How to Secure Bicycles, E-Bikes and Motorcycles

Why two-wheelers need a security system, not just a lock

Bicycles, e-bikes and motorcycles are among the easiest high-value items for a thief to take. They are light enough to lift into a van, they can be ridden or wheeled away in seconds, and they are often left in sheds, garages, driveways and bike racks for hours at a time. An e-bike can cost as much as a used car, and a motorcycle stolen from a home garage is rarely seen again.

The answer is not a single lock. It is a security system made of three parts that work together: a hardened security chain, a padlock that is as tough as the chain, and a fixed anchor point that the bike cannot be separated from. Thieves look for the weakest link in that system. If one part fails, the other two count for nothing.

This guide walks through each part using the products available from English Chain Direct, and shows how to combine them for bicycles, e-bikes and motorcycles.

Anchor points: just as important as the chain

A £150 Gold Secure Gold chain wrapped around a drainpipe, a wooden fence post or a flimsy shed bracket is only as strong as that drainpipe or post. Thieves know this. Rather than attack hardened steel, they cut, unbolt or lever out whatever the chain is attached to, then carry the bike away with the chain still on it and deal with it later. The anchor point is the part of the system that is attacked most often, so it deserves the same thought and budget as the chain itself.

A good anchor point is made from hardened steel, fixed into solid concrete or masonry, and fitted so that its fixings cannot be reached once the chain is in place. English Chain Direct offers several options:

• Ground And Wall Anchor (80mm, from £14.40): made from case hardened steel that resists hacksaws and bolt cutters. It can be fixed to a garage floor, where the ring lies flat when not in use, or to a wall, where the ring projects outward. Its countersunk holes let the fixings sit flush, removing leverage points. We recommend it for motorcycle security in domestic garages and for bicycles.
• Trojan Ground Anchor (£58.50): a heavier-duty ground anchor for owners who want a more substantial fixed point in a garage, driveway or yard.
• 10mm Anchor Bolt (Eye Bolt Anchor) (from £1.80): an eye bolt that expands into drilled masonry, useful for creating an extra wall-mounted fixing point for a bicycle in a garage or utility room.
• Earthscrew Ground Anchor (£11.94): a 565mm galvanised steel screw that twists into soil without concrete. It is useful for tethering on grass or gravel, such as at a campsite, but because it can be unscrewed it should be treated as a deterrent rather than a high-security point.
• Rings, hooks and staples on plate (from £1.32): handy for light tethering and wall storage, but they are not designed to withstand a determined attack on a valuable bike.

Fitting tips

• Fix anchors into solid concrete or brick, never into timber cladding, plasterboard or a single course of breeze block.
• Use the strongest masonry fixings the anchor will take, and position the anchor so the chain covers the fixing heads when locked.
• Fit floor anchors close to a wall or corner. This stops thieves getting a long bar under the chain for leverage.
• Set the anchor low so the chain and lock lie on the ground. A lock resting on concrete cannot easily be braced for a bolt cropper or struck with a hammer.

Choosing the right security chain

Not every chain is a security chain. Standard welded, zinc plated or galvanised chain is ideal for lifting, fencing and general use, but it can be cut quickly with a hacksaw or bolt cutters. For a bike or motorcycle you need chain that has been hardened right through, so the steel resists both sawing and cropping.

The Superquad range uses square-section alloy steel links that are both case hardened and through hardened. The square profile makes it harder for bolt cropper jaws to grip, and the blue thermoshrunk sleeve on sleeved versions protects frames and paintwork from scratches.

Length matters. Choose a chain that is long enough to pass through the frame and the anchor point, but no longer. Spare chain gives thieves slack to lift the lock off the ground and get leverage. For most bicycles 90cm to 120cm is enough; motorcycles usually need 120cm to 150cm to reach the frame or swingarm and a ground anchor.

