AXA Newton Pro 100

The AXA Newton Pro 100 positions itself as the practical, Dutch ART-2 chain lock for the commuter who rides to the station every morning and back every night. AXA holds a near-monopoly on Dutch ring locks — you probably already have one mounted under your saddle — and the Newton Pro is pitched as its natural companion for locking to a fixed object at a station or supermarket. The 5.5 mm link size being thinner than, say, the 9 mm on the ABUS CityChain 1010 is a deliberate choice: AXA is aiming at ART-2, not ART-3, and 5.5 mm is precisely enough to pass without making the lock impractically heavy. In daily use that works out well. The 100 cm length is generous enough to loop around a cargo-bike frame plus an NS rack — a place where common 85 cm chain locks sometimes fall short. The textile sleeve is firmly stitched and keeps its shape even after two Amsterdam winters of rain; no fuzzy fraying like on some cheaper brands. The cylinder is an AXA disc cylinder with modest anti-pick resistance — not at the level of an ABUS Plus or Kryptonite disc cylinder, but against theft rings who mostly rely on bolts and cutters it is perfectly adequate.

On the insurance side the story is clean: ART-2 is the Dutch standard for e-bikes up to around 3,000 euros. Univé, ENRA and Centraal Beheer accept this lock without argument for that tier. Step up to a 5,000-euro speed pedelec or an Urban Arrow cargo bike and your policy will likely require ART-3, at which point you need to look further — a heavier chain lock, or pair the Newton Pro with an ABUS Granit X-Plus 540 as a secondary. Compared to the ABUS CityChain 1010 the Newton Pro is lighter and more flexible but mechanically weaker; compared to the AXA Defender it fills a different hole — this one anchors to a fixed object, the Defender only immobilises the rear wheel.

Honest notes: 2.9 kg is not light. You either carry this in a pannier or leave it chained at your regular parking spot. The links develop light surface rust after two winters of heavy outdoor use, especially where the sleeve ends — a drop of chain oil each autumn keeps it in check. And finally: the keys are average. Lose them and you can order a replacement set from AXA on the key number, but budget 15 to 25 euros and about a week of waiting.