HIPLOK DXF
£74.99 ★★★1/2 A tough, portable bike lock
Hiplok has been forging its own path ever since it launched its first product: the groundbreaking Original Wearable Chain Lock that fits like a belt. The Hiplok DXF is one of the brand’s U-locks. Its compact shape (available locking space is 150x85mm) is enough to secure your bike frame, however, we’d recommend additional locks for your wheels and components (maybe a couple of Hiplok’s ties at £14.99 for a twin pack). Despite its diminutive dimensions, the DXF is a tough little beast with a 14mm diameter hardened steel shackle and a double-locking mechanism that comes with three keys.
The shackle is cased in soft-touch rubber that won’t scratch your bike and the lock casing is wrapped in a rubberised coating. Where the DXF really stands out, though, is just how easily it can be transported. The lock has two prongs bolted onto the side, which are perfectly spaced to slide into a rear pocket or behind a belt, making the DXF a doddle to carry. And at 1120g, it’s fairly light, too.
Weather protection is very good with a watertight rubber cover for the lock mechanism and no exposed metal. The DXF also comes with a clever 55g bracket that fits onto bottle cage mounts or zip-ties to a frame tube, then the lock simply slides in. On the bike it works really well although the lock can rattle a little in its cradle. We found a small strip of gaffer tape on the inside of the slot stopped any noise.
Under attack the DXF is a tough unit when it comes to sawing, twisting and grinding. It came in the top 10 per cent of our lock-testing tables when put up against corrosion tests and torsional attacks (twisting), taking a massive 1092Nm (Newton metre) of torque and 156Nm from a bolt cropper (like using a six-foot set of jaws and a seriously strong operator). Against a portable angle grinder it lasted 108 seconds (for a single side of the shackle), and it held out for 110 seconds against a high-grade tungsten steel saw blade (for a single side). Only a lowly performance on the tensile (pull) test gave even the slightest cause for concern. Still, being able to withstand 28kN (kilo Newtons) is more than enough to see off most compact, portable bottle jacks easily. Rightfully so, the DXF has been awarded Sold Secure’s highest Gold rating.