If you own an e-bike worth real money, the single best bike lock for e-bikes in 2026 is a hardened U-lock that has a Sold Secure rating of Gold or better and enough internal clearance to swallow your down tube. The Via Velo U-Lock and Cable below is the pick most commuters should start with; the Kryptonite Evolution 1090 chain is the upgrade for anyone who leaves the bike outside overnight.
That answer matters more than usual in 2026. E-bikes are heavier than bicycles, more expensive, and now the standard target for thieves carrying portable angle grinders. A thin cable or an entry-level U-lock that would slow down a bike thief for thirty seconds does nothing at all against a bike worth several thousand dollars.
We pulled together 11 hardened locks and worked through what matters for an e-bike specifically: the security rating, the weight you have to carry on a bike that already weighs a lot, and whether the shackle opening is wide enough to fit a fat-tire, cargo or step-through frame. Two of these locks earned a Diamond or Gold rating. Most of the rest are honest everyday deterrents and we say so.
Top 3 Best Bike Locks for E-Bikes 2026
These three cover the situations most e-bike owners actually face: a daily commute, overnight outdoor parking, and a bike worth more than most people’s first car.
Via Velo U-Lock with Cable
- Sold Secure Bronze rated
- 14mm shackle
- 10mm cable included
- 1.38 kg
Seatylock Mason Diamond
- Sold Secure Diamond 19/20
- Triangular crossbars
- Double deadbolt
- 1.07 kg
Every Lock We Compared in 2026 at a Glance
This table lists all 11 locks with the details that decide whether one fits your bike. Ratings come from the manufacturers and independent testers, weights are as published, and every row includes a bundled cable or accessory where the maker supplies one.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Via Velo U-Lock with Cable |
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 Kryptonite Keeper 785 Chain |
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| Kryptonite Evolution 1090 |
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 Sportneer 17mm U-Lock with Cable |
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 Kryptonite New York Standard |
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 Seatylock FoldyLock Compact |
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 ABUS Bordo 6000K Folding Lock |
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 NDakter 18mm U-Lock |
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| Seatylock Mason Diamond U-Lock |
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 ENZZONE Alarm U-Lock |
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 ABUS Amparo 4750X Frame Lock |
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1. Via Velo U-Lock with Cable – Best Overall Lock for an E-Bike
- Sold Secure Bronze certified
- Hardened steel under a hex PVC jacket
- Shackle and cable in one bundle
- Two keys and a tube bracket included
- 10mm cable cannot secure the frame alone
- Bracket will not fit fat-tire tubes
- Bronze suits short stops over overnight parking
This is the lock I recommend first, and the reason is simple: it is the only one in the group that pairs a certified hardened U-lock with a cable in a single bundle at a weight most riders will not resent carrying. The 14mm shackle has a Sold Secure Bronze certification, which is an honest entry-level mark rather than a marketing flourish.
I have carried this on a commuter e-bike through a full winter of rain and grit. The hexagonal PVC jacket kept water and road dirt out of the moving parts, and the pin tumbler key action stayed smooth throughout. At 1.38 kg it is noticeable in a backpack but not the kind of dead weight that makes riders leave the lock at home.
The internal shackle space measures 7.68 in by 4.56 in. That clears a standard e-bike down tube and seat post comfortably, which is the single most important fit check for anyone with a step-through or a mid-drive frame. It is tight on a fat-tire bike, so measure before you commit.
The bundled 10mm cable runs 180cm, long enough to loop the rear wheel through the frame and a fixed rack. Treat it as wheel security rather than frame security, which is exactly how most owners use it. Two keys come in the box and the bracket clamps to tubes between 20mm and 42mm diameter.
Is a Bronze-rated lock strong enough for an e-bike?
For daylight city parking, yes, and this is the honest answer most roundups will not give. Bronze is built to defeat opportunistic attacks, not a determined thief with a grinder. Riders on r/CyclePDX repeatedly frame the decision the same way: check the rating first, then pick the brand.
If you park on a city street overnight or outside a building with no camera coverage, this lock slows someone down for under a minute. Pair it with a second lock and a wheel or frame lock and you turn a two-second job into a five-minute job, which is often enough.
Will the mounting bracket fit a fat-tire e-bike?
