Market: Although the British manufacturer Hiplok has not been on the market for very long, the clever bike locks have already established themselves in the confusing market. The manufacturer's premise for all its products is: They should not only be safe, but also practical. For the coming season, the lineup will be significantly expanded - including the SUPERBRIGHT series, whose locks protect not only the bike but also the rider.
It all started at Hiplok with a simple idea: why can't a bicycle lock be both secure and practical at the same time? Because let's be honest - locks for your beloved bike are often a necessary evil: Sure, you can't do without them, but the unwieldy and often quite heavy chains or brackets need to be stowed away somehow while driving. You don't always want to take a backpack with you just for the castle. Sure, there are also frame brackets - but it hurts a little in the cyclist's soul when you tinker with your own bike for what feels like an eternity until you like it and then the optics go flutes again with a bulky lock.
John Abrahams and Benjamin Smith - the two brains behind Hiplok - were also familiar with this problem. Her solution: a lock that becomes a belt while driving. Thanks to an easily adjustable locking mechanism, the lock fits both during the season and with a little (or a little more...) winter fat on the hips. The highlight: You don't have to unlock the Hiplok to put it around your waist. This saves a lot of time and the lock is always at hand even when things are hectic.
The British testing institute Sold Secure has been testing locks of all kinds for over 20 years. The institute divides bicycle locks into three categories: gold, silver and bronze. In Great Britain, many insurers link their benefits to the use of a lock with a certain Sold Secure Level, as the classification is independent.
Hiplok GOLD, ORIGINAL and LITE
There are now three basic versions of these 'belt locks': Hiplok GOLD, Hiplok ORIGINAL and Hiplok LITE. As the names already suggest, the differences between these three model variants lie in weight, safety standards and, of course, in the price. The Hiplok locks are certified according to the Sold Secure standard, which is very well known in the UK and represents a kind of 'Foundation Product Test for Security Utensils'.
The almost 2,5 kg GOLD variant is expressly recommended by Hiplok for high-risk areas - city dwellers cycling can probably sing a song about it and know where they should secure their bikes with heavy artillery at best. In addition, the most expensive variant offers coded keys, which can also be reordered if the three supplied are not enough or are lost. While the Hiplok ORIGINAL is, so to speak, the all-rounder in the portfolio, the LITE lock is also aimed at athletes: you can hardly feel the slim and only 1.000g heavy lock on the hips and it does not restrict freedom of movement.
Hiplok GOLD
Sold Secure Level: Gold
Circumference: 85 cm
Weight: 2.400g
Price: €119,99 (RRP)
Hiplok Original (v1.50)
Sold Secure Level: Silver
Circumference: 90 cm
Weight: 1.800g
Price: €89,99 (RRP)
Hiplok LITE
Sold Secure Level: Bronze
Circumference: 75 cm
Weight: 1.000g
Price: €64,99 (RRP)
Hiplok SUPERBRIGHT: safety for bike and rider
New for this season is the SUPERBRIGHT line. This is a special coating of the chain for GOLD, ORIGINAL or LITE, which consists of a highly reflective material and thus ensures significantly improved visibility for the driver while driving. The price of the locks in the SUPERBRIGHT version is only slightly higher: the GOLD model costs €129,99, while the ORIGINAL costs €99,99 and the LITE costs €69,99.
Hiplok D series: U-locks for the waistband
With the D series, Hiplok has also expanded its portfolio to include U-locks in the past. Thanks to the clever design, they can be attached to a belt or waistband with a flick of the wrist and don't get in the way while driving - backpacks or frame mounts for the lock are no longer necessary. The highlight among the Hiplok U-locks is the Hiplok DXC. The Sold Secure Gold U-lock weighs 1.100g and the 14mm thick steel shackle with nylon coating protects the frame, but also reliably keeps thieves away. In addition to three coded keys, there is also a 1m long steel cable with which you can, for example, additionally secure your helmet, bag or even the wheel. The Hiplok DXC costs €89,99.
Hiplok DX
Sold Secure Level: Gold
Hasp circumference: 15×8,5cm
Weight: 1.000g
Price: €79,99 (RRP)
Hiplok D
Sold Secure Level: Silver
Hasp circumference: 13,5x7cm
Weight: 1.000g
Price: € 69,99
Hiplok DXC
Sold Secure Level: Gold
Hasp circumference: 15×8,5cm
Weight: 1.100g
including steel cable (1m)
Price: € 89,99
Hippok C
Sold Secure Level: Silver
Hasp circumference: 13,5x7cm
Weight: 1.100g
including steel cable (1m)
Price: € 79,99
Hiplok FLX - Practical cable lock for athletes
Every cyclist knows the problem: you want to take a short break every now and then during training or on a tour. A coffee with a view of the mountains and a piece of cake are simply the best reward after a hard session and will quickly make you forget about your burning thighs. But what to do with the expensive training device? Parking within sight is often not enough, potential thieves are gone faster than you might think if the worst comes to the worst.
The new Hiplok FLX is intended for precisely such cases. The 100g light cable lock reliably secures the carbon racer or the high-tech fully against opportunistic thieves during short breaks with the 1m long steel cable and thanks to the combination lock you don't need a key to lock it. During the ride, the FLX can be attached to a jersey, bag or backpack using the integrated clip. The integrated red LED light is very cool - should the trip take longer than expected. The cable lock goes on sale for €39,99.
Hiplok HOMIE - security within your own four walls
It's no longer a secret that a large proportion of bicycle thefts don't happen on the go, but within one's own four walls. Cellar compartments in apartment buildings or garages are particularly affected by this - but how should you protect your beloved two-wheelers at home? In the worst case, thieves have all the time in the world to pick locks. Hiplok has also recently come up with a solution for this: The Hiplok HOMIE brings out the really heavy artillery - with the 150cm long and 10mm thick chain made of hardened steel and the extremely robust and multi-secured lock, the HOMIE brings a whopping 4,6kg to the Scale.
Thanks to the large circumference, several bikes can also be easily connected with the massive chain. If the lock is not needed because the bikes are on the road, you can hang up the HOMIE on the optionally available wall hook. The Hiplok HOMIE, which was unsurprisingly awarded Sold Secure Gold, costs €149,99.
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