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: November 2023 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: £200 | hiplok.com/1000-series
The Hiplok A1000 on review here has solved the problem of a lock being stronger than the ground anchor, by being among the first of two angle-grinder-resistant anchors on the market.
At the same time as launching the A1000, Hiplok has released the DX1000 (review here) – the largest angle-grinder-resistant D-lock available – and the AX1000 (review here), a ground anchor that adds a pivoting arm to the A1000 for increased flexibility.
Pros & Cons
Highly resistant to all forms of attack
Rotates to aid lock attachment
Could also be used with a heavy-duty chain (if fitted before fixing to the ground)
Limited ways to use with a motorcycle
Must be carefully positioned when fixing
Fitting and convenience
The Hiplok A1000 is a very clever design, using Ferosafe sections over hardened steel, along with carefully considered fixings that make the attack points extremely limited.
The anchor rotates freely through 360° to aid fitting of the DX1000 D-lock it’s intended to pair with, though while there is a reasonable amount of free space, the shackle needs to go through fairly straight, and the anchor needs to be close enough to the bike for the shackle to fit into the body.
The anchor’s internal dimensions are 44x38mm, which is enough for the Hiplok DX1000’s shackle to twist approximately 30° through the vertical axis (though remember the anchor itself can rotate), and pitch about the same through the horizontal.
Do take the time to measure your bike, the space you have, and to consider how you’d use this anchor.
The Hiplok A1000’s components are held together with six M10 set-screws that are hidden under the plate once it’s fixed into the wall or floor. I added some thread-lock to these fasteners to ensure they couldn’t loosen off over time with constant knocking and vibration, but Hiplok tells me that this will already be done on the production versions.
Once the A1000 is fitted, it’s not coming out: eight(!) M10 expanding bolts hold the A1000 down, with ball-bearings supplied that are hammered into the bolt heads once fitted, to prevent them being removed. A paper drilling template will be supplied with the production versions, and you’ll need a hefty drill to get all these in. I have an old SDS drill from Woolworths that does the job in tough concrete floors, but in brick it might be easier – just ensure that whatever you’re fixing into is solid. Hiplok supplies a standard masonry drill bit with the anchor.
If you’re drilling into a concrete floor there’s a chance one or two of the holes could wander if you hit a stone, but to be honest, eight expanding bolts is overkill; most anchors only use four. Take your time, and if you need to hire a heavy-duty drill for half a day, it’s worth it when fitting any anchor.
Resistance to attack: bolt-croppers
There is absolutely no way that even the largest bolt croppers will have any impact on the Hiplok A1000 due to the size of the components and their construction.
Attacking the Hiplok A1000 with a sledge hammer saw the plastic covers shatter immediately, but there was no other damage beyond some minor denting. Even after a brutal attack, the A1000 still spun freely.
The use of Ferosafe in the Hiplok A1000 means it’s very hard to attack with an angle-grinder, whether using abrasive or diamond discs.
Access to the cross beam is very awkward with the lock fitted, and the supporting bars are also time-consuming to cut, and likely hard to reach if you’ve positioned it behind the bike.
Added to this is the fact that due to the way the Hiplok A1000 is designed, there is no one cut that will defeat it; whatever way you attack it, you must make two cuts, which will use several abrasive discs.
Diamond discs don’t wear out like abrasive ones, but they’re less effective on hardened steel, of which there’s a lot on the A1000, making this very tough device.
It would take a thief a long time and a lot of noise and effort to beat the A1000, then they’d still be left with the lock to contend with… and if that’s the Hiplok DX1000, they’ll be there for a long while.
The Hiplok A1000 is Sold Secure Powered Cycle (formerly motorcycle) Diamond and ART 4 stars rated.
The Hiplok A1000 ground anchor paired with the DX1000 D-lock can be a very effective way to secure the front wheel of your bike – here it is on an 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R, a 2001 Honda VFR800 and a 2019 BMW R1250GS
Is the new Hiplok 1000 range right for you?