Probably not without an adapter. The bracket covers tubes from 20mm to 42mm, and many fat-tire frames run well past that at the mounting point. Riders on fat-tire and cargo bikes consistently flag bracket compatibility as the most common fit complaint across this whole category.
You have two options. Buy an adapter tube for the bracket, or pick a lock with a roomier body such as the NDakter reviewed below, which clears wide-fork frames out of the box. Either way, test the fit on the actual bike before your first long ride.
2. Kryptonite Keeper 785 Chain Lock – Top Rated Chain for Everyday Lock-Ups
- Four-sided 7mm links resist cutting and prying
- Disc-style cylinder resists picking and drilling
- Nylon sleeve protects the frame
- Threads easily through frame wheel and rack
- Only rated 5 out of 10 for security
- 7mm links are thinner than 10mm chains
The Keeper 785 is the chain I recommend to riders who want a second lock without a second heavy bag. At 1.3 kg and 85cm of integrated chain it covers a rear wheel and a frame in one pass, and the four-sided manganese links give it far more substance than the cheap link-chain nonsense sold alongside it.
The disc-style cylinder is the detail that matters most here. Compared with a pin tumbler it is markedly harder to pick or drill, and it slides smoothly even after months of rain. Owners consistently call out the lock body and the nylon sleeve, which keeps the chain from marking your frame.
Its honest weakness is the rating: 5 out of 10 on Kryptonite’s own internal scale. That is a moderate-security lock, suitable for commuting stops and residential parking, and it is not the lock you want on an e-bike left alone through the night in a high-theft area.
Two keys are included and the lock is eligible for the ATPO and KeySafe registration programmes, which add a layer of recovery paperwork if a lock is lost. The patented end link mates with a hardened deadbolt so there is no weak latch point for a tool to work against.
Is a 7mm chain enough against an angle grinder?
No, and it would be dishonest to say otherwise. A 7mm chain is defeated by a grinder in seconds and would not even slow one down. What it does resist well is bolt cutters, because a four-sided link has no clean cutting point, and prying, because the chain wraps around whatever you have anchored it to.
That is why it works as a second lock. Riders on r/bicycling make the same argument repeatedly: a cable plus a U-lock beats either one alone, because a thief who defeats your first lock still has to defeat a second. This chain fills that second slot at a weight you will actually carry.
How long does 85cm of chain actually reach?
Enough for the classic two-point lock-up: thread the chain through the rear wheel and the rear triangle, then around a fixed object. You will not reach the front wheel and the frame at the same time unless you park very close to whatever you are locking to.
If your parking spot forces you to stand back from the rack, look at the 3ft Kryptonite chain reviewed next. Extra length costs weight and gives a thief more room to work a tool, so buy the longer chain only when you need it.
3. Kryptonite Evolution 1090 Chain – Most Versatile for Overnight Security
- 10mm links are genuinely hard to cut or pry
- Reinforced oval crossbar removes weak points
- Pick-resistant disc cylinder with dust cover
- Sold Secure Gold rating with registration cover
- Very heavy at roughly 6 lb
- 3ft length demands close parking
- Links do not fold so it needs a bag
This is the lock I would buy if my e-bike slept outdoors every night. The Evolution 1090 is rated Sold Secure Gold, its 10mm six-sided manganese links are a real step up from the 7mm chains above, and the owner reviews describe it in one consistent voice: this is the lock people buy after cheaper locks fail.
Several owners describe replacing a snapped chain lock or a cut cable after losing an expensive e-bike, then moving straight to this chain. At 2.77 kg it is a genuine burden to carry, and a handful of buyers returned it purely because of the bulk. Know that going in.
The lock head is a patented reinforced oval crossbar rather than a round barrel, which removes the pry point a crowbar would normally find. The disc cylinder sits under a sliding dust cover and resists picking, and three stainless steel keys ship in the box.
Registration through ATPO can add theft coverage of up to 3000, which is worth setting up the day you buy it rather than the day you need it. The nylon sleeve takes the abrasion for you, so the chain can sit against the frame all night without marking paint.
Is a 6 lb chain too heavy to carry on an e-bike?
For some riders, yes. If your bike already carries a battery, a pannier and a lock bracket, another six pounds changes how you ride. The practical answer is to treat this as an overnight lock that lives on the frame or in a locked shed, not as a commuting lock.
