Chain & Charge

Best Bike Locks for E-Bikes

An e-bike is the most stealable thing on the rack: heavy, expensive and easy to resell. These are the hardened locks that match its value, ranked by security rating.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

An e-bike is a rolling advertisement for thieves. It costs more than most bikes on the rack, it’s heavy enough that owners tend to leave it locked outside rather than lug it upstairs, and the parts resell fast. So the lock that came free with your last commuter bike is not the lock for this one. The floor here is a hardened U-lock or chain rated Sold Secure Gold; for an expensive e-bike parked outdoors overnight in a city, Kryptonite’s top-rated 10/10 locks — the closest thing to grinder resistance you can carry — are worth the weight.

We don’t run a test lab, so we don’t claim to have taken a grinder to any of these. We rank them on the specs each maker publishes — shackle and link diameter, the brand’s own security rating, and independent Sold Secure grades where they exist — plus honest buyer fit: what you can practically carry, and how you’ll actually lock the bike. The right pick depends less on price than on where the bike sleeps. If you can bring it inside, a Gold-rated lock plus good locking technique is plenty; if it lives on the street, buy more lock than you think you need.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, real security and safety standards, and buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not tested these products — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini U-Lock

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini U-Lock

The heaviest-duty U-lock most commuters can practically carry: an 18mm hardened shackle that Kryptonite rates 10/10, the closest thing to grinder-resistance in a lock you can still fit in a bag.

Best overall
$125.48 · View on Amazon

$179.9530% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 Chain

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 Chain

The chain to beat for an e-bike parked on the street: 14mm hardened links Kryptonite rates 10/10, in a 3.25ft length that loops through the frame and a fat rack. Maximum security if you don't mind the weight.

Best chain
$129.96 · View on Amazon

$139.997% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Hiplok Gold Wearable Chain Lock

Hiplok Gold Wearable Chain Lock

A Sold Secure Gold chain you wear around your waist like a belt, so the weight rides on your hips instead of your bag. The clever answer for riders who hate carrying a chain but want chain-level security.

Best wearable
$126.14 · View on Amazon

$149.9916% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
ABUS Bordo 6000C Folding Lock

ABUS Bordo 6000C Folding Lock

The folding lock that made the category credible: hardened 5mm steel links at ABUS Security Level 10, folding flat into a frame holster. More lockable length than a U-lock, far more security than a cable.

Best folding
$94.02 · View on Amazon

$109.0114% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Kryptonite KryptoLok Standard U-Lock with Cable

Kryptonite KryptoLok Standard U-Lock with Cable

The best-value 'real' lock for everyday commuting: a 12.7mm shackle rated Sold Secure Gold, bundled with a cable to loop a front wheel. Enough deterrent for most parking without the top-tier price or weight.

Best value
$62.78 · View on Amazon

$79.9521% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini U-Lock

The heaviest-duty U-lock most commuters can practically carry: an 18mm hardened shackle that Kryptonite rates 10/10, the closest thing to grinder-resistance in a lock you can still fit in a bag.

Strengths

  • 18mm hardened steel shackle — Kryptonite's top 10/10 security rating
  • Compact 'mini' body leaves little room for a jack or crowbar
  • Backed by Kryptonite's Anti-Theft Protection registration

Trade-offs

  • Heavy (~4.5 lb) and the small opening limits what you can lock to
  • Premium price — overkill for low-risk parking
Shackle18mm hardened steel
Security ratingKryptonite 10/10
TypeMini U-lock
Best useHigh-theft areas, e-bikes

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#2Best chain

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 Chain

The chain to beat for an e-bike parked on the street: 14mm hardened links Kryptonite rates 10/10, in a 3.25ft length that loops through the frame and a fat rack. Maximum security if you don't mind the weight.

Strengths

  • 14mm hardened manganese steel, rated 10/10 by Kryptonite
  • 3.25ft length reaches around thick posts and racks
  • Fabric sleeve protects your frame's finish

Trade-offs

  • Very heavy (~10 lb) — a home/work anchor lock, not a daily carry
  • Premium price
Chain14mm hardened steel links
Security ratingKryptonite 10/10
Length100 cm (3.25 ft)
Best useE-bikes, long-term outdoor

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#3Best wearable

Hiplok Gold Wearable Chain Lock

A Sold Secure Gold chain you wear around your waist like a belt, so the weight rides on your hips instead of your bag. The clever answer for riders who hate carrying a chain but want chain-level security.

