Best Motorcycle Locks 2026: Chains vs Disc Locks

The best motorcycle lock for most riders is the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain 1415 (~$150), a 14mm hardened manganese chain with a 15mm New York disc lock that bolt cutters basically can't touch, so it's the one you want wrapped around your frame at home. For every stop you make during the day, grab a disc lock like the Kryptonite Evolution Compact (~$53). On a tight budget, the YOHOOLYO LK603 alarm disc lock (~$20) gives you a 110 dB siren for less than a tank of gas.

All right guys, so here's the thing. Every single time I walk out to the driveway and my black and red Honda is sitting there with the chrome slip-on catching the light, there's this tiny voice in the back of my head going "bro, is it still gonna be there tomorrow?" And I know I'm not the only one. Bikes are light, they're quiet to push, and a couple of guys with a van can make one disappear faster than I can finish a double-double at Timmy's. That's not me being dramatic. That's just how it is.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau counts tens of thousands of stolen motorcycles in the US every single year, and a lot of them never come back in one piece. And the steering lock on your bike is not security, guys. It's a suggestion. So I went through the locks riders actually buy, checked the Amazon listings and the sales numbers, read what owners complain about, and watched real owner videos for every pick I could find one for. The result is this list: two serious chains, one budget chain, two disc locks, and a cheap tracker to back it all up. Let's go.

Quick Picks:

How Did I Pick These Locks?

Real talk, a lot of lock lists online are written by people who have never stood in a parking lot at 11 PM wondering if their bike is still in one piece. So I kept this simple, bro. I looked at five things and that's it.

How hard is it to cut? This is the big one. A thin chain falls to a pair of bolt cutters in seconds. A 12-14mm hardened chain pretty much forces a thief to bring an angle grinder, and grinders are loud, sparky and slow. Independent testers like Sold Secure attack locks with real tools and time limits, and brands like Kryptonite put their own security rating on the box too. Thicker hardened steel wins, every time.

Will you actually carry it? The best lock in the world is useless sitting in your garage while your bike sits outside a restaurant. A disc lock fits in a jacket pocket. A 15-pound chain does not. You need one of each for a reason.

Does it make noise? An alarm turns a quiet theft into a public event. Thieves hate attention.

Is it a real listing? Every Amazon link on this page goes straight to the exact product I'm talking about, not some random search page. I checked each one is live and checked how many sell a month so you know real riders are buying it.

Value. A $20 alarm lock and a $150 chain do completely different jobs. I matched each lock to the rider it's for, not just the guy with the biggest budget.

Prices move around every day, especially around Black Friday, so treat my numbers as "roughly this much" and click through for the current deal.

What Are the Best Motorcycle Chain Locks?

Chains are the strongest thing you can put on a bike, period. A heavy chain through the frame and around something that can't move stops your bike from being ridden, rolled, lifted or tossed in a van. The trade-off is weight, and these things are HEAVY. But at home, where your bike spends most of its life sitting still, weight doesn't matter. Nobody's carrying it anywhere.

1. Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain 1415 — Best Overall

Price: ~$150 | Chain: 14mm hardened manganese, 5 ft | Lock: New York disc lock, 15mm shackle | Weight: 15-plus lbs

Guys, the name alone tells you the attitude. Fahgettaboudit. Like, forget about it, you're not stealing this bike. It was built for New York City, one of the worst places on earth to leave anything with wheels, and it shows. The links are 14mm hardened manganese steel with a six-sided shape, which gives bolt cutters nothing nice and round to bite into. To get through it, a thief basically needs an angle grinder, and an angle grinder at 2 AM in a residential street is loud, it throws sparks everywhere, and it takes time. That's the whole game, bro. Time and noise.

The lock that comes with it is Kryptonite's New York disc lock with a 15mm hardened shackle and a pick-resistant disc-style cylinder. The chain has a nylon sleeve with hook-and-loop closures, so it won't chew up your paint when you drape it over the bike.

Now let me tell you what sucks about it. It's heavy. Like, hella heavy, north of 15 pounds. You are not riding to work with this thing in your backpack unless you want to look like a turtle with a bad back. This is a home chain. You loop it through the frame (not the wheel, wheels come off), around a ground anchor or a steel post, and you leave it there. And at around 150 bucks it's not cheap. But compare that to your deductible, or worse, compare it to the feeling of walking out to an empty driveway. Yeah. Worth it.