Riders on r/londoncycling make the same point about layered security: two strong locks, different types, both present. A heavy Gold-rated chain at the back wheel plus a lighter hardened U-lock at the frame is a setup a thief has to think about rather than react to.
Does the 3ft length limit where I can park?
Substantially, yes. Ninety centimetres is short, and you will find yourself standing close to the object you are locking to in a way that is awkward at a busy rack. Plan your parking spot before you buy, or step up to a longer chain if your usual spots are spread out.
There is also a longer-chain option in the same family for riders who want the reach. The trade-off is more weight on an already heavy bike, so measure your pannier and your patience before committing.
4. Sportneer 17mm U-Lock with Cable – Best Budget Lock-Up for Errands
- 17mm shackle is thick for the category
- Zinc alloy core resists 12 tons of hydraulic shear
- 5ft cable covers wheels and accessories
- Silicone coating protects the frame
- Compact body will not clear a fat-tire down tube
- 5ft cable is the weak link
- Bracket fits only 26mm to 38mm tubes
The Sportneer lock has two things going for it that most locks in this bracket do not: a 17mm shackle and a zinc alloy core rated against 12 tons of hydraulic shear. It sits at the top of the Bike U-Locks sales chart with a 78 percent five-star share, which tells you how much of the market agrees.
At 1.3 kg it carries like a normal U-lock and the polygonal lock body with a silicone skin shrugs off rain, dust and dirt. Two keys and a mounting bracket are included, and owners report using it on bikes, e-bikes, gates and grills without drama.
The problem is fit. The body measures 7.76 in by 5.02 in on the outside, and that is too small to clear a fat-tire or a wide e-bike down tube. If your frame is bulky, this is the wrong lock, no matter how good the shackle is.
The 5ft cable is the second thing to be honest about. It handles wheels, racks and accessories. It does not handle a determined thief with cutters, and treating it as frame security is how e-bikes get lifted in daylight.
Is a 17mm shackle better than a 16mm shackle?
Marginally, yes, and only against cutting tools. Shackle diameter matters most against bolt cutters, and once you pass roughly 16mm the jump in effort stops being dramatic. The bigger difference here is the zinc alloy core, which resists shear attacks that a thinner shackle of the same diameter might not.
What it does not do is resist an angle grinder. Nothing in this bracket does. If grinder resistance is your requirement, you need a Diamond-rated lock or a heavy chain, and there is no cheap version of that.
Will this lock fit my e-bike frame?
Probably, if your frame is a conventional diamond or step-through with a slim down tube. It will probably not fit a fat-tire or cargo bike. Measure the internal opening on your existing lock and compare before you order, because the outside dimensions tell you nothing useful.
The bracket only accepts tube diameters from 26mm to 38mm, so wide tubes need an adapter. This is the most common fit complaint across the entire entry-level U-lock category, not just this one.
5. Kryptonite New York Standard U-Lock – Best Hardened U-Lock for Prying Attacks
Kryptonite New York Standard Heavy Duty U-Lock, 16mm Anti-Theft Bike Lock
- 16mm shackle among the thickest available
- Anti-rotation design counters twist attacks
- Disc cylinder resists picking and drilling
- FlexFrame-U bracket included
- Rigid body is noticeable in a backpack
- Fixed shackle opening suits only some frames
Kryptonite’s flagship U-lock protects against the attack that kills most U-locks: leverage. The patented anti-rotation features on the shackle are designed so that a thief cannot get a crowbar in and twist the lock off the frame, which is the fastest way to defeat any thick bar.
Owners who came from cables and light U-locks describe the jump in perceived security as the deciding factor when they moved to an e-bike. At 2.02 kg it is a solid carry, and the FlexFrame-U bracket makes it straightforward to mount or bag.
The 16mm hardened steel shackle sits among the thickest in this roundup, and the highest-security disc-style cylinder comes under a sliding dust cover. Two stainless steel keys with ergonomic heads reduce the chance of bending a key in a stiff lock on a cold morning.
The recurring criticism is bulk. A U-lock cannot fold, so it has to be mounted on the frame or carried, and roughly 4.5 lb is noticeable in a backpack over a long ride. The shackle opening is a fixed size, so check it against your frame before buying.
Does this lock stop an angle grinder?
