What I've learned from Dutch friends is to have two different kinds of locks on your bike.
So when I for an electric bike I for a string u lock plus a horseshoe lock
this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2025
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micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility
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I specifically buy my bikes cheap as to not worry about theft. But i haven't had a bike stolen yet, my last one wore out after about 10 years, before i upgraded to the next cheap bike.
While it hurts to do it, especially with a new bike: make it look worthless/less expensive. Make it dirty and sputter some mud on it. If thieves don't think it is worthwhile to steal, the lock doesn't need to be too sophisticated and you are less nervous. For commuting I would not use my best bike, but a reliable one.
I use an ABUS U-Lock to lock my bike, to answer your original question.
Hexlox for the seat, seatpost suspension, and handlebar bolts, as well as hexlox for the axles.
Abus granit x-plus u-lock, cafe lock with Abus chain lock integrated, and a cable lock for my front wheel.
Also bike insurance.
I have all these stupid locks because I have an ebike. I have an ebike to help offset all the weight of these stupid locks.
My primary defense is the lock it inside limited access bike rooms - I have my own spot in a bike shed that only people paying for a bike parking spot can access at my home, and at work there's a bike room that requires a badge to access.
Additionally, I have a folding lock that I fold around some kind of secure piece of metal, through the frame and the back wheel.
When out and about, I try to leave the bike where I am able to see it, in daylight, in places where there's a good amount of foot traffic.
These strategies have worked out so far. I'm considering upgrading to a U-lock, but I've so far been reluctant as I fear it may reduce the amount of places where I can lock the bike to.
I use a thick chain on my ebike. I forget if it's 11mm or 13mm. But it is thick AF. I also have a Ulock for extra protection. Your city might also use a locker program, which might be administered through something like Bikelink. If so, use it. The lockers are usually spread out in high foot traffic areas like transit hubs.
If weight is a concern, I'd get a ulock like the Hiplok D1000. It's going to take thieves about 10 cutting wheels to get through.
Crappy looking and cheap 90s road bike and one good lock has done the trick so far.
My seat has one of those quick release things so I lock it with the U-lock and take the seat with me.
1 x Hiplok D1000(front tyre)
1 x Hiplok DX1000(rear tyre and frame)
2 x Hiplok X Chain(if needed to secure the other 2 locks to something)
I use the chain that came with my Load5 60 to secure the saddle. Sure someone might unbolt the seat but then that usually means it was a targeted theft.
I bring my bike into my office and keep it folded up under my desk, but when I can't, I use a Skunklock Chemical U-lock and supplement it with an additional lock or two if I have to lock up somewhere sketchy. You can run a lock through your seat and use security bolts, or just take the post out entirely and bring it with you.
Be sure to lock the rear wheel through the frame especially if you have a hub motor. I also recommend having a tracker or three hidden on your bike, a motion alarm, and if you have a really nice bike, insurance specifically for it is a good idea (personally I just buy entry level but good quality bikes).
If you're looking for a quality cut resistant u-lock, Litelock X1 and X3 seem to be the best but I like the active defense of the Chemical (nobody has tried their luck yet lol). It's also good to keep self defense options on you in case you encounter a thief in the act (pepper spray is a great option - legal almost everywhere, light, compact, nonlethal, has some range, and will work equally well on aggressive animals).
Any bike worth more than $1k, I add to my insurance. Below that, I'm just really careful.
What a nightmare. Seriously, this inadvertently reads as a very effective health warning against even buying a bike in the first place. Unfortunately.
Personally I share OP's anxiety. My solution is simple: Never leave the thing in a public place for more than about 10 minutes, even locked. The fact that it's foldable helps.
In fact, the popularity of foldables surely has something to do with this whole conundrum.
Kryptonite makes some solid chain locks that I like.
But I think the most important thing is to always leave your bike next to other bikes that are more desirable (I.e. both noticeably easier to steal and more expensive).
I don't exactly live in a high crime area and I ride cheapish bikes but I usually use my Foldylock Forever or Skunklock Chemical. The lock I use depends on the bike I'm riding too, but then I also supplement it with a Hiplok Gold if I'm extra worried.
Being smart about where you leave your bike helps a lot too.
The saddle is locked with a small lock to the frame and if I leave it at the train station I put one lock through the front wheel and the frame and another through the back and frame.
The most important thing is that mine is not worth stealing.