5 Of The Best Motorcycle Chain Locks Reviewed

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More motorbikes are stolen in the UK than are bought new, and it takes on average 20 seconds to steal a motorcycle worth £10,000.’

That is one of the many shocking statistics resulting from a report by the UK’s National Crime Intelligence Service (source).

Stealing a motorbike is easier than stealing a car. Organised gangs can lift a bike into the back of a van and be gone with it in less than 20 seconds. The report also states that 80% of bike thefts occur at the owner’s home. With only 16% of stolen motorcycles recovered, the report makes for depressing reading.

Many bikes are stolen for spare parts. Once they are stripped down and sold off, it makes recovery much harder.

Ultimate Security
Oxford Monster Chain & Lock Oxford Monster Chain & Lock

Seriously Beefy

This is Oxford’s most robust padlock and chain set.

Seriously strong and Sold Secure Gold approved.

Motorcycle Security Chain Reviews

Let’s dive into our top picks.


Oxford Hardcore XL Motorbike Chain Lock

From one of the UK’s leading motorcycle accessory manufacturers comes the Oxford Hardcore chain and lock.

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Oxford claims it as the UK’s biggest selling approved chain and padlock.

It’s chunky, affordable and made with a forged hardened steel lock body and an 11mm steel shackle.

Pros

  • plus iconThe anti-jack strength is specified at 4.3 tons
  • plus iconDrill, sledgehammer and bolt cropper resistant
  • plus icon12mm square link chain
  • plus iconDust covered padlock
  • plus iconComes with three keys

Cons

  • minus iconDespite the strong metal components of the lock, the casing may be vulnerable to heavy-duty or advanced cutting tools
  • minus iconA longer chain would allow greater fixing options

Oxford Monster Chain & Lock

This is Oxford’s chunkiest model, and it is a serious piece of kit.

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Peace of mind comes from an ultra-strong 16mm shackle padlock manufactured with a boron steel armour casing and an 11mm steel chain.

Reassuringly it is Thatcham Approved. Staying ahead of the thieves requires continuous research and development.

The Monster Lock is freeze tested to improve resistance to liquid nitrogen spray that could weaken inferior metals. It is also saw, drill, hammer and bolt cropper resistant.

Pros

  • plus icon1.5m Length chain with durable nylon sleeve
  • plus iconDouble locking mechanism
  • plus iconKey dust cover
  • plus icon3 x Keys and a key replacement service
  • plus iconLifetime Oxford guarantee

Cons

  • minus iconHeavy to ride with and stowage requires some thought.

Mammoth Security Hexagonal Lock & Chain

This product is excellent value for a 1.8-metre motorcycle security chain but make sure you actually need the length. Lugging it around may prove hard work.

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The padlock is a tidy affair protected against muck and weather by a plastic cover. You can also loop the chain links through a close-to-the-body lock.

The mammoth security chain is widely recognised as a good low-cost, quality buy and a bestseller in its range.

Pros

  • plus icon12mm hexagonal section chain
  • plus icon11mm hardened steel shackle lock
  • plus iconProtective textile outer sleeve protects paintwork and rims

Cons

  • minus iconStrong but other models offer better resistance
  • minus iconLong chain may occasionally be unsuitable

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ABUS Platinum Chain 34

ABUS are a German manufacturer renowned for their vigorous product testing. Anything coming out of their factory has been bashed, smashed and crashed several times before ending up on the shelves.

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The unique feature of the Platinum Chain is that the chain-link fits directly into the lock body. I’m pretty certain that at $1,000 per ounce, the chain isn’t made of platinum. If it were, steal the 3.7kg chain and leave the bike!

Regardless, the chain is a hardened 10mm hexagonal design protecting against the most aggressive of physical or mechanical attacks.

Pros

  • plus iconABUS-X-Plus locking system has more than 1 million key variations
  • plus icon1.4 metre length chain
  • plus iconChain cover

Cons

  • minus iconWhere do I keep it when riding?

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ABUS Granit 58 & Chain

The Granit Power U-Shackle lock with 16 mm shackle is ideal for securing your bike to fixed objects.

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It’s hardened 14 mm chain comes with an extra advantage, a pull-through ring allowing for extra chain length.

The U-bolt lock design also allows a little more length. Should the chain prove too cumbersome, then simply use the U-bolt as a disc-lock.

Pros

  • plus iconABUS X-Plus locking system
  • plus iconExtremely high protection against intelligent opening methods
  • plus iconRecommended by insurance companies

Cons

  • minus iconMore expensive for this higher quality model

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Buyers Guide

What should we be looking for in a security chain?


Stand back, take a look at your bike and consider how vulnerable it is;

  • Is it inside?
  • Is it shielded from view?
  • Can it be lifted away?

Slowing down a criminal gang may prompt them to move on and try their luck elsewhere. They thrive on speed, efficiency and invisibility; denying them allows more time for them to be filmed, reported and traced.

If you have to leave your bike outside, consider installing a ground anchor in your garden or driveway. Sometimes an outside wall can be fitted with such a device for your security chain to be looped through.

More and more motorcycle car parks have ground anchors to deter thieves, but street parking doesn’t always allow this option.

A major deterrent for the would-be motorcycle thief is a robust security chain and lock.

Material

A chain is only as good as its weakest link, so goes the saying.

The lock itself is one of those links, and it would be pointless having a thick chain forged out of a fallen meteorite only to be held together by a cheap, breakable lock.

The strongest chains are made from carbon, manganese steel or boron.

You should consider a lock’s strength. Will it survive a hammer strike? Can it be picked or drilled open quickly?

Placing one on the ground is ill-advised as it gives the thief a solid base to smash it against. Tight, raised chains remove this advantage.

A good quality, heavy security chain is also capable of covering your beautiful bike with dents, scratches and minor breakages.

Look for one with a protective cover such as nylon, and take care when weaving it through your machine after you park up.

The long and the short of it

There are greater options with a longer chain, such as extended reach and double wrapping. A long chain is heavier but will not pose a problem if you can stow it safely when on the road.

Chains may be stored under seats if roomy enough or in panniers. Looping it around your upper body when riding can hamper your movement and cause further injuries in the event of a scrape.

When choosing your chain, remember what it’s for – theft prevention.  

Are the two main components, padlock and chain, strong enough to deter or prevent the removal of your bike?

Padlocks are a composition of moving parts and, like chains, also have their ‘weakest link’. When buying one, you need to establish where that link is and if it’s still good enough.

Check the casing, the look of the bolt and assess how various tools or weapons might be used to open it. You have to think like a criminal, not like an owner, when sizing up the choices.

Let’s have a look at some of the popular brands and models available.

Lock it up

Very few security devices are 100% burglar-proof. The most determined thief will crack a device if given enough time.

While locks and chains will slow them down, think about where to position the lock for the greatest hindrance to a thief. Make it as hard to access and break as possible.

Knowing who the enemy is and having a comprehension of their criminal mindset will give you some advantages.

You can still think like the devil and keep a clean sheet so don’t worry about momentarily entering a world you despise; Lee Child and Patricia Cornwell do this regularly, and they seem pretty nice folk at their book signings!