£149.99 British-made, angle-grinder-killing lock
LITELOK IS KNOWN FOR ITS lightweight, flexible, belt-like designs that combine tough locking mechanisms, and the mesh-like main material proved impressively tough in our last big-lock round-up. The new X1, however, has more traditional U-lock looks, but it uses a material that’s anything but traditional, and there are some innovative design details too.
The hardened, fine-grain-steel core is much like any other high-end steel shackle, but this is then fused with a coating that provides armour against angle-grinder discs. This material, Barronium, was developed by Litelok founder Neil Barron (see what they did there?) with the input of materials research specialists.
The 1.6kg weight is around the same as top-end rivals from the likes of Abus, Kryptonite and Squire, while the shackle provides a 101mm x 196mm aperture that you can thread through a wheel and frame for a secure lock position.
A neatly designed bottle-cage mounting bracket called the ‘Twist & Go’ allows you to insert the lock horizontally then twist it to lock it into place. I was impressed with its secure, stable and rattle-free fitting (the lock itself doesn’t rattle either).
There are other clever touches too. The shackle and body are coated with a plant-based eco rubber material that’s kind to bike frames and offers a little extra protection against cutting. Reflective graphics and strips on the shackle boost on-bike safety, while the toughened lock-barrel mechanism is protected from the elements by a soft-rubber aperture that you push the key through. It keeps water out and is easier to use than a sliding lock cover. Register your lock and Litelok backs it up with a three-year warranty and key-replacement service.
The X1 has Sold Secure’s highest Diamond rating, which means it can resist five-minute attacks from bolt croppers, drill, hacksaw, lump hammer, crowbar and much more. I wanted to test it for myself though. Using a pry-bar to try to twist the shackle and force the lock mechanism to ‘pop’ proved futile. Next up, I tried drilling out the lock mechanism with a portable drill, but the mechanism resisted the HSS dril
