Cable locks

[DominiqueD]

Hi Everyone,

I need advice on what brand of cable lock ,or any other option you find better, to lock my bike to my hanging bike rack please?

I have heard of bikes being stolen off of bike racks so just wondering what the best/safest option would be before I buy something.

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks so much 🙂 

[eddy]

If you are concerned that someone will steal your bike whilst stuck in traffic, any lock will do.

If you are concerned that someone will steal your bike whilst parked at a shopping centre, no lock will do.

 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

Anything that stops them being able to yank the bike off is fine. I’m in Joburg and never lock my bike onto the rack, unless I know I’ll be passing through or stopping in dodgy areas. These are mostly outlying semi-rural areas like Hammanskraal. I have two black Decathlon coded cable locks for that purpose. 

What I always do without fail though is use Velcro straps to secure my front wheel or fork to the carrier, and another strap to secure a crank arm or seat tube to the carrier. I also use a ring of old tube to clamp my brake levers on both sides. I do this mostly because I don’t like things moving around when I drive; it distracts me. But it makes me smile when I think about someone trying to yank the bike off and if they succeed, having the brakes clamped as they try to pedal away.

A visible deterrent is to put a padlock on the chain. 

I use the Ryder gear straps. They last forever and have a rubberised backing. They have lived on my Jimny ladder for 3 years and haven’t perished yet even though it’s mostly parked in the sun. 

[NGM]

No lock is totally safe if somebody has enough time, but I can at least tell you that my own experience:

15 years ago I bought an ABUS Granit D-Lock and with 5 years of riding in London (where I used it every day) and 10 years of riding in RSA (where I find myself using it once a month), I've never had a bike stolen while it's been locked up. 

Would I endorse the lock? Yes. But would I leave my bike locked up with that lock in the same public place every day where I'm away from it for hours? No. 

edit: Ahhh right, sorry I see you are referring to a car mounted bike rack. I misunderstood. The big/heavy D-Lock I'm talking about might not be great for that. 

Edited July 2, 2025 by NGM

[DominiqueD]

10 minutes ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Anything that stops them being able to yank the bike off is fine. I’m in Joburg and never lock my bike onto the rack, unless I know I’ll be passing through or stopping in dodgy areas. These are mostly outlying semi-rural areas like Hammanskraal. I have two black Decathlon coded cable locks for that purpose. 

What I always do without fail though is use Velcro straps to secure my front wheel or fork to the carrier, and another strap to secure a crank arm or seat tube to the carrier. I also use a ring of old tube to clamp my brake levers on both sides. I do this mostly because I don’t like things moving around when I drive; it distracts me. But it makes me smile when I think about someone trying to yank the bike off and if they succeed, having the brakes clamped as they try to pedal away.

A visible deterrent is to put a padlock on the chain. 

I use the Ryder gear straps. They last forever and have a rubberised backing. They have lived on my Jimny ladder for 3 years and haven’t perished yet even though it’s mostly parked in the sun. 

Thanks so much for the advice, really appreciate it! 🙂 

[DominiqueD]

10 minutes ago, NGM said:

No lock is totally safe if somebody has enough time, but I can at least tell you that my own experience:

15 years ago I bought an ABUS Granit D-Lock and with 5 years of riding in London (where I used it every day) and 10 years of riding in RSA (where I find myself using it once a month), I've never had a bike stolen while it's been locked up. 

Would I endorse the lock? Yes. But would I leave my bike locked up with that lock in the same public place every day where I'm away from it for hours? No. 

edit: Ahhh right, sorry I see you are referring to a car mounted bike rack. I misunderstood. The big/heavy D-Lock I'm talking about might not be great for that. 

Thanks so much! 🙂 

[DominiqueD]

29 minutes ago, eddy said:

If you are concerned that someone will steal your bike whilst stuck in traffic, any lock will do.

If you are concerned that someone will steal your bike whilst parked at a shopping centre, no lock will do.

 

Agreed! I am more thinking for insurance purposes as these cable locks vary greatly in price from what I seen. So wondering if the cheaper ones are easier to break open etc. 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

With enough force I think any cable lock will be breached - the weakness being either in the crimped sections or where the cable meets the locking mechanism. I’d probably stick to Yale or Master or Abus for the purposes of insurance. And check your insurance fine print as they may specify that cable locks don’t count.

I seem to remember a story (might have been on here) where someone’s bike got ripped off their Thule rack, which was locked but the thieves pulled the rack arms off as well (where the locks are), and insurance said additional mitigation was required and wouldn’t pay out. I mean you’ve got a rack locked onto the towbar and bikes locked with the arms but insurance found a way to say no. 

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, DominiqueD said:

Hi Everyone,

I need advice on what brand of cable lock ,or any other option you find better, to lock my bike to my hanging bike rack please?

I have heard of bikes being stolen off of bike racks so just wondering what the best/safest option would be before I buy something.

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks so much 🙂 

any lock will get broken eventually, just make it a bit harder. I like these ones that have a fabric covering on them. With the rise of cordless angle grinders, a steel chain is useless.

 

https://www.decathlon.co.za/p/145609-94962-bike-chain-lock-900-l.html

[BuffsVintageBikes]

A normal Yale lock through each disk brake is a great way to stop them riding off with your bike as well. It will force them to carry it which immediately looks suspect and is not as fast.

[JoeMerida]

BIG Padlocks on BIG Chains 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

56 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

any lock will get broken eventually, just make it a bit harder. I like these ones that have a fabric covering on them. With the rise of cordless angle grinders, a steel chain is useless.

 

https://www.decathlon.co.za/p/145609-94962-bike-chain-lock-900-l.html

Ja getting through cable isn’t nearly as easy as through chain. Even a cordless Dremel will get through a chain fairly easily (and very quietly). 

[JPD]

3 hours ago, DominiqueD said:

Hi Everyone,

I need advice on what brand of cable lock ,or any other option you find better, to lock my bike to my hanging bike rack please?

I have heard of bikes being stolen off of bike racks so just wondering what the best/safest option would be before I buy something.

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks so much 🙂 

I use the Abus Combiflex Travelguard, very neat!!!

[DominiqueD]

3 hours ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

With enough force I think any cable lock will be breached - the weakness being either in the crimped sections or where the cable meets the locking mechanism. I’d probably stick to Yale or Master or Abus for the purposes of insurance. And check your insurance fine print as they may specify that cable locks don’t count.

I seem to remember a story (might have been on here) where someone’s bike got ripped off their Thule rack, which was locked but the thieves pulled the rack arms off as well (where the locks are), and insurance said additional mitigation was required and wouldn’t pay out. I mean you’ve got a rack locked onto the towbar and bikes locked with the arms but insurance found a way to say no. 

Wow, thats crazy!! I am looking at insuring with Cyclesure. The only clause that I remember was that it had to be at least 10mm thick but I will maybe ask them for specifics in terms of what brand they specifically suggest. 

[sboschnoob]

Quote

bike got ripped off their Thule rack, which was locked but the thieves pulled the rack arms off as well (where the locks are)

I recently got the thule bike rack with the locking arms. It is pretty lame that the bar where the locking arms attach is not locked or permanently connected to the rest of the rack that is locked to your tow bar.
Ah, but they sell more lock accessories to fully lock the bike to the rack.
What a stupid design.

[cadenceblur]

Check out the the U Locks

various brands out there, I have the Kryptonite which is paired with a long cable that can be snaked through the bike as well,

I very seldom leave my bike out of sight though and of late, I even lock the bike down with the Thule clamps when driving around with bike on the rack.