The Litelok X1 is one of the lightest Diamond-rated D-locks around. Even more impressive is that for the 1.7kg weight it’s a full-size lock with large internal locking dimensions. And it was the cheapest lock to survive our angle grinder test by a long way. The only thing that leaves a bit to be desired is the optional Tactical Mount, which only suits traditional bike frames.
> Buy now: Litelok X1 for £149.99 from Litelok
The Litelok X1 has been the darling of YouTube angle grinder-testing aficionados since launch a few years ago. As I said, it’s sized like a traditional D-lock but is comparatively light – the Hiplok DX1000 I’ve also been testing (full review to come) is roughly the same size but weighs nearly a kilo more and is also twice the price.
Litelok has traded on its signature reflective strips to signal to would-be thieves that This Is Not The Bike You’re Looking For. And in the urban jungle where the Litelok is at home, who doesn’t like a bit more reflectivity?
The X1 is rubber coated to spare your bike’s paintwork, and is opened by a barrel-shaped secure key (you get two). A couple of times I found it needed some jiggling, but mostly it worked first time.
As with all angle grinder-resistant locks, the X1 relies not simply on thick steel but rather a material that eats the grinding disc. In our test the X1 was one of seven locks that survived the road.cc Angle Grinder Test Of Doom, leaving Dodgy Dave to weep like Malakili the Rancor keeper.
To the front line for a report back from Dave on how the X1 fared: “The jaws of our bolt croppers wouldn’t fit around the X1 so we attacked it with the angle grinder. Our angle grinder disc was totally worn out after one and a half minutes. We were damaging the lock, but we were damaging our angle grinder disc more. We could have changed the angle grinder disc and carried on, but that would have taken time – which a thief might or might not have. We would have got through it eventually, but it survived according to the test rules we’d set ourselves. We used masses of battery power trying to get through this lock – we might have run out of power before cutting through the lock – and how many thieves have the foresight to carry a back-up battery?”
> Your bike’s been stolen – now what?
So far, so secure. You can trust the X1 to keep your bike safe, or at the least protect your subsequent insurance claim, so all’s good there.
A note about the Diamond rating: it might protect your insurance claim, but not your bike. Litelok’s own Diamond-rated £140 Core Plus lock was cut through by our angle grinder in just 49 seconds.
Mount moans
Living with the X1 is a binary choice: bring your own luggage to carry it – backpack, pannier, other type of bag – and you get a nice neoprene case to pop it into; or use Litelok’s £20 Tactical Mount. One definition of ‘tactical’ is ‘day-to-day actions necessary to achieve goals’, and if your goal is to carry a 1.7kg lock on your bike, the Tactical Mount fits the bill – with caveats.
Firstly, you need to have frame tubes with diameters from 23 to 63mm with a clear 150mm length for the Tactical Mount to clamp to – which will suit traditionally framed bikes.
Secondly, you need the space inside your frame to fit the lock itself – and this is where the full-size nature of the X1 may play against it for some. It only just fits into the frame of my Sonder Camino XL gravel bike, with two bottle cages and bottles present. A smaller size frame would sacrifice one or both bottles. And likely you can forget mounting it to a step-through frame bike, as that would mean blocking the step-through part. The Tactical Mount won’t work on any kind of rack or handlebar either.
That’s not to say the Tactical Mount is a bad design per se. It’s been well thought through, and once fitted is very solid and with rubber protection that shouldn’t mark your frame. You actually lock the X1 to the mount, so it’s not going anywhere unless someone unscrews the mount itself. I have seen reports of the Tactical Mount rubbing the reflective sticker to the point it eventually peels off the X1; I noticed a bit of peeling, and the sticker did split in one place, so Litelok could do better in this regard.
Bicycle insurance: compare quotes and find yourself a great deal to get your bike covered
Value
The Litelok X1 is arguably the best bang-for-your-buck in the Diamond-rated angle grinder-proof market, one that has a mount available anyway. The OnGuard RockSolid 8590 (full review to come) is 400g lighter but costs £50 more than the X1 – and there’s no mount available. Plus, the RockSolid has a smaller internal dimension.
