from moving more than a few inches. A disc lock is a good visual deterrent and will slow a thief down, but a person with the right tools could remove one in a few minutes. A downside to disc locks is that they don’t anchor your bike, so two people could lift it onto a truck. Many of these locks have motion-sensitive alarms, which can be enough to scare away opportunists. This added feature is well worth the money. 

Grip locks are the cheapest, most compact, and quickest to fit when compared to the other locks on this list. This type of lock works by engaging either the brake or clutch lever and anchoring it to the handlebar grip. These are the easiest locks to bypass, as thieves can usually cut through them with relative ease using a hacksaw. I wouldn’t recommend using only this type of lock on an expensive bike in a high-risk area. 

The lock you choose is only as good as the material it’s made from. Aluminum and steel are both good choices, but ideally you’d get a chain that’s made from case-hardened steel. Case-hardened steel is tougher than some thicker pieces of metal, as the process hardens the exterior of the steel. If you’re using a metal chain, make sure it has a protective cover, or it could damage your wheel.

Some features might seem insignificant but play a remarkable role in stopping thieves. For example, chains that use square or six-sided links make it much harder to cut with bolt cutters because the tool can't get a grip. Some locks can be tightened so that tools can’t get enough leverage to pull the mechanism apart. 

Many disc locks feature motion-sensitive alarms that ring sharply in bursts up to 110 decibels. Disc locks with this feature are definitely worth investing in, as it can draw enough attention to send thieves running. Even something as simple as the color of your lock can be a security feature. Brightly colored locks draw attention and can be enough to make thieves look elsewhere.

For less than $30, you can pick up a disc lock that will act as a good deterrent but ultimately won’t slow down a determined thief for long. If you spend $30 to $110, you can get a chain and padlock combo that’ll stop your bike from being lifted onto a truck. Anyone who spends more than $110 can expect a heavy-duty chain and lock that feature case-hardened steel and links that are specifically designed to prevent bolt cutters from getting a grip.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.