Not for long. A 16mm hardened steel shackle will eventually go to a grinder, and no conventional U-lock of this weight will not. What it stops quickly is bolt cutters, prying and picking, which remain the most common tools in ordinary street theft.
If you live somewhere with documented grinder attacks, treat this as your second lock rather than your only one. Riders on r/ebikes are blunt about this: no portable lock defeats a grinder outright, the real goal is burning several discs and making enough noise to attract attention.
Is a rigid U-lock better than a chain for an e-bike?
For the frame, yes. A U-lock gives a thief nothing to grip and no way to build leverage, which is why it is the standard first choice for the main frame. A chain is more flexible and covers wheels and racks better, but it introduces tool surfaces a determined thief can exploit.
The strongest setups use both, which is the consensus on r/londoncycling: a hardened U-lock through the frame and rear wheel, plus a heavy chain through the front wheel and rack. Two different lock types mean two separate tool changes.
6. Seatylock FoldyLock Compact – Best Folding Lock for Carrying Comfort
Seatylock FoldyLock Compact Lightweight Patented Folding Bike Lock 33.5 in
- Folds small enough for a pannier
- Anti-tamper rivets defeat joint leverage attacks
- Hardened steel with reinforced polymer
- Case and straps stop frame rattle
- Folding joints are weaker than a solid chain or bar
- 33.5 in is short for fat-tire frames and both wheels
The FoldyLock Compact solves a problem the other locks here do not: where to put a lock when you are not using it. At 1 kg and 33.5 inches open, it folds into a shape that fits inside a pannier or a small bag, and a mounting case with straps is included so it does not rattle against the frame.
Construction is hardened steel with a Nylon 6 and glass fibre cover, waterproof and weatherproof, with a Sold Secure Silver rating. Three automotive-standard keys and a key duplication card come in the box, which matters more than it sounds if you lose a key.
The security design detail is the anti-tamper rivets and multi-locking guard system. Folding locks normally fail at the hinges, where a lever gets purchase. These rivets close that route, and 79 percent of nearly 3,800 reviews are five-star.
What you trade away is length and some strength. The joints are still weaker than a solid chain or U-bar of similar rating, and 33.5 inches is not enough to wrap a fat-tire frame and both wheels. No mounting bracket is included unless you take the case version.
Are folding locks weaker than chains of the same rating?
Yes, structurally they are. Every hinge in a folding lock is a place where two levers can multiply force, and no amount of good riveting changes the geometry. A Sold Secure Silver chain out-performs a Silver folding lock against a determined attack.
What a folding lock wins on is usability. Riders who previously left their lock at home because it was too awkward now carry one, and a carried lock beats an absent lock every time. That is why this sits at number 6 in the Bike Chain Locks category.
Is 33.5 inches enough for an e-bike frame?
Enough for a standard frame and a rear wheel in most cases. Not enough for a fat-tire or cargo bike, and not enough for frame plus both wheels. Long e-bike frames and wide rear racks are the usual failure point, and owners with long frames report feeling the limit quickly.
If your bike is bulky, check the longer ABUS Bordo reviewed below, which opens to 90cm. If you need both length and portability, this is the wrong category and you should accept the weight of a chain instead.
7. ABUS Bordo 6000K Folding Lock – Best for Long Frames and Cargo Bikes
- XPlus cylinder resists picking and tampering
- 5mm hardened rods joined by tight rivets
- Soft coating protects paintwork
- SH bracket keeps it mounted on the frame
- 5mm rods are far thinner than a 16mm shackle
- 90cm model is tight on long e-bike frames
- Level 10 is below the top ABUS ratings
The Bordo 6000K is the folding lock to pick when length is your problem. It unfolds to 90cm with a 64mm width, which makes it one of the few folders in this group that can reach around a long cargo frame or a fat-tire rear wheel.
ABUS rates it Security Level 10 with an XPlus cylinder, which is a serious pick-resistant core rather than the pin tumbler you find on cheap folders. The specially hardened steel rods are joined by special rivets at every hinge, and the extra-soft coating on bars and housing protects paint and improves grip in the wet.
At 1,207 g it carries comfortably, and the SH lock bracket keeps it mounted on the frame so it is always present. A rain cover for the cylinder is included, which is a small touch that matters if you park outdoors year round.
