TMD’s Keyless Bike Lock is a $280 solution to a $60 problem

I’ve seen a lot of so-called “smart” bike locks over the years, but nothing so far can justify the extra cost. A new entrant who started securing bank ATMs is trying to change that. There’s nothing completely unique about it TMD series lockbut the combination of materials, performance, and insurance-friendly ART-2 certification makes it worth considering.

TMD’s first bike lock combines a Bluetooth proximity sensor and motion alarm with a thin core of solid steel chain wrapped in a soft, lightweight shell of high-performance Dyneema and Kevlar fibres. This makes this lock strong, yet flexible enough to wrap around your seat post while riding. TMD also designed the keyless lock to be shareable with friends and family, and able to withstand shock, rain, dust and extreme temperatures. This makes it very suitable for city bikes parked outside and ridden all year round.

I like the TMD Chain Lock I tested, but spending €249 (about $283) on something that typically costs much less is a big ask.

The gulf between ATM security and bike security is not as wide as it may seem. TMD developed a central keyless system for banks to allow access to their ATMs for the service, replacing physical master keys that created huge security risks when lost or stolen. It’s the same keyless know-how that TMD now offers for its Bluetooth bike lock.

There are many advantages to converting phones to digital keys, especially in bike-focused communities like the Netherlands, which TMD calls home. For example, I could drive to the train station and ask a trusted friend to pick up the bike later. And the keyless convenience quickly adds up for those of us who use our bikes to commute to work, pick up the kids from daycare and soccer, run errands, and shop for groceries. In my city of Amsterdam, it is not unusual for my keys to be taken more than a dozen times a day to lock and unlock my bike.

I’ve tested TMD bike lock 110 cm (about 3.5 feet) long with iPhone 15 Pro running the latest version of iOS. Overall — I’d say 19 out of every 20 attempts — the TMD series lock recognized my approach immediately, allowing me to open it seamlessly with the push of the single lock button. When I had to wait, it only took a second for the button to flash blue, indicating that the lock had detected my nearby phone in my pocket or bag. Very well, but that convenience comes with some trade-offs.

For example, my bike stayed within range of my phone when I was parked outside a café, so it was possible for someone to walk up and unlock it. I had the same problem when cooking in my kitchen with the bike parked right outside the window, as I usually do. Either way, I had to either move the bike or turn off my phone’s Bluetooth radio. And since my phone is now the key to my bike, if it is stolen, my more expensive e-bike will be at risk as well.

TMD says its chain lock is “immune to traditional drilling and picking,” but all bike locks can be defeated by a determined thief. The Chain Lock has received ART-2 certification issued by an independent Dutch organization that tests and certifies bicycle locks on a scale of one to five. Most Dutch insurance companies require an ART-2 as a minimum to validate policies for expensive e-bikes and cargo bikes. It’s something like a Sold Secure Silver or Gold rating in the UK, 2 Roues in France, and VdS approval in Germany. (The United States and Canada do not have a single, centralized, independent testing body that dictates insurance requirements for bicycles.) If your bike is stolen, you can create a digital log file for your insurance company from within the TMD app as official proof that your bike was locked.

To prevent theft, the lock also features an integrated motion alarm that can be activated and deactivated in the app or with a double tap of the lock button. At 100dB, the sound is less harsh than I expected, but it gets the job done when it feels locked down. It turns off automatically after about 10 seconds of inactivity.

The lock is somewhat noisy in daily use. Its opening is accompanied by a loud tone of up to 75 decibels when measured at a distance of one meter. I hate that it draws attention to me and my expensive e-bike. Just flash green and unlock, that’s more than enough. TMD tells me that a future software update will allow you to disable these sounds.

TMD claims the lock’s battery will last up to nine months on a single charge. However, my test unit was already down 16 percent after a week of testing, suggesting a lifespan closer to six or seven weeks. But that’s probably because I store my bike inside my house when not in use, so the lock’s bluetooth radio is constantly lit due to the proximity of my phone.

To keep out water and dust and leave more room for the battery and speaker, TMD says it chose a shallow magnetic connector — not USB-C — for Chain Lock charging. This is unfortunate because a lot of phones have USB-C ports and offer better IP68/69 protection against rain and debris. This means you’ll need to have a lockout cable in case you ignore the low battery warnings and let it malfunction. However, it can be restored quickly: I’ve seen a completely dead (and locked) lock chain come back to life after just two or three minutes of charging an iPhone’s USB-C port.

You can still unlock the TMD Chain Lock if your phone stops working. All you have to do is tap the four-digit “emergency code” located on the lock button. Selecting a code such as 1324 requires 1 press, then 3, then 2, then 4. The ring surrounding the button changes colors to visually prompt you with each new number. The TMD app also lets you share the lock with friends and family, who can also come to your rescue with their own phones.

For added peace of mind, it’s always a good idea to double lock your bike, so most urban cyclists combine a chain lock with a ring lock that is permanently mounted to the frame and prevents the rear wheel from rotating. TMD has already announced “Counter Angle Grinder” U-Lock and GPS ring lock. It will come later this year. Having my phone and my bike locks simultaneously unlocked would increase the convenience factor and better justify TMD’s pricing.

now, Paid 249 euros When equivalent analog bike locks cost a quarter of that, this would be stupid for most people. ART-2 certificate About 8900For example, with the same elastic length of 110 cm, it costs about 60 euros (about 68 dollars). If you can afford the TMD Chain Lock and really hate keys, or need a keyless lock that can be shared digitally with others, get it. Otherwise it will not justify its high price.

All photographs by Thomas Ricker/The Verge