Modern Vespa

LITELOK X3 MOTO ($299.99)
https://us.litelok.com/products/litelok-x3-moto
(Apologies for the all caps in the title, but that is apparently how it is branded

TL;DR: nice big lock; compatible with HPE if you remove a little rubber.

A little while ago, thinking about how to move forward locking my HPE after dealing with a couple of bike thefts, I went looking for the best lock setup I could for my apartment. During the search for something that was Sold Secure Diamond (https://www.soldsecure.com/approved-product-search?standard_grades=2&keyword=), I came across the Bennetts reviews of the X3:

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/security/motorcycle-chains-and-locks/litelok-x3-lock-review
I figured it was worth a gamble for a little piece of mind and went for it. A couple of months later, it arrived while I was out and got stolen before I could get home to pick it up. Which...c'mon. Ah well, you can't be too mad at the irony there--well played. After many drinks and some staring out the window, I tried again with better instructions for delivery and a few weeks ago finally got my lock.

It is pretty impressive in person. Substantial, especially when held with a regular u-lock in the other hand for comparison. It also comes with a cute little carrying case, which would be nice when storing it in the pet carrier. The lock and mechanism feel very well-made and the large key glides nicely. The keyhole also has a nice pair of little rubber flaps over it to keep the dust out, which is a nice touch and actually will really help with it being used outside in a dusty area.

As expected, I had to strip about three inches of rubber off the bars (and then wrap them with electrical tape to prevent scratching) to get it through the rear wheel, but with that modification it goes through without issue.

To pair with this lock, I got a chain to anchor it: the Oxford Best Chain, which is comical in its size and weight. Like the kind of thing that they tried to use on Sisyphus.

So far, it has been a success and easier than my last setup. More importantly, my bike has not been stolen yet! I can still see how somebody could do it, but I can no longer see how they could do it without taking some time and making quite a show of it.


Squeaks under the rear disk; extra-long reminder cable gorilla taped on.

Run through a big ol' chain.

The X1 version does fit nicely through the front wheel without any alteration.

Huh, nice. I'm going to have to try that out. Out of habit with my bike bikes, I just dismissed the front out-of-hand, but the way you have it topologically locked through the shock there would complicate just popping the front off. I had thought I had tried something like that, but obviously not--they are listed as the same size, so I'm going to go and play with that a little. Cheers!