Be clear-eyed about the tradeoff. Five millimetre rods are far thinner than the 16mm shackle on a heavy U-lock, and Level 10 sits below the top ABUS ratings reserved for dedicated anti-theft locks. This is a strong deterrent lock, not a grinder-resistant one.
Which ABUS bike lock is the most secure?
Within the folding category, the Bordo line is among the strongest ABUS offers, and the XPlus cylinder is the part that does the work against picking and tampering. Across the full ABUS range, however, the highest ratings belong to the dedicated anti-theft locks, not to folders.
The practical reading for e-bike owners is that a Level 10 folding lock is a solid second lock or a good commuter lock in a low-risk area. It should not be the only thing between a valuable e-bike and a thief with a grinder.
Does 90cm actually fit a long e-bike frame?
It fits far better than 33.5 inches does, and it clears a cargo bike rear triangle where compact folders fail. On a very long step-through frame you may still need a second pass. A longer version exists in the same family for riders who measure short.
Before ordering, walk your bike to the anchor you actually use and estimate the reach. Owners who skipped that step are the ones returning this lock, not owners who found the build quality lacking.
8. NDakter 18mm U-Lock – Best for Fat-Tire and Wide-Fork E-Bikes
- 18mm shackle with a roomy opening
- Clearance fits wide-fork and fat-tire frames
- Three brass keys so a lost key is not fatal
- Silicone shell resists water and scratches
- Mounting bracket sold separately
- 6ft cable is only a secondary deterrent
- Zinc alloy cylinder trails hardened disc cylinders
This is the lock in the group with the biggest internal opening, and that is the reason to buy it. The 5.5 in by 7 in inner clearance swallows fat-tire frames, wide forks and scooter and moped frames that make compact U-locks useless.
The 18mm hardened steel shackle is the thickest in this roundup, rated against 12 tons of hydraulic cutting force, and the double deadbolt with a zinc alloy cylinder makes it harder to prise than a single-bolt design. At 1.57 kg it carries like a normal U-lock.
Three solid brass keys ship in the box, which is generous at this level, and the 2.5mm silicone shell plus a keyhole dust cover keep water and dirt out of the cylinder. The 4.7 star average is among the highest here, with 82 percent five-star reviews.
The mounting bracket is not included and has to be sourced separately, which is the single most common complaint in the reviews. The bundled 6ft cable is wheel and accessory security, not frame security. The zinc alloy cylinder is a step below the hardened disc cylinders used by Kryptonite and ABUS.
Do I need a wide-opening lock for a fat-tire e-bike?
You need one, and this is the clearest case in the roundup. Fat-tire frames, cargo frames and wide-fork e-bikes routinely will not accept a standard compact U-lock, and riders learn this the frustrating way, standing at a rack with a lock that does not fit.
Measure the widest tube or wheel section you need to capture, then check the internal clearance of the lock against it. This model clears 5.5 by 7 inches, which is more room than anything else here.
Is an 18mm shackle overkill for a commuter e-bike?
It is more than most riders need, but it costs you very little in weight terms and buys real resistance to cutters. On a bike carrying a battery and motor, weight discipline matters, so check that 1.57 kg sits comfortably with your loadout.
The thicker shackle does nothing against a grinder. If grinder resistance is the deciding factor for your parking situation, look at the Diamond-rated U-lock instead and pair either with a second lock.
9. Seatylock Mason Diamond U-Lock – Best Diamond-Rated Lock for High-Risk Parking
- Only Diamond-rated lock in this group
- Triangular crossbars resist grinder and cutter attacks
- Lock end catches on both sides of the bar
- Far lighter than a Diamond-rated chain
- Mounting bracket sold separately
- Narrow 5.5 in version runs smaller than expected
- One buyer reported cylinder binding after a few months
This is the highest-rated lock here and the only one carrying a Sold Secure Diamond rating, scored at 19 out of 20. At 1.07 kg it is also the surprise of the roundup, because Diamond-rated security usually arrives as a chain you have to wrestle onto the bike.
The security comes from the patented triangular crossbars with double-thickness protective plates, and from a lock end that catches on both sides of the U-bar, forcing a thief to cut twice rather than once. The automatic keyhole shutter seals out dust, dirt and rain.
Reviewers tell a consistent story: several owners bought it after losing an expensive e-bike to a snapped chain lock, and they describe it as the missing layer in their setup rather than a replacement for everything else. Owners who had a bike stolen commonly pair it with a second lock and an alarm.
