Need a Sold Secure Gold Lock for Your Insurance? The £48.99 ROCKBROS Folding Lock, Reviewed

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If you’ve ever read the small print on a UK home or cycle insurance policy, you’ll know the phrase “Sold Secure Gold” carries real weight. Many insurers want a lock with that rating before they’ll pay out for a stolen bike. The ROCKBROS Sold Secure Gold Folding Bike Lock is one of the more affordable ways to meet that requirement, at £48.99 on ROCKBROS’ official UK store, where it sits in the Best Sellers collection.

For this guide, we worked through the ROCKBROS UK listing (certifications, materials, dimensions and what’s in the box), read every verified-buyer review on the product page, and looked at how it compares with the cheaper, uncertified locks in ROCKBROS’ own range. That last comparison is the one that tells you whether the extra money is worth it.

Quick Overview

• Price: £48.99 (ROCKBROS UK store)
• Certifications: Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold and Dutch ART certified
• Construction: Heat-treated 20CrMnTi alloy steel links, about 9.5 mm thick, with stainless steel rivets
• Length: 104.5 cm extended
• Folded size: About 21.7 cm long, 7 × 5.4 cm at the lock head
• Weight: About 1.38 kg
• Mounting: Holster with two straps, or bolt-on to bottle-cage mounts
• Keys: 3 included
• Customer rating: 5.0/5 from 4 verified reviews

Why Sold Secure Gold Matters in the UK

Sold Secure is the UK’s independent test house for security products. Its Pedal Cycle Gold tier is the level many insurers ask for on higher-value bikes and e-bikes. One verified buyer said exactly this: he bought the lock because his new house insurance required a Gold-rated lock. If your policy names a minimum rating, check it before you buy any lock. If it asks for Gold, this one qualifies.

The lock also holds Dutch ART certification. ART is the Netherlands’ independent rating scheme for bike locks, and having both is a useful second opinion beyond the manufacturer’s own claims.

Key Features

Thicker, hardened links

The links are heat-treated 20CrMnTi alloy steel, about 9.5 mm thick and joined with stainless steel rivets. For comparison, ROCKBROS’ own uncertified 120 cm folding lock uses 8 mm steel bars. The extra thickness and hardening are a large part of what earns the Gold rating.

Two ways to carry it on the bike

The holster can go on with the two included straps or be screwed into your bottle-cage bosses. Reviewers like this. One buyer called the bottle-mount option a “well thought out design” and said it is more versatile and easier to use than his old U-lock. The one practical caveat also comes from a reviewer: the folded lock is quite wide, and on his frame the holster needed bracing (he used two large nylon washers). If your down tube is slim or curved, expect to fiddle with the fit a little.

Covered keyhole

A sliding cover protects the lock cylinder from water and grit. That matters for a lock that lives on the bike through British winters.

104.5 cm reach

Unfolded, the six links form a 104.5 cm loop. That’s long enough to go around most posts, railings and Sheffield stands with the frame, and noticeably longer than a typical small D-lock. ROCKBROS also lists e-bikes, scooters and motorcycles as suitable uses.

What Independent Reviewers Say

UK reviewer David Savage gave the lock 5/5, calling it “a superb quality and robust bike lock.” ROCKBROS notes on its blog that it supplied the lock for that review, so read it as a positive independent opinion rather than a purchased test. On the product page, all four verified buyers gave it 5 stars. Their comments centre on build quality, the sensible price and the insurance-friendly rating. The only criticism was the holster fit mentioned above. Four reviews is a small sample, so we’d treat the score as encouraging rather than conclusive.

Sold Secure Gold vs. ROCKBROS’ Cheaper Locks

Lock	Price	Sold Secure rating	Notes
Sold Secure Gold Folding Lock	£48.99	Gold (plus ART)	~9.5 mm hardened links, 104.5 cm
Folding Combination Lock 120 cm	£39.99	Not listed	8 mm bars, keyless combination
Combination Cable Lock with Key Backup	£23.99	Not listed	Flexible cable for short stops
Heavy-Duty Chain Lock 95 cm	£14.99	Not listed	Budget chain with 2 keys

The folding combination lock is only £10 cheaper but has no Sold Secure rating on its listing, so if insurance is the reason you’re shopping, the Gold model is the obvious choice. The cable and budget chain locks are fine for a quick café stop in a low-risk area, but they aren’t comparable for leaving a bike overnight or in a city centre.

Who It’s For

• UK commuters and e-bike owners whose insurance requires a Sold Secure Gold lock.
• Riders swapping from a D-lock who want something easier to carry on the frame and with more reach.
• Anyone locking up in town centres who wants independently tested security without paying premium-brand prices.

Who It’s Not For

• Weight-conscious road riders: at about 1.38 kg, it’s a real addition to a light bike.
• Owners of very high-value bikes in high-risk areas: Sold Secure has higher tiers above Gold, and some insurers ask for more than one lock on expensive bikes.
• Slim-tubed frames: the wide folded lock may need extra bracing in its holster.
• Riders who want keyless access: this is a keyed lock.

Pricing

The lock costs £48.99 on the ROCKBROS UK store. In the box you get the lock, the mounting base, two 23 cm straps, three keys, and stainless and nickel-plated screws for strap or bottle-cage mounting. When we checked, it was in stock at ROCKBROS’ UK warehouse with free UK shipping and 2–3 working day delivery. The store also lists 14-day returns and exchanges (with free return shipping on eligible orders) and a two-year warranty covering repairs or replacements.

One small tip: ROCKBROS was running an autumn “Spend £49, Save £5” offer at the time of writing. The lock alone is a penny short of that threshold, so adding a small accessory could bring your total cost down.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Sold Secure Gold and ART certified, which suits many UK insurance requirements
• Hardened ~9.5 mm alloy steel links
• Generous 104.5 cm reach for posts and stands
• Holster mounts with straps or bottle-cage bolts
• Covered, weather-protected keyhole
• Three keys, two-year warranty, free UK delivery
• Good price for a Gold-rated lock

Cons

• About 1.38 kg is heavy for lightweight bikes
• Folded lock is wide and may need extra bracing on some frames
• Only four customer reviews so far
• Not the highest Sold Secure tier for very expensive bikes

FAQ

Is the ROCKBROS folding lock really Sold Secure Gold?

Yes. ROCKBROS lists it as awarded Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold, and it also holds Dutch ART certification.

Will it satisfy my insurer?

If your policy asks for a Sold Secure Gold lock, this meets that rating. Always check your own policy wording, since some insurers also have rules about how and where the bike is locked.

How heavy is it?

About 1.38 kg, according to ROCKBROS.

Can I mount it on my bike?

Yes. Use the two straps or bolt the holster to your bottle-cage mounts. One reviewer needed washers to brace it on his frame.

Is it suitable for e-bikes?

Yes. ROCKBROS lists e-bike commuting as a main use, and the 104.5 cm length helps with chunkier e-bike frames.

Bottom Line

The ROCKBROS Sold Secure Gold Folding Bike Lock does the one thing most UK buyers need from a lock at this price: it carries the independent Gold rating insurers ask for, without the premium-brand price tag. The folding design is easier to carry than a D-lock and reaches further. The trade-offs are its weight, a holster that may need some adjustment on slim frames, and a still-small pool of customer reviews. If you need a Gold-rated lock for under £50, this is a strong option.

Check current stock and offers on the ROCKBROS official UK store.

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