After answering the 3 most common doubts before buying a chain, today let’s talk about how to best choose a padlock for chains.
The chains for securing bicycles, e-bikes, mopeds and motorcycles are often sold together with an already integrated padlock, but Viro, in order to offer a greater possibility of customization, also allows you to buy them separately and thus choose, based on the characteristics of each of them, the combination that best suits your needs.
Padlocks for chains: what to look for before buying
The features to pay more attention to in a padlock for chains are listed below:
- Materials
The material, in products which concern security, always plays the main role. The armoured or one-piece padlocks (integrated with the chains), which are suitable for the protection of 2-wheeled vehicles, should have a body or armour and lock-bolt made of case-hardened and tempered steel.
In the Viro range, for example, the armoured padlocks have a solid brass body and a case-hardened and tempered steel armour, while the one-piece padlocks have a special case-hardened and tempered steel body as well as having undergone a chemical nickel plating (NIPLOY PROCESS) which makes them corrosion resistant.
- Characteristics of the lock-bolt
A good lock-bolt should also have a diameter of 7 mm upwards, as well as being built to better withstand attempts at cutting and pulling.
All the Viro padlocks, for example, have an anti-cutting rotating shaft, equipped with a grip with a section designed with programmed breakage to prevent the shaft from being pulled off.
- Characteristics of the plug or security cylinder
It is worth considering the number of pins present in the plug or cylinder, since the more they are, the more difficult it will be to try to open with the use of a lock pick.
Furthermore, some padlocks, such as the Viro one-piece padlocks, have a rotating plate, to protect the cylinder, which hinders the use of drills and break-in attempts.
- Mechanism and keys
The characteristics of the mechanism such as the key removable only with the padlock closed, which guarantees, if you do not have the key with you, that the padlock is actually closed, the mushroom-shaped counterpins against the action of the lock pick, and the stainless steel components, exponentially raise the quality and strength of the lock, so it is always good to check this type of specification.
As we have mentioned, some chains (with different lengths available) are already sold integrated with the padlock: for Viro this is the case of the “Morso” and the “Supermorso” with chain. There are padlocks that can also be purchased separately and coupled to the chosen chain, such as the Viro “Bloccacatena”, “Totem”, “Thor” and “Eurothor”.
Let’s look at them in detail.
Armoured padlocks
| Body | Armour | Lock-bolt diameter | Cylinder pins | Key | |
| Morso Padlock | solid brass | case-hardened and tempered steel | 7,5 | 4 | VIRO profile |
| Body | Armour | Lock-bolt diameter | Cylinder pins | Key | |
| Supermorso Padlock | solid brass | case-hardened and tempered steel | 9,5 | 5 | Viro TOP SECURITY profile |
| Body | Armour | Lock-bolt diameter (2) | Cylinder pins | Key | |
| Bloccacatena Padlock | solid brass | case-hardened and tempered steel | 8,5 | 5 | Viro TOP SECURITY profile |
One-piece padlocks
| One-piece body | Finish | Lock-bolt diameter | Cylinder pins | Key | |
| Totem Padlock | special case-hardened and tempered steel | NIPLOY PROCESS | 10 | 5 | Viro TOP SECURITY profile |
| One-piece body | Finish | Lock-bolt diameter | Cylinder pins | Key | |
| Thor Padlock | special case-hardened and tempered steel | NIPLOY PROCESS | 13 | 7 | Viro TOP SECURITY profile |
| One-piece body | Finish | Lock-bolt diameter | Cylinder pins | Key | |
| Eurothor Padlock | special case-hardened and tempered steel | NIPLOY PROCESS | 13 | 6 | with NEW EUROPRO ownership card |
Do you want to associate your lock with a sturdy chain? Find out how to choose it in this article!