Motorcycle ground anchor buying guide | The best way to keep your motorbike safe at home explained
When using a lock and chain to secure your bike, the best case is to find something immovable to lock it to; be it a bicycle rack, metal gate, or a lamppost. If you don’t have anything suitable at home, installing a ground anchor is the best way to add that extra layer of security where it matters most.
They’re a garage security staple, and far more effective (though, less portable) than a disc lock at stopping thieves from getting away with your ride. A ground anchor combined with a beefy lock and chain is the best security measure bikers have against thieves.
What to consider before buying
Sold Secure rating
Security is the main reason to invest in a ground anchor, so you will want to consider the Sold Secure rating for any ground anchor you’re considering. Anything with a Gold or Diamond rating will offer a good level of security for home use, but if it doesn’t have any Sold Secure rating you should assume the worst. Also consider that the ground anchor is only as strong as the chain that’s connected to it, and vice versa, so matching the same security rating for both will offer a higher level of security.
Installation method
The method of installation is another thing to consider. Some ground anchors require some relatively simple measuring and drilling to install, while others require setting in freshly poured concrete, which is more complex and adds extra expense.
Size
Consider the overall size of the ground anchor, as this will determine which sizes of chains it can accept, and might determine where you can install it too.
Our pick of the best motorcycle ground anchors:
Diamond rated bolt-in
Tested by Saffron Wilson for six months:
"If you're looking for a substantial ground anchor to give you peace of mind in the garage, then the Beast is a great choice.
"This 4kg anchor is perfect for chunky chains and has double layered strength with a hardened steel construction which has received a Sold Secure Diamond rating, the highest rating possible. It's said to resist angle grinders, comes with anti- tamper fittings and can be fitted to concrete floors and brick walls.
"I personally popped it in my concrete floor with some heavy-duty drill bits borrowed from the neighbour and aside from creating the holes, it was easy to install. Although it's bigger than previous ground anchors I've used, it didn't impact on garage space too much and it's easy to manoeuvre a chain around and through."
Pros
- Big enough for chunky chains
- Easy to install
Cons
- Big unit to walk around
- Proves that size does matter
| Weight | 4kg |
| Size | 24.6 x 13.5 x 10 cm (in box) |
| Construction | Hardened steel |
- Instructions included and fittings supplied
- Fits all Oxford chains
Gold rated bolt-in
Tested by Ben Clarke for six months:
"With the rubber cover in place the Snaefell measures in at an imposing 350mm x 350mm (1sqft in old money).
"I’ve managed to install mine in deep tarmac, but I feel like it would be more secure in concrete. That’s not to say that it feels like it’s going anywhere.
"The hoop design makes it very easy to get your chain through and because of the way it pivots, there’s no fiddling around necessary. It’s not been tested by a thief yet (touch wood) but with a Sold Secure gold rating and a hardened 22mm steel link, I’d expect it to hold up well."
Pros
- Easy to use
- Folds flat when not in use
Cons
- More expensive than the competition
- Much bigger than other options
| Weight | 5.57kg |
| Size | 5 x 32 x 32 cm (in box) |
| Construction | Hardened steel |
- Folding design
- Full instructions and Fitting kit included
What is a ground anchor?
When you’re at home, you may not have access to a lamp post or a hefty lump of concrete but if you have a garage, shed or even just a patio, you can easily add an immovable object to secure your bike by fitting a motorcycle ground anchor.
These are designed to offer a fixed point to chain your bike to, to keep it secure. Generally, as the name suggests, they will mount to the ground but depending on the location you store your bike in, you could equally fix a ground anchor to the wall of a brick- or block-build shed or garage or even a concrete fencepost as a last resort.
Which type of motorcycle ground anchor is best?
There are various types of ground anchor and in various price points – and strengths. The most simple is a metal loop that secures to a flat surface and the chain passes through. A more secure version is formed in metal plate, often with two layers, that is fitted to the ground or another flat surface. Finally, there is a variety that is dug into the ground then secured with concrete, offering excellent security though at a price – for both the product and to get it fitted.
As with all security products, look for ones that have Sold Secure approval, ideally Motorcycle Gold or Diamond. This means they have been tested – and approved – by the not-for-profit scheme run by the Master Locksmiths Association and have resisted the highest levels of attack for the longest periods of time.
How do you install a motorcycle ground anchor?
Most ground anchors mount to the floor or wall with security bolts. That means you’ll have to drill an appropriately sized hole, and hammer/screw the bolts into place to mount them.
Some ground anchors are designed to be submerged in concrete though, for extra resilience. To mount these you’ll need to dig a hole in the ground, place the anchor inside it, fill it up with some freshly mixed concrete and wait for it to set.
Do ground anchors work?
Ground anchors do increase your bike’s security quite considerably. They act as a strong visual deterrent to thieves, and add a physical barrier that’s much harder to break into without getting caught.
Because of this, most insurance providers will lower your premium if you use one that’s Sold Secure rated or Thatcham-approved. Your mileage may vary on this, since it depends on the rated level of the ground anchor and chain that you use, and a ground anchor is only as strong as the surface you mount it to.
But any protection is better than nothing if it risks losing your ride, so they’re definitely worth considering if you have to leave your bike outside overnight.
What is the best ground anchor for tarmac?
As a general rule, you shouldn’t mount a ground anchor on tarmac if you can help it – tarmac and asphalt are about 20 times weaker than concrete, on average. That means the ground anchor won’t be very strong unless you find a contractor who can do the job properly, or grab some specialist mounting kit yourself if you’re confident enough.
This set of threaded asphalt anchors have an additional internal thread for screwing your anchor bolts into. Then you’ll need a chemical anchor resin to securely bond the asphalt anchors to the surrounding tarmac.
The idea is that you drill your mounting holes slightly larger than the asphalt anchor, fill the holes with anchor resin, and let it set with the asphalt anchors submerged in it. Once fully cured, and if done properly, this is the strongest way to mount a ground anchor to tarmac or asphalt.
Proventure offer instructions on how to use their kit for the job, which you can learn more about here.
About the testers
Ben Clarke – Deputy Head of Digital, Ben has worked at MCN since 2018 testing bikes and kit every opportunity he gets. For this page he tested a Milenco Snaefell ground anchor.
Saffron Wilson – Staff Writer, Saffron covers thousands of miles in all weathers getting the latest news and features for the paper. For this page she tested an Oxford Beast ground anchor.
How MCN tests motorcycle products
Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the right kit for you, at the right price for your budget. We don’t test our kit against thieves (on purpose), we test our ground anchors the same way you’ll use yours; by drilling them into our own garages and locking our own bikes to them. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.
While testing, we predominantly focus on build quality, value, and ease of use. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each pair of ground anchors a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and offer a final verdict too. This page is only for the best motorcycle ground anchors, so every pair you’ll see has been awarded at least four stars overall – that’s the passing grade – but here’s what each score really means:
1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A ground anchor 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 ground anchor with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.
3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A ground anchor with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
4 stars – A ground anchor has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A ground anchor with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
5 stars – A ground anchor has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A ground anchor 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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