Tested: Pewag VKK 12x45 and Mul-T-Lock NE14L padlock review

Date reviewed: July 2017 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £156.62 | Weight: 5.89kg | www.brindleychains.co.uk

We’ve tested a 1.5 meter length of Pewag VKK 12x45 security chain, but it’s available in 0.5m increments from 1 to 5 meters. It’s covered with a soft yet tough fabric sleeve to protect your paint (riveted at both ends), though bear in mind that as with most other chains, this fabric tends to hold moisture a little if used in the rain, so you might want to consider putting it in a plastic bag if taking it home in your luggage. All the links are the same size, and can’t be inserted into others.

The chain comes with a Mul-T-Lock NE14L Grade 6 padlock that has a slim rubber bumper to help protect your bike’s paint and an integral gate over the keyway, to prevent dirt ingress. Two keys are included.

Size and weight

This chain weighs 3.31kg/m, making for 4.96kg in this 1.5m length. Combined with the 0.93kg padlock, the total weight is 5.89kg.

When coiled up, the chain covers a diameter of about 24cm.

Resistance to attack: chain

Using 42” bolt croppers, we managed to break the link in six minutes of hard work. With a noisy sledge hammer and the ideal conditions of an anvil and plenty of room, the chain’s link cracked at 1 minute 26 seconds, and broke at 2 minutes 36 seconds.

It took an average time to cut through the 11.5-12.2mm-thick square links with an angle grinder.

Resistance to attack: padlock

The lock merely deformed with some slight cracks after being attacked on an anvil with the sledge hammer. Using an angle grinder, we got through the 13.8mm-thick shackle, but it took longer than the chain.

To understand how best to use your lock, click here

BIKESOCIAL TEST RESULTS

Product: Pewag VKK 12x45 and Mul-T-Lock NE14L padlock

Size tested: 1.5m

Weight as tested: 5.89kg

Rolled diameter: 24cm

Bolt cropper attack: AVERAGE

Sledge hammer attack: AVERAGE

Angle grinder attack: AVERAGE

Conclusion

It was a close call over whether we’d have broken the Pewag VKK 12x45 chain with bolt croppers – six minutes is a long time, and it took the two of us swapping over to break it. It’s possible that some might do it quicker, but we were still reasonably impressed with the chain’s resistance.

If kept tight and off the ground, the hammer attack becomes irrelevant, and the angle grinder time is fair. For its size, weight and hence portability, the 12x45 is a good deterrent to all but the most determined thief.

To see the other chains and locks tested by BikeSocial, click here

Find out how and why we did this test

Consumer editor John Milbank explains how you can get the best out of your chain and lock, and how this test was done