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The first line of defence against the nightmare of bike theft is a solid and dependable bike D lock. The second line of defence is knowing how to lock your bike (properly), so thieves can’t make away with your frame and leave you with a sorry-looking wheel. To get more news about ebike lock, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.

D locks (also known as U locks), come in many different sizes, materials, Sold Secure ratings, and price ranges. So, choosing the best D lock for your bike can be confusing if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Why choose a D lock over other types of lock?
Of the three main types of bike lock – D lock, chain, cable. The D lock comes out on top for strength, reliability and popularity.

Its popularity is in part due to its portability and strength to weight ratio. A gold standard D lock is stronger than a cable lock, and far more compact and easier to carry than a heavy duty chain.

Lots of bike thefts happen from the garage, outbuilding or garden shed. If you’re securing your bike at home overnight or for long periods. A heavy chain and gold or diamond rated mini D lock will offer the highest protection (as long as it’s secured to a Sold Secure rated ground anchor). If you’re locking your bike when out and about. A gold or diamond rated D lock and cable is far more practical.

D locks can fit easily into a backpack or clip onto the bike for commuting, and the accompanying cable is light enough to sling over your shoulder or into your bag when riding, making it the go-to bike lock for regular cycle commuters.
What makes a lock, a D lock?
D locks, or U locks, are the most common types of bike lock. Their shape is similar to a traditional padlock, resembling the letter ‘D’ when the retaining bar is locked in place, or ‘U’ when unlocked without. The ‘U’ shaped steel shackle and locking barrel is robust for everyday use and a secure deterrent to thieves.

There are a range of manufacturers of bicycle D locks but the main ones are Kryptonite and Abus. D locks come in a range of security standards. They’re strong, reliable and easy to use, and whichever type of bike lock you use, most insurers, (us included), will specify the need for a lock appropriately rated for the value of your bike in order to validate your policy.
How to use a D lock
The downside of the D lock shape is that it can only fit around thin racks and posts (i.e. no lamp posts), but that’s why most come with a cable to secure the wheels as well as the frame.

The cable is easier to cut with hand tools that fit in your pocket however, so always make sure you secure your frame to the bike rack (and not just the wheels) as a bare minimum.

The best option if you have space and a big enough ‘U’ on the lock is to secure your frame and a wheel to the rack. Using the cable to loop around the other wheel so all points are secured. Angling the D lock through the frame and wheel onto the rack like this will leave little room for thieves to wedge a tool to prize it open, and make it harder to cut.
What is Sold Secure approval and why is it important?
Sold Secure approval is a security accreditation given to locks after being rigorously strength-tested by the Master Locksmiths Association. The rating is only given to the locking device and not the accessory cable, which can still be easily cut with the right tools but does offer extra protection for wheels to deter thieves.

The attack testing on the lock includes everything that a thief would try to steal your bike. Lock picking, manipulation, cutting and drilling with everything from basic pocket tools (screwdriver, hammer, hacksaw), to bolt croppers, drills, crowbars and power tools.

There are four different ratings (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond). It’s this rating you should look for first when choosing a bike D lock due to its insurance requirements.

There will be some compromise in price, weight and portability the higher you move up the scale but we think it’s always worth carrying around the extra weight to keep your pride and joy safely where you left it.