An ebike is a theft magnet: expensive, easy to resell, and parked in public every day. The cable lock from the big-box store is a gift to thieves — it falls to a pocket bolt cutter in seconds. The good news: you don't need a fortress on your back. You need the right lock, used correctly, matched to how long you leave the bike. Every pick below is Sold Secure rated (Silver at minimum, Gold for the daily drivers), because an independent rating is the only theft claim worth trusting.
Volt Dialed is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What matters in an ebike lock (in order)
- Independent rating: Sold Secure (UK) or ART (Netherlands) ratings are tested against real attacks — Gold/Silver means a lab tried to break it. A lock with no rating is a claim with no evidence.
- Lock type vs. your use: U-locks are the best security-per-pound; folding locks carry flat and flat-pack convenience at a premium; chains reach awkward anchors. Cable-only locks are not primary locks, ever.
- Angle-grinder reality: no portable lock is truly grinder-proof — grinders cut everything. What matters is resistance time: the best anti-grinder designs force a thief through 2–3 disc changes, which is often the difference between a stolen bike and a moved-on thief.
- Weight you'll actually carry: a 5-lb lock you leave at home protects nothing. Match the lock's weight to your real daily ride — the best daily lock is the strongest one you'll carry every day.
- Locking technique: lock the frame (and rear wheel if possible) to a fixed, immovable object. Technique multiplies whatever lock you buy — see the section below.
Our picks
- Kryptonite New York Standard U-Lock — Best overall
- Litelok X3 — Best angle-grinder resistance
- Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 — Best compact daily lock
- ABUS Bordo 6000 — Best folding lock
- Kryptonite Keeper 712 Chain — Best budget secondary lock
| Lock | Best for | Key spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kryptonite New York Standard | Daily high-risk parking | Sold Secure Gold · 16mm shackle · ~4.3 lbs | Check price → |
| Litelok X3 | Maximum theft resistance | Sold Secure Diamond · anti-grinder design · ~4 lbs | Check price → |
| Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 | Commuters who carry daily | Sold Secure Gold · 13mm shackle · ~2.9 lbs | Check price → |
| ABUS Bordo 6000 | Packability-first riders | Sold Secure Gold · folds to ~8 in · ~3 lbs | Check price → |
| Kryptonite Keeper 712 Chain | Second lock on a budget | Sold Secure Silver · 7mm chain · 4 ft | Check price → |
The five picks
1. Kryptonite New York Standard U-Lock — typically ~$110–$130 Best overall
The daily-driver standard: a 16mm hardened-steel shackle, Sold Secure Gold, and a disc-style cylinder that resists picking. This is the lock bike messengers and city commuters have trusted for years — heavy enough to be serious, manageable enough to carry in a frame mount or bag. Best for: anyone who parks an ebike in public daily. Watch out: at ~4.3 lbs it is not light — commit to the frame mount or a messenger bag.
Best for: daily public parking — the commuter standard. Not ideal for: ultralight setups — ~4.3 lbs is real weight.
- Sold Secure Gold with a 16mm hardened shackle
- The long-trusted daily standard for city riding
- Includes cable for wheel coverage
- ~4.3 lbs — you'll feel it in a backpack
- Full-size shackle gives leverage tools more room than a mini
Our verdict: The default serious ebike lock — Gold-rated and proven.
2. Litelok X3 — typically ~$250–$320 Best angle-grinder resistance
The nuclear option: a composite-and-steel construction engineered specifically to resist angle grinders — the #1 tool of professional bike thieves — by binding and blunting cutting discs instead of parting cleanly. Sold Secure Diamond (their top tier). It costs real money, but it protects real money. Best for: expensive ebikes parked in high-theft cities or left for long stretches. Watch out: the price stings, and it is still not invincible — it's resistant, meaning it buys time and noise, not immunity.
Best for: $2,000+ ebikes in high-theft areas. Not ideal for: tight budgets — this is premium protection at a premium price.
- Sold Secure Diamond — the highest rating tier
- Engineered to resist angle-grinder attack specifically
- ~4 lbs — lighter than many lesser locks
- Expensive — 2–3x the cost of a Gold U-lock
- Still not grinder-proof; resistance is measured in minutes, not immunity
Our verdict: The strongest portable protection you can buy — priced like it.
3. Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 — typically ~$70–$90 Best compact daily lock
The Gold-rated mini: a 13mm shackle in a compact body that leaves less room for leverage attacks than full-size U-locks, at under 3 lbs. Mini U-locks work best when you lock the rear wheel through the frame triangle to a rack — the Sheldon method — which this size is made for. Best for: commuters who want serious protection they will actually carry every day. Watch out: the small opening limits which racks and posts you can lock to — scope your route's parking before committing.
