Litelock X1 & X3 Anti-Angle Grinder U-Locks Review

Litelock X1 & X3 Review – Construction

The most obvious difference between the X1 and X3 comes down to thickness. Both cover roughly the same amount of real estate on your bike, but the X3 is substantially heavier thanks to its extra layers of protection.

Externally, both locks are wrapped in a soft rubber coating that keeps your frame safe from scuffs, something I always appreciate on a heavy-duty lock. Litelok also adds reflective accents for visibility, with the X1 getting more prominent striping and even an arctic camo option if you want something a little flashier than the standard black or white.

I appreciate the keyhole cover. It just helps keep dirt and gunk out of the lock which can be an annoyance if it gets junky.

Inside is where things get serious. Litelok’s proprietary Barronium® is a fused composite armor made from multiple layers of hardened ceramic and metal. When a grinder hits it, the material basically fights back, transferring the tool’s own energy into rapid disc wear. Add a hardened steel core, and you end up with a lock that takes multiple discs to cut through on a single side. Because these locks don’t rotate, a thief would have to do it twice to fully remove the lock. Good luck with that.

The X3 adds another layer of defense with an ABLOY locking core. I’m not a locksmith, so I can’t personally evaluate its pick resistance, but ABLOY is widely regarded as one of the toughest systems to defeat, and I’m all for stacking security wherever possible.

If you prefer mounting the lock to your bike instead of tossing it in a bag, Litelok’s Tactical Mount is the way to go. It’s a glass-reinforced polymer cradle that protects your paint and fits most frame triangles as long as you have between 75mm and 200mm of space to work with. In my testing, it held both locks securely along the top tube, down tube, or seatpost. If you’re buying an X1 or X3, I’d absolutely recommend picking up the mount as well.

Litelock X1 & X3 Review – What It’s Like Using The Locks

Day-to-day use with either lock is pleasantly straightforward. Line up your frame with a sturdy anchor point, close the shackle, and you’re done. No quirks or extra steps.

Using the Tactical Mount is just as simple. The twist mechanism is intuitive: rotate the lock to release it from the cradle, unlock it, and the shackle comes free. Installing the mount takes a few minutes but doesn’t require any special tools beyond a 5mm hex key that comes with it and some scissors. You attach the included clips, line up the protective strips, trim them to size with scissors, secure everything with the screws, thread the excess strap through the keepers, then slot the lock in at a 90-degree angle and twist it into place. Once mounted, it stays impressively stable despite the lock’s weight.

There is one practical limitation for e-bike riders: fit. Many e-bikes have oversized downtubes housing their batteries, and those can be too bulky for the Tactical Mount to wrap around. Step-through frames with short seat tubes may also lack a viable mounting spot. Tight front triangles are another consideration, though Litelok does offer printable sizing templates for the X1 and mount on its website, which helps you verify fit before committing.

If the lock doesn’t fit your frame, the included soft carrying pouch is a nice fallback. It’s gentle on whatever else you’re carrying; it’ll play nice inside a backpack full of gear or a pannier with groceries, and it keeps the lock from knocking into other items.

Overall, assuming your frame allows it, the daily user experience is simple, secure, and pleasantly hassle-free.

Litelock X1 & X3 Review – Verdict

I wish I could say there’s a way to make bike theft disappear entirely, but since that’s not the world we live in, the next best solution is stacking the odds heavily in your favor. That starts with a lock that doesn’t just look tough to dissuade would-be thieves, but actually slows down the professional ones in the real world.

Both the Litelok X1 and X3 models do exactly that. They’re solidly built, thoughtfully engineered, and give riders a clear choice: the X1 for lighter portability, or the X3 for maximum grinder resistance when you need ultimate peace of mind. Whichever direction you go, you’re getting a level of protection that genuinely makes it easier to walk away from your bike with confidence.

E-bikes aren’t cheap. Our recommended models generally start around $1,000, and many climb well beyond that. Some include tracking or onboard security features, but even the smartest systems shouldn’t replace the first line of defense: a rock-solid physical lock.

The X1 and X3 are among the most robust locks I’ve used, and they’ve been virtually hassle-free throughout testing. For anyone serious about protecting their e-bike, they’re absolutely worth a look.

X1 Pricing

X3 Pricing