Hiplok XL Chain review | Tough portable chain that CAN fit DX1000
By John Milbank
Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocial
16.01.2025
Date reviewed: January 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: £89.99 | Weight: 4.92kg | hiplok.com
The Hiplok XL Chain on review here is a noose-end design, which means it can wrap around something like a lamppost then pass through the noose loop, leaving just one length of chain to attach to a D-lock or similar on your bike. With a traditional chain you can only use half the length, as both ends have to meet. This means the chain can be shorter, which means it can be lighter, which means it’s easier to carry and hence more likely to get used.
It's the smaller end of the chain that needs to be attached to the D-lock that’s on your bike, and Hiplok states on its website that the XL model isn’t compatible with the D1000 or DX1000, but there is a way you can use it…
Pros & Cons
Noose-end is very versatile
Can (with small modification) be used with DX1000 and X3
Very good case- and through-hardening
Would prefer larger end link
Long links throughout would make it lighter
Size and weight
Weighing 4.92kg for this 1.0m length of 14mm chain, the links measure 13.67mm in diameter, with an internal width of 20.80mm for the smaller end link, which is large enough to fit a Hiplok DX1000 or D1000, or a Litelok X3 or X1 shackle through if the silicone / plastic outer sheath is trimmed off. This could make the lock rattle a bit more when being carried, but as it’ll be in your luggage, or strapped to the back seat, it’s not really a problem. The only slight disadvantage to trimming part of the sleeve off is that it can make it a tiny bit more fiddly to lock; you might need to jiggle the shackle a fraction when turning the key.
The noose end has an internal diameter of 56.80mm, which allows the other end to pass easily through. This chain could be used with a padlock to stop the chain passing back through itself, but then the 1.0m length could be rather short. Or the noose could loop around the motorbike’s wheel, then the smaller end passed through a ground anchor before attaching a quality padlock to stop it pulling back through. For motorcycle use though, I’d suggest this is a (just) portable chain – for home use when it doesn’t have to be carried, you’re better off with something bigger like the 22mm Hiplok Mega chain.
Rolling up fairly compactly, the Hiplok XL will fit in most luggage, but I would love to see the company make a version with longer main links as this can save a significant amount of weight without compromising on security.
The XL is certified to Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond and Powered Cycle Gold, and your bike’s paintwork is protected from the chain with a heavy duty nylon sleeve that’s secured with hex-head set-screws.
Once you understand how to use a noose-end chain, they can be extremely versatile
Resistance to attack: bolt-croppers
Thanks to the size of links, using even the largest 42” bolt croppers had no effect on the Hiplok XL.
Hydraulic croppers are available, but these are designed for rebar, which isn’t hardened. Anything can, ultimately, be defeated with the right equipment and time, but the XL Chain offers excellent performance in a (just) portable form.
To see how this compares with the other locks we’ve tested, check out our best motorcycle locks for home and away.
Resistance to attack: sledge hammer
Giving myself plenty of space and time (sorry to the neighbours), and with a section of railway track as an anvil, a sustained sledge-hammer attack did nothing more than crack the link’s weld. The balance of case-hardening (the outside that resists cutting) and through-hardening (this inside, which needs some degree of ductility to not become brittle) seems very good in all the Hiplok chains I’ve tested, and this consistency (plus Hiplok’s promise that it uses just one factory for the process) gives me confidence in the chains on offer.
To see how this compares with the other locks we’ve tested, check out our best motorcycle locks for home and away.
Resistance to attack: angle-grinder
An angle-grinder is the most likely form of attack, and while the Hiplok XL only scored ‘average’ here, it’s relative to the thickest, heaviest 25mm chains.
In reality, more metal usually equals more time during an angle-grinder attack, and the XL provides a good portable option that will put up a significant fight against both abrasive and diamond disc attacks, especially if you can keep it from trailing on the ground where it’s easier to get some weight behind the grinder.
To see how this compares with the other locks we’ve tested, check out our best motorcycle locks for home and away.
Product: Hiplok XL Chain
Weight as tested: 4.92kg
Bolt cropper attack: PASS
Sledge hammer attack: PASS
Angle grinder attack: AVERAGE
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Hiplok XL Chain review: Verdict
Noose chains are extremely versatile when you understand how to use them, and the reduction in weight due to the shorter lengths can make them much easier to carry.
The Hiplok XL Chain would ben`efit from a slightly larger small-end link, but it CAN be made to fit over a Hiplok DX1000, D1000, Litelok X3 or X1 with a little modification.
This chain is on the limit of portability for most riders, but it does provide some solid security and is what I’d recommend – along with a Hiplok DX1000 – if you’re parking the bike in any higher risk areas.
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