it takes a boeing fighter aircraft to break through the litelok bike lock

designed by british engineer neil barron, the litelok silver is made from patented ‘boaflexicore’ material, and is claimed to be the world’s lightest secure bike lock. it’s said to be so strong it would take a cutting load of 148 kN (33,000 lb), equivalent to the weight of an F-18 hornet fighter jet, focused through a sharp point. 

images courtesy of litelok

the strap is made from very strong, ultra-lightweight material they call ‘boaflexicore’. boaflexicore is a composite which is a non-contiguous material, meaning it’s not the same solid material all the way through. with traditional locks like the rigid D/U type or metal chain links, bolt croppers need only to create the tiniest crack in the metal. once a crack forms the fracture can easily grow and spread all the way through the material.

the litelok silver has undergone years of in-house testing against every common bike theft tool under the sun. that includes simulating real life street theft attacks and under lab conditions using machines that can apply forces far greater than any human can. in response barron has made what is arguably the strongest and lightest bike lock available. even the lock housing is made from hardened aerospace steel alloy to protects from impact attacks including freeze spray, hammer & chisel.

‘it’s almost impossible to break a litelok silver through twisting it with a tool like a crowbar or tire iron’, it explains on the product’s kickstarter page. ‘in fact it could cause serious injury to anyone who tries. as you turn the crowbar or tire iron in a litelok silver, energy builds up within the tensioned boaflexicore material which will spring back and unwind rather violently if you let go.’

the litelok silver is available in three options, all UV protected, waterproof, and under a kilogram in weight: choose from 630 grams, 730 grams, and 830 grams. their even rattle proof in response to market research that found this one of cyclists biggest annoyances. it comes with a wearable kit, which is infinitely adjustable and designed to fit the majority of riders. the flexibility of the lock gives you more places to lock your bike too. it is available for purchase through a kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.