A disc lock is a great bit of motorcycle security. They are portable, easy to use and the best ones are hard to beat.
In this guide we break down everything you need to know about disc locks, what to spend, what to avoid and how best to use them.
Table of Contents
What is a disc lock
A disc lock is a metal lock that you fit through one of the holes in your brake disc, to prevent your bike from easily being pushed away.
A disc lock is small and therefore portable. They’re often very reasonably priced and they make a great visual deterrent as well as a solid physical barrier.
How does a motorbike disc lock work?
You slide a disc lock onto either the motorcycle’s front or rear brake disc and push the locking pin to the closed position. This means that the wheel can no longer be freely spun.
One of the most common methods thieves use to steal motorcycles is to snap the built-in steering lock and push the bike away. They tend to leave the bike a few streets away and come back for it the next day. If it is still there, they have more confidence that there are no trackers or other forms of security fitted.
A bike thief can snap a steering lock in under 10 seconds. However, a quality brake disc lock will require special tools, such as angle grinders, crow-bars, or hammers to remove. Most thieves don’t want (or need) to carry tools, therefore if you have a disc lock fitted you’ll be improving the chances of your bike remaining where you left it.
How safe are disc locks?
A quality disc lock is an excellent layer of security. Even the cheapest ones are a far better bet than just relying on your in-built steering lock alone.
Sold Secure disc locks
Most of the main manufacturers submit their disc locks for independent testing both in the UK and Europe, so it’s common to see a product with a Sold Secure or similar rating. These ratings are a good indicator that the lock is going to do a good job of withstanding an attack.
The two areas a disc lock won’t help with
Even the top-rated motorbike disc locks aren’t a guarantee that your bike won’t get stolen.
There are two main methods that thieves use to quickly bypass a disc lock. The first is simple: they just lift your bike into a van, drive away and deal with the disc lock in a location away from the public.
The second method is to use an angle grinder to cut the actual brake disc on either side of where the lock is situated. The brake disc is easier to cut and the thief removes this ‘pizza slice’ of brake disc with the lock still attached. They then push your bike away.
However it’s worth noting that most theft is done by opportunists who simply want to snap your bike’s steering lock and push it away. So while a disc lock isn’t perfect, it’s a brilliant way to deter and suppress a thief’s activity.
Can a disc lock be broken?
Yes, even the toughest motorbike disc lock could eventually be bypassed if you had the right tools and enough time.
However, the point of a disc lock is that it eliminates thefts where the motorbike’s steering lock is snapped and the bike is pushed away.
The build quality affects how secure the lock is and how long or what tools are required to beat it. The quality then affects the price.
Motorcycle Disc Locks: Hints and Tips
Try and lock your disc lock to the disc's centre, somewhere between the fork leg and the brake calliper, to prevent the lock from being removed and the disc from being readily cut. If you make access hard for thieves, they are less likely to be able to steal it.
It's likely that you'll require a disc lock with a pin diameter of 6mm or less if you ride a scooter as anything larger won't fit through a scooter's brake disc.
You can't ride away with a disc lock on but if you forget it's fitted, you might try! To avoid any incidents, buy a disc lock reminder cable.
Your disc lock should be supported by a motorbike cover. One of the best ways to prevent your bike from being stolen is to keep it hidden.
What do you need to spend on a disc lock?
Is there any point in buying a cheap disc lock?
Well yes and no.
The disc lock on the left costs £12 and the one on the right costs £120.
The image is slightly misleading because both disc locks look to be a similar size but have a look again and you’ll see the cheap lock is very small indeed.
Even the £120 one isn’t the most expensive. There are motorbike disc locks out there that retail at over £200.
If I was buying and using one disc lock, I definitely wouldn’t use the £12 one.
While it will stop anyone without any tools, it’s not that strong. With one good hammer blow, it is likely to shatter. However, if you locate it in a smart position, for example on your rear brake disc, tucked away, it can provide an added layer of security to the brake disc lock you’re using on your front wheel because it’ll be hard to access and thus hard to strike or cut.
Generally speaking, the more you spend the better your lock will be. A good quick tip is to look for a Sold Secure rating and buy the best you can.
I’d look to spend a minimum of £50 if I was using a brake disc lock and leaving my bike for an extended period of time.
Just remember that cheap locks are usually a false economy. Think about the grief, expense – and time – involved in claiming from your insurance for a stolen bike. Now, do you really think a £20 disc lock is a good idea?
As a general rule, I suggest you spend whatever your insurance policy excess is on security. Most of us have a £250 excess and that £250 buys you a very good disc lock, a decent chain, and a cover. Three layers of security to keep your bike safe and you from having to ever make an insurance claim.