If you really need a pannier rack, seatpost, handlebar or frame mount that will fit almost any bike, the heavier and more expensive (by £100) Hiplok D1000 and its large ecosystem of mounts from third-party partners is a good shout to check out. Just be aware that it has a smaller internal locking space, and won’t go around some e-bike battery tubes, such as the Cube Kathmandu.
Conclusion
For the price and performance, one of only two to score full marks in our test, the Litelok X1 is a cracking buy. Just think through how you’ll carry it on your bike first.
> Buy now: Litelok X1 for £149.99 from Litelok
Verdict
Excellent lightweight and very well-priced grinder-proof lock
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Litelok X1
Size tested: One
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
It’s for people wanting a full-size grinder-proof D-lock at a great price.
Litelok says:
LITELOK X1 is armoured with Barronium®, a patent pending composite material that resists angle grinder attack by turning the grinder’s energy and force in on itself. It offers at least 5 times more resistance than the best-selling D-locks without adding any extra weight. It is permanently fused to a hardened fine-grain high-tensile steel core which provides protection against all other commonly used tools such as bolt croppers, cable cutters, long bars, hammers and chisels.
It is the only full-sized armoured D-lock on the market and contains a host of clever design features that make it easy to use and carry so you can keep your bike secure against the most determined bike thieves.
Barronium® fused composite armour repels angle grinder attacks
Unique anti-rotation feature protects against twisting attacks and single cuts
The natural finish soft plant-based eco-rubber outer layer won’t damage your frame
Engineered for smooth and quiet operation
Reflective strips keep you safe and seen
Unique, innovative self-sealing silicone keyhole cover means you don’t have to remember to open or close your keyhole to keep out dirt, dust and moisture
Independently tested and approved by Sold Secure
Certified Sold Secure Bicycle Diamond and Sold Secure Motorcycle Diamond
X1 is compatible with both the X1 Tactical Mount and Twist & Go mount, both sold separately (unless otherwise stated)
Proudly Made in Britain using precision engineering
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Litelok:
LITELOK X1
Weight 1.7kg / 3.7lb
Internal Dimensions 101 x 197mm (3.97 x 7.7″)
External Dimensions 143 x 263mm (5.62 x 10.35″)
Shackle Dimensions 21 x 24mm
Lock Body Dimensions 35 x 175mm (1.3 x 6.9″)
Mount Compatible with X1 Tactical Mount and Twist & Go Mount (both sold separately)
Security Accreditation:
Pedal Cycle Sold Secure Diamond
Powered Cycle Sold Secure Diamond
ART4
Overall very good, though the stickers peel off easily, and the key needs jiggling on occasion.
Brilliant grinder-proofness.
The rubber coating is good, but the stickers are fragile.
At £149.99 for Diamond rating that actually works, it’s great value.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Overall it’s a quality, great value lock.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The price and weight.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The Tactical Mount was a bit of a letdown, as was the quality of the stickers.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The price is very sharp. It’s the cheapest of the seven that survived the angle grinder in our test, £50 less than the next cheapest, and these are the only two to score 100 overall. The most expensive is £289.99.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes-ish
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, but with caveats.
Use this box to explain your overall score
It’s an excellent lock, and great value. The lack of a universal mount is the only letdown really.
About the tester
Age: 47 Height: 183cm Weight: 77kg
I usually ride: Sonder Camino Gravelaxe My best bike is: Nah bro that’s it
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, general fitness riding, mtb, G-R-A-V-E-L
1 thought on “Litelok X1”
These are great – best
These are great – best investement if you don’t want your bike nicked by the usual suspects in London. I opted for the moto version, with the sleeve, instead of the mount; no way I’m mounting it to my frame with the chunky mount they offer. Better to have the sleve and slap it in a rucksack or pannier. More mobile, especially accross multiple bikes. I am far more at ease now when leaving my bike in public – worth every penny for the peace of mind.