Anyone who still secures their beloved bike with the combination lock they used back in nursery is, in effect, actively supporting the local thieves’ guild. It’s time for a technical upgrade.
Conclusion
The new generation of locks brings real added value to the streets: fingerprint sensors completely eliminate the annoying hassle of keys in everyday life, whilst graphene armour and pepper spray chambers finally stand up to brutal violence. Admittedly, there’s never such a thing as 100 per cent protection, but with these gadgets, the frustration finally shifts from the victim to the thief.
Anyone taking a look at German cycle paths might think that Formula 1 had switched to two wheels. You see high-end carbon racing bikes and high-tech e-bikes whizzing along, each easily costing as much as a decent second-hand car. No wonder crime statistics are also pedalling hard: whilst the number of stolen bikes may fluctuate, the total financial loss has been skyrocketing for years. Consequently, the classic combination lock has had its day – today, we need heavier artillery.
Fortunately, lock manufacturers are not resting on their laurels and are making massive technical upgrades. The days when a simple bolt cutter meant the end of a love affair with a two-wheeler are over. On today’s roads, high-tech materials are locked in a battle with criminal ingenuity. The industry is launching smart locking systems that do away with keys entirely, relying instead on your body’s own biometric data. Those who prefer something even more robust can opt for materials used in the space industry, which can withstand even the rotating discs of an angle grinder. And for the really tough cases, there are now even locks that, in an emergency, wage mini-scale chemical warfare and simply put the thief off by making them feel sick. We’ve taken a closer look at the most extraordinary security gadgets.
Smart locks: Open Sesame!
Abus Yardo 7807F/85
Anyone who’s ever snapped a tiny key off in the lock with numb fingers in winter, or let the combination slip through the gaps in their foggy brain, will love the Yardo. Abus does away with key rings and confusing number combinations, opting instead for biometrics. Simply place your thumb on the sensor and the lock springs open. The only requirement is that, after a mud-slinging session off-road, you should at least have one clean finger left.
- Price: approx. 100 euros
- Weight: 1246 g
- Chain length: 85 cm
- Material: 7 mm thick round chain made of hardened steel with a soft silicone coating
- Technology: Biometric fingerprint sensor (stores up to 20 fingerprints)
Prophete U-lock
The Prophete U-lock also utilises fingerprint technology, but in the classic and particularly robust U-lock design. The sensor is cleverly concealed behind a mechanical flap to prevent rain and dirt from affecting the electronics.
- Price: approx. 70 euros
- Weight: approx. 1.9 kg
- Inner leg measurement: 100 × 235 mm
- Material: Hardened steel bracket with plastic coating
- Technology: Fingerprint recognition directly on the lock, optional app integration
RockBros Smart U-lock
RockBros combines the digital world with robust mechanics. Should the battery ever run completely flat after months of continuous use, you won’t be left high and dry outside the supermarket: in an emergency, the lock can be unlocked the old-fashioned way with an analogue key.
- Price: approx. 90 euros
- Weight: 564 g
- Material: High-strength steel, weatherproof to IP65
- Technology: Fingerprint sensor with USB-C charging port and mechanical backup lock
NooMii 550
The NooMii 550 is the sporty, lightweight athlete of the smart lock world. It’s incredibly flexible and is ideal for popping into the bakery for a quick bite or securing your helmet to the frame without feeling as though you’re lugging around a medieval anchor chain. Not for commuters who leave their Pinarello parked at the underground station all day.
- Price: approx. 60 euros
- Weight: approx. 600 g
- Chain length: 120 cm
- Material: Flexible, plastic-sheathed steel cable
- Technology: 360-degree fingerprint sensor and smart app control
Heavy duty – where the angle grinder gives up with a screech
Litelok X3
The British developers of the Litelok X3 have brought out the big guns against heavily equipped thieves. Whether it’s a cordless angle grinder or a monster pair of pliers – the Litelok bracket is fitted with armour that will make any cutting disc sizzle.
- Price: approx. 340 euros
- Weight: approx. 2.1 kg
- Inner leg measurement: 99 × 195 mm
- Material: Hardened steel core with patented Barronium-ceramic composite armour
- Technology: Angle grinder-resistant material, Sold Secure Diamond certified
Hiplok DX1000
A lock with the aura of an incorruptible bouncer. The DX1000 has been specially developed for high-end bikes, e-bikes and motorbikes. Whether the thieves turn up with an angle grinder or a chainsaw, the Hiplok will only sustain cosmetic scratches rather than deep gouges.
- Price: approx. 360 euros
- Weight: approx. 2.6 kg
- Inner leg measurement: 112 × 205 mm
- Material: Graphene-reinforced premium steel core
- Technology: Anti-angle grinder technology, solid locking mechanism
Chemical weapon – to give the thief a proper stink
SkunkLock Carbon
This lock is not for the faint-hearted – or those with a weak stomach. The SkunkLock (literally: ‘skunk lock’) relies on a physical and chemical defence system. If anyone tries to force the shackle open with a bolt cutter, a gas chamber inside bursts open. The result: a sudden release of irritant gas, which triggers severe nausea, watery eyes and an immediate urge to flee in the thief.
- Price: approx. 200 euros
- Weight: approx. 1.7 kg
- External dimensions of the bracket: 178 × 305 mm
- Material: Carbon-fibre-reinforced, hardened steel with a hollow gas core
- Technology: Chemical anti-theft measures (Formula D_1 Pressurised tear gas)
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief