I often get asked if motorcycle disk locks are any good. How safe are they, and are the disk locks with alarms even safer? I’ll try to tell you a little bit more about it in this article.
Disk locks cannot be seen as a replacement of a high graded chain lock. They are best used for a short period of time, like during lunch break on your bike tour.
Disk locks have some advantages, but also some cons. They are small and can be transported easily, but they don’t offer as much protection as a full graded chain lock.
Disk lock safety
As I said before; Disk locks cannot be seen as a replacement for your ordinary chain lock. They offer less protection since they only prevent the wheel from spinning, but do not keep the motorcycle in place.
The best way to lock your motorcycle is by connecting two chains. Connect the frame to a fixed object and connect the rear wheel to a fixed object.
The problem is, that you are obviously not always able to do so. That’s when the disk locks come in helpfull. They are small and can be carried in any bike. Just keep in mind that thieves can simply put a trolley under your wheel and move your bike.
I personally use my disk lock in two scenario’s;
- Extra safety: I only have one chain lock. I use it to lock my bike to a fixed object. When needed, I add my disk lock to my front wheel. This adds a little bit of extra safety. I only do this when I store my bike overnight.
- During short breaks: My naked bike does not have a hell lot of storage space. I’m simply unable to bring a chain lock with me. That’s when I use my disk lock. I use it whenever I go for a quick lunch during a tour, or when I park my bike in the driveway of friends or family. My disk lock also has an alarm featured, which notifies me whenever somebody is moving the lock around. This adds a bit of extra safety.
I use the Oxford Boss Alarm disk lock (check my full review) for two simple reasons. First of all, it has an alarm. I don’t think it is loud enough to stop any thieves, but at least it warns me when somebody is messing with the lock. Second, it can be used as a disk lock AND with your chain. You can simply add the Oxford Boss to the ends of your chain and you have an alarm featured chain lock!
Disk lock in front or rear of the bike?
Many riders wonder if you should apply the disk lock to the front or the rear wheel. The answer to that is unambiguously the rear.
As said before, a disk lock isn’t as safe as a chain lock and you shouldn’t see it as a replacement. Thieves can take your wheel off, cut the breaking disk or lift the wheel up. All these three things are harder with the rear wheel.
Taking the rear wheel off is much harder than taking the front wheel off. If you ever had to take your wheels off, you’ll agree with me. You have stuff like the chain, the bridge,
Cutting the breaking disk is harder in the rear for the same reason. There are way more components around your disk, making it harder to reach with cutting tools.
Lifting the bike in the rear is also slightly harder in the back because it usually carries more weight.
Youtuber MOTOBOB also posted a great tip on Youtube. He suggests putting the disk lock on the sprocket of your bike (in case you have a disk lock like mine). It gets dirtier, but it could be safer to do so.
Why do disk locks have a string attached?
Most disk locks have “a string attached”. Many new riders wonder what the string is used for. Some even use disk locks without a string, but they will sooner or later find out what it is used for.
Let me save you a couple of dollars on a new brake disk: The string is used to remind the rider of the disk lock. If you forget your disk lock and try to drive off, you might end up with a bent break disk. You won’t be able to go any further and you’ll have to replace the brake disk. That’s definitely something you don’t want to happen to your bike!
So be wise, use the string to remind yourself!
Are disk locks with an alarm any good? My experience
Some disk locks come with an alarm. It is basically a high pitched noise, alerting people when your lock is being tampered with.
I’ve read a lot about these alarms. Many disk locks with an alarm feature seem to be too sensitive. They will start screaming when a heavy lorry passes by. That’s one of the reasons that I choose the Oxford Boss.
My disk lock is sensitive enough to warn me when needed, but doesn’t start without a reason.
The lock will beep once when it’s being moved, warning the person to not move the lock. If the lock still moves after a second or three, the alarm starts. It’s loud enough for me to hear inside my house while parked up front, but not loud enough to stop thieves just because they would want to close their ears.
The alarm on the disk lock does the trick for me. I like the feeling that I’ll be informed when anyone messes with my bike or the lock in specific. I wouldn’t trust my bike overnight with just this lock, but that’s not the duty of a disk lock if you ask me.
Disk lock safety vs. other types of locks
As said before; disk locks are not as safe as other locks. A chain is still the best lock you could use. However, sometimes it’s not possible to bring your chain. Or maybe you already use your chain, but you would like to add some extra safety to your bike.
In that case, a disk lock is a perfect pick if you would ask me. I use it to lock my bike in front of my house (or my friend’s house), whiles having lunch on a tour, or I combine it with my chain when storing my bike overnight.
Summary: Lessons learned
You should have learned that a disk lock is not a replacement for your other locks, but could be helpful in some situations. You should always use the reminder string to prevent yourself from driving off with the disk lock attached.