Padlocks and chain and lock sets

A hardened chain secured with a cheap brass padlock simply moves the weak point to the lock. The padlock should match the chain in strength and should fit the links snugly.

• 65mm Steel Close Shackle Lock (£120.00): the shoulders of the lock body surround the shackle, leaving very little exposed for bolt croppers or a lever. This is the natural partner for 14mm motorcycle chain.
• Armoured Chainlocks (£35.52): a hardened steel body with twin shackles, anti-pull shackle heads, an anti-drill guard and a 6/7 pin cylinder. It suits 8–10mm chain links, making it a good match for 8mm and 10mm Superquad on bicycles and e-bikes. A keyed alike version (£40.50) lets one key open the locks on every bike in the household.
• Tri-Circle Stainless Steel Armoured Lock (from £11.40) and Weather Resistant Lock (from £5.16): lighter options for a secondary cable or for bikes kept inside a locked garage.

If you would rather buy a matched system, the 14mm Superquad Security Chain + 65mm Steel Close Shackle Padlock set (120cm £291.24, 150cm £325.80, 200cm £383.40) pairs motorcycle-grade chain with the close shackle lock. For lighter duties, the Chain and Lock Set (£9.90) is a budget option for a child's bike or a low-value bike stored indoors.

Cable locks as secondary protection

Cables are flexible and quick to use, but braided steel can be cut faster than hardened chain. Use them as a second layer, not as the main lock on a valuable bike.

The Steel Double Loop Security Cable (from £3.60) has a loop at each end and comes in 10mm and 12mm diameters, in lengths from 1.8m to 9.0m. It works well for:

• Threading through quick-release wheels and saddles, then locking both loops to the main chain.
• Running through several bikes in a shed or garage and back to a single anchor point, with the 4.5m or 9.0m lengths.
• Securing helmets, panniers or a motorcycle cover alongside the main chain.

The Garden Security Kit (from £17.76) and Garden Furniture Security Kit (from £14.28) package cable, fixings and lock together, which is a convenient starting point for a bike shed that also holds the mower and garden furniture.

Recommended setups

Bicycles

At home, fit a Ground And Wall Anchor to the garage or shed floor, or to a solid brick wall. Lock a 10mm Superquad chain through the frame and rear wheel, around the anchor, and close it with an Armoured Chainlock. Add a Double Loop Security Cable through the front wheel and saddle. If the shed is timber, fix the anchor into a concrete base rather than the shed itself.

E-bikes

E-bikes are heavier, more valuable and more targeted than ordinary bikes, so treat them like a small motorcycle. Use 10mm Superquad as a minimum, and consider 14mm chain where the e-bike is stored outdoors or in a communal area. Always lock the frame, not just a wheel, and remove the battery and display when you can. A Trojan or Ground And Wall Anchor set into concrete gives the chain something worth locking to.

Motorcycles

For motorcycles, use 14mm Superquad chain, which is Gold rated for motorcycles, with the 65mm Steel Close Shackle Lock. Anchor it to a ground anchor bolted into a concrete garage floor or driveway. Pass the chain through the frame or swingarm rather than a wheel, which can be removed. Keep the chain short and taut, with as little slack as possible for a thief to work with. If you keep more than one bike, a keyed alike lock set makes daily use simpler.

Final checklist

• Anchor fixed into solid concrete or masonry, with fixings hidden under the chain
• Hardened, through-hardened chain sized for the vehicle (10mm for bicycles, 14mm for motorcycles)
• Padlock that matches the chain's strength and fits the links snugly
• Chain through the frame, not just a wheel, with minimal slack
• Cable for wheels, saddles and accessories as a second layer
• Bike out of sight, garage or shed locked, and frame number recorded

The strongest chain in the world will not stop a thief if it is attached to something they can cut, unscrew or lift. Invest in the anchor point as seriously as the chain and the lock, and your bicycle, e-bike or motorcycle becomes a far harder target than the one next door.

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