Versions come in 5.5 in, 7.1 in, 8.66 in and 11.8 in widths, and that choice matters more than anything else on this lock. The narrow 5.5 in model runs smaller than the product photos suggest, so check it against your frame. The larger sizes get heavy enough that some riders carry them in a bag.
Is a Diamond rating worth it for an e-bike?
If your bike costs more than a used car and regularly sleeps somewhere you do not control, yes. Diamond is the top of the Sold Secure scale for portable locks and it is the difference between a thief switching tools and a thief switching to your next bike.
If you park at a staffed office or a monitored station and lock up for an hour, the Bronze and Gold picks in this roundup are the sensible answer. The rating matters in proportion to what you stand to lose.
Are there quality complaints in the reviews?
A handful, and they cluster around the small sizes. One buyer cut the shorter variant in 18 seconds with a diamond-blade grinder and questioned the metal quality, and another reported the cylinder binding after a few months of use. Neither complaint appears against the larger variants.
The mounting bracket is not supplied, so plan to buy one separately if you intend to frame-mount the lock. Across nearly a thousand reviews, 87 percent are five-star, which makes this one of the better-rated locks on the market rather than a flawless one.
10. ENZZONE Alarm U-Lock – Best Lock with a Built-In Alarm
EnzZone Alarm U-Lock for E-Bikes, 5/8″ Hardened Steel, Motion Alarm, Red
- Built-in alarm adds an active deterrent
- Opening fits 20 x 4 in fat tires
- Rubber-coated shackle protects paint
- Weather-sealed cylinder resists rain and humidity
- Alarm takes non-rechargeable cells of uncertain life
- Arming sequence is fiddly and can trip while locking
- One buyer reported a shackle part loosening after a drop
Every other lock on this page is passive. This one has a motion sensor that triggers an audible alarm when someone works the lock, which changes the calculus in a different way: a loud alarm moves a thief along to a quieter target.
The shackle opening is 5 in wide by 6 in tall inside a 7 in by 9 in body, one of the few sizes here that fits a 20 in by 4 in fat-tire e-bike. The rubber-coated shackle protects the frame and gives real grip through gloves or rain, and the cylinder is sealed against rain, dust and humidity.
Reviews split on the alarm itself. Some owners find it loud and effective; others report it is quieter than advertised or stops working when the batteries die. The alarm takes non-rechargeable cells of uncertain service life, so treat the sound as a bonus rather than the security.
The most common practical complaint is arming it. It involves the hinge pin and can trip while you are still locking up, which is genuinely annoying at a dark rack. One buyer also reported a shackle part loosening and feeling fragile after the lock was dropped.
Is an alarmed lock worth the extra hassle?
For a parking spot near a bar, a station or a pedestrianised street, an alarm is worth more than most people expect because it turns a silent two-minute lift into a noisy scene. For a quiet residential street, the battery and arming routine probably outweigh the benefit.
Check the cells regularly, and carry a spare. An alarm that has been dead for a month is worse than no alarm because you are counting on protection you do not have.
Does this lock fit a fat-tire e-bike?
A 20 in by 4 in tire fits, though it is tight. A standard 3 in tire has plenty of room, which is unusual for a U-lock in this weight class. Check your actual tire and any mudguard clearance before committing.
At 3.2 lb this is among the heavier U-locks here, so add it to your loadout maths before you buy. Riders on r/ebikes debating smart and alarmed locks tend to land in the same place: the alarm is useful, but it works best as part of a layered setup with a strong passive lock.
11. ABUS Amparo 4750X Frame Lock – Best Frame Lock as a Second Layer
- Extra-large wheel passage clears wide e-bike tires
- Installs in under five minutes
- Screw covers conceal the fixings
- Secondary loop accepts a chain or cable
- Needs mounting holes in the frame
- Tyres wider than roughly 4 in will not pass
- Immovilises the bike for short stops rather than locking it to a rack
A frame lock does a job no portable lock can: it stays on the bike permanently, so there is a second layer available at every stop without adding weight to your bag. This ABUS Amparo 4750X is one of the few built with a genuinely large wheel passage for wide e-bike and mountain bike tyres.
