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Bicycle Locks: The Good, The Safe and The Convenient

We've been reviewing three of the latest bicycle locks to have hit the shops this summer

Keeping your bike safe is one of our top priorities as cyclists. The last thing we want is all our hard earned miles, pounds and memories to be snatched away from us by thieves.

Bicycle locks are commonly used to attach your bike to a fixed object to keep it secure. Sadly, there’s no such thing as a 100% guarantee with bicycle locks as because with enough time and the right tools, they can still break your bike free.

Reviewed: Hiplok DXC Bike Lock

Bicycle locks are considered as more of a deterrent than a solution today and with varying types of lock available, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. You can find out everything you need to know about buying a bicycle lock here.

We’ve been reviewing three different locks which vary in function and security…

The Good: Knog Frankie

Knog is known for their cool bike accessories and light. Bright colours, innovative ideas and affordable prices are just a few of the things which have boosted their popularity in the cycling world.

The Frankie bicycle lock is an updated version of their earlier Party Frank model but with some key upgrades. It’s 700mm in length constructed by a braided steel cable with a fibre core that’s been wrapped in an industrial grade UV stable silicone so it won’t scratch or mark your frame.

The locking mechanism is a blade style lock with an 8mm Stainless steel locking shackle which reduces leverage points to ensure extra security against unwanted attacks. The Frankie comes with two colour matching keys on a stretchy wristband. This is really useful as you can keep one on your wrist for riding and another on your keyring for backup.

The lock weighs 360g and because of its flexibility, it’s easy to wrap and loop through either your frame or your bag for storage when not in use. Knog offers other similar models which vary in length and for more information on their bike locks, head over to the Knog site here.

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The Safe: Knog Straight Jacket Fatty

Another fine bicycle lock from Knog is the Straight Jacket. It’s the meaty, heavy duty, no mess chain lock.

The 800mm length body is constructed from heat-treated hardened steel which has been specifically designed to create a balance between hardness (cutting resistance) and toughness (for tensile and impact resistance). The lock body is a steel shackle padlock with a brass body which is protected in a colourful nylon cover to protect your frame and the locking mechanism.

The outer cover is made from a hard wearing and robust nylon cover which protects your bike from damage. However, the nylon cover doesn’t fully shield the chain so be careful when threading through the frame and where you leave the chain to hang.

While the Straight Jacket is portable because of its flexibility, it weighs over a kilo making it heavy and somewhat cumbersome. For me, I prefer using steel chain locks such as this for the home as it works great with a ground anchor.

The Straight Jacket chain is availble in both a “fatty” and “skinny” version. Find out more about Knog’s chain locks here.

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The Convenient: Hiplok Z-Lok

Last on our review list is the new Z-Lok from Hiplok. While it’s by no means the safest option, it is the most convenient.

It’s essentially a reusable cable tie with a pin lock to undo and release. The internals is constructed from steel to make them difficult to cut through, and the universal pin lock provides ease of access. There are two ties per pack and if you need the extra length, you can use these together for an increased locking diameter.

These are low-security ties so we don’t advise you leave your bike locked up to a post all day, but they are really handy for when you need to pop into a cafĂ© to use their facilities and you need a little piece of mind.

I found these ties really useful when securing items to my bike frame and offering additional protection for when my bike was mounted on the car. For more information about Hiplok’s new Z-Lok, head over to their website here.

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