Who it's for: Anyone who parks at home and wants the strongest chain they can reasonably buy. Also great at work if you can leave it locked to something fixed all week.

2. Kryptonite New York 1217 Chain — Best Long Chain

Price: ~$145 | Chain: 12mm hardened manganese, 5-plus ft | Lock: Evolution Series 4 disc lock, 14mm shackle

So why would you pick this over the Fahgettaboudit when the price is almost the same right now? Length and flexibility, bro. The 1217 is a long chain, and in real life a longer chain is the difference between "I can lock to that post" and "ugh, it doesn't reach." Apartment parking, condo garages, a railing that's a little too far from where your bike fits, two bikes parked side by side. Got a partner's bike next to yours, like Tina's 600 beside mine? One long chain through both frames. Boom.

The links are 12mm six-sided hardened manganese, same style as the Fahgettaboudit, just a bit thinner. A determined guy with a grinder gets through it faster than the 14mm chain. Still, 12mm hardened steel is way past what bolt cutters handle comfortably, and that's what matters for 95% of thieves walking around looking for an easy score.

The Evolution Series 4 lock that comes with it has a 14mm shackle and a double deadbolt, so you're not buying a monster chain with a cheap padlock (which is honestly the most common mistake I see). Price checks show this one has been bouncing around a lot, so if it drops well under the Fahgettaboudit, it's a banger deal.

I couldn't find an independent review video of this exact chain that passed my check (the ones out there are store promos), so no video for this one.

Who it's for: Riders who need reach: apartment and condo parking, awkward anchor points, or locking two bikes together.

3. Kryptonite Keeper 785 Integrated Chain — Best Budget Chain

Price: ~$50 | Chain: 7mm manganese, 2.8 ft | Lock: Integrated disc-style cylinder | Sales: ~1,000/month

Let me be honest about this one, guys, because I'm not gonna hype something that doesn't deserve it. The Keeper 785 is a deterrent, not a fortress. A big pair of bolt cutters can get through 7mm links. An angle grinder eats it. If you've got a $20,000 bike parked on a downtown street overnight, this is not your chain.

But here's what it does do. It stops the lazy thief cold. The guy cruising a parking lot isn't carrying four-foot bolt cutters. He's looking for the bike with nothing on it but a steering lock. He sees a chain, he keeps walking. That's a win for 50 bucks.

The integrated lock is the nice part. The cylinder is built into the chain end, so there's no separate padlock rattling around. The 2.8-foot length is short, so you'll be looping it through a wheel and around a post most of the time. Through the frame is always better if it reaches, but short chains are short. It is what it is.

This black version is the one that sells like crazy, about 1,000 a month. Keep it under your seat for the days you end up parking somewhere you didn't plan to.

Who it's for: New riders, budget riders, anyone who wants a chain they'll actually carry, and as a second layer next to a disc lock at work.

What Are the Best Motorcycle Disc Locks?

Disc locks are the everyday carry of bike security. They clamp through the holes in your brake rotor so the wheel can't turn. They fit in a pocket, go on in five seconds, and kill the most common move, which is somebody just riding or rolling your bike away.

The weakness: a disc lock does nothing against lifting. Two people can pick a bike up and throw it in a van with the disc lock still on. That's why a disc lock is layer one, not the whole plan. I break down the full layered approach in my anti-theft and locks guide.

4. Kryptonite Evolution Compact Disc Lock — Best Disc Lock

Price: ~$53 | Shackle: 13mm hardened steel | Design: Flat-top plate, double deadbolt | Keys: 3 stainless steel

Not everybody wants an alarm, bro. Some of us just want a solid chunk of steel that does one job really well. That's the Evolution Compact.

The 13mm shackle is way thicker than the little pins on cheap disc locks, so cutting or prying it is a real job, not a five-second job. The flat-top plate design keeps it low and tight against the rotor, which makes it harder to get a tool behind it. And the double deadbolt locks both sides of the shackle, so twisting it off doesn't work either.

Here's the catch, and it's a big one: check your rotor before you buy. A 13mm shackle needs a big enough hole or gap in your rotor or carrier to go through. Most sportbikes and nakeds are fine, some scooters and small bikes with tiny drilled holes aren't. Two minutes with a ruler saves you a return.