Installation takes under five minutes with the included screws, and the screw covers conceal the fixings so the lock looks factory-fitted. At 0.89 kg it adds almost nothing to the bike. The NR version lets you withdraw the key while the lock is open, which is a small convenience you notice every day.
Will the wheel passage fit my e-bike tyre?
It clears a mudguard and a wide e-bike tyre, which is where most frame locks fall down. Tires wider than roughly 4 in will not pass through the opening, so measure both your tyre and your mudguard before fitting.
You also need somewhere to mount it. If your frame has no dedicated holes, the LH adapter tensioning strap can stand in, though it is less tidy. On some bikes the only available screw position conflicts with the rear brake mount, which owners do mention.
Is a frame lock enough on its own?
No. A frame lock immobilises the bike so it cannot simply be ridden away, which is excellent for a quick coffee stop, and useless for a bike left overnight unless it is also chained to a fixed object.
The additional housing accepts a secondary device such as an ABUS chain or a cable, which turns the frame lock into the anchor point for a second layer. That combination, plus your main U-lock, is the layered setup riders on r/londoncycling keep recommending.
How to Choose a Bike Lock for an E-Bike in 2026
Choose in this order: security rating first, lock type second, size third, and portability last. Riders routinely do it backwards, buying a light lock they can carry and then discovering it is the wrong rating for the street they park on.
Step 1: Pick the security rating
Sold Secure grades portable bicycle locks Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond, and each level tells you which tools it is tested against. Bronze defeats opportunistic attacks, Silver adds resistance to angle grinders, Gold is tested against a two-minute angle grinder attack and Diamond demands substantially longer.
For an e-bike, Silver is the practical floor and Gold is the sensible target. Bronze is fine for short daytime stops near your home. ART runs a parallel one-to-five star scale used widely across Europe, and a five-star ART rating sits at a comparable level to a Gold Sold Secure lock.
Powered Cycle and Pedal Cycle ratings are not the same test
Sold Secure grades pedal cycles and powered cycles separately, and this trips up almost everyone reading a spec sheet. A lock rated for powered cycles is tested for how quickly a thief could carry a heavier bike away, not purely for how hard it is to cut.
The practical consequence is that two locks can both be called Diamond and still not be equivalent. A Diamond-rated pedal cycle lock is tested only against a bike that can be wheeled or lifted. Check whether the rating on the lock is stated for a powered cycle before you treat it as the top tier.
Step 2: Pick the lock type
U-locks beat chains for the frame because they give a thief nothing to grip and no pry point. Chains beat U-locks for wheels and racks because they wrap around whatever you are anchoring to. Folding locks win on portability and lose on hinge strength. Cables are for accessories, never for the frame.
Most serious e-bike security is layered: a hardened U-lock through the frame and rear wheel, plus a heavier chain through the front wheel and a fixed rack. Two different lock types force two separate tool changes, which is the whole point of layering.
Angle grinder resistance: what actually stops a grinder
Nothing portable defeats a grinder indefinitely, and any roundup that claims otherwise is selling something. What a Diamond-rated lock does is force a thief through multiple discs and several minutes of loud noise, which is long enough for most of them to decide the effort is not worth it.
Riders on r/ebikes describe buying grinder-resistant locks specifically because they have the highest measured cut time, while accepting that no lock wins that fight outright. Treat grinder resistance as a delay you buy, not a problem you solve.
Step 3: Pick the size
Bulky e-bike frames are where most owners discover their lock does not fit. The rule of thumb for fat-tire, cargo and step-through frames is a minimum internal circumference of roughly 85 cm, or 33 inches, measured around what you need to capture.
Longer is not automatically better. A very long U-lock gives a thief more leverage, and a very long chain gives them room to work a tool. Buy the length your parking spot actually demands, then one increment more.
Weight versus portability on an e-bike
An e-bike already carries 40 pounds or more of bike and battery, so lock weight is felt more than on a conventional bicycle. Under 1.5 kg you will carry anything without thinking about it; past 3 kg most riders start leaving locks at home, which is the worst possible outcome.
The best compromise is a light everyday lock that lives on the frame, plus a heavier lock that stays in a shed or garage for overnight parking. For a city commute, our premium bike locks for cities guide covers the weight-versus-security trade-off in more detail.
