A folding lock trades outright strength for reach and portability. The 610 S folds down to a block that clips to the frame, then opens out to 100 cm — long enough to get around a lamp post, a thick stand or a rack that a U-lock won't reach, without carrying a chain.

Where this lock fits

Sold Secure rates bicycle locks Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond. This one is Bronze — the entry level of the four.

That makes it a good second lock: the one you add to secure a wheel, or the one you take for a short stop somewhere quiet and busy in daylight. It is not the lock to rely on for an e-bike left on a city street, or for parking overnight. For that you want a Sold Secure Diamond U-lock, and ideally a ground anchor at home.

Check your insurance policy too. Most UK cycle policies set a minimum Sold Secure rating that rises with the value of the bike, and Bronze usually sits below the threshold for a bike of e-bike value.

Specification

• 6 mm hardened steel links
• 100 cm usable length
• Folds flat for carrying, with a frame mount
• Sold Secure Bicycle Bronze

Looking after it

Lubricate the cylinder and the link rivets a few times a year with a silicone, graphite or PTFE-based lubricant. Do not use WD-40. It is a solvent, not a lubricant — it strips the grease out of the cylinder and shortens the life of the lock.

Lost keys

Register your key number with Kryptonite's Key Safe programme when you buy. If you lose your keys, Kryptonite will send a replacement pair for a flat shipping charge.