It's bright orange too, which I actually love. A thief sees it from across the lot. And you see it before you try to ride off with it on. Which, trust me, everybody does at least once.

Who it's for: Riders who want proven mechanical security with zero batteries. Also the perfect daily lock to pair with a heavy chain at home.

5. YOHOOLYO LK603 Alarm Disc Lock — Best Budget Alarm Lock

Price: ~$17-22 | Pin: 7mm | Alarm: 110 dB, shock + movement sensor | Includes: 5 ft reminder cable, pouch | Sales: ~1,000/month

Okay guys, 20 bucks for a disc lock with a built-in alarm? That's crazy. Like, actually crazy. And it's one of the best-selling disc locks on Amazon for exactly that reason.

Let me set expectations though. A 7mm pin is thin compared to the Kryptonite's 13mm shackle, and the body isn't built like a premium lock. A serious thief with serious tools will beat it. What it does really well is make noise. Someone bumps it, rocks the bike, tries to roll it, and 110 dB of "HEY EVERYBODY LOOK OVER HERE" goes off. Most thieves don't stick around for that, because noise means witnesses.

The other big win: it comes with the reminder cable already in the box. Run that orange coil from the lock to your handlebar and you will never try to ride away with it on. That's a broken rotor or a tipped bike you just avoided.

Downsides? Cheap alarms can be touchy, so wind, a truck rolling by or someone brushing past might set it off now and then. And batteries die, so check it every few weeks. But for the price, stack this with a chain at home and you have two layers for under 75 bucks.

Who it's for: New riders, scooter riders, anyone on a tight budget who wants an alarm, or a second lock for the rear rotor.

What About the ABUS SmartX, Xena XX6 and Oxford Monster?

You'll see these three on every lock list, and they're legit, guys. I'm not hating. The ABUS Granit Detecto SmartX 8078 is a Bluetooth disc lock you unlock with your phone, with a 3D motion sensor and a 100 dB alarm. The Xena XX6 is the classic self-arming alarm disc lock with a 120 dB siren. And the Oxford Monster is a beast of a chain from a UK brand that riders over there swear by.

The problem? When I checked, none of them had a live new listing on Amazon US that I could send you to with confidence. The ABUS and Oxford are mostly sold through motorcycle shops and European retailers, and the Xena listing had no sellers. I'm not gonna link you to a dead page or some sketchy third-party seller. If you want one, check your local moto shop or a big online motorcycle retailer, and make sure you're buying from an authorized dealer so you get the real thing.

Do You Need a GPS Tracker Too?

Locks slow thieves down. A tracker helps you get the bike back when the locks lose. Different jobs. If somebody does beat your setup, a hidden tracker is how you (or the police) find it before it's in pieces.

6. Apple AirTag — Best Cheap Tracker Backup

Price: ~$29 | Network: Apple Find My | Subscription: None | Battery: CR2032, about a year

In a city with iPhones everywhere, an AirTag can update its location pretty often. Out in the country, way less. And it's not a real-time GPS tracker, so it won't text you the second the bike moves. Thieves also know about them, so hide it well: inside a fairing, under the seat foam, behind a panel that takes tools to remove. Not zip-tied to the frame rail where anyone can see it.

If you want live alerts and real cellular GPS, look at a dedicated motorcycle tracker. I compare those in my GPS tracker guide.

What About a Ground Anchor?

A chain is only as strong as what it's locked to. Wrap your Fahgettaboudit around a wooden fence post and a thief just cuts the post. A ground anchor is a hardened steel loop bolted or cemented into your garage floor or driveway, so the chain has something that literally can't move. Kryptonite and Oxford both make them, usually around $40-60 plus a masonry bit and some anchors to install. Renting and can't drill? Use a thick steel post set in concrete, a structural column, or a railing that's welded, not bolted.

How Do the Locks Compare?

Disc Lock vs Chain Lock: Which Do You Need?

Honestly? Both. They do different jobs.

The ideal setup is a disc lock that goes on every single time you park, even for five minutes at a gas station, plus a heavy chain locked to an anchor at home. If you can only afford one thing right now, get the disc lock first, because it's the security you'll actually use every day. Add the chain when the budget allows.

Which Lock Is Right for You?

How Do You Lock a Motorcycle the Right Way?

Even the best lock is garbage if you use it wrong. Here's the stuff that actually matters, bro.

