Kryptonite Locks Reviewed: The Good, the Bad, and the Practical
A tale as old as time itself: you stop for a quick thirty-second convenience store run, leave your bike outside, and tell yourself you’ll be fine! You know exactly what you need, and you’ll be in and out before you even notice, so why bother locking your bike? Taking the lock out, grabbing your keys, finding a good spot, securing it properly… and then doing it all again when you come back. Is it even worth it? Then come the coping mechanisms . “It has no brakes, who would ride it?” “It looks rusty, why would anyone want it?” And so on… I’m 100% guilty of doing that way too often, so today let’s find a solution.
Before getting into this post’s topic, here’s my experience with locks. I’ve mainly used two: the Kryptonite U-Lock Mini and a very light but frankly terrible “Palmy” lock. Both did their job, even if the Palmy could be cut like butter. The real issue was that I kept forgetting to bring them with me. That led me to questionable strategies like locking my bike with other people’s bikes or just keeping it unlocked while kind of in sight at all times. But still, it never felt ideal.
What if it didn’t have to be this way? What if I could walk into any coffee without worrying? Leave my bike on a rack overnight? Or just carry something light and compact that works in most situations? That’s where Kryptonite comes in! They sent me a range of products to test over a couple of months, and here are my impressions.
Let’s start with a classic: the chain, or here more specifically, the Evolution Integrated Chain. (~$100) Heavy, hard to cut, and unmistakably noisy, it’s never been my go-to for city riding. I was never the messenger-type carrying a massive chain everywhere. At nearly 3 kg, it’s just not practical for daily use as I’ve always preferred U-locks. That said, the chain proved incredibly useful for securing multiple bikes at the back of my van. The integrated locking mechanism feels more solid than pairing a chain with a separate lock, and the cylinder is designed to resist picking and drilling. It’s easy to loop through frames and wheels to secure everything to a rack. Not something I’d carry daily, but a reliable solution I’m glad to have.
Next is the Keeper Mini Folding Lock. (~$60) Not my favorite in terms of style, but surprisingly practical for my cargo bike. Instead of having a chain rattling around on the front platform, the foldable lock sits neatly in its case. I wouldn’t mount it on a standard bike, but I found a discreet spot for it on my Omnium Mini. With a cargo platform, it’s often difficult to get close enough to a fixed object (like a fence or a wall anchor) to use a U-lock effectively. Normally, that’s where a chain helps, but since I dislike loose gear on the front, this became a great alternative. With a 4/10 Kryptonite security rating, I wouldn’t trust it overnight, since each segment also gives a flat surface that could be targeted by an angle grinder. It’s practical, easy to use, with a clever magnet system to fold it back easily, and just an overall very neat and clean solution. Still, it's probably my least favorite of the bunch visually, but 100% useful and functional for quick cargo stops.
Then there’s the new “New York Diamond Standard." (~$340) This is Kryptonite’s first lock with a 10/10 Diamond rating, and for good reasons. It features a diamond coating designed to destroy angle grinder discs during cutting attempts. I initially wanted to test this myself, but after watching a couple of YouTube demonstrations, I realized it would take an absurd number of discs just to get through one side. And because of the hardened double deadbolt system, both sides need to be cut to free the bike.
This lock is no joke.
The diamond coating is designed to wreck cutting discs, making attacks slow and frustrating. It is not invincible, but it can turn a theft attempt into a long, expensive job that many thieves will simply abandon.
Some sources suggest that the New York Diamond Standard may take around 7 to 10 discs per side to get through, and this is the main point: no lock is unbreakable, but these are engineered to make the effort so time-consuming that thieves move on to an easier target.
It’s important to note that Kryptonite had a “defective batch” at the very beginning of this lock, which was over a year ago, so it's safe to say that if you buy a new one from a reputable shop, you should be fine. It is an expensive bit of kit at over $300 that you’ll probably not take with you for short rides. That said, it makes sense if you keep a bike in a storage area you do not fully trust or if you regularly leave it out in the wild for several hours. I keep mine mounted on the rack at the back of my van thanks to their mounting system. It’s ideal to grab that lock quickly for securing bikes or anything else overnight.
Finally, my favorite of the entire test (with a slight problem towards the end of my review), and also the weakest! The Click Lock (~$15) doesn’t even have a security rating, and realistically, it could be cut in seconds with the right tool. But that’s not the point here. It’s incredibly light, requires no key, and I carried two of them everywhere during my month in Asia earlier this year. Whether grabbing a coffee, stepping into a post office, or sitting at a terrace with my bike in view, it gave me just enough peace of mind to actually enjoy what I was doing. It’s not a real lock, but it’ll prevent someone from simply hopping on your rig and riding away. Again! This is not a serious security solution, but it removes that constant low-level stress for short stops, and honestly, that made traveling with my bike easier (since I didn’t have to carry that U-lock with me everywhere) and so much more enjoyable.
One of them unfortunately broke near the plastic part you pull to release the locking mechanism. Sad indeed, but it gave me the opportunity to contact Kryptonite directly and ask what would happen in this case. Here is the answers I got:
Would this issue be covered under your warranty?
Yes, Kryptonite provides a limited lifetime warranty for the click lock
If so, would the lock simply be replaced?
We would need a picture of the broken lock and a proof of purchase. Then our team will review and send a new lock to the customer.
Also, is this a known issue that you’re planning to address?
This is the first time we have heard of this issue; we appreciate you letting us know this happened so we can keep an eye on it.
So what’s my final take? First things first, Kryptonite is a brand I trust. It may seem like a simple reason, but seeing so many of their locks on bikes all around the world has made the name feel like a kind of global standard, and that in itself is a real mark of confidence in my eyes. I would not advise anyone to be as relaxed about bike security as I was for the past decade, especially with bike theft becoming more common every year.
I have also learned that even if a compact U-lock has been my go-to choice for many years, it is not a universal solution. How you use your bike; where you live, how long you leave it locked, and where, all matter when choosing the right lock. For me, this is a mixed-use setup, and I hope this review has helped narrow down what you might need.
It’s your bike, might as well keep it!
💾: Leica SL
📍: Belgium
