Why Diamond is a bike’s best friend…
Bike security isn’t at the top of everyone’s list of favourite conversational topics but, with bike crime on the rise, it’s time to get security smart with Diamond. Here’s your six-step guide to how…
01 Go for Sold Secure
Sold Secure is the premier lock- testing facility in the UK. Its Bronze, Silver, Gold and new Diamond ratings provide an unbiased indication of how well your lock will stand up to realworld bike thieves.
The tests that Sold Secure use reflect bike theft in the real world and the tools that thieves are likely to use, including lock picking, lock manipulation, drilling and cutting, bolt croppers and other typical attack techniques.
02 Shine with a Diamond
The good news is you can already get your hands on Diamond-rated bike security. Several good examples come from British brand Hiplok. The security experts at Hiplok have dedicated the past decade to beating the bike thief and now have a range of Diamond-rated locks built to withstand the toughest attacks.
This includes the Hiplok DX. One of the lightest Diamond-rated locks on the market, this D-lock passes Sold Secure’s five-minute attack test aided by double deadlock and anti-rotation locking, so a thief would have to break through both sides of the 14mm hardened steel shackle to get the lock off.
Similarly, the DXXL (which combines the DX with a Diamond-rated loop chain) and Hiplok’s Diamond-rated home security products AIRLOK and ANKR offer ultimate peace of mind.
03 Lock up at home
Over 60% of all bike thefts happen in or around the home, which means it’s not all about taking a lock with you when you’re out; solid security for your bike at home is essential.
It’s also worth noting that many bicycle-insurance companies won’t pay out unless your bike is secured with a lock carrying
an appropriate Sold Secure rating for the value of your bike.
If you’re looking for practicality and ultimate security, the ground-breaking Hiplok AIRLOK provides both. Designed with function and form in mind, its 30mm premium hardened steel security bolt and premium hardened steel triangular frame combine to keep your bike safe. AIRLOK is the only Diamond-rated bike hanger (in fact it’s the only Sold Secure-rated hanger!).
04 Some locks are stronger than others
How strong a lock is can come down to a variety of factors, but the thickness of the lock and the materials used are crucial. It stands to reason that a 14mm hardened steel shackle would be harder to break through than a 10mm version, but did you know that the quality of the steel and detail such as the hardening process are also important? We’ll save the chemistry for another day, but remember that not all locks are the same – go for one from a trusted cycle-security brand.
05 Make it difficult for thieves
Ultimately, any lock is breakable, given enough time and the right tools. The aim of any lock is to make it as difficult and time consuming for the thief as possible. As we’re spending more money on the bikes we ride, thieves have become more brazen in their attack methods and there’s unfortunately a growing number of thieves using readily available power tools, including angle grinders. Portable angle grinders can slice through any bike lock in seconds. Well at least they could until our friends at Hiplok came along…
06 Enter the Ultimate Bike Lock
This year Hiplok will launch the D1000 – the world’s first truly portable anti-angle-grinder bike lock.
It’s so strong that Sold Secure has rated it as Motorcycle Diamond, which is a level above the standard Bicycle Diamond. This means it must withstand a 90-second sustained angle-grinder attack. In fact, it far surpasses the 90-second test undertaken by Sold Secure: independent tests lasted up to 20 minutes and destroyed multiple grinder discs in the process.
Unsurprisingly, there’s already a growing waiting list for this revolutionary lock, which will be hitting UK retailers this summer. Head to hiplok.com for more.
“Over 60% of all bike thefts happen in or around the home, which means it’s not all about taking a lock with you when you’re out”