I’m a bit of a bike lock collector. After having my favorite e-bike stolen a few years ago (as well as several less favorite bikes stolen over the years), I’ve gotten much more serious about security. After testing the LITELOK X1, I can tell you that this lock is so overbuilt that I even use it on my electric scooters and motorcycles.
U-locks, sometimes referred to as D-locks in many parts of the world for god-only-knows-what-reason, are often considered the ideal form factor for many riders. They’re compact, don’t rattle, and offer the kind of theft prevention that only a giant hunk of reinforced steel can.
The LITELOK X1 offers all of those features and more. Not only is the shackle nearly an inch thick (21x24mm), but it’s also got a hardened fine-grain high-tensile steel core coated with a patent-pending material known as Barronium to further degrade angle grinder cutting blades.
As the company explained, “Barronium® is a fused composite armor that offers unparalleled angle grinder resistance without adding extra weight. It is a super hard ceramic composite material that repels angle grinder attacks and turns the grinder’s energy and force in on itself. Continuous cutting wears down the grinder discs, batteries, and ultimately the grinder motor itself.”
That doesn’t mean the lock can’t be cut. Every single bike lock can be defeated with the right tool and with enough time. But multiple independent tests have shown that it takes many angle grinder disc swaps before the lock can finally be cut through. And even then, it uses an anti-twist design meaning that a single cut isn’t enough – the thief will need to make a second cut to remove enough of the shackle to get it off of the bike or anchor. At that point, the thief will need another handful of cutting discs, not to mention enough spare batteries to keep going with a tool that is now likely close to overheating anyway.
Suffice it to say, this is about as angle grinder-proof as it gets, even if such a thing doesn’t technically exist in reality. With a half dozen cutting discs or more, plus a few battery swaps, a thief is likely to give up before they ever make it away with your bike. LITELOK has plenty of testimonials and pictures on its site sent in from owners who found themselves in that exact scenario, returning to their bikes to find their lock only partially cut and no thief in sight.
More than just theft resistance
Part of choosing a good lock isn’t only how strong it is, but also how convenient it is. At just under 4 lb, the LITELOK X1 isn’t lightweight but also doesn’t weigh nearly as much as my 8-10 lb chain locks. It’s annoying that it can add nearly 10% to my e-bike’s weight, but that sure beats adding 20%!
The design also includes a nice reflective strip, which can be an added safety bonus when riding around with the lock mounted to the frame.
There’s also convenient neoprene carrying pouch that comes standard with the lock and helps keep your bag nice and clean, even when your lock gets dirty.
And while this is a small detail, I like how minimalist the keys are. I have enough chunky keys to keep on my ring already, so any low-profile key is greatly appreciated. This isn’t the place to take up extra real estate with big molded grips and branding on something I’m trying to shove deep down in my pocket, and I’m glad LITELOK realized that.
Security ratings
Of course, the added convenience is nice, but security ratings are still the most important factor in deciding which lock can best protect your ride.
The X1 is Sold Secure Diamond rated for both pedal bikes and powered bikes (a category including both motorcycles and e-bikes). This means the lock has received basically the highest security rating it can from the premier lock testing company, UK-based Sold Secure.
The lock is also rated ART 4 out of a possible score of 5. ART, a Dutch-based lock testing organization, considers a score of 2 to be sufficient for bicycles and e-bikes, and a score of 4 to be sufficient for motorcycles parked in public places.
In other words, the leading lock testing organizations in the industry pretty much agree that the X1 gets top marks and is probably more than sufficient for pretty much any e-bike – and likely motorcycles too.
Which is why I feel perfectly comfortable using it as a wheel lock on my own motorcycles and e-scooters.
How could it be improved?
The lock is really nicely designed, both in terms of form and function. However, there is still room for improvement.
I find that when I want to close the lock, I often have trouble getting it perfectly lined up on the shackle, meaning the key won’t turn to lock it down. I have to jiggle the lock until it seems like either the pins in the cylinder free up or the locking latches in the shackle align, and then it closes nicely. It’s annoying to have to massage it into place, that’s for sure. Maybe it’s just mine, but it doesn’t seem to be something that goes away with use.
Another area I would have liked to see improved would be to offer it in either multiple colors or at least a single bright color that isn’t black.
The problems with black locks are numerous, at least in my opinion. I don’t like how they disappear into the bike, meaning you might forget that it’s there when used as a wheel lock. You’re not going to get far if you try to ride away, but you might end up with a bent spoke or disc, depending on how you locked up. A small and cheap $7 reminder cable can help, but a brightly colored lock would be easier. Highly visible locks also serve as a warning to thieves from a distance, helping to ward them off before they invest time in examining your ride. And lastly, they’re just easier to find in a gear bag or drawer, not getting lost in a sea of other black riding gear.
Finally, this lock is expensive. I’m talking $179 expensive. That’s a significant outlay, but I always remind people to consider how much their e-bike or motorcycle is worth to them. If it’s worth more than $179 to keep it yours, then maybe such a powerful lock isn’t that expensive after all, relatively speaking.
There are other more affordable locks out there and I use many of them, but now that I’ve been testing the LITELOK X1 recently, I know I’ve got one of the highest-security locks out there to add to my quiver of options.