What to look for in a quality disc lock
Disc locks, regardless of the material from which they are fashioned, are an excellent visual barrier that instantly thwarts even the most amateur bike thieves.
They should be able to withstand various methods of attack, from hammer blows, to angle grinders.
Here is a list of factors to think about when purchasing a disc lock.
BUILD QUALITY: Due to the use of materials that can withstand chemical attacks (freezing), hammer blows, bolt croppers, and angle grinders, premium locks are pricey. No lock is impenetrable, but a high-quality loc7 Abus Granit All except the most fervent angle-grinder attack will be seen with the help of the above-mentioned recommendations.
INDEPENDENTLY TESTED Thatcham or Sold Secure standards are used to test the security of motorcycles. Even while some high-quality manufacturers choose not to submit their goods for testing, these ratings are still a good indication that a lock will do the job.
Recessed bolt: The recessed bolt on our two finest motorcycle disc locks makes it considerably more difficult for criminals to access the bolt in order to defeat it.
ADDED NOISE: Not all high-quality disc locks have alarms, and not all high-quality disc locks have alarms. The more time an alarm spends on a bike, the better it is in deterring thieves from trying to pick the lock, but the less expensive alarm disc locks can be destroyed with a few hammer blows before anyone notices.
REMINDER COIL: There are two kinds of bikers: those who have attempted to leave while still tied to their disc lock and those who won't. Although it can be purchased individually, a disc lock reminder cable, as seen above, is a useful addition.
PORTABILITY Some disc locks come with a pouch or a mounting bracket. This handy extra makes it easier to carry, and if you take it in your luggage it keeps a possibly dirty lock away from your other equipment. Some locks will put beneath your seat, while others you may connect to your pillion seat strap.
Are alarmed disc locks any good?
Some disc locks have built-in alarms but should you buy one?
In my opinion, don’t get carried away with the fact it has an alarm. A rubbish disc lock with an alarm is not worth the money; a thief will know they can smash the lock off with a few good hammer blows and then smash it again to brake open the battery housing and disable it.
An alarmed disc lock is a good idea but you have to use a disc lock that will withstand an attack. For my money, this Oxford Boss (pictured above) is one of the best alarmed disc locks. It is Sold Secure gold rated, so very safe. It also has an alarm that is 100 dB loud and is activated by movement sensors. You can switch the shackle around by 180-degrees and lock it up without setting the alarm which is handy. You can also use it to secure your bike with a motorcycle chain.
If you park your bike on the street outside your house, an alarmed lock is a good early warning sign that someone could be up to no good.
The RRP is around £90 but you can always find it cheaper. Other good brands to look out for are Kovix and Abus. Both of those guys make good quality alarmed disc locks.
Will a disc lock fit my scooter?
Scooters often have smaller brake discs and the holes in these discs are smaller too. So not all motorcycle disc locks will fit your scooter, especially if the locking pin is thicker than 6mm.
Fortunately, there are several disc locks made specifically for scooters, and most of them have pins with sizes of 6 mm or less, thus they will fit a scooter.
This pin is smaller than the typical motorcycle disc lock, however, the majority of scooter-specific disc locks are made with the pin recessed and shielded from attack by a thicker lock body.
Since scooters make excellent city transportation, owners frequently park them on the street rather than in a garage. They also tend to keep them overnight in one area but move them to a new location during the day.
A disc lock is a handy thing to carry but seeing as most scooters have generous under-seat storage, you can easily carry a quality motorcycle security chain and use that alongside a disc lock for added security.
Motorcycle Disc Lock FAQs
Which is best motorcycle disc lock?
There are many good disc locks on the market. In this guide I suggest some of the disc locks that I think are worth your time and money. However, if you’re unsure, look for a Sold Secure Gold rating on the lock packaging, this will show you that the lock has stood up to a number of attacks using popular methods with a decent amount of time.
What is the most stolen motorcycle?
This changes year to year but there are popular models, including many sportsbikes like the Yamaha R1 and Honda FireBlade. In terms of scooters, the Vespa series are a popular target in towns and cities as too are Honda SH 125 and SH300 models. 125cc motorbikes are also targeted due to their popularity but also the fact that owners tend not to use very good security.
What is the best way to secure a motorcycle?
The best method is to use three layers; a cover, a disc lock and a chain lock to lock it to something solid.
How do you keep a motorcycle from being stolen?
Use quality security and park it in a location where thieves can’t operate out of sight.
Sources
Thanks to the following websites that helped us put this motorcycle disc lock guide together: