Kryptonite Motorcycle Lock

Locking up your expensive motorcycle is one way to deter would-be thieves. While there are several types of locks, chains, and cables available on the market, the most ubiquitous and easy to use are rotor locks. These locks are small and help deter roll or drive-away thefts of your prized possession.

Kryptonite, the well-known makers of numerous styles of security locks, sent us two of the company's rotor locks to evaluate. We tried out the chrome version of the 5-S and the 10-S models. The 5-S is the smaller of the two stapler-style disc locks that immobilize the front or rear wheel. Both locks feature a new dual-reinforced, high-security disc-style lock cylinder made of hardened drop-forged steel that resists cutting, sawing, freezing, and chisel attacks. The 5-S has a 5mm pin diameter that fits in the rotor's vent holes (particularly useful for rotors without cutouts), while the 10-S has a longer reach and higher security rated 10mm pin.

Kryptonite locks come with a limited lifetime warranty and lifetime key registration that provides your first set of replacement of keys for free.

Check out the pics below for a couple of tips to make using your disc lock safer. It's not fun (well, sometimes it is to your friends) to ride off with the lock in place.

Here's the 10-S secured to the front disc. When securing the lock to the rotor, you want it as close to the caliper or fork leg as you can get it. Why? If you happen to try and move or ride the bike forward (or backward, depending on which way you're parked), the lock will prevent the wheel from spinning and building up speed or momentum. If you happen to put the lock, say, at the top of the rotor in this situation, the wheel will have the opportunity to roll up to about 5 feet or so before your world goes crashing to the ground. It's a real quick stop, and most likely you will bend your rotor and damage your caliper.