Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocial, John's owned over 20 bikes, has been testing motorcycle kit for more than 25 years and is a member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, and part of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group.
Date reviewed: October 2023 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £140, or £310 fitted | www.anchor-man.co.uk
The Anchor-Man ground anchor on review here is available exclusively from Anchor-Man – Andrew Mackay – for £140, or £310 fitted in the London area.
While any ground anchor only needs to be more resistant to attack than the chain it’s holding, the design of the Anchor-Man makes it very tough to attack…
Pros & Cons
Hefty bridge section highly resistant to attack
Capable of holding up to 22mm chains
Fairly small footprint to minimise impact on surface
Can’t (currently) accept long-link 22mm chains like the Oxford Beast
No caps for if you want to cover the holes
Would be nice to see some thicker paint on the inside
Features and capacity
Made of 3mm-thick steel, the Anchor-Man ground anchor can easily accept the 19mm Pragmasis long-link chain I tested it with, as well as a short-link Pragmasis 22mm, though it’s important to note that this version can’t swallow a long-link 22mm chain like the Oxford Beast (a redesign might be in the works).
Three long threaded rods are supplied to reach out into the concrete and prevent the anchor being pulled out.
The most notable design feature of this bury-in anchor is that the bridge section between the two holes is shallower than on other similar-style anchors, which means there’s less chain needed to loop underneath it – Andrew tells us that a 1m chain can be enough to secure almost all bikes with up to a 200-section rear tyre, or a machine with a single-side swing-arm if using the excellent Pragmasis Anti-Pinch Pin.
Passing a chain through the Anchor-Man anchor is pretty easy, with little need to jiggle even the largest through, despite the reasonably compact nature of the laser-cut and folded design. The smooth underside to the bridge certainly minimises snagging of your hands and your chain’s sleeve, though the inside edges on the one I had was a little rough, and would benefit from slightly thicker paint if possible.
Most people will probably leave the chain in the anchor when not in use, but note that you should always be careful when leaving any unused lock unattended, as thieves could scupper the lock barrel to prevent you securing you bike (then steal it when it’s unprotected), or potentially cut a chain then re-secure it with zip-ties under the sleeve, making it easy to break with no noise when your bike’s in place.
Very comprehensive and clear instructions are supplied with the Anchor-Man ground anchor
Fitting
Andrew will fit this anchor for a total cost of £310 (or he’ll fit bolt-in versions, and even create bespoke anchor solutions) in and around the London area, though group bookings can be discussed if further afield.
If you want to fit it yourself, a hole 40cm long and 20cm wide is required, to a depth of at least 25cm, though Andrew recommends going down to 40cm, and it’s best to use a decent layer of large-stone gravel in the bottom for drainage.
The hole should be tapered outwards at the base, to make it far harder for the concrete that will set inside to be pulled out.
The anchor can be fitted into a tarmac surface by using concrete but leaving space at the top for some pothole repair material, or in a block-paved drive with careful positioning of the hole to suit the pattern of the blocks.
While fitting the anchor should be a reasonably simple day’s job, if you want the neatest possible finish – especially with decorative surfaces – and you live near London, it’s worth the investment to have Andrew do it for you.
Resistance to attack
Once buried in the ground, an anchor like this is very difficult to attack, the bridge between the two holes being the only practical way to defeat it.
Most anchors of this style have the bridge quite deep to protect from angle-grinder attack, but the Anchor-Man is relatively shallow. However, here the bridge is made of 5mm-thick steel, with a 10mm-thick plate welded on top of it, making it extremely hard to cut through.
I went through a disc without getting close to cutting one side, so undoubtedly any chain would be the point of attack for a thief.
A sledge hammer attack is also ineffective on this lock, and of course it would be impossible in most cases as the bike would be in the way.
The Anchor-Man ground anchor has not been put through Sold-Secure, so it won’t appear on any insurance lists, but it’s always important to buy any motorcycle security not in the hopes of an initial discount, but to protect future policy prices and your No Claims Discount by significantly reducing the chances of your bike being stolen. Not to mention avoiding the hassle and heartache of a theft.
Anchor-Man ground anchor review: Verdict
The Anchor-Man ground anchor is a solid piece of kit that offers excellent security in a relatively compact package.
For many riders in and around the London area, it’ll be tempting to have Andrew fit it for them to ensure a good, neat job (see the testimonials below), but if you do want to instal it, anyone with basic DIY skills shouldn’t have a problem.
Securing your bike to something is always the best bet, and combined with a quality chain like those we’ve tested here, the Anchor-Man ground anchor provides a formidable line of defence.
Anchor-Man – or Andrew Mackay – prides himself on being able to secure anything you can put a chain through. Having met him at a recent security event, I was impressed with his creative solutions to securing bikes in even difficult environments; from finding ways to fit an anchor in an air-tight bubble, to scratch-building a planter that doubles up as immovable bike security. I spoke to a couple of his customers to get a feel for his work, and will be working with Andrew in the future on more security advice…
“I asked Andrew to make and fit a new door for my workshop. He went over and above anything I expected. The door was made to an incredibly high standard, and he even went to the trouble of building steel bars into the door itself to stop anyone being able to smash through it. On top of that he used steel around the door frame as a further deterrent, and then fitted three very high-quality locks.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone needing any type of motorcycle security measures supplied and fitted. A great guy who does quality work at a fair price.” Scott Childs
“I bought a bike bubble to protect my bike from condensation in the garage, which also shields it from dirt and spiders etc as it’s in its own microclimate with constant air circulation. It has a small built-in fan, which is rather cool, plus you can run a lead out of it for the trickle charger.
“I wanted a ground anchor fitted for better security, but having the bike in the bubble caused a few issues.
“Fortunately, Andrew was excellent at working a way around it. He first made the pilot holes into the bubble floor, then he drilled through being very careful before placing some air-tight silicone sealant in the base of the anchor and securing it. It gave a 100% effective seal and allowed much better security with the bike in the bubble.
Andrew was very professional, an extremely clean worker and was very methodical.” Warren Davies
How to make a secure shed
Locked wooden sheds on a concrete base are now classed as garaged by Bennetts insurance. Here’s how to make yours secure…
