Put the brakes on bike theft: Best motorcycle disc locks tested by the experts at MCN

Motorcycle disc locks are often a cheap and easy way of adding at least one layer of security to your bike, especially when you’re parking away from your home.

Security you can carry with you is a great way to help protect your bike. These are super-easy to transport and use, locking through one (usually the front, for better access) brake discs and preventing the wheel from turning.

This is useful because, although in itself it won’t prevent the bike from being physically lifted up and put in the back of a van (you’ll need a chain for that), it will mean it can’t be ridden away.

Disc locks in more detail

Opportunist thieves may not be able to get your engine running, but if your bike is only protected by its built-in steering lock, that’s easy to get around and then, one can sit on your bike while another pushes it from a moped or similar. With a disc lock in place, they can’t do that and will hopefully move on to the next, unprotected, bike.

While a motorcycle disc lock is not something that you would rely on in isolation – for example, protecting your bike for long periods – it’s definitely a useful addition if you’re popping into the shops or leaving the bike for an hour or two while you go exploring.

With lots of disc locks featuring high decibel alarms, if someone starts to tamper with your bike the loud siren alarm should add another level of deterrent, drawing attention to the thieves and hopefully scaring them off.

What features should a motorcycle disc lock have?

In addition to physically locking your bike and preventing it from being ridden, disc locks can also have additional features built-in, such as Bluetooth location services and high-intensity alarms, to draw attention to themselves if someone is tampering with the bike.

Many will also come with a safety lanyard to remind you to remove it before you ride off – you would be surprised by how many people forget it’s there and get a rude awakening after just a few millimetres of their journey, with a big bang often paired with a damaged brake disc or caliper.

Like any security product, look for Sold Secure approval; this not-for-profit testing house is run by the Master Locksmiths Association and rates products by their attack resistance. Look for Motorcycle-rated products with Gold or Diamond being the second-highest and highest standards, respectively.

Here is a selection of motorcycle disc locks that should help you keep your bike safe and sound.

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Frequently asked questions

Are disc locks better than padlocks?

In short yes they are usually more secure than a padlock as the locking shackle is harder to access. They tend to be more difficult for bolt cutters due to the placement and shape of the shackle.

Where should the disc lock be placed?

A disc lock should be placed with the shackle through the brake disc, this will stop the wheels being able to turn a full rotation. The reminder cable will then be placed over a handle grip or onto a lever to remind you that it is active.

Are disc locks theft proof?

No, there are limitations to any kind of motorcycle security. As the saying goes, if a thief wants to take your bike badly enough, they will. The benefit to a disc lock is that it makes your motorcycle more hard work to steal than any bike with no security fitted.

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How MCN tests security products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, disc locks must have been used for thousands of miles or several months by our team of experienced testers, show no major flaws, and meet modern safety standards as well as offering decent value for money. 

Each of our expert reviewers tests disc locks to a set of criteria, both subjective and objective, including how they fit, the alarm’s volume (if fitted), whether there’s a tether, how easy the battery is to replace, what the packaging is like and how easy it is to carry with you on a ride out.

We also regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

If you can’t see a review against a disc lock on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These disc locks will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

Here’s a brief run-down of the star rating system we use, and what each score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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