Best for: daily commuters — Gold security under 3 lbs. Not ideal for: fat racks and chunky posts — the small shackle limits fit.
- Sold Secure Gold at under 3 lbs
- Small shackle resists leverage attacks
- Fits a back pocket or frame mount easily
- Compact opening won't fit every rack
- Usually needs a cable add-on for the front wheel
Our verdict: The Gold-rated lock you'll actually carry — the best daily compromise.
4. ABUS Bordo 6000 — typically ~$100–$130 Best folding lock
The packable Gold: steel plates that fold to about 8 inches and mount flat on the frame — the neatest carry in this roundup. Sold Secure Gold rated, and the folding geometry is awkward for bolt cutters to get purchase on. Best for: riders who refuse to rattle a U-lock around all day and want clean, flat carry. Watch out: the joints are the weak points — folding locks don't resist grinders as long as a U-lock of the same rating, and it costs more than the equivalent mini U-lock.
Best for: tidy, rattle-free daily carry. Not ideal for: maximum-resistance parking — U-locks edge it at the same rating.
- Sold Secure Gold in a flat, packable form
- Neat frame mount — no rattling
- Joints resist bolt cutters well
- More expensive than a comparable mini U-lock
- Joint pivots are the attack weak point vs. grinders
Our verdict: Gold security that disappears on the frame — the commuter-friendly pick.
5. Kryptonite Keeper 712 Chain — typically ~$45–$65 Best budget secondary lock
The honest budget chain: a 4-foot, 7mm hardened chain with a Sold Secure Silver rating — enough to secure a wheel to the frame or the bike to a second anchor, and a real deterrent for quick stops. Chains reach places U-locks can't (odd-shaped racks, fences, two bikes together). Best for: a second lock for the front wheel, or the primary lock for low-risk, short stops on a cheaper bike. Watch out: Silver, not Gold — do not make this your only lock on an expensive ebike parked all day.
Best for: second locks, short stops, and odd anchors. Not ideal for: solo duty on an expensive ebike — pair it with a U-lock.
- Sold Secure Silver at a budget price
- 4-foot reach locks to awkward anchors
- Great as a second lock alongside a U-lock
- Silver rating — not a Gold-tier primary for expensive bikes
- Heavy for its security level
Our verdict: The perfect second lock — cheap, long, and genuinely rated.
How to lock an ebike so it stays yours
- Frame plus wheel to a fixed object. The lock should capture the frame and ideally the rear wheel, looped around something a thief can't cut, unbolt, or lift over — a proper rack, not a flimsy signpost.
- Use the Sheldon method with a mini lock: lock through the rear wheel inside the rear triangle of the frame. A thief would have to cut the wheel to free the frame — and the frame is what they're after.
- Fill the shackle. The less empty space inside a U-lock, the less room for leverage tools. Small locks used correctly beat big locks used lazily.
- Two locks, two types. A U-lock plus a chain forces a thief to carry two different tools and spend twice the time — most move on to the single-locked bike next to yours.
- Take the battery. The battery is often worth several hundred dollars alone, and an ebike without its battery is much harder to sell. If it pops off in seconds, take it with you on long stops.
- Lock it at home too. Most bike thefts happen at home — garages, sheds, and apartment hallways. A chain to a ground anchor in the garage is cheap insurance.
Round out the security setup with the rest of the daily kit — a proper helmet, USB lights, and the other must-have accessories.
How we test
We compare manufacturer specs, independent security ratings (Sold Secure, ART), warranty terms, and verified owner reviews across multiple sources. We don’t do lab testing, and we don’t accept free products for placement — rankings reflect what we’d recommend to a friend.
Frequently asked questions
Is any lock truly angle-grinder proof?
No portable lock is. A grinder will eventually cut through anything you can carry. Anti-grinder designs like the Litelok X3 resist by binding discs and forcing multiple disc changes — that turns a 30-second cut into a multi-minute, noisy, spark-showering job, which is usually enough to make a thief pick an easier target.
Should I really use two locks?
For an expensive ebike parked in public for hours, yes. A U-lock through the frame plus a chain through the front wheel covers the two most common theft methods, and two different lock types mean two different tools. It's the single biggest jump in real-world protection after upgrading the primary lock itself.
Can I leave my ebike locked outside overnight?
Avoid it if you can — overnight is when thieves have time and privacy. If you must, use your best lock (or two), take the battery and display, and park somewhere lit and visible to cameras or foot traffic. No lock setup makes overnight street parking safe.
Do I need a special lock for an electric scooter?
Not a special type — a good U-lock or folding lock works the same way. The challenge is fit: scooter frames give you less to loop through, so favor locks with flexible fit (chains) or small shackles, and consider a brake-disc alarm lock as a loud extra layer. See our commuter scooter guide for the bikes worth protecting.