A few years ago Litelok made us rethink how heavy a high-security bike lock needed to be thanks to its flexible, composite construction. Now the same Boaflexicore material is back on Kickstarter in the new Litelok Silver – it’s another 25% lighter, and still rated Silver secure for use in moderate risk environments.
Litelok Silver ultra light, flexible Sold Secure Silver bike lock
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/189084529/litelok-silver-the-worlds-lightest-secure-bike-loc
The heart of the Litelok Silver is a thinner, more flexible version of Litelok’s patented Boaflexicore composite material. That blends a mix of alloy wires inside & polymers outside to create a loop that can’t simply be defeated with conventional tool in a bike thief’s arsenal. That means it is still resistant to cutting with bolt cutters, sawing through, or twisting in an attempt to snap it.
The idea of course is that if your lock is lighter and easier to use, you are more likely to use it. And the Litelok Silver is again much lighter and more convenient than most bike locks on the market.
Picking the Lock, or rather lock security ratings
The first step to picking what bike lock to buy is figuring out how secure a lock you really need. Since all of the Liteloks are made in Britain, they’ve developed & tested the locks with the independent trade organization Sold Secure. If you aren’t in the UK, that still provides a useful reference as Sold Secure has a pretty huge database. Essentially the Gold rating like the original Litelok meant a lock was secure for up to 5 minutes of intensive attack by a thief with advanced tools – mostly intended for use in high risk urban environments.
Sold Secure Silver was meant for up to 3 minutes of attack with multiple tool types – something Litelok says is more suited for running errands or securing your bike in less risky area. Litelok continues to develop a range of locks, to offer the right lock to the right cyclist and situation, but always lighter than the competition. The Litelok Silver looks pretty solid, and might even lead to increased bolt cutter sales (that is replacement sales if anyone else tries to cut Liteloks with them.)
Litelok Silver Tech Details
The new Litelok Silver is composed of a new four-strip Boaflexicore strap (vs. 6 inside the Gold version) with a soft-to-the-touch, abrasion-resistant polymer coating. Bound to the end of the new strap is an updated & smaller hardened steel lock that can also be connected inline with other Litelok Silvers to create longer loops.
Litelok Silver is available in three lengths – 52cm, 70cm & 85cm – to give you all the lock you need with the lightest weight possible. That amounts to 630g, 730g, or 830g, respectively depending on length, making the Litelok Silver up to 25% lighter than the original Litelok Gold.
The Litelok Silver is around 40-50% lighter than the average of equally rated U-locks, D-locks, chain locks, or reinforced/armored cable locks. The Litelok Silver also becomes the lightest lock to ever earn the Sold Secure Silver rating.
The Litelok Silver can be carried on the bike as a closed loop, or extended straight and strapped to your toptube with the included velcro straps. A wearable kit to loop the lock around your waist was popular with customers of the original Litelok Gold, so this new one gets that option too.
Litelok Silver Kickstarter Pricing & Expected Delivery
Early Bird pricing on the Kickstarter begins at £55 for the shortest, lightest version, adding £10 for each step up in length, plus an additional £5 if you miss out on the earliest deals. Starting with the 70cm versions, the wearable kit is also included for free during the crowdfunding. Litelok expects to deliver the new locks to Kickstarter backers in February 2019.
As we write the Litelok Kickstarter campaign is already more than three-quarters of the way to their crowdfunding target with four weeks left to go. Act quickly if you want to get in on the Early Bird discounts.
Given enough time, thieves can defeat any bike lock, so to avoid any ultimate loss, they also are offering a new global Litelok Theft Protection for £30 per year if you get it when you buy the lock. Litelok would then replace your stolen bike up to £1500 if it had been secured properly with a Litelok (subject to terms & conditions of course).