Lock to something that can't move. Sign posts, wooden fences and flimsy bike racks are not security. They get cut, unbolted or lifted. Thick steel posts in concrete, structural columns and real ground anchors only.

Through the frame, not the wheel. I said it already and I'll say it again because it's that important. Wheels unbolt. Frames don't.

Keep the chain off the ground. A chain lying on concrete gives a thief a surface to brace bolt cutters or smash the lock. Pull it tight and keep it high.

Disc lock on the front rotor. With the front wheel locked, the steering and forks make it really hard to roll the bike anywhere. A locked rear can sometimes be dragged if someone lifts the back end.

Lock it every time. Not "only at night." Not "only downtown." Every. Single. Time. Plenty of bikes go missing in broad daylight from busy parking lots.

Stack your layers. One lock is a speed bump. A disc lock plus a chain plus an alarm turns a 30-second job into a loud five-minute show in front of everybody. Most thieves just walk away.

Cover it up. A thief can't decide your bike is worth it if they can't see what it is. A cover with a lock grommet hides the bike and makes the whole thing slower. My motorcycle covers guide has the ones with lock holes.

Oh, and by the way guys, totally random, but every Christmas Tina asks me what I want and every year I say "I don't know, bike stuff," and every year she gets mad because that's not an answer. Fair. So if you're reading this, babe, a disc lock is a real answer. Look at me being helpful. But anyways, back to locks.

How Much Should You Spend on Motorcycle Security?

A good rule is about 5-10% of your bike's value. A $5,000 bike justifies $250-500 in security. A $15,000 bike justifies more. Here's how I'd spend it:

Budget setup (~$70): YOHOOLYO alarm disc lock + Keeper 785 chain. Two layers, one of them loud, for less than a set of brake pads.

Mid setup (~$200): Evolution Compact disc lock + New York 1217 chain. Real steel on both ends, enough reach for almost any anchor.

Premium setup (~$280 and up): Fahgettaboudit 1415 + Evolution Compact + AirTag + a ground anchor. This is the setup for a pricey bike, a high-theft area, or the rider who just refuses to wake up to an empty driveway.

And no matter what you spend, the last line of defence is your motorcycle insurance. Locks get beat. That's just reality. If you want theft covered, you need comprehensive coverage on your policy, not just liability. I explain how that all works in my motorcycle insurance guide.

How Do You Keep Your Locks Working?

Locks live outside. They get rained on, salted in the spring, and covered in road grime. A seized lock is just as useless as no lock.

Lube the keyway every few months with a dry graphite or lock lube. Skip the heavy oily sprays, they grab dust and gunk up the cylinder.

Wipe your chain down after wet rides. Road salt in Canada eats everything, even hardened steel. A quick wipe and a light anti-corrosion spray keeps the links from going crusty.

Check the batteries in alarm locks. If the YOHOOLYO's siren starts sounding weak, swap the batteries. Throw spares in your tool kit so you're never stuck with a silent alarm.

Check for damage after a tip-over. A bent disc lock pin might not close right, and a damaged lock is a weak lock. And if your bike's going into storage for the winter, lock it up there too. I cover the whole storage routine in my winterization guide.

Final Thoughts

If you only buy one thing today, get a disc lock with a reminder cable and use it every single time you park. Then, when you can, put a real chain on the bike at home, because that's where it sits the longest. The Fahgettaboudit 1415 is the one I'd want wrapped around my own frame. The Evolution Compact is the one I'd want in my jacket. And the YOHOOLYO is proof you don't need a big budget to make your bike a pain in the butt to steal.

Real talk, guys, none of this makes your bike untouchable. It just makes it the wrong bike to pick. And that's the whole point. Lock it up, hide a tracker, sleep better. All right, that's it for this one. Ride safe and I'll catch you in the next one. Let's go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best type of motorcycle lock?

The best single type of motorcycle lock is a heavy hardened steel chain, 12mm or thicker, locked through the frame to a fixed anchor like a ground anchor or a steel post set in concrete. A chain like the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 stops the bike from being ridden away, rolled or lifted into a van, which is something a disc lock cannot do. The problem is weight, since serious chains weigh 10 to 15 pounds or more, so most riders leave them at home. That is why the best overall approach uses two lock types: a heavy chain where the bike sleeps, and a pocket-sized disc lock with a reminder cable for every stop during the day. Add a hidden tracker as a backup and you have three layers. No single lock covers every situation, and layered security is always harder to beat than one lock on its own.

