Which D lock should I buy?

The first line of defence against the nightmare of bike theft is a solid and dependable bike D lock. The second line of defence is knowing how to lock your bike properly, so thieves can’t make away with your frame and leave you with a sorry-looking wheel.

D locks, come in many different sizes, materials, toughness ratings, and price ranges, so choosing the best D lock for your bike can be confusing if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

This blog should help you decide which D lock to buy and why it matters when it comes to insurance.

Why choose a D lock over other types of lock?

D locks, or U locks, are similar to a traditional padlock, resembling the letter ‘D’ when the retaining bar is locked in place, or ‘U’ when unlocked without. The D lock comes out on top for strength, reliability and popularity.

Its popularity is in part due to its portability and strength to weight ratio. A gold standard D lock is stronger than a cable lock, and far more compact and easier to carry than a heavy duty chain.

D locks can fit easily into a backpack or clip onto the bike for commuting, and the accompanying cable is light enough to sling over your shoulder or into your bag when riding, making it the go-to bike lock for regular cycle commuters.

How to use a D lock

The downside of the D lock shape is that it can only fit around thin racks and posts (i.e. no lamp posts). That’s why most come with a cable to secure the wheels as well as the frame. The cable is easier to cut with hand tools that fit in your pocket however, so always make sure you secure your frame to the bike rack (and not just the wheels) as a bare minimum.

The best option if you have space and a big enough ‘U’ on the lock is to secure your frame and a wheel to the rack. Using the cable to loop around the other wheel so all points are secured. Angling the D lock through the frame and wheel onto the rack like this will leave little room for thieves to wedge a tool to prize it open, and make it harder to cut.

If you’re securing your bike at home overnight or for long periods, a heavy chain and gold or diamond rated mini D lock will offer the highest protection, as long as it’s secured to a Sold Secure rated ground anchor. But what is Sold Secure?

Check out our handy locking video below and full locking requirements here.

What is Sold Secure approval and why is it important?

At Bikmo, we require customers to use Sold Secure Gold or Diamond locks. Sold Secure is the premier testing and certification house for security products. As such, we use their ratings system as a minimum requirement for a lock used to secure a cycle “away from home”.

Remember: The Sold Secure rating is only applicable to the D lock itself. Not the accompanying cable, so understanding how to lock your bike securely is key.

Tip: If you’re looking at buying a lock and are unsure if it’s suitable for purpose (or if you want to check the rating of your existing bike lock). You can check using the Sold Secure Approved Product Search.

The best bicycle D locks for 2024

There are some main players in the bike security market, and Kryptonite and ABUS locks feature heavily in our list of the best bike D locks for 2024.

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit – RRP £119.99

Weight: 2.06kg

Dimensions: 8.3cm x 15.3cm

Security Rating: 10/10

The New York Fahgettaboudit is the strongest D lock made by Kryptonite and scores 10/10 on their security rating. The 18mm hardened max-performance steel shackle and small ‘U’ area resists bolt cutters and leverage attacks, and is pick and drill resistant.

The oversized ultra strong crossbar using Kryptonite’s patented hardened steel sleeve offers double security and it comes with three keys which you can register for replacements in case you lose them. The Fahgettaboudit lock comes in a mini size or you can get the Kryptonite New York Standard lock which is also gold rated.

Mini:

Get the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini on Amazon for £90.76

Standard:

Get the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Standard from Halfords for £109.99

Kryptonite Evolution – RRP £69.99

Weight: 1.59kg

Dimensions: 10.2cm x 22.9cm

8/10 Security Rating

The Kryptonite Evolution D lock is our second best pick in the best gold and diamond standard D locks, featuring a 14mm hardened max-performance steel shackle and patent-pending hardened double deadbolt design for additional protection against twist attacks. The new smaller crossbar design is a bit more portable than the New York, and you get three keys with this lock too that you can register in the Key Safe Program.

Get the Kryptonite Evolution D lock on Amazon for £39.64

Hiplok DX – RRP £79.99

Weight: 1.1kg

Dimensions: 8.5cm x 15cm

Security Rating: Maximum

Now Diamond rated, the Hiplok DX D lock is the Hiplok D’s maximum-security upgrade. This compact D lock is super portable, using the same patented CLIP+RIDE system to clip onto belts and bag straps, and a 14mm premium hardened steel shackle and anti-rotation locking system has withstood the toughest of attacks to gain the highest Sold Secure rating.

Get the Hiplok DX lock from Halfords for £74.99

Why should I consider bicycle-specific insurance?

Many home insurance policies will not cover theft away from home, and there’s often a low maximum limit on your policy (check yours!)

As cyclists, we find this frustrating. That’s why we offer straightforward policies to cover you worldwide, 24/7. British Cycling members benefit from

An exclusive 10%* discount
25% off e-bike policies* compared to regular bicycles
Up to a 50%* saving when insuring multiple bikes

British Cycling bike insurance by Bikmo offers hassle-free policies to cover your bike(s), clothing and accessories against accidental damage, theft and much more. We also offer 365 worldwide cover, event cover, bike box cover and much more as standard.

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