Lock & security Chain Selection

Selecting the Best Motorcycle Lock and Chain.

When looking for a lock and chain the choice can be somewhat daunting on times. Things to consider are the cost of you motorcycle, the amount of excess you would pay on your insurance and the level of crime in your area.

Most motorcycles are never recovered by the police and would you really want you bike back after you pride and joy has spent the night on the RAC rally?

A nice resource is the new police website as you can now see what crimes have been going on in your area, based on your postcode you can get a Google map style overview with zoom in and out features.

A security chain should always be used in conjunction with a ground anchor or secured around an immovable object, a very important factor Is that any bike is vulnerable to being picked up and put into a back of a van.

When choosing a chain the thickness of the link should be considered, the link refers to the diameter of steel that link or loop is made from.

A 10mm link chain will not perform as well as a 19.85mm security chain, the larger the link size is the better level of security it offers. 10mm chains are only considered protection from the "opportunist their" as any thief with the proper tools will get through these in seconds, no matter what the manufacturers claims are.

10mm-12mm security chains are suitable for cycles

13mm Suitable for higher value cycle and bike or motorcycles as a carry chain.

16mm Suitable for motorcycles and high value cycles & bikes

19mm+ For higher value motorbikes + bikes, plant and machinery, high risk areas, remote outbuildings where an attack is very likely

Always look for a Thatcham or sold secure approved security chain , the testing techniques used by these companies is the same. Sold secure is non profit so the testing costs are significantly less than Thatcham, who will charge up to three times mores, this is why you will see more security products sold secure approved rather than Thatcham.

Although the testing techniques are the same we currently rate sold secure approval over Thatcham approval as some products have failed sold secure Gold testing but have passed a Thatcham rating.

Sold Secure is a non-profit making company dedicated to reducing the risk of theft by the assessment of security products. Sold Secure was established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex Police with the help and backing of the Home Office. It is now administered by the Master locksmiths association.

Sold secure approved: BRONZE - Products

Offering theft resistance against the basic tool list (aimed at preventing opportunist crime)

Sold secure approved: SILVER - Products

Offering theft resistance against enhanced tool list (aimed at preventing more determined attacks)

Sold secure approved: GOLD - Products - Highest Approval

Offering theft resistance against the full tool list (aimed at preventing dedicated attacks)

A Sold Secure approved product has successfully withstood twelve different attack methods of five minutes each before being awarded its certificate

The average thief will give up after two and a half minutes because of risk of discovery

Choosing the length of chain

Once you have chosen your chain you must think carefully of the length that you want, we recommend that you loop your chain through your back wheel, swing arm, frame and then into your ground anchor or immovable object. Don't estimate the length you need, use a piece of string if necessary.

IMPORTANT always keep your padlock off the floor wherever possible as this will prevent attacks from hammers, chisels etc. Remember your trying to make a thieves job as difficult as you can.

Our extensive range of Sold Secure and Thatcham approved motorcycle ground anchors, padlock and chain are also used to secure trailers, quads, caravans, boats, jet skis.

We aim to deliver a complete "motorcycle security" package, if you can’t find what you looking for please contact us and one of our staff will be pleased to help you.

Back to the home of security chains

Resourcses: check out what wikipedia says on security chains