Put the brakes on bike theft: Best motorcycle disc locks

Published: 17 August 2023 Updated: 23 May 2024

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.

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.

Best Deals at a Glance

10% off Reapp Alarm Disc Lock – was £32.99, now £23.99

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

Squire Defiant Disc Lock

Price: £199.99

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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Tried and tested but Carl Stevens for six months- "It has never been more important to keep your machinery as safe as possible, and a good, solid disc lock is a great way to keep things secure. The Defiant Disc Lock from Squire is a great option, achieving the very highest Sold Secure grading levels with Diamond Approval, meaning that it has been designed to withstand the most brutal attacks, including angle grinders and power tools."

"It feels incredibly secure and well-built, with a snug fitment to the brake disc. Yet even though the defiant is impressively effective in it's security, the best thing is that it's small and weighs in at just 1.1kg, so it fits easily into a rucksack and isn't noticeable either."

"The only real drawback comes in the form of the asking price, as on the one hand, £199 is a lot of money for a disc lock. Yet it's one of the more rugged locks i've ever used and if it saves your pride and joy, it's worth every penny"

Pros

Feels solid and secure
Diamond Sold Secure Approval

Cons

It's expensive

Quality

5.0
Value

3.0

Weight	1.1kg
Alarmed?	No
Construction	Hardened steel

25mm shackle
6 pin dimple key cylinder
Anti-drill, anti-pick and anti-bump technology
Neoprene pouch included

Xena Alarmed Disclock

Price: £101.68

www.amazon.co.uk

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Tried and tested by Jim Blackstock - "This is a very simple yet effective disclock. In its very basic form, it’s a solid lock that will prevent the bike from being ridden away and offers a hefty visual deterrent. On a higher level, it has a piercing (I know, I tested it) alarm to draw attention if anyone tampers with the bike and further, you can set and unset the alarm and change its characteristics from your smartphone. Any one of those makes it worth considering; all three makes it a handy weapon in the war against theft."

Pros

Solid mechanical lock
120dB alarm with Bluetooth control
Optional chain attachment

Cons

None we can think of

Quality

5.0
Value

4.0

Weight	770g
Alarmed?	Yes
Construction	Stainless steel

120dB alarm
Removable and changable alarm module
3 keys

Oxford Alpha XA14 Alarmed Disc Lock

MCN Rated

Price: £54.94

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

Tried and tested by Richard Newland for five months - "If you want something that looks like you’ve got a wheel clamp attached to your disc, then this probably isn’t for you – but if you want a highly portable tough and noisy disc lock that’s Sold Secure Motorcycle Gold standard certified, then read on."

"The XA14 is certainly compact, but it’s got the minerals to slow a thief down and if the light-fingered scumbag decides to have a good go at removing it, they’ll also have the 110dB siren to contend with while they meddle."

"The lock feels solid and well-made, is attractively bold in bright yellow (black also available), comes with three sturdy keys (and a key code in case you lose them all) that won’t bend in your pocket, and boasts a fat 14mm locking pin to keep it in place. Being small, it’s easy to slip into a tankbag, pannier or rucksack – although it’d be nice it if had its own little pouch to stow away in."

"You get a reminder cord, which I know from bitter experience should always be used, and the alarm battery is a USB rechargeable unit, so you don’t need to buy a box of button batteries with it and can even charge it while riding if you have a power point on your bike. Tidy bit of kit."

Pros

Small
High-security
Loud!

Cons

Looks weedy
No carry-pouch

Quality

5.0
Value

5.0

Weight	739g
Alarmed?	Yes
Construction	Forged stainless steel

110dB alarm
Sold Secure Gold
Compact and portable
14mm locking pin

Oxford Quartz XA10 disc lock

MCN Rated

Price: £47.00

www.amazon.co.uk

View Offer

Tested by Gareth Evans over 1500 miles. This reassuringly heavy little lock has been a grand companion. It fits in my my jacket pocket, making it super-practical for trips when I’m without luggage.

I love its simplicity – all you need to do is push the key down and the lock barrel sinks into the casing. Rotate key and the alarm beeps loudly to let you know the 10mm pin is armed, which is mostly useful and occasionally irritating at night. I’ve set the alarm itself off for testing, and that thoroughly unpleasant experience highlighted this is one LOUD alarm.

Biggest drawback? The battery is extremely difficult to access, it’s not ‘Sold Secure’ and it’s not cheap.

Pros

Easy to use
Loud alarm

Cons

Not Sold Secure
Battery is hard to access

Quality

4.0
Value

2.0

Weight	Unknown
Alarmed?	Yes
Construction	Alloy metal

110dB alarm
Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Twin Spark Lock Chassis For Double Strength And Cut Resistance

Kovix KS6 Series Disc Lock

Price: £51.99

www.amazon.co.uk

View Offer

Tested by MCN - . "Tiny disc lock packing a 120dB alarm, the KS6 is small and light (just 263g), making it more likely you’ll take it with you. The 5.5mm steel pin goes through a brake disc’s ventilation hole, rather than between the disc and the carrier, but it’s easy to fit and remove — press the pin down once (one beep) to arm or halfway (two beeps) to disarm the siren.

The only faff is recharging – quite a palaver to get to the MicroUSB socket. At least it only needs doing every month or two. A portable, affordable and convenient first line of defence."

Pros

Small and light
Easy to use

Cons

Not the easiest to charge

Quality

3.0
Value

4.0

Weight	300g
Alarmed?	Yes
Construction	Steel

120dB alarm
Rechargeable battery
Weatherproof

Litelok X1 Moto

Price: £149.99

www.litelok.com

View Offer

Tried and tested by Justin Hayzelden for seven months - ""The rubber coating has a soft, malleable feel which helps prevents damage to delicate parts like discs, wheels and fairing panels. This is something I really like as the X1 is most effective when threaded around spokes and through brake discs to give any would-be thieves a time consuming puzzle. The self-sealing silicone cover over the lock barrel to prevent water and grit getting inside is a well thought through feature too. "

"I used to carry a substantial lock and chain whenever I needed peace of mind on the go, but it was an awkward and heavy lump to lug about, especially when all I had was a rucksack. The X1 only weighs 1,500 grammes (on my scales) and measures just 265 x 178mm, meaning I can chuck it in my top box, tank bag, or any other piece of luggage for that matter, without worrying about the extra weight."

Read Justin's full Litelok X1 Moto review

Pros

Light and easy to use
Rubber coating protects surfaces
Feels tough

Cons

None we have found

Quality

5.0
Value

4.0

Weight	1.5kg
Alarmed?	No
Construction	"Barronium" ceramic composite armour fused to a high tensile steel core

Certified Sold Secure Bicycle Diamond and Sold Secure Motorcycle Diamond
soft coating won't damage your bike
Repels angle grinder attacks

Disc locks in 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.

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.

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.

FAQ

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.

How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. 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.

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