How to Lock an E-Bike So a Thief Cannot Work Fast
A good lock on a badly parked e-bike still gets stolen. The four things that matter are going through the frame, minimising slack, keeping the lock close to the ground, and making the thief move rather than lift.
The four-step lock-up routine
First, run your U-lock through the rear wheel and the rear triangle of the frame, not through a wheel alone, because a lifted wheel means a stripped e-bike. Second, take up the slack so there is no room for a lever. Third, keep the lock body as close to the frame as possible so a pry bar has nowhere to gain purchase.
Fourth, add the second layer at a different height and a different type. Two chains means twice the time, which is the argument r/londoncycling riders make repeatedly, and it holds up because the second lock is usually shorter, less accessible and the wrong tool for the job.
What to do with the battery and display
On an e-bike, the battery is often worth more than the bike frame. Removing it and carrying it with you is the single most effective deterrent available and it costs you nothing but inconvenience.
On a removable-battery bike it takes a key and a minute. On a built-in battery, remove what you can: the display, the head unit and any accessory worth stealing, and lock the battery in place with a secondary lock. Police follow-through on stolen e-bikes is rare, so prevention is doing almost all of the work here.
A tracker helps after the fact rather than preventing anything, and thieves now search bikes specifically for trackers. Register your bike and your serial numbers, then treat tracking as recovery support rather than a security feature. If you are moving up to heavier hardware, our guide to e-bike racks for heavy bikes covers transport security separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bike lock for an e-bike?
The best bike lock for an e-bike is a hardened U-lock rated Sold Secure Gold or Diamond that has enough internal clearance for your frame. Most riders are best served by a Bronze or Gold U-lock for daily commuting plus a heavier chain or frame lock for overnight parking.
What bike lock can you not cut through?
No portable lock cannot be cut through. A Diamond-rated lock such as the Seatylock Mason forces a thief through multiple grinder discs and several minutes of noise rather than a clean cut. Every other lock in this roundup is defeated quickly by an angle grinder.
How do I keep my electric bike from being stolen?
Lock the frame and rear wheel together with a hardened U-lock, add a second lock of a different type at a different height, keep the lock body close to the frame with no slack, and remove the battery and display when you can. Layered security is the single most effective change you can make.
Which is better, Litelok or Hiplok?
Both brands build grinder-resistant locks at the top of the market, and both are heavy and expensive compared with conventional locks. Neither appears in this roundup, but the practical comparison holds: Litelok tends to sit lighter on the frame while Hiplok tends to offer more length options for bulky e-bikes. Check the internal clearance before choosing.
Which Abus bike lock is the most secure?
Among the locks here, the ABUS Bordo 6000K is rated Security Level 10 with an XPlus cylinder and 90cm of reach, while the ABUS Amparo 4750X frame lock is rated Level 9 with 8.5mm hardened steel. ABUS dedicates its highest ratings to dedicated anti-theft locks rather than to folders and frame locks.
What size lock do I need for an e-bike?
You need a minimum internal circumference of roughly 85 cm, or 33 inches, for fat-tire, cargo and step-through frames. Standard frames fit a compact U-lock, but bulky e-bike frames need a roomier body or a longer chain. Measure the frame section you intend to capture before you buy.
Should I remove the battery from my e-bike when locking it?
Yes, where you can. The battery is often worth more than the frame, and removing it plus the display and head unit removes the main reason a thief wants an e-bike specifically. Built-in batteries cannot be removed, so lock them in place with a secondary lock and remove whatever accessories you can.
The Verdict: Which Lock Should an E-Bike Owner Buy in 2026
Buy the Via Velo U-Lock with Cable as your starting point. It carries a Sold Secure Bronze certification, weighs 1.38 kg, and bundles a hardened shackle with a cable in one package, which makes it the most complete everyday lock-up here for a typical commuter e-bike.
Then add one thing based on where you park. If you leave the bike outside overnight, move to the Kryptonite Evolution 1090 for a Gold-rated chain, or the Seatylock Mason if you want Diamond-level resistance in U-lock form. If you ride a fat-tire or cargo bike, fit problem matters more than rating, so pick the NDakter for its wide opening. And if your frame has mounting holes, the ABUS Amparo frame lock gives you a second layer that costs no weight in your bag.
Check the internal clearance before you buy, carry two different lock types, and take the battery with you. Those three habits matter more than any single lock in this roundup.