Are disc locks worth it for motorcycles?

Yes, a disc lock is worth it for every rider and is the minimum security you should carry. It clamps through a hole in the brake rotor so the wheel cannot turn, it takes about five seconds to put on, and it fits in a jacket pocket. That stops the most common kind of theft, where someone simply rides or rolls the bike away. A mechanical disc lock like the Kryptonite Evolution Compact costs around $53, and a basic alarm disc lock like the YOHOOLYO LK603 is around $20. The main weakness is that a disc lock does nothing against lifting, so two people can still load the bike into a van. For that reason, treat a disc lock as your everyday first layer and pair it with a chain at home. Always use the reminder cable so you do not ride off with it still on the rotor.

Can bolt cutters cut a motorcycle chain lock?

Bolt cutters can cut thin chains, but they struggle badly with thick hardened ones. Chains around 7mm, like most budget integrated chains, can be cut by a large pair of bolt cutters with enough force. Once you get to 12mm and up in hardened manganese steel, normal bolt cutters are basically useless, because the jaws cannot open wide enough or generate enough force to bite through the link. A 14mm chain like the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit is effectively bolt-cutter-proof. An angle grinder can cut any chain eventually, but it needs power, makes a lot of noise, throws sparks and takes real time, which is exactly what thieves try to avoid. Six-sided or square links also help, because they give the cutting jaws less to grip than round links. Thicker hardened steel plus a good padlock is the combination that matters.

Where should I put a disc lock on my motorcycle?

Put the disc lock on the front brake rotor whenever you can. With the front wheel locked, the steering and fork geometry make it very hard to roll the bike forwards or backwards, while a locked rear wheel can sometimes be dragged if a thief lifts the back end of the bike. Slide the locking pin or shackle through one of the holes in the rotor or around the rotor carrier, as close to the hub as it will fit, so it is harder to get a tool in behind it. Before you buy, check that your rotor holes are big enough for the pin or shackle size, especially on scooters and small bikes. Then clip the reminder cable from the lock up to your handlebar or brake lever, every single time. Riding off with a disc lock still on can snap the lock, damage the rotor and caliper, or tip the bike over.

How much should I spend on motorcycle security?

A good rule of thumb is to spend around 5 to 10 percent of your motorcycle's value on security. For a $5,000 bike that works out to roughly $250 to $500 over time, which covers a solid chain, a disc lock and possibly a ground anchor or tracker. A budget setup with a YOHOOLYO alarm disc lock and a Kryptonite Keeper 785 chain costs about $70 and is a big step up from a steering lock alone. A mid-range setup with a Kryptonite Evolution Compact disc lock and a New York 1217 chain runs about $200. If you park in a high-theft area or own an expensive bike, go for a heavy 14mm chain, a ground anchor, a quality disc lock and a hidden tracker. Also check your insurance policy, since theft is usually only covered with comprehensive coverage, and some insurers ask for rated locks.

Do motorcycle lock alarms actually deter thieves?

Yes, alarm disc locks are a real deterrent, mostly because of the noise. A 100 to 120 dB siren is about as loud as a chainsaw or a rock concert, and it goes off as soon as the bike is bumped, rocked or moved. Most thieves want to work quietly and quickly, so a screaming alarm in a parking lot means witnesses, phones coming out and people looking, which is usually enough to make them walk away. An alarm does not physically stop someone from cutting a lock, and cheaper alarms like the YOHOOLYO LK603 can be set off by wind or passing trucks now and then. Batteries also need checking so the siren stays loud. The best use of an alarm lock is as one layer in a setup, combined with a strong chain at home and a hidden tracker in case the bike still disappears.

Should I use a motorcycle cover with my locks?

Yes, a cover is one of the cheapest extra layers you can add. Thieves often walk lots and driveways looking for specific models that are easy to steal or easy to sell for parts, and a cover hides the make, the model and any expensive upgrades. If a thief cannot tell what is under it, the bike is a bigger gamble, and pulling the cover off takes time and draws attention. Many quality covers have reinforced lock holes near the wheels, so you can run your chain or disc lock cable through the cover and stop it from being pulled off easily. Put the disc lock on first, then the cover, then the chain through the grommet and around your anchor. That gives you several layers before anyone even touches the bike. A cover also protects paint and seats from sun and rain, which is a nice bonus.