THE WORLD’S STRONGEST BIKE LOCK?

The new Hiplok D1000 is the world’s first portable anti-angle-grinder bike lock. Here’s how it works

WITH ANGLE GRINDERS

becoming the weapon of choice in theft attacks, Hiplok’s recent product launch sends a strong signal to the bike thief. “The D1000 lives up to everything Hiplok promises and more”, according to GearJunkie’s resident lock tester. But with a price tag of £250, keeping your bike safe doesn’t come cheap. We take a deep dive into the technology behind the Hiplok D1000 and ask the fundamental question: “Is it worth it?”

Advanced materials

D1000 features a high-performing, graphene-reinforced composite called Ferosafe, which has unrivalled anti-cut properties. Never-before seen in bike security, Ferosafe has been designed to disintegrate angle-grinder cutting wheels and drills due to its unique properties. A quick online search will throw up footage of D1000 in rigorous, head-tohead tests showing D1000 destroying multiple angle grinder heads, while other locks fall by the wayside.

Design innovation

Long hailed for its innovative approach to practical product development, Hiplok founders John Abrahams and Ben Smith have broken new ground with D1000. The patent-pending design features a layered shackle system, which allows Ferosafe to be added right along its steel core. This ensures the lock is protected from all angles of attack, meaning the thief will hit the angle-grinder-eroding material first, while the hardened steel protects against more traditional forms of attack.

Locking technology

The D1000 features a high-security cylinder with an anti-rotation doublelocked shackle, armoured with Ferosafe plates. This means that apart from being hard to pick (a method of attack that’s highly unlikely from a professional bike thief anyway), a thief would need to cut through both sides of the shackle to remove the lock – a feat Hiplok says is unlikely in real-world theft scenarios.

Real-world portability

Weighing in at 1.9kg, D1000 is by no means a featherweight, but it is comparable to many higher-security D and U models on the market. Real-world use has also been thought about: a hardwearing, rubber shackle coating protects the frame from scratches; while small details such as a rubberised weatherproof key seal make this lock extremely user friendly when you’re out and about.

Tried and tested

Independently tested and carrying the ultimate Sold Secure Diamond rating for bicycles and motorcycles, D1000 has left us questioning whether there needs to be a new Platinum standard. The lock’s ability to surpass the 90-second sustained angle grinder attack for the Diamond rating is unprecedented – with other testers reporting over 20 minutes of attack time and multiple grinder discs destroyed in the process.

Not all locks are created equal, and the Hiplok D1000 is certainly re-setting the bar high, receiving the outstanding accolade of “The most effective portable security device I have ever seen,” by John Milbank, consumer editor of Bennetts Bike Social.

There is no doubt that the D1000 is a gamechanger offering class-leading security in a package that is usable for the real-world cyclist. But is it worth the money? Think of it like this: if somebody stole your bike, how much would you pay to get it back? We’d recommend you avoid the hassle of answering this question for real and upgrade your lock now.