Strengths

  • Sold Secure Gold rated — genuine security
  • Wears around the waist; weight is off your shoulders
  • 10mm hardened chain in a nylon sleeve

Trade-offs

  • Fixed length — less reach than a longer standalone chain
  • Wearing a heavy chain isn't for everyone
Chain10mm hardened steel
Security ratingSold Secure Gold
CarryWearable waist design
Best useCommuters who wear the lock

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#4Best folding

ABUS Bordo 6000C Folding Lock

The folding lock that made the category credible: hardened 5mm steel links at ABUS Security Level 10, folding flat into a frame holster. More lockable length than a U-lock, far more security than a cable.

Strengths

  • ABUS Security Level 10 — strong for a folding lock
  • Folds compact and rides in an included frame holster
  • 90cm reach locks awkward racks a U-lock can't

Trade-offs

  • The rivets between links are the weak point vs a solid U-lock
  • Heavier and pricier than a basic U-lock
MaterialHardened steel bars, 5mm
Security ratingABUS Level 10/15
Length90 cm unfolded
CarryIncluded frame holster

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#5Best value

Kryptonite KryptoLok Standard U-Lock with Cable

The best-value 'real' lock for everyday commuting: a 12.7mm shackle rated Sold Secure Gold, bundled with a cable to loop a front wheel. Enough deterrent for most parking without the top-tier price or weight.

Strengths

  • 12.7mm shackle, Sold Secure Gold — solid mid-tier security
  • Includes a flex cable for the second wheel
  • Comes with a frame mount and costs well under the New York line

Trade-offs

  • Not in the grinder-resistant class of the 16-18mm locks
  • The bundled cable is convenience security, not primary security
Shackle12.7mm hardened steel
Security ratingSold Secure Gold
Extras4ft flex cable + bracket
Best useDaily commuting

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

Why an e-bike needs more lock than a regular bike

It comes down to motive and opportunity. A thief weighs the payoff against the time and risk of getting caught, and an e-bike tips that math the wrong way: the payoff is high and the bike is often parked in one predictable spot for hours. That’s why the sensible rule of thumb — spend 10–20% of the bike’s value on locking — pushes toward the top of the range for e-bikes, and why a single hardened lock beats two mediocre ones. If your bike stays out overnight, a 14mm chain or an 18mm mini U-lock isn’t overkill; it’s the entry fee.

Weight is the honest trade-off, and it’s where an e-bike actually helps: the motor carries the extra pounds, so a chain that would ruin a road cyclist’s day barely registers on an e-bike. Two lockers are better than one where you can manage it — a primary U-lock or chain through the frame and rear wheel, plus a secondary lock or cable for the front — and pairing the right lock with the layered anti-theft basics (registration, parking choice, removable accessories) does more than any single purchase. If you’re weighing whether to step up to a Diamond-rated lock, our take on angle-grinder-proof locks lays out when it’s worth it.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of lock is best for an e-bike?

A hardened U-lock or chain rated Sold Secure Gold or better. For an expensive e-bike left outdoors, a top-tier 14mm chain or an 18mm mini U-lock (rated 10/10 by Kryptonite) is the strongest security you can practically carry. A cable lock should only ever be a secondary lock for a wheel, never your primary lock.

Do I need two locks for an e-bike?

Two lockers is the ideal where you can manage it: a primary U-lock or chain securing the frame and rear wheel to a solid object, plus a second lock or cable for the front wheel. The bike carries the extra weight, not you, so the usual road-bike objection to a heavy lock mostly disappears on an e-bike.

Is a heavy chain lock too much to carry on an e-bike?

Less than you'd think. The motor bears the weight when you ride, and many riders keep a heavy chain locked at the spot they park most (work or the station) so they never carry it. A wearable chain like the Hiplok Gold rides on your hips instead of your bag if you do need to bring it along.

Will any lock stop an angle grinder?

No lock is uncuttable, and given enough time a cordless grinder cuts anything. The only ratings that test against a grinder are Sold Secure Diamond (and specialist anti-grinder locks). The realistic goal is to make your bike slower and riskier to steal than the next one, and to combine a strong lock with smart parking and registration.

Sources

  • Sold Secure — Ratings explained — The Bronze / Silver / Gold / Diamond lock ratings and what each attack test involves, including the Diamond angle-grinder test (accessed July 23, 2026)

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