On its own, the Hiplok DX1000 D-lock has proven to be the overall toughest lock we’ve tested, and it’s also the most versatile thanks to its increased size over the previous D1000, and the competition. You can read a full destruction test review of the Hiplok DX1000 here.
So as a piece of portable security, the DX1000 is an excellent investment.
But at home, a ground anchor is an important addition to your security, and it’ll typically be used with a heavy-duty chain and lock, along with an anchor that should be harder to cut than the chain. You could use the Hiplok DX1000 with some carefully-positioned ground anchors, but then the anchor potentially becomes the weakest link due to the extreme angle-grinder resistance of the lock. That’s not to say that the best traditional chains and anchors are easy to cut by any stretch, but the benefit of the Hiplok system is that you can buy one lock that works with a dedicated ground anchor at home, and is brilliant when out and about, potentially saving money over buying your home security completely separately.
However, the Hiplok system does require the anchor to be carefully positioned, and you have to work out how you’re going to use it. The DX1000 D-lock will fit over many rear wheels, but on the majority you won’t be able to get it through the anchor as well.
The Hiplok A1000 anchor works best if the motorcycle’s front wheel is positioned next to it, then the DX1000 is passed over the wheel and through the anchor.
It could be argued that thieves might remove the wheel from the motorcycle, but removing the calipers, pinch-bolts, axle bolt and axle is a time-consuming hassle, not to mention then having to lug the bike clear and away. If your bike’s close to a wall on one side, it’ll also be very hard indeed for a criminal to do this.
On some motorcycles– particularly those with a trellis frame – you might be able to put the Hiplok A1000 on the wall, then get the DX1000 through the frame and anchor. I haven’t been able to with my R1250GS, but it’s potentially an option.
A heavy duty chain and quality ground anchor can offer a huge amount of protection, but the Hiplok 1000 series can work out cheaper, and be incredibly hard to defeat: even if the thieves can beat the anchor, they still have to get the lock off.
It’s possible to put a heavy-duty chain on the Hiplok A1000, if you’d like to use it that way
Another option with the A1000 would be to fit a chain over the cross-beam by disassembling it before fixing it down. For instance, I found that after removing the plastic cover I could fit a 22mm chain over it. Of course, now the chain is the ‘weak’ link, but it’s still extremely difficult and slow to cut. This could allow you to then put the other end of the chain over the DX1000’s shackle while fitted to the bike pretty much anywhere you want. Thieves would have to cut the chain AND the lock to be able to roll the bike away.
With the plastic cover removed from the cross-beam, the Hiplok A1000’s shackle is 25x25mm, so check the dimensions of your chain if this is your preferred option. With the cover on, it’s 35x33mm. Also keep in mind that you might need to trim the silicone sleeve back on the D-lock if you want to slip a chain link over it – the DX1000’s shackle is 15x21mm under the 26x33mm silicone sleeve.
Measure your set-up carefully to decide what works for you, but if you’re a push-bike or e-bike owner, the A1000 is almost certainly a perfect option as you can easily mount it to the wall and pass the lock around the cross-bar of your bicycle.
The Hiplok A1000 is really intended to be used with the Hiplok DX1000 reviewed here, where it creates a formidable defence against all typical forms of attack, yet also allows the owner to take the lock away and use it while out for a ride – something you can’t do with a 22mm chain for instance.
For bicycle and e-bike riders, the A1000 – mounted into a solid wall – is a brilliant solution that should work for everyone, but motorcyclists do need to understand that the anchor needs positioning carefully, and will likely only work when attached to the front wheel.
It’s possible to also use a chain with it, and a heavy duty one will hold up extremely well to attack, giving you a great home and away security solution, though you might need to trim a little off the D-lock shackle’s silicone cover for some chains to fit over.
If the Hiplok A1000 suits your bike and home circumstances, it’s an extremely well-designed and very secure device that forms part of a brilliant security solution.
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Full attack test of the Hiplok 1000 range
See the DX1000, A1000 and AX1000 thoroughly tested
