Squire Barricade review | A tough and effective motorcycle disc lock
By John Milbank
Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocial
06.03.2025
Date reviewed: March 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: £99.99 | Weight: 1.06kg | squirelocks.co.uk
The Squire Barricade motorcycle disc lock on review here might look like a new colour-scheme for the Squire Defiant, and while it is very similar on the surface, it’s lacking the angle-grinder-resistant materials that allowed the Defiant to achieve a Sold Secure Diamond rating.
The Barricade is rated to Sold Secure Powered Cycle Gold, meaning it’s not been tested against an angle-grinder attack by the Midlands-based certification group, but my testing shows it still offers arguably all the attack resistance you need…
Pros & Cons
Great resistance to direct attacks
Half the price of the Defiant
Includes a reminder cable
Has same vulnerability as other disc locks
Pricey, but made in Britain
Size and weight
At 1.06kg the Squire Barricade – which is made in Britain – is solid, but not excessively heavy. Measuring 95x85x30mm it’s reasonably compact, though for safety’s sake I’d strongly recommend that you don’t carry it in a pocket or rucksack etc – pop it in a tank bag, pannier or top-box.
The boron steel locking pin measures 12mm in diameter and locks into the back of the device with a 7.4mm gap for the brake disc, while the hardened steel body has a cross-section of 25x22mm at its smallest point.
Claimed to fit most bikes, I had no problems using it on a BMW R1250GS, Kawasaki ZX-6R, Honda VFR800, Zontes ZT350-T and a Triumph Tiger Explorer.
A coiled reminder cable is supplied, with can be looped over the lock and attached to your bike’s handlebar or brake / clutch lever.
Resistance to attack: lock picking
While some YouTube channels might make lock picking look easy, especially when selling the creator’s own tools, it’s not a theft method used in typical motorcycle thefts at all.
The Barricade has Squire’s anti-drill, anti-bump six-pin cylinder that has 530,000 key differs (two keys and a code card are supplied), so while a professional locksmith with the right tools, time and skill could open most locks, it’s simply not an issue in the UK.
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: pry-bar
Even using a very long pry par, the Squire Barricade remained solidly locked onto the bike.
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: drill
Squire’s clever keyway opening makes drill attacks harder, but using a smaller bit does allow access to the barrel, though it doesn’t give the thief a way to release the lock.
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: lump hammer
Despite hitting the Squire Barricade repeatedly and very hard with a lump hammer, it caused nothing beyond cosmetic damage to the outer plastic cover, with only very minor marks on the metal body.
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 attack is the only real way to get this lock off without the key, and though it’s not as resistant as the Squire Defiant, given that all disc locks suffer the same vulnerability of the brake disc itself being cut if the thief is willing, the Barricade offers arguably more than enough protection.
I was unable to cut through the locking pin, and even if I could, it would have remained secured behind the disc. Cutting the Squire Barricade where it wraps around the disc took a significant amount of time, sparks and noise.
To see how this compares with the other locks we’ve tested, check out our best motorcycle locks for home and away.
Product: Squire Barricade disc lock
Weight as tested: 1.06kg
Pry-bar attack: PASS
Drill attack: PASS
Lump hammer attack: PASS
Angle grinder attack: PASS (direct attack)
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Squire Barricade disc lock review: Verdict
The Squire Barricade offers all the protection you really need from a disc lock as they all have the same vulnerability of the brake disc itself being a potential attack point, or the bike being lifted into a van.
Our research indicates that a disc lock can reduce the chances of your bike being stolen by a factor of at least 300%, and the excellent resistance to attack offered by the Barricade makes it well worth considering.
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