Following on from the earlier post about bicycle d locks I thought I’d post about a common alternative, namely the chain lock.

Chain locks like the Abus Diskus pictured aren’t quite a strong as d locks because they’re not made from a solid steel bar but from a steel chain (often in a sleeve to protect your bike). You lock the ends of the chain together with a key operated padlock or maybe a combination lock. Chain links are a bit weaker than d locks because in theory the links can be cut with strong bolt cutters. Having said that, a good chain lock can have a security rating of silver.

Chain locks are more convenient as you can use the flexibility of the chain to lock your bike to almost anything secure. You might find that the chain plus lock is heavy although one reviewer suggests that abus chain locks aren’t as heavy as Kryponite models.

Check the length of the chain before you buy. You need one long enough to wrap the chain around the thing you’ll be locking the bike to and at least the frame and front wheel. You can get extension chains if you want to run a chain from front to back wheel without taking the front wheel out.

Top selling brands include Kryptonite and Abus. Here’s a price comparison for the Abus Diskus that’s pictured above.

Related posts:

1. D Lock Bike Security