Date reviewed: April 2022 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: £69.99 | image4security.com
A motorcycle ground anchor needs to do two things: accommodate the largest chains, and be tougher to defeat than they are. The Apex Pro, which is designed and made in the UK by Image4Security, is intended to stand up to sustained attacks while having the convenience of being mounted above ground...
For and against
- Undefeated in destruction testing
- Capacity for up to 22mm chain
- Relatively easy to fit
Features and capacity
The Apex Pro Ground Anchor from Image4Security is made of 6mm-thick steel with a tough powder-coated finish (I measured it at 6.12-6.28mm). It stands 11cm tall, and covers a footprint of approximately 24x17cm.
The anchor is supplied fitted to a wooden template with two small set-screws, though on one of our test samples these had both fallen out in transit; they were loose in the bag so check yours when unpacking as you’ll need them for the final stages of fitting.
I tested the anchor with Pragmasis, Milenco and Oxford 22mm chains and found all fitted, though you do need to rotate the links when they go in as it’s a snug fit.
Fitting
To fit the Apex Pro to a concrete floor or strong brick wall, you’ll need a decent impact drill, 6mm and 16mm masonry bits, a hammer, 2.5mm and 6mm Allen keys, a set of mole-grips if you have access to them and something to blow out the holes that you drill. It’s a shame the larger drill bit isn’t supplied – while I did have one, not everybody will have a 16mm to hand, so budget a fiver for one if needs be.
Depending on the floor, you might need a hefty drill; my mains Bosch was only any good for marking the initial holes; after that I had to use my old SDS drill (from Woolworths!). Large drills can be easily hired for a day if you need to, and many stores will sell drill bits too.
The supplied template makes marking the holes very easy (and it being on some thick hardboard helps even more); drill through with a 6mm (or smaller) bit and you’re set.
Next, open the holes up to 16mm, each with a depth of 80mm. Be careful that you don’t go too deep as a resin capsule is used for the centre fixing, which mustn’t go too far in.
With the holes drilled out, blow them completely empty… be careful doing this as there’s a lot of dust inside; I used a workshop vacuum.
The Apex pro is secured using two expanding bolts and a resin capsule in the centre. My drilling wasn’t perfect, leaving the centre hole slightly out of line, but because the threaded fastener that goes here is smaller than the hole and bonds in with resin, there was enough play to easily line the two outer bolts up with the sleeves that are tapped in.
That central fastener works perfectly fine if just spun in by hand, but if you want to nip it up tighter, you’ll need a set of mole grips. Popping the anchor down breaks the glass capsule in the centre hole, then you rotate the Apex clockwise until it sits flush with the ground – this helps mix and spread the resin, which gives an incredibly tough fixing.
Then just pop the two outer bolts in and secure them with a 6mm Allen key, tap the ball bearings into the heads, and finally slide the cover plate in and secure that with the two small set screws.
It's actually fairly simple; most anchors use four bolts (one at each corner), and if these go into expanding sleeves your drilling has to be pretty accurate.
Ease of use
Most chains pass through fairly easily, but 22mm ones take a little more jiggling. Chances are if you have a chain that big, you’ll have this anchor somewhere you can leave the chain installed, so it’s not a problem.
For the best chains and locks to use with this ground anchor, read our reviews of the best motorcycle and scooter security.
Resistance to attack
Given its Sold Secure Ground Anchor Diamond rating, it should come as no surprise that this is one tough bit of kit. A sledge hammer just bounces noisily off it, and whichever way I tried to attack it with the angle-grinder, I couldn’t get through.
On the top, there’s a second plate set well below the upper, and the sides are recessed, making it harder to get purchase with a grinder.
Given enough time (and several cutting discs), a powerful grinder will eventually get through this as anything can be destroyed eventually, but it really is much, much harder than simply cutting the chain itself. It’s fair to say that the Apex Pro is the toughest-to-attack surface-mounted anchor I’ve come across.
To see how this compares with other ground anchors,check our reviews of the best garage and home security.
Five alternatives to the Apex Pro
While I expect to see more ground anchors meeting Sold Secure’s relatively new, and toughest standard, they’ll still be few and far between so here are five options for different needs…
- The Pragmasis Torc Maxi and Mega ground anchors cost £59.95 and £69.95 respectively, and both accept a 22mm chain, though the Mega can take a 25mm. It’s not as undefeatable as the Apex Pro, but it’s compact, and in testing it’s tougher than even the biggest chains.
- The £99.99 Oxford Beast ground anchor relies on a double-layer construction that makes it harder to attack that the chain. It’s similar to the company’s old anchor, but taller to accommodate up to 22mm chains.
- If you only have a shed, and no solid floor, the Pragmasis Shed Shackle is a good option at £54.95. It can’t offer the security or capacity of something like the Apex, but it’s worth knowing about if your options are limited.
- If you live in rented accommodation, for instance (and you get permission from your landlord), you might want to consider a removable ground anchor like the £99.95 Pragmasis Double Doofer. Once an 11 to 19mm chain is in, it’s impossible to access the fittings, and it’s way tougher than any chain to attack.
- The £131.94 Insight Security Big Boy ground anchor is buried into the ground, and sits flush when not it use. It’ll only accept up to a 19mm chain, but it’s more than strong enough to offer far more of a challenge to attack than what’s used with it. For a larger capacity, look to the Y-Anchor or Pragmasis Sub Major.
These are just five of many alternatives – you can find all the ground anchors we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.
The Milenco, Oxford and Pragmasis 22mm chains I tested all fit the Apex Pro
Apex Pro ground anchor review: Verdict
The Apex Pro from Image4Security is an absolute beast when it comes to attacking it with an angle grinder, and nearly caused me a severe injury when the grinder bucked. It's the only surface-mount anchor I've been unable to cut through eventually. It's also excellent value for money at just £69.99.
All an anchor really needs to do is be stronger than the chain inside it, but as the toughest device you can fit without digging a hole, the Apex Pro is an excellent design that’s fairly easy to fit and so comes thoroughly recommended.
To find the best motorcycle security, including chains and lock, disc locks, alarms, trackers and more, check out our destruction test reviews and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